Getting up at 2am is never a good idea. Yet, it is slightly more bearable when you know you have a flight to catch to Italy.
Having not flown anywhere for two years due the pandemic, myself and my friend Es were desperate to go abroad. Although we'd experienced the heatwave in the UK a few weeks prior, we yearned for sunshine. Amalfi heat is definitely different to London heat; our infrastructure isn't able to cope, plus you don't get the seaside breeze to cool you down.
A lot of discussion took place surrounding where to visit: we narrowed it down to Greece and Italy. The deciding factor was pasta (of course) and also the fact that my cousin's fiancé's family had a flat that we could use. A tenuous link I know, but we were immensely grateful to them as it meant we saved a lot of money.
After landing in Naples we took a Pintour bus to Ravello. The journey took around two hours and it's a lot easier (and quicker) than taking a boat. The flat was around a 5 minute walk from Piazza Centrale (the main square) and 10 minutes to get to the bus stop that would take us to the Amalfi Coast.
The Amalfi Coast is even more stunning in "real-life" than it is in photos. The houses that overlook the sea, balancing on the cliffs, look like pastel blocks perfectly slotted into place. No wonder hotels are expensive here as looking out to the stunning sea view, you feel as if you're floating above water.
The turquoise sea is incredibly inviting and we dedicated several days to sunbathing and swimming. The feeling of weightlessness in the salty water is incomparable: it's just not the same as a chlorine pool. As I bobbed about in the sea I felt infinite. This overwhelming feeling only happens when you're in full "holiday mode".
As Amalfi was our base, it was super easy to go on day trips to other towns along the coast. We went to Capri where it poured down with rain; looking like drowned rats outside Prada was not a good look. We took shelter in a café just off the Piazza Umberto I and had the best hot chocolate.
Additionally, we took a boat to Positano, where I was forced to buy a sun umbrella as there wasn't any shade on the beach! The only consolation was that it was significantly cheaper than hiring a sunbed for the day - one private beach asked for €50. Each. However, it was in Positano where I awarded "best pasta of the trip" to Ohimà Brasserie. Fusilli and roasted vegetables in a rich, creamy sauce - you can't go wrong. Days spent eating pasta and pizza were much needed, and I won't admit how much ice-cream I ate!
A highlight for me was visiting Pompeii. We spent 6 hours there getting lost in the ancient city and we still didn't manage to see it all! Walking around I imagined the people who might've lived. Whether or not they were caught up with trivialities of life, such as deciding what to wear in the mornings or arguing with friends about where to eat.
Now I'm back home in London I have a bout of the holiday blues. I waited two years for a holiday and now it feels as if I can barely wait two weeks.
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