April 20, 2008
Late in the afternoon great sheets of fog blew in from the sea and everything was completely covered in swirling drifting clouds of fog. The fog was still thick at night when we strolled into Praiano for dinner at Le Brace. As we walked down the hill in the fading light we could see that lower Praiano was completely shrouded in thick white fog. A shelf of fog about 300 feet down blanketed water and land. Half of Positano was visible and lights were twinkling, but the lower half was wiped out by the thick fog. It looked like we were in the sky walking on top of clouds. With the bright moon overhead and the sharp line of rolling fog below the effect was otherworldly. So mysterious! So lovely! Some of the local townspeople had climbed the hill we were walking down to look out over the bay and down on the bank of fog lit up by the moon.
April 23, 2008 Wednesday noon, Balcone di Lucile – Sitting at a table on a wide lawn overlooking the sea, which today is the color of slate blue and aqua green patchwork. In your mind you know such places with beauty this ripe exist, but when the book is open and the images are pulled out one by one and set in front of you it’s difficult to imagine they are real.
Our iced coffee cocktails just arrived in martini glasses. We ordered the Mediterraneo which consists of espresso, zucchero, limoncello, buccia d’ arancia, and crema di latte. Milky tasty bliss. And a white tableclothed table to sit and record every detail.
We took the morning SITA bus back to Ravello and this time were delighted to avoid the Mt. Kilimanjaro staircase leading to the 2nd bus. Adding to our positive attitudes (aside from the fact that we are in Italy), the sun came out and our jackets have been stowed away in our purses. We are here at Villa Cimbrone to see the outstanding gardens & grounds.
100% lovely and amazing.
Later we’ll stop for lunch then down to Minori on the world’s longest staircase we’ll go.
April 23, 2008 Spectacular views across the mountains and valleys lush with groves of lemon, olive, and fig trees. Vegetable gardens filled with lettuce, cabbage, every imaginable green edible growing thing.
Even the ground under the grape vines is planted. A giant fruit and vegetable basket built into the terraced hills. The curving paths cling to steep slopes with so much green you cannot take it all in. When we finally make it to Minori it is late afternoon. Sister is ready to climb back up, but the descent has exhausted me. I stare at her and blink, then drag myself to a bench and try to decide what is wrong with her. One last long staircase down into Minori and we catch the bus back home along the coast road.
The first 2 photos in this post are stunning!
HI MARY ANN!
I love your journals, such gorgeous little works of art! In fact, you’ve inspired me to continue with my art to A-level. I realise its a little irrelevant to this particular post but I was unsure where else to put this; would would you class as your journal essential with a budget of a little over £30 pounds (around $75)? I want to get started on my own interpretations!
Many thanks,
Molly
xxxxxxxxxxx
omg!
so beautiful.
i love that fog.
love, love, love.
so.
must.
go.
to.
italy.
no artfest for me either for the next 3 years, so i can go to italy one day.
I’m going to sit down on that bench
with you for awhile
breathing in the green
absorbing the moist fog
have I died and gone to heaven?
just wondering…
I will wander here for eternity
xox – eb.
I could weep, these photos are so lovely!
Sharon
That last (fantastic!) photo say it all—that’s the very feeling I travel for! Taking it all in, relaxing, being somewhere bewitching and taking it all in! I’m enjoying this trip with you more than I can say!
stunning-thanks for letting us live vicariously through your pictures & words…
Loving your blog! Wonderful trip, gorgeous photos…delightful! Italy is so attractive!
Susan, no tripod – Mostly automatic settings for all the photos. A few done in NATURAL LIGHT setting. Moon photo done by slowing down the shutter speed via the NIGHT setting.
Again with the camera eye! wowie! Thank you for inviting us all into your world.
Were you using the camera’s autmatic settings most of the time or doing some fiddling around. And what did you do to capture the moon so? Is there a tripod involved, what kind of settings?
Your trip! I’m lurking there with you.
Julie – This is the beauty of European travel in mid-spring. You take a chance on some showers, but avoid the throngs of summer tourists. Most of the travelers we saw in the Amalfi Coast at this time were other Italians/Europeans. Nothing against Americans, but I’d prefer not to see (or hear) them when I travel. On the walking paths from village to village we encountered hardly anyone. Perfect!
The air in my room seems fresher and clearer as I look at your photographs. So real that I feel I am here too. I breathe in the bliss and feel ready for a new day. Thank you dear heart.
Oooops! Sorry for copying your word, Carol…must have been a subconscious slip….I’ll say” I’m speechless”and shut up!
Breath-takingly beautiful! You capture it so well with your camera and your words…. amazing.
Another post of breathtakingly beautiful photos creating a strong urge for an Italian trip. Or at the very least-pasta and wine for dinner tonight. Thankyou!
You have got to be kidding. Those photos are from a dream, aren’t they?