From Ischia to Conca dei Marini
We got ready to leave Ischia by enjoying a few last local pastries.
And then hiked around a mountain before meeting the bus to leave.
The bus was at full-capacity with people and just when you thought you couldn't squeeze in any more people the doors opened and a lady with her baby in a stroller shoved her way on.
Everyone parted and basically sandwiched onto one another like the Red Sea to make room for the precious little curly-haired baby. In Southern Italy babies are magical and treated like something super special by everyone. Everyone feels a claim to take care of and nurture the baby. Once the baby started fussing she was passed around a couple of times in the bus to console her, and when her stop arrived the people once again parted like the Red Sea and everyone that could gave a helping hand to lower the stroller carefully and make sure she had kisses and waves to signal her departure. The bus driver also participated hollering back if she was out and down and on the sidewalk safely.
I felt I was leaving an island of wonder in Ischia and that I had barely started to discover it. I felt like my sore legs and sun-bunt skin in some way understood Ischia more than my mind could as if like the nature of my body felt something with the topography and ground in Ischia that my mind couldn't comprehend.
The life there is beautiful and rustic and challenging on the body but so nourishing for the mind. I definitely want to go back again and see more of this island I really started to love.
Taking the ferry boat back to Naples was intense. All the passengers had to put their luggage at the front of the ferry boat for the ride back and I envisioned our luggages flying in the air and splashing into the water as the ferry hit a wave.
That didn't happen. But the wave and chaos of people to get off the ferry was just as bad. There was no order and all the tourists were shoving and petrified that someone would steal their luggage and run off with their postcards and underwear so shoved and pushed and huffed and puffed over each other to get their precious cargo. Once again, I was glad to have brought only a carry-on and my small purse. It made escaping the chaos so much easier. It was like the difference between shopping at Costco and having a huge grocery bag and having the small grocery bag to carry and run with only bread.
We made it to Portici, picked up my Mom in law, and whisked her away with us for a few days to the Amafi coast to Conca dei Marini.
Where the streets of Sant' Angelo in Ischia are built like a roller coaster, the streets of Amalfi and the same roller coaster but horizontal and built really for one car and a half. There is no point in being afraid of traffic or roads in Amalfi because it will ruin the entire trip. I resigned that this is the way it is and to not be scared and just be. Possibly learned helplessness, but if you can't escape your fear it is better to chose to not be afraid and enjoy what surrounds your fear if that makes any sense.
Anyway, we made it to our hosts house in Conca dei Marini. It was built on the side of a cliff with an incredible view of the crystal blue sea, and an old Roman tower that had been built over centuries old grave yard. The view from there was nothing less than spectacular.
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| Goodbye Ischia! |
And then hiked around a mountain before meeting the bus to leave.
The bus was at full-capacity with people and just when you thought you couldn't squeeze in any more people the doors opened and a lady with her baby in a stroller shoved her way on.
 |
Everyone parted and basically sandwiched onto one another like the Red Sea to make room for the precious little curly-haired baby. In Southern Italy babies are magical and treated like something super special by everyone. Everyone feels a claim to take care of and nurture the baby. Once the baby started fussing she was passed around a couple of times in the bus to console her, and when her stop arrived the people once again parted like the Red Sea and everyone that could gave a helping hand to lower the stroller carefully and make sure she had kisses and waves to signal her departure. The bus driver also participated hollering back if she was out and down and on the sidewalk safely.
I felt I was leaving an island of wonder in Ischia and that I had barely started to discover it. I felt like my sore legs and sun-bunt skin in some way understood Ischia more than my mind could as if like the nature of my body felt something with the topography and ground in Ischia that my mind couldn't comprehend.
The life there is beautiful and rustic and challenging on the body but so nourishing for the mind. I definitely want to go back again and see more of this island I really started to love.
Taking the ferry boat back to Naples was intense. All the passengers had to put their luggage at the front of the ferry boat for the ride back and I envisioned our luggages flying in the air and splashing into the water as the ferry hit a wave.
That didn't happen. But the wave and chaos of people to get off the ferry was just as bad. There was no order and all the tourists were shoving and petrified that someone would steal their luggage and run off with their postcards and underwear so shoved and pushed and huffed and puffed over each other to get their precious cargo. Once again, I was glad to have brought only a carry-on and my small purse. It made escaping the chaos so much easier. It was like the difference between shopping at Costco and having a huge grocery bag and having the small grocery bag to carry and run with only bread.
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| "Get out of my way!" said in every language = cultural diversity and cross-cultural pollination, sort of. |
We made it to Portici, picked up my Mom in law, and whisked her away with us for a few days to the Amafi coast to Conca dei Marini.
Where the streets of Sant' Angelo in Ischia are built like a roller coaster, the streets of Amalfi and the same roller coaster but horizontal and built really for one car and a half. There is no point in being afraid of traffic or roads in Amalfi because it will ruin the entire trip. I resigned that this is the way it is and to not be scared and just be. Possibly learned helplessness, but if you can't escape your fear it is better to chose to not be afraid and enjoy what surrounds your fear if that makes any sense.
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| Breathtaking view, till a bus flies around the corner, taking the entire road and really takes your breath away! |
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| Welcome to the road or the cliff. Sometimes you choose, sometimes your cling on with your nails and stay on the road. |
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| Tight turns. |
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| Tiny tunnels. You must share. Not everyone knows. |
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| Squeezing around parked cars. There are no parking garages so.... yeah... |
Anyway, we made it to our hosts house in Conca dei Marini. It was built on the side of a cliff with an incredible view of the crystal blue sea, and an old Roman tower that had been built over centuries old grave yard. The view from there was nothing less than spectacular.
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| Our view. Not bad after surviving the drive! |
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| Fishing boats in a crystal blue sea. Fatty and Bentley would get crazy watching the fish swing in the water from a boat! |
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| I love how calm and clear the sea is. It makes seeing how deep you are swiming so much easier. |
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| Buona notte from Amafli where time moves slowly, pizza cooked quickly and moods are jolly. |
Che bello! Passate da Cmare?
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