Our 35th Anniversary on Easter Sunday

We woke to another truly magical sunrise over the Amalfi coast waters that morning

fading across our deck

Went downstairs for our buffet breakfast,

Then this morning's walk was going to be a wander around Amalfi itself.

The harbours old marinas

and boardwalk were reasonably quiet in the morning, in the afternoon they were alive with Italian families.

The preparations were well underway for opening up their small beaches with all the deck chairs and umbrellas.

and the "coffee" was already pouring in the cafes

Amalfi's Town Hall

and its mosaic of Amalfi's life!

Another mosaic accompanies the "boy's Vespas"

During our whole walk this magnificent Cathedral Tower was ringing its bells

and when it wasn't one of the other churches on the cliff rang theirs.

Just truly wonderful in my books

In the Cathedral's Piazza is this fountain - quite unusual if you look at the middle lower statue, and seriously the water is just so soft!!

And near Amalfi's marina is the "raining statue". This morning it was full of little goldfish - think the "goldfish fairy" had been in overnight to up the numbers to amuse the kids today (only 3 in this pond last night)

The art galleries and many other stores were opening (for we tourists, I suspect) We wandered back to the hotel to check out the internet and get ready for a late lunch.

There were emails from N.Z. (plus a text from the Kiwi Wroes), USA and Oz emails, and a special print out from Sheffield

and from this River Cruise through Germany on the same day, our great friends, Lois and (Glenn the photographer) raised a glass.

Thank you so much everyone for your great wishes - hmm 35 years!

*****

We had decided to celebrate at the seafood restaurant below - in front of the hotel really. We booked for 3 pm, as today the Italians gather together with all their family and have very long and enthusiastic lunches to celebrate Easter - all dressed incredibly, and the kids/bambinos just looked stunning. We were told if you want quiet, come at 3 pm!!.

Of course there was another surprise, a big cruise liner had docked out the front - great.

Then our hotel kindly brings up a "celebrity" bottle of Spumante to add to our celebration!

We followed this up with a great seafood pasta, followed by desert and coffee Late afternoon, the weather was fading,

but plenty of action on the water with the Cruise liner's "tenders"

Another Liner from the same Company cruised in, they hooted and tooted each other a few times rather outstandingly - sort've like their own bit of music and "ship" dance, then the smaller one left for her overnight destination. Quite wonderful to watch and listen to.

We watched the activity for ages

And the following morning she was gone - slipped out without a sound.

LOVELY DAY - thank you to all for your great wishes.

The Amalfi Coast - Easter Saturday

The plan this day was to travel along the Amalfi Coast via a marine craft to the Isle of Capri, we knew the Island would be a Tourist over-run nightmare, so we decided to at least travel via the coast, taking in a few things along the way - we booked on a smaller craft, rather than a mighty overcrowded ferry.

*****

Our Craft below(slightly smaller than I had expected!)

and Skipper (no english at all, and we - no italian at all!)

11 of us boarded this craft, 3 german girls (who were getting off in Capri to stay for a couple of days), 3 young american couples and the Brig and I.

*****

Absolutely no "lifebelt info" - in fact where are they??? Our Skipper headed south first, we didn't know why - Isle of Capri was definitely north! The sun was shining, and the coastal towns were so picturesque.

Yes, there was a reason for going south - a "grotto"

A very colourful "turquoise" grotto.

Then we turned for the north!

Back past Atrani, the Amalfi

and one of Sophia Loren's abodes - house with the green shutters below.

Just amazed at the buildings on the side of cliffs,

So many centuries old!

We turn into Furore

Apparently kids dive off this bridge

on a Saturday morning!!

Passing Positano

Then we moved out across towards the Isle of Capri

The weather started to change

And of course there were many rock outcrops

that it was necessary for our young Italian skipper

to manoeuvre through!

The clouds were definitely taking over.

The Isle of Capri Lighthouse

We docked in Capri, we had 4 hours to explore - quite honestly it is an absolute zoo, just so many daytrippers like us - packed, and it wasn't even peak season. I didn't take one photo, we decided to find a nice Trattoria up in Anacapri, and sat and relaxed and watched the world rush by - probably took us an hour to get back down to the dock as well. The 3 young American couples, (2 couples on their honeymoon) and the other living at the USA Naval Base in Naples felt the same - to see anything you really need to stay in Capri after the maddening day crowd leaves - like the 3 german girls did.

Anyway, the weather was still a little suss, so we just got on board, hoped it didn't rain, (as we saw no potential cover protection on this craft), and then just talked and talked all the way back along the coast. We had a super time with this group, and by the time we got back to dock in Amalfi, we were a lot warmer,

AND the sun was shining, and the wind had blown elsewhere.

*****

Good Friday, we wandered along the coastal villages via bus, and saw 3 "Crusifix" pageants, including one at night in Amalfi, took some photos, but have decided to leave posting these.