Back With A Bang

With the unwelcome arrival of winter (cue torrential downpour and icy blizzard), I thought there could not be a more fitting opportunity for my return back to the blogosphere than the sharing of my most recent cheeky getaway to the mesmerising Amalfi coast. 

For a mere five days and four nights, the boy and I were whisked away to the jaw-droppingly beautiful Positano, otherwise known as Amalfi's more peaceful and sophisticated sister. We used Positano as a base from which to visit the neighbouring towns of Amalfi, Ravello, Capri, Anacapri and Praiano by local bus, taxi, cable car and boat. This trip was one that could only be conjured up again in dreams. From the guesthouse we stayed in, to the restaurants we dined in, to the views we took in, everything was pure perfection. However, like most paradises, Positano is impossibly difficult to get to, without either signing your life away or spending a small fortune. Its was a toss up between a 100 euro cab fare and a 3 euro coach journey and unfortunately in our case, reason triumphed over extravagance so 2.5 hours of nail biting, cliff hanger cruising from Naples, we arrived in our Positano paradise. 

We stayed | It is worth bearing in mind that everywhere in Positano is expensive. So unless you fancy playing house under a cliff at the beach it is definitely worth factoring accommodation into your budget. We stayed at La Casa di Peppe, a home away from home run by none other than Peppe himself. The gardens and residence are designed for a romantic getaway, the views from the balcony are breathtaking and hospitality is faultless. Most importantly, there is an outdoor jacuzzi in the gardens overlooking the sea. Need I say any more...

We ate | The Michelen star wine bar Next 2. Even with a power cut and a non functioning oven, this restaurant pulled out all the stops and was by far our favourite. Another great find was the anti-italian organic cafe Casa e Bottega, which serves up nutritious salads, smoothies and gluten free cakes.

We visited | Where didn't we go?! The hustle and bustle of Amalfi, the cobbled streets of Ravello (including the spot where my best friend was proposed to!), the glamour of Capri and its sleepier sister, Anacapri. We also briefly passed the fishing village of Praiano and tabbed it for another time. We didn't make it to Sorrento or Pompeii and if I was pedantic (which I assure you I am not), Sorrento isn't actually on the Amalfi coast but actually part of the Bay of Naples. 

The highlight of the trip was watching an impromptu ballet rehearsal on the beach after a speedy boat ride back from Capri. 

...A poetic finale to such an unforgettable holiday.