Amalfi Coast - Day Three

OK... This might sound hard to believe, but each day is full of more and better.

We actually got up early enough for breakfast this morning at the IL Nido.  It also was great.  They have this juicer that you put in two whole oranges, punch the button and out comes a full glass of fresh squeezed OJ.  Plus next to it was an expresso machine.  Even if the eggs, bacon, cereal and pastries hadn't been really good, breakfast would have been a winner.  But enough about breakfast.  The adventure continued.

Outside the hotel we picked up the local bus line.  6 Euros got us all day passes.  45 minutes later we were in Positano.  The city is featured in movies often because it is so scenic.  The houses are built up the side of the mountain that forms a bowl with the beach at the bottom.  The bus let us out at the top and we made our way down a thousand steps (Chris says 2500 at least).  There are a couple shopping areas half way down and 3/4 down.  Very stylish place with tons of dress shops and art galleries.  At the bottom we walked in the Mediterranean Sea and watch the beautiful people.  Had a pizza and started back up.  We knew we needed a better means of returning to the top.  When we got half-way we looked for a taxi and found out there was a much closer bus stop that we could have taken to begin with!  So we hiked 1/3 as much for the way up and jumped on the bus again - this time going farther east to Amalfi.  

Another 30 minutes and we were in Amalfi.  It is about the same size.  Not as fancy but more regular stores.  The Doumo - the cathedral church - is the highlight.  It has a crypt where the bones of St. Andrew were brought during the Crusades and buried under the altar.  It was a very sacred space and we dwelt there in thanksgiving for Andrew a while longer.  They also had a statue for St. Bridget of Sweden who had visited to pray at the tomb of Andrew.  Plus 1000 year old chalices and miters and chausables... it was quite the place for a priest!

Some gelato for the journey and it was back on the bus to head home.  Dinner was at Don Pedro's - which sounds like a local Mexican place but is actually one of the local food favorites and is in walking distance of our hotel.  Good meal again.  Pasta, lemon veal, shrimp, squid, house wine and eggplant.  And of course a little lemoncello to top it off.  

That's enough for Day three.  LOTS of walking today.  A little stiff, but feeling good.  Maybe it will be Capri tomorrow?  We also have a lead on the Anglican service, thanks to Emily Starnes.  Check out a new album of pics on FACEBOOK for seeing some of what we saw.

Hope you are well.  Thanks for your prayers.  Know that you are in ours...

Bob and Chris