Pizza and Pasta: the REAL McCoy

Monday was sort of a day of R&R.  After Positano, Amalfi, and Pompeii in the past couple days we decided we should have a reading day so from breakfast until 5:30 it was sit on that beautiful balcony, in the sun and 75 degree weather with a slight breeze just to make it perfect and read.  We did travel reading, spiritual reading, and even a little junk reading.  There was basically no haze on the Bay of Naples today so every time we looked up we were reminded of how blessed we are to be right here right now.  We took about a 45 minute walk in the middle of the day just to be sure we were still alive and got some pics of some of the lemon trees right next to the hotel.  The trees are heavy with lemons right now.  

It might have been a boring day, but that's what we like for some part of our vacations.  We need to "vacate" our busyness and empty out the minds some.  Happens best for Chris and me when we intentionally spend some parts of each week simply sitting around.  And if we can do it in this setting, where God is powerfully present in the beauty of the land, we are doubly refreshed.  

But today might not have warranted any entry... except for dinner.  We took the shuttle into Sorrento and found a small pizzeria named di Gigino.  In my internet research it kept getting mentioned as one of the best casual pizzierias in town.  We were looking for simple pizza and pasta, which is what this area, Naples and Sorrento, are known for.  

It looked like it could be a movie set when we walked up.  Tables outside filled up.  Inside was a small place with tables bunched close, a small bar and the room was dominated by their wood-burning oven that looked 100 years old.  From the menu we chose the basic pizza - Buffalo mozzerella cheese, basil, local tomatoes for the pizza, and spaghetti carbonara, and some house red wine.  

Chris and I agreed.  It was the best pizza we had ever had - and we've had some of the best including New York, Chicago, CPK, Stella's, and lots of Italian places in Rhode Island that I thought would never be beaten.  The pasta was perfect.  Cooked just right, with sauce and spices and a little bacon...  WOW!  In a way it is good we discovered the place on the next to last night because I would be there every day for lunch and gain back all my weight in one week in one place.  After dinner... well you guessed it, we found another place for gelato!  You know it's just research trying to find the best.  And then we found another limoncello, so Chris could continue her similar quest for the best after dinner (and after gelato) drink.  

One more day and we will be driving out of the south of Italy into Umbria.  One more day of the best pasta and seafood.  One more day of scenery we only expect in the movies.

God is good.

See you soon.

Bob and Chris

A visit to Pompeii: Day Four

It's late and we've had a long and very good day so this will be shorter than past reports, but here we go.  

We started slowly today.  It seems that the tiredness may have kicked in, or the 1000 steps in Amalfi (Chris is now arguing for 2500) took their toll.  But before noon we were on the shuttle.  We took the "Circumvesuvian" train line to Pompeii.  It is a local line that stopped often and included folks in suits along with assorted street folks, people who might have had mental problems and beggars.  We had about 30 minutes of travel, all fine.  We've now done planes, trains and automobiles -- including buses and minivans.  (Is there a movie title in there??)

Getting off at Pompeii we made our way up to the ticket booth, ignoring the 4 guides all telling us that it would be the best $30 each investment of the day to employ them for a detailed explanation of every possible exhibit.  As the day went longer we were very pleased that we had resisted because it was a LONG day and to listen more would have tested our patience.  

The tour was very interesting in places.  The ruins are very well described and documented.  The excavated city is huge.  After a few hours we had still only seen about 3/4 and were out of gas.  After assuring we had hit the highlights we headed back to the train station.  

A little gelato managed to pick us up enough for the ride home.

Back in Sorrento we found the Roman Catholic cathedral where the Anglican priest celebrates a Holy Eucharist each Sunday night at 5:00 p.m.  This is Emily Starnes' priest from Naples, a Brit who is working as a chaplain for the Royal Navy.  There were about 20 of us for the service.  No singing (missed our choir!), but a liturgy that was very comfortable - seemed to be a mix of the Anglican Book with some Episcopal Church BCP thrown in.  

Back to the hotel for some pasta for supper.  You can see the photo of the sunset.  We can eat on the balcony and that is the view tonight!  

Tomorrow will be a quieter day.  We may hit Capri or we may just do some Sorrento things left yet.  Or it may be a day for reading on our balcony.  None of those would be bad.  

You all have been in our prayers this Sunday and Mothers' Day.  Hope it was full of blessings on your end.  

Bob and Chris

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

Sorrento - Finding our way

Every day keeps proving what a great idea this happened to be!  This afternoon we took the shuttle into downtown.  It's a 15 minute ride and drops us off at the "Meeting Place" which is basically at the town center right outside what was once the main gate of the walled city.  

First stop - you can guess: pizza and gelato!  Good simple neapolitan pizza... then across the street for 3 scoops each of perfect gelato for both Chris and me.  Then we made our way through town looking in shops, churches, and parks.  We had to test taste lemoncello again and some lemon cream.  Everything here has lemon in it.  And there are lemon trees all over the place including out our back door.  When we got tired of walking we stopped for an expresso - or cafe' macchiato.  Again, it was perfect.  Do you notice a trend?

With a couple hours to go before dinner, we knew we would need a pick-up so we did the obvious - gelato again.  More walking to justify the gelato indulgence and then to dinner at one of the higher rated places here - Delfino.  It is a seafood restaurant at the Marina Grande area.  You walk down a steep steep passage... maybe couple hundred steps?  (Chris thinks at least 400! -- but it was a long way whatever it is.  And we walked down and then back up!)

The meal and staff were outstanding.  We started with a Peroni beer and 30 minutes to contemplate since the restaurant wasn't yet open.  We are ready to eat much earlier than the Italians.  Then, complimentary bruschetta, ravioli (really great taste), mussels and clams in garlic sauce, and lemon roasted sea bass.  molto buono!  Some good house white wine and complimentary lemoncello to finish us off.  

We walked back up the steps you already heard about.  And guess what was our reward?  Gelato!  

Back home on the shuttle and the day is ending...  A very good day two... 

MADE IT!!!

Long day of traveling and will write a longer entry to describe it after we have made our first excursion today.  The short version is: everything was on time, all the luggage arrived as planned, Emily Starnes was there to pick us up in Rome and got us to Sorrento last night.  

We had a wonderful wonderful wonderful greeting at the hotel - Il Nido - and found that our room has the most beautiful view anyone could possibly ask for.  Then we ate our first Italian feast at the hotel and it was the perfect beginning.  Emily joined us for supper.  We had a full liter of house wine and a lemoncello to top it off.  

Reason for quick, short entry when there is so much more to tell is that in five minutes we are headed into Sorrento.  Dino, the hotel owner said the next shuttle wasn't for about 90 minutes, but there wasn't much happening and he'd get us a ride now.  Hospitality!  So we are headed on in and tonight I will tell you more about what's up.

Bottom line... marvelous!  Ciao!

Finally... almost ready?

It is 9:14 p.m. and I am home and it is time to start packing!  Hope it goes quickly...  It was a very productive day today, probably because it HAD TO BE.  Now for packing well and fast and getting some sleep possibly.  Then, 8:15 a.m. and we are on the road.  Saying our prayers for good weather, good passage and the beginning of a good time.

Getting Ready

It is Monday night and both Chris and I are finally getting to the point where most of our work might be completed.  Chris has been doing grading work tonight so they can be turned in tomorrow.  Then TCC is done!  I have been doing little notes and making lists to give to Judie, Ashley and Elizabeth tomorrow and then even if there is more to do, it is impossible!  

We talked to Greg tonight.  He is our world traveler who just got back from Cancun recently.  He was telling us about his schedule for the summer move to Medellin, Columbia.  Italy seems tame.

Haven't started picking out clothes etc.  The plan is to pack as simply and skimpily as possible.  that's Tuesday night.  Wednesday morning our friend, Judy Kuhns, picks us up and takes us to the Norfolk airport and the adventure begins.