Naples, Italy (Itinerary)

We walked around Naples on the 2012 World Cruise, so this time we got out of town on an 8 1/2-hour bus excursion to Sorrento and along the Amalfi Coast. We'd participated in only one previous ship-sponsored excursion, but this one seemed worthwhile and it was.

We started early. The sunrise reflected from this port building. We liked the horses adorning either end of the building.

From the bus as we near the city of Sorrento. It is built on a sheer rock cliff.

 
We got off the bus and were to meet at a certain time & place for lunch. We liked this gnarly olive tree near an old fortification.

 
What we didn't realize is that this picturesque restaurant with the wisteria arbor would be our lunch restaurant. Our meet up place was near an inlaid wood operation. We skipped the demonstration and began our explorations.

We think this graphic indicates that people saw a flying saucer from their ships, which then sent down looping tubes that sucked up all their wine... (Google translates the the Latin as, "and will guide you always." )

And now it appeared to be a coffee house.

We loved the street restaurants: so much charm.

 
A female police officer in her shiny blue jacket.

 
We caught a glimpse of some arches in this courtyard and went in for a closer look. It was quite ancient and very charming.

"Praised be my Lord with all Your creatures." St. Francis.

 
There was a pleasant park and walkway long the top edge of the cliff with various statues and monuments.

There are elevators to get way down to the cabanas on the beach.

 
A cliff-side restaurant...

 
We walked inland to find other interesting neighborhoods to see.

 
This imposing structure is now a pizzeria.

 
A shop dog keeps watch over the ceramics.

   
A simple church entrance with a pink interior.

We loved all the gourds hanging from the rafters of this balcony and window.

 
A mixed bag of sculpture in a square. The sign is for the pointed one.

 
The charmingly arched city hall.

 
St. Bernadette watches over the courtyard.

 
We headed back toward the waterside cliff area because it was time for lunch.

 
A very old, but charming restaurant served up a nice meal and oodles of atmosphere.

 
While waiting for the rest of the group to finish lunch, we walked around the old fortification nearby, which was called "Old Walls." The English translation of the rules for behavior there made us giggle.

 
The view over the citrus grove toward the restaurant and back in another direction down the stairs.

Another view from the top of the fort.

 
We all walked down to the waterfront decorated by a few fountains and where the bus picked us up.

From the bus...

The road along the Amalfi Coast is narrow and precariously supported by old stone arches.

The traffic was quite heavy and often stopped while bus drivers driving in opposing directions had to get out of their vehicles to plot a way that they could pass. Our guide said that all the busses are supposed to go in only one direction along the coast, but not everyone paid attention to that rule and our bus had to stop several times along the way.

A model of the Amalfi Coast has been constructed near the road.

We finally came into Amalfi itself. See the Wikipedia Amalfi page for more details and history.