Wednesday June 1
Today looked like rain and I was so glad I had taken the boat to Capri yesterday. This was a good day to write and catch up on laundry. I found a hotel nearby, Hotel San Francesco, that had Wi-fi and would let me sit in their lobby and use it for a reasonable fee.
So I was able to catch up on my blog and writing. While I was there the rain started and it poured for several hours, so I could not have timed it any better. A few people who were on the boat yesterday to Capri were also in the hotel lobby, so we shared a few stories. It’ s always nice to meet people who are as excited as I am about traveling in Italy.
Eventually the rain slowed down to just a drizzle and I decided to head back to he ceramics shop in case I didn’t have a chance tomorrow. I was disappointed that Maria wasn’t there but within a short time she arrived, and I had a chance to take a photo with both them.
They are both so down to earth and just genuinely nice people. I am so glad that I met them. I said my goodbyes but only after Pasquale gave me a special gift for good luck. It was the “occhio di Santa Lucia,” and he explained that it comes from an animal of the sea, and that it has to be given as a gift. I was very touched.
On the way home I decided to return to La Vela for dinner and enjoyed a glass of wine and marinara pizza. Once again, compliments of the restaurant, i was treated to a bibite made with orange, sugar, carbonated water and lemon. It was very refreshing. And once again the seaweed bruschetta appeared at my table. Needless to say I could not eat all this food but it was delicious.
I walked home and decided to go to sleep early, thanks to the wine. Tomorrow is a holiday in Italy. It is the celebration of 150 years as a unified country. It will be interesting to see how a small town celebrates. Buona notte.
Anonymous
We were just in Miori and did a lot of shopping in this ceramic shop. You are right in saying that the people who work there are wonderful. We enjoyed them and now are home enjoying the ceramice we purchased for ourselves and our family.
We stayed at Pietra de la Sole. It was lovely and the sea is beautiful.
Francesca and John
Lori Samarin
I am glad you have such a good, first hand impression of the Amalfi Coast and surrounding areas. Now, I will contact my colleague of whom I spoke to you, a direct descendant of Pope Pacelli from that area, who was going to work w/ me in coordinating my 1st tour in Italy for the LEONARDO Italian Club. I had some reservations only because Naples has had that awful garbage problem ( which I am hopeful that it’s newly elected Mayor, Luigi De Magistris, will take care of). However, I concur with Bonnie D: if you ever decide to retire from nursing, you could conduct your own tours; or, if you prefer, you can work with me anytime!
In as far as the “Festa della Reppublica” or Celebration of the Republic – You are correct in that this year 2011 it celebrates with particular gusto the 150th anniversary of Italy’s Unity. However, The Festa della Repubblica, celebrated each year on June 2nd commemorates the institutional referendum of 1946 when the Italian population decided (by universal suffrage) what form of government to give to the country after W. W II and the end of Fascism.
After 85 years of monarchy under the House of Savoy, Italians voted to be governed as a republic, at which time the monarchs of the House of Savoy were exiled. This is one of the most important Italian public holidays which, like July 14 in France and July 4 in the USA, celebrates the birth of the nation.
Bonnie D.
End of first week with grandgirl Becca. What a lark. The child is perpetual motion. I would drop in on the blog here more often but duty calls. The pictures and the narrative is very tempting and if I had any ties to Italy I think I would probably be investigating a tour. Well, maybe I do have a tie, Ms. Margie, lol.