Day 2 in Sorrento & trip to Capri

I had been watching the weather forecast for the island of Capri for the past week, and today it was for winds up to 46 km per hour, and partly cloudy with light rain. But there was no way around it, today was the day I'd booked a last minute private tour of Capri, and we were very lucky to be able to book a tour with the top-rated Trip Advisor company for Capri - 'Tours of Capri'. So, a couple of Sea Legs each for breakfast, and we were away!

The instructions were to meet our guide at 8:10 am in the area of Piazza Tasso where several flags were flying. We arrived 5 minutes early, and our guide, Maria, was moments after that. She walked us down to the harbour and bought tickets for the Ferry (which had space for drive-on cars as well), managing to get us on an earlier sailing at the very last minute, thus giving us extra time in Capri. During the day, Maria bought tickets whenever required, and seemed to know everyone wherever we went - she saved us SO much time and the tour was at a good pace, not rushed.

The Ferry was very crowded and the journey took about 30 minutes until our arrival at the main pier in Marina Grande. Maria, a resident of Capri, had been up at 5:30 am to travel across and pick us up. She had a private taxi waiting as we disembarked, and we were straight off up the steep road (known as the 'Mama Mia' road because of its steepness and narrowness - but we were already desensitised by the roads on the Amalfi Coast).

We were driven up to the high part of the island, to the other main town of Capri - Anacapri - where Maria announced that we were going on the chairlift up to the top of the highest point on the island (Mount Solaro, 589m high) - "Mama Mia" indeed! The chairlift consisted of single seats taking an amazing 15 minute ride across gardens with fruit trees and vegetables, and then up past rocky outcrops and cliffs, with fabulous views over Anacapri.

At the top of the mountain was a look-out area from where we could see the three rocks that feature in most of the photos of Capri (the Faraglione Rocks), and the area near the Blue Grotto (the main sight and 'must-do' experience on the island). The wind was up by now, so the idea of visiting the Grotto was off (and Maria said that this was in fact the fifth day that it had been closed).

 

We headed back down in the chairlift and Maria showed us some of the sights of Anacapri. It certainly was a beautiful, picturesque and very tidy town. We did a little shopping here (cheaper than in Capri town) and I bought some lemon and green tea perfume, some more little bottles of Limoncello, and a beach bag for on the ship.

Maria offered us two choices for lunch, and we chose the family restaurant that makes its own wine and grows its own organic fruit and vegetables. We were picked up by a driver from the restaurant, and driven for 10 minutes along an incredibly narrow road, that you'd think must surely be one way only (no, it wasn't)!

The Restaurante da Gelsomina was at an amazing spot, with one of those big swimming pools with a view that you see on movies. We went for a walk through their garden first and had wonderful views yet again. Then we settled at a table with a lovely view over the ocean. Maria had recommended a few items off the menu, and soon David and I were sipping organic white wine, and sharing a first course of prosciutto with fresh figs and melon - divine. Next David had swordfish and I ("Mama Mia") dined on gluten free pasta with asparagus and shrimps in a lovely light sauce.

 

 

 

 

After that lovely meal (my best yet in Italy) we were back in the van for the ride back down to Anacapri. By now we hardly batted an eyelid when cars and motorbikes pulled out in front of us, or tried to squeeze past.

A taxi was waiting to take us back down to Capri. Maria had, in the meantime, found out that some sailings were finishing earlier because of the wind making the sea rough. So, we would have to make sure we were on the last sailing back to Sorrento at the now earlier time of 3:20 pm. What would we have done without her?!

 

 

We headed back through Capri centre for a short trip on the famous funicular (cable car) to take us back down the cliff to the Pier to join the huge crowd for the trip back to Sorrento. This is where we farewelled Maria. The sea was certainly a lot more rough, so we were lucky to have been able to have had such an amazing day.

 

Back in Sorrento, David and I took the lift back up the cliff from the port, rather than walking up the long, steep way. For 1 Euro each we were whisked up in 20 seconds. Back in our hotel room by 4:10 pm, I was soon sound asleep. After the lovely lunch, we decided we didn't need any dinner, and David was feeling a bit off-colour again, so we stayed in and watched TV and dozed.