Day 3 in Amalfi - Saturday 14 September

After breakfast today, I had to call Salvatore of Drive Amalfi about the error I'd noted with our transfer coming up on Wednesday. I also arranged a transfer from Amalfi to Sorrento on Monday, with brief photo stops along the way. It was good to actually speak with the person I've emailed and arranged trips with for this tour, as well as back in 2009.

At 9:30 am we caught the ferry to Positano. We had good seats in the fresh air on top of the boat for the scenic 25 minute trip along the coast. It was amazing watching the houses perched precariously on the steep, rocky cliffs and hill tops.

We could also see the three small islands situated a few hundred metres offshore, the legendary haunt of the Sirens who tempted Ulysses and his men.

It was incredibly busy in Positano, with 'tidal waves' of tourists sweeping down the maze of streets and alleyways towards us and into the town.

We had a look in the main church, Santa Maria Assunta with its characteristic cupola in colored majolica, and wandered gradually upwards along a main alleyway, sitting for a while to wait for Jan and Steve, and happening to be near a guide talking to a group of tourists. We listened to some of what she was telling them, but our ears pricked up when she mentioned an earthquake in the town around 30 years ago that had left cracks that you could still see in another church, and she assured the tourists that although the town was on a fault line, they only had small earthquakes... We soon walked past that church, and had a look inside. Sure enough...

David and I headed up and along the narrow one-way roads to get some lovely views down onto the town. By the time we got down again it seemed to have got much hotter and busier (seemed much hotter than the forecast 29C), and we were starting to wilt. We met up again with the Barrows, and Steve and I kept a shady seat while Jan and David headed off to find some paninis for lunch. I had a fruit smoothy, VERY refreshing!

Three hours was plenty of time in this town and we purchased tickets back to Amalfi on the 1:30 pm ferry sailing - we couldn't wait to escape the heat and crowds. We wandered around for another 30 minutes while we waited for the ferry to arrive, visited the Tourist Information centre and Steve bought his second new pair of shoes.

Back in Amalfi, we felt like we'd arrived 'home', and staggered into the cafe/bar that has become our haunt. After some refreshments we headed back to our rooms to blob out, and have an afternoon nap.

The temperature was a little cooler, with a slight sea breeze as we headed out for dinner at 6:30 pm, finding a nice little family taverna where we enjoyed a good meal.