05-02 Boat Ride to the Amalfi Coast

We had wanted to take a wild bus ride along the Amalfi Coast but our hotel manager suggested a leisurely boat ride that would include both of our destination cities - Amalfi and Positano. So, for $38e each we went with the boat people.

A bus picked us up at our hotel and meandered through the hills until we got to Nerano at the Marina del Cantone on the other side of the peninsula. We paid and boarded our boat and headed for the city of Amalfi.

Along the way we saw an old prison on an island, many nice pleasure boats, and some fisherman.

Arriving in Amalfi under sunny, warm skies we proceeded to shop up the hill all the while looking for the Paper Museum.

It was near the top of road we could walk. We had a nice chat with one of the two tour guides while waiting for the other tour to get back. We learned a little about the mill and the paper it made. When our time to tour came (about 30 minutes later) we were led to the basement and shown all the machines they used throughout the years. I got to put a screen into the pulpy water and after draining the water I rolled the wet paper pulp onto the felt pad for drying. Eventually it would be dry enough to be pressed further into paper. The "tour" was too short after the 1/2 hour wait but we moved on without grumbling.

We had a light lunch (fried potato flour and a hotdog wrapped in a pizza roll with mozzarilla cheese) while on the move and finished off with some gelato a little later. Our group of 60 reboarded the boat and off we went for Positano.

A trek on shore back into a "green grotto" was offered during out cruise to Positano for an additional $5e. We declined, but 1/2 the boat got off in a small cove and took the tour. Those remaining on board relaxed a little ways off shore while those more fortunate got to see "green water in a cave".

They gave us a couple of hours to see Positano and that was more than enough since it seemed smaller than Amalfi.

I think the hill here may have been steeper also. Nothing much to do in the town but shop and eat gelato - our two favorite pasttimes. We found a nice short, steep hike along the water and found a place to sit and eat some chocolate that we had purchased earlier.

The ride back to the starting point was a bit windy and spray occasionally came in the window. We arrived back in town around 5:30p and then took the bus back to our hotel.

We decided to have dinner AT the hotel and it turned out great - great tasting and a great view. Karen had chicken and roasted potatoes. I had a wonderful steak - real meat once again.