Praiano to Positano then Sorrento (and Capri)

We bade a fond farewell to Hotel Onda Verde and drove to Positano. This was arguably some of the most difficult driving for Mr F so far. A combination of narrow roads, lots of traffic, pedestrians and oncoming buses and vans made this 30 minute journey seem much longer! It was a case of pull in the side-mirrors and be brave! We parked up hill from Positano in one of the managed parking lots and MoneyPenny always gets a lot of love from the parking guys. The walk down to the main town is a decent one (and on the way back) and the pretty village spills down the hill to the sea. However, when you get down there it is very touristy, so be prepared for that.

We then drove on to our destination at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Sorrento. This had been recommended by one of our daughters. It opened in 1962 which I feel is meaningfull since that is the year of my birth! The hotel was designed by Gio Ponti and is perched on the edge on the cliff amidst beautiful gardens. We enjoyed swimming in the beautiful Mediterranean and the sunsets are absolutely gorgeous.

On the first night we were woken at 4.00am by a massive storm. Glassware and furniture was smashing everywhere above our room and the wind was SOOO incredibly strong. It was like a mini-hurricane! The emergency lighting kept going on an off and it finally abated after about an hour. Some pics of the damage below.

We walked to Sorrento after breakfast (and Mr F also checked the MoneyPenny was OK in the carpark). Sorrento has a real soul and is a vibrant city from our point of view and we really like it. We caught the ferry to Capri from the port area which was relatively easy as they leave every 20 minutes or so. Capri is not far and the ferry ride was about 45 minutes in duration. You need to book your return journey at this time of year to ensure that you get back.

Capri is a beautiful place. Unfortunately the Grotti Azzura (Blue Grotto) was closed due to the strong winds. This had been one of my 'must-do' things but it's well documented that it is very dependent on the seas and weather conditions. Maybe next time. We had a lovely lunch by the port (bruschetta, insalate caprese and small pizza) watching boats come and go, the local kids playing with silly string and taking in the breeze. We saw a car ferry arrive which is worth noting for people who want to bring their own vehicle onto the island. The main town is up on the top of the island and the vehicular access is very limited. We took the funicular to the top and walked to the Belvedere di Cannone with magnificent views to reward us. I can't believe how some of the homes manage to have such beautiful lush gardens in such a rocky and dry location. Perfecto!