ITALY 2023 : 9/12/2023 AMALFI: Amalfi Resort, Capri, pool time, dinner Bar Della Valle

I have decided that today is a nice day weather wise to go to Capri. First we'll have breakfast at the hotel. Richard has chosen cheese, rolls, juice. I get fruit, juice, croissant, cake. I think we both get cappuccino. Still too much food.

We walk down to the waterfront area where I buy 2 round trip tickets for Capri leaving at 9:35 am. I select a return time of 4:25 pm. Cost for the 2 of us, round trip 92€/$99.00. We board the boat and all the upper deck seats are taken. Bummer. We have to sit inside. We make a stop at Positano for more people on their way to Capri. It takes around 90 minutes to get there.

Leaving Amalfi

Approaching Positano

Positano

Leaving Positano

We land at Marina Grande in Capri. I've decided to do the boat tour around Capri first. Motoscafisti. At dock N. O. Yellow line which is the full experience. Cost for the 2 of us 44€/$47.35. This takes around 70 minutes. Commentary is also provided so we knew what we were seeing. Some sights we saw-White Grotto, Villa Malaparte, Natural Arch, Faraglioni, Marina Piccola, Green Grotto, Punta Carena Lighthouse, Blue Grotto. When we went through the Faraglioni opening we were told it's customary to kiss your partener and/or make a wish. We didn't stop at the Blue Grotto as there were so many boats waiting for their turn. We're told when we get back to harbor we can take a different boat that just goes to the Blue Grotto. A Blue Grotto visit was included in the cost of the tickets I bought.

Marina Grande Capri

Boat tour tickets

Our boat

Leaving Marina Grande

Marina Piccola

Approaching Faraglioni

Leaving

Empty inside seats

Busy at the Blue Grotto

Returning to Marina Grande

Getting off the boat

When we return back to the harbor/port I've decided not to do a return boat to the Blue Grotto. It's not that high on my list of things I want to do with the time we have. We find the line for a taxi. I want to take a taxi to Anacapri for some sightseeing. Then we'll return to Capri town before heading back to the harbor to catch the return ferry back to Amalfi. There's lots of people in this line with luggage. Appears they will be staying on Capri. The line is long. Within 30 minutes we see only 2 taxis show up. Each taxi is picking up only 1 or 2 passengers. At this rate we'll be in this line all day! I did ask someone in the front of the line if they wanted to share a taxi but they were going to their hotel so the taxi would take a different route and not be stopping in Anacapri. I leave my husband in line and I go around the corner to where the bus is that goes to Anacapri. I decide to get bus tickets. Cost for 2 of us round trip 9.60€/$10.33. It's so cheap! I have Richard leave the taxi line. Then we walk to where the line is for the bus. It's long too but I figure the bus can take more than 2 people at a time so the wait should be shorter/less. However, all of a sudden we see several taxis coming up the road to that taxi stand! The couple that was in the taxi line ahead of us goes by in a taxi! I have made a huge mistake. Standing in the bus line we can see there is a beach area where several are enjoying the water. After another 20-30 minutes we are on the bus but Richard has to stand and he's not happy. The bus lets us off in Anacapri right where we catch the chairlift to Monte Solaro.

Taxi line

Buying tickets for the bus

Our bus tickets

Bus tickets

Bus line

Can see this beach area from the bus line

Monte Solaro. Elevation 589 m-highest point of Capri. Terrific view of the Bay of Naples. Some days-views Amalfi coast and distant mountains of Calabria. Can walk up but it can take more than an hour. Chairlift is the easiest way to get to the top. Takes around 10 minutes or so. Round trip for 2. Cost 28€/$30.13. Single rider seats. There is a safety bar. Guys there to help you on and off. Spot at the top to get refreshments. You can also explore to see more than just the view.

Chair lift tickets

Going back down

Postcards Capri

Back on the bus to Marina Grande. Richard's knee is hurting so he wants to not do any more sightseeing. So we won't be going to Capri town. I'm a little disappointed but I sympathize with his pain as my legs are still hurting too. The problem is that our return ticket is for 4:25 pm and it's now around 3:30 pm. There is a ferry getting ready to depart. Boarding almost all done. I explain our situation to see if we can board-leave early-and we're told it's fine. Since we have to board right now I don't get a picture of our ferry but it's fine. The most important thing is that we're returning early. We have to sit inside as outside seats occupied. Here there's a counter where you can buy snacks and souvenirs! Uneventful return to Amalfi.

You can tell Richard is not feeling well

Our ferry back from Capri to Amalfi

Back to Amalfi. On our way back to our hotel I do some more shopping. This time I get 2 bags of lemon risotto for us to cook back home. There's so much I want to buy but I have to be mindful of our luggage space. We stop for gelato. I get pistachio and chocolate. Richard gets hazelnut and chocolate. Yummy! Because our legs are hurting the stairs going up to the entrance door of our hotel is more difficult today for both of us.

We've arrived back to Amalfi

Chocolate and pistachio

Hazelnut and chocolate

Pool time. This is when Richard is all smiles. He loves time in the pool. Makes his knee feel better and it's a way to relax from the town.

Bar Della Valle. We decide to do dinner here. It's the closest restaurant to our hotel-not right in the center of town. When we've walked pass it to get to the center of town it's always busy so....... It's busy now but a table is found for us. Our table is inside but also close to being outside if that makes any sense! Good variety of food on the menu. Drinks-Peroni beer for Richard and an espresso martini for me. Water. We decide to get the margherita pizza to share and an order of fries to share. When the pizza is brought to our table it has been divided in half and it's on separate plates. How nice! Of course I only have half of my half giving the rest to my husband. The fries taste great. Don't know if they're freshly made but they don't taste frozen cooked. A pleasant meal. Service was excellent and the food was very good. The pizza was better than I thought it would be but to be honest not as good as the one we had the first night we arrived. Cost 33€/$35.51. We take a peek in the self service laundry that is right next door. We decide to do laundry there tomorrow. Back at our hotel we have to pass by the pool to get to our room. We watch in fascination the pool cleaner machine doing its job!