After falling in love with Alberobello’s storybook charm, I couldn’t wait to see what the next day would bring. Our last few hours in Bari consisted of coffee and carbs. In the morning, Giovanni took us to a cafe to have what he considered “the best cornetto in the world” (cornetto is a croissant) and honestly, when it comes to food, he knows what he’s talking about. We drove into town and to this adorable little coffee shop, and I had a croissant and a decaf cappuccino with almond milk and Chris had a coffee with a croissant. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the most delicious croissant and cappuccino I’d ever tasted. Italians don’t usually eat breakfast like Americans do. I think because their biggest meal of the day is in the early afternoon. Every breakfast I had in Italy was mostly croissants smeared with Nutella, different breads and pastries. For someone that has always had breakfast that consisted of eggs, or oatmeal, cereal, or even pancakes or waffles this was an interesting adjustment.

Cappuccino and cornettos from Caffe’ Vergnano 2Giugno in Bari, Italy

Our cappuccinos and cornettos were the perfect way to start our journey west to Sorrento, but our first stop was the cemetery where my grandfather was buried. The cemeteries in Italy are very peaceful and it’s nice to not walk through a cemetery that’s not off the side of a major highway or road. My grandfather and grandmother were buried in separate facilities since they passed away so many years apart. They are both located in quiet, beautiful places that are surrounded by trees and tended to landscapes.

Our next stop was Matera, one of the oldest cities in the world. Matera, I believe is the 3rd oldest city and where they filmed the movie Passions of the Christ. When you walk through Matera you feel as if you entered a time warp. The ground feels more than cobblestone; it’s almost like just slabs of stone, if that makes any sense. The area was filled with caves and mountains. We were lucky to have a clear beautiful day and we were able to walk through all the sites.

We had lunch outside at a place called Aroma. I had another amazing pasta dish, with of course fresh bread. After lunch, we drove to our hotel in Sorrento, which was called the Hilton Sorrento Palace, and a palace it was. The balcony of our rooms was a ginormous terrace that overlooked the entire city with a perfect view of Mount Vesuvius. The rooms were modern and spacious; we were all sad we could only stay one night in this incredible hotel. We lived like kings for a night and after a chaotic few days of travel and more to come it felt wonderful to relax. We had a hearty breakfast the next morning filled with cornettos, fresh fruit, and pastries, before setting out for our next adventure- the Amalfi Coast.

Our view of Sorrento with Mount Vesuvius in the background from our balcony at The Hilton Sorrento Palace.

Renting a car in Italy in and of itself is an adventure. Because there were four of us, and since we traveled from Bari to Matera to Sorrento to Positano and then eventually to Rome, we needed space to sit and a lot of trunk space for our luggage. We rented a small SUV, and if anyone that has ever been to Italy can tell you, it is really tough navigating the tight narrow streets in anything larger than a smart car. After a few minor hiccups on our road trip through Sorrento and Positano, we made it to the Amalfi Coast. In the past, we had always driven past and drove along the coast without having the time to stop and walk around. I don’t usually get car sick, but I don’t enjoy riding along a narrow rode off the side of a cliff, so it was always hard for me to enjoy the view in the car as I was too nervous to look intently and appreciate it.

This time we set a plan to spend a few hours walking around, eating and shopping and boy was it a sight to see. Standing on the sand of the Amalfi Coast witnessing the miraculous buildings beautifully carved inside the mountains that have probably been there for centuries was awe inspiring. We walked all the way down to the beach, where people were in bathing suits at the end of October. Again, we were lucky we had a beautiful day. It was a random Tuesday afternoon and it was packed and lively.

We had lunch right on the water at a restaurant called Osteria LeTre Sorrelle and I had spaghetti and clams. It was the best spaghetti and clams I’ve ever had. Before I continue discussing our Roman Holiday, I should warn you that almost every meal I had was pasta- because I don’t eat pasta at home due to my gluten sensitivity in America- and I never had a bad meal, in fact the worst meal in Italy is still better than any dish I’ve ever had in any other land.

My spaghetti and clams at Osteria LeTre Sorrelle.

Sitting along the water eating incredible food in the middle of the Amalfi Coast with Christopher and my parents was an absolute dream. I’d go back there in a heartbeat, although I’d love to have someone air drop me down rather than drive along the narrow cliff streets. The Amalfi Coast is known for their lemons and limoncello, so I couldn’t leave without grabbing a bottle. They are also known for their handmade ceramics which were all gorgeous. Anyways, we did some shopping and walked around before heading into the car and making our way to our final destination: Rome.

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Roman Holiday Part 2

lisa