Saturday, July 6, 2013

USO Mini Cruise - Sorrento, Capri, Positano

Once again trying to take advantage of the wonderful places that are local. So we took a day trip with the USO. We spent most of our time in the boat cruising the area, did one stop in Capri to do some swimming and did a land stop in Positano.

The mini cruise has the option to get out in Almalfi or in Positano. It was highly recommended (by a friend) to stop in Positano in lieu of Almalfi. For several reasons, it is harder to drive into Positano, great shopping, you can get custom made sandals on the spot, it's family friendly and the claim to fame is that they filmed "Under the Tuscan Sun" there.

Almalfi is always a drive away...didn't I tell you that the south is awesome?



We had a 5:30am wake up call to be at the base by 7am.
 
 
Driving into the Castellammare port.
 
 
 
Quick Family Pic! 
 
 





Capri.



 
 
Capri!
 
 
Blue Grotto.

 
Swimming in the Tyrrhenian Sea!












 
No clue why Leilah is cold. It was HOT!


 
 
The Faraglioni: the three spurs of rock which rise up out of the sea. The rocks have each been given a name: the first, still attached to the land, is called Stella, the second, separated from the first block by a stretch of sea; Faraglione di Mezzo and the third, Faraglione di Fuori or Scopolo, meaning the head or promontory stretching into the sea.


The Scopolo sea stack provides the unique habitat for the Podarcis sicula coerulea. The rock is, in fact, the only place in the world where you can find this lizard, the blue color of which is said to be the result of the amphibian's vicinity to the sea and sky.
 
 
Positano is a small town located in Campania, Italy. It is situated on the coastal line called Amalfi Coast. The beauty part of this city is situated on the hill leading down to the coast and it is the most luxurious and romantic spot in Italy. Positano was built vertically on the face of the mountain. Initially, Positano began as a fishing village and later on, the town became famous for writers and artists. This small town has many high class boutiques and it is also a great place to purchase sandals and footwear which are exclusively made in Positano. As there are many lemon trees in Amalfi coast, Limoncello is popular all over the world.
 
 It began to attract large numbers of tourists after John Steinbeck published his essay about Positano in Harper's Bazaar in May, 1953: "Positano bites deep", Steinbeck wrote. "It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone."
 
Positano has been featured in several films: Only You and Under the Tuscan Sun
 
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones wrote the song "Midnight Rambler" in the cafes of Positano while on vacation. 



Taking a water taxi from our boat.

















 
Gotta love that American Flag in the back!

 
Shopping!!

 
Custom made sandals!


 
Bride and Groom making their walk up...everybody cheering and throwing rice.
Bellissima!
 
Gelato time! 

 
Daddy and kids at the beach...mommy and daughter doing some window shopping. :) 

 
Couldn't leave without buying the white linen beach dress. 









 
 
 



 
















 


The kids made a friend during our boat ride. Diana didn't speak English, the kids are limited with their Italian. Who cares? The heart has no language barrier!







 


 
Sorento!