Come, Travel With Me.....To Capri:

We can go there in our imaginations, at least:

Funny thing about this self-isolation/lockdown/shutdown, whatever you want to call it – we find ourselves missing the little things – the monthly bookclub meeting, real coffee in a café, people watching at the park, browsing the stores, family get-togethers and visits, dinner out to celebrate a birthday or anniversary…things we might have taken for granted suddenly seem so desirable.

And intertwined with this is daydreaming about …’when this is all over’ travel. So many people have had to cancel travel plans this summer, sometimes for dream vacations. This trip to Capri was one of my dream trips, back in 2006. We usually have a couple of weekend in Niagra on the Lake each year, and hoped to repeat last year's trip to Newfoundland….and next year, maybe to revisit Europe. But right now England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Greece – they may as well be a million miles away rather than a plane ride or two.

To feed this longing for travel, I've been taking an armchair journey through some of the places we've visited and loved. Why not join me, take my hand and we’ll travel…for example, how about a trip to Capri?

 We set out from Napoli in the rain, with Vesuvius scowling over the docks...and the smell of sulphur with a yellow haze over the water.

But it seems in no time at all we were looking at this welcoming view of Capri...

The town itself is quite beautiful, full of history and flowers..and very steep. There is a funicular railway that gets you up the steep sides of the island. What is a funicular, you ask? Here is the Collins dictionary definition: A funicular or a funicular railway is a type of railway which goes up a very steep hill or mountain. A machine at the top of the slope pulls the carriage up the rails by a steel rope.  People like myself, who don't like heights, may be suspicious about that steel rope, but believe me, it's safe and well worth the trip to get the views from the perch at the top.

Speaking of steep, this photo doesn't really do justice to the views...

This pretty little garden was once the favorite relaxing place of one of the Roman emperors - Claudius, if memory serves me right. Just imagine, strolling in a garden where an emperor and his entourage once rested and played! Not that the emperors were very nice people, but still...

Have you ever seen water this beautiful color of aqua green? It's something to do wit the minerals in rocks, I believe.

Capri is an island, so boats of all variety are part of the lifestyle. 

 

 Look closely - you'll see the figure of a woman at the very top f this cliff. Sorry, but I can't remember who or what she was...I think something to do with keeping the sailors safe?

I was fascinated by these huge billionaire mansions on these daunting cliffs, retreats for their very wealthy and privacy loving owners. Apparently, attempts to visit are discouraged...:-)

 

As I said earlier, much of the life around Capri is oriented to the sea...these tall rocks have a romantic story...apparently, if you sail between them and kiss your companion, your love will last forever. Sorry, hon., looks like you're stuck with me...

And then, Goodbye to Capri and back to Naples & Vesuvius.

Another item ticked off the bucket list!