Italian odds and ends!

More photo's from our recent trip to Italy's Amalfi coast, 

this post is devoted to some of the quirkier things that we saw as we explored the region.

These two ceramic figures hang on the wall of the terrace restaurant La Tagliata.
Although they look like Laurel & Hardy they are in fact meant to be
the owner and his brother.

By the side of the road just outside the small seaside town of Praiano
we saw this miniature village.
During the Christmas period the scene is decorated and the houses are lit up from the inside.

Cars are parked along both sides of the twisty road that hugs the mountainside.
This is not a one way street!
La Tagliata's little orange fiat cinquecento regularly brings customers up the mountainside
from Positano down below.

Beautiful mosaic sign at the entrance to the city of music, Ravello.

The next four photographs were taken as we wandered around the gardens at La Tagliata, Montepertuso.

Look closely and you'll see a peacock perched on a branch inside this cage.

Amazing ice cream flavours in Sorrento.

Newly weds on Spiaggia Grande, Positano.

We spotted this huge anchor by the quayside in Positano,
no boat just the anchor!

Coming shortly, as a tribute to the 2012 RHS Chelsea Flower Show which is taking place this week, "Italian flowers and gardens" 

Positano update - the rest of the story.

We've had three wonderful excursions this week.

Monday - Amalfi, by ferry boat.

Tuesday - Pompeii 

Wednesday - Ravello 

both with our wonderful, handsome, young driver Vittorio!

As you can imagine

 I have many more photographs to sift through and prepare 

to share with you.

In the meantime (because you asked !) some photographs of the inside of le botticelle.

The cliff wall is a feature (!)
on the other side is the wine cellar.

Our makeshift bar -
g&t anyone?

the in room jacuzzi (!)

tiles plastered into the walls
 are a common feature in buildings along the Amalfi coast

In my previous post I shared some photographs of the latest Positano fashions.

I didn't buy a dress or skirt but I did fall for two lovely scarves, made in Positano. 

Perfect accessories for a summery outfit 

which will add a little Italian style to my look.

ciao!

Positano - new digs & shopping

Montepertuso.

For our second week here at La Tagliata we have moved into the bigger of the two suites that they have -  Le Boticelle.

It was only when we came down in the small lift into the private wine cellar
that the choice of name became clear!.

We have to walk through the private cellar to reach the inside door of Le Botticelle,

 ducking beneath the salami sausages and provolone cheeses

 and skirting the large wine barrel where the wine cellar register is kept.

View from the in room jacuzzi!

There is also a door which leads outside to our private terrace

which is about twice the size of the one up at Limonella where we spent last week.

We can look across and down the valley to the town of Positano below 

where I spent a lovely hour or so browsing clothes shops yesterday afternoon!

Positano style!

ciao

Linking to Mosaic Monday with Mary @the little red house

stop by for a visit if you get the chance to see Mary's wonderful photographs.

Positano latest.

Brightly coloured homes cling to the mountainside in Positano.

Unfortunately, the rain didn't stay away for very long from the Amalfi coast.

It's been another 48 hours of almost non stop rain with the occasional thunderstorm thrown in for good measure.

When the sun does manage to shine through, as it is at the moment, we grab our things and head out to explore the region.

We try and catch one of these, to take us down to Positano.

On Tuesday evening after strolling down the cobble stoned lanes, enjoying a little retail therapy and a spur of the moment decision to get a new haircut (hence the updated profile photo!)

we stopped for an alfresco dinner at Chez Black.

Due to the terrible weather not all of the restaurants were serving dinner al fresco that evening!

The bus timetable however is in a state of flux between seasons, a couple of times we've waited in vain and so we had to take a more expensive mode of transport back up the mountain.

The taxi driver charged 30 euro, the bus costs 2.40 euro for a return ticket!

ciao

La Tagliata, Montepertuso.

Positano rising up the mountain side seen from Spiaggia Grande

Well, the rain that has been falling almost non stop since we picked up our hire car on Saturday has finally stopped, for now!
I have lots of pix to share but first the bad news........................
On Saturday afternoon as we approached the final leg of our journey from Naples to Montepertuso we found ourselves in the middle of an autobus sandwich!
On a very narrow road which consisted of one hairpin bend after another.
I guess it was inevitable..........................
whilst reversing back down the mountain the SP backed into the rail guard and bashed the car.
The carbinieri arrived, the driver of the local football team bus (the one that made us back down) was given a ticket (YAY!) and after about 20 minutes we completed the last 100 yards of the journey.
Now the good news.
The family who own and operate La Tagliata welcomed us with open arms, insisting that we eat a little something to recover from the journey.

Some of the antipasti from Saturday's lunch

Antonietta and Peppe brought eight plates of antipasti to our table, also red wine and still water, then refused to let us pay for the meal!
We were so stuffed replete that we didn't eat dinner that evening!

 Our home away from home

The view from our terrace

Breakfast Italian style.
Eggs, grapefruit juice, fresh fruit, toast & conserves,
TIRAMI SU?

Limone and Limone Grande grow abundantly in the terraced gardens.

You may just be able to see a small island in the background?
This is one of the legendary sirens from Greek mythology.
I see it every morning as I sit in bed & drink my tea!

So, now you know where we're living for the next couple of weeks, I'll be back again in a few days with more photos of the area, around and about.
Ciao, ciao!!