Sorrento

Over the hill and far away... Nothing is "around the corner" on the Amalfi Coast. Or maybe the opposite is true? In any case, straight lines, going directly from A to B do not exist. The roads twist and turn, without sidewalks or room for more than the skinniest vehicles and frequent precipices border one side of the road. As a result, the 9 km drive to Sorrento from Simone rented villa took well over 20 minutes to drive. Once in Sorrento, parking the minibus that the family drove became a nightmare. Parking lots were simply not equipped for a vehicle that size. Longer vehicles? Yes. There was room designed specifically for buses - and reserved for them as well. Regular cars? No problem. Fortunately, Simone's hubby was a genius at unearthing the best parking spots and, even if it did take a bit of time, they eventually found a home for their minibus. Sorrento had many more shops than Sant'Agata, which was to be expected given the size difference. Their newsstands had less of an air of neglect and their grocery stores were worthy of the name, even though, in terms of size, they paled in comparison to their North American counterparts. Still, the grocery stores boasted a full range of products and the cleanliness of the premises was beyond reproach. Several members of the clan wanted to go shopping but, sadly, the ferry beckoned: soon they would board and head over to the island of Capri...