>sigh<

The last few days were spent on the Amalfi coast, visiting the mountainside city of Ravello, then the coastal towns of Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento.

Ravello is tiny and has a cathedral dating back to 1086! It is a music festival city, green and shady with amazing views of both sides of the moutain.

Amalfi is captured in the first photo. Touristy, with a hint of elegance. The town's population has swelled enormously over the last month, but this is likely to decrease with the closure of the only road along this coastline. You see, it gets so busy that they figure it is best to close the road to all bar locals and public transport in the peak summer months of august and september. This ensures that businesses across this coastline do not benefit much. Doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me!
Next photo is one of my uncle and I in Positano (please note the new haircut, i must write a post on this... a haircut in Italy and a wax in Paris, quite an experience.... ). We'd just eaten lunch, a Calabrian panino consisting of fresh buffalo mozarella, basil, tomatoes and oilve oil... best sandwich I have had in a long time. The great thing about Italy is that most places are still highly agricultural, thus they tend to use only local produce. This is ussually fresh and very very tasty (which reminds me, a post on food is a must...). Anyway, back to Positano, smaller than Amalfi but somewhat more touristy. The road is lined with shoemakers and sellers of lemons (another local product). It has a nice feel about it,

though. It would be nice to spend a few days here,

although apart from the beach and the local shopping, there isnt much else to do.

And lastly, Sorrento. My favourite spot on the coast. It is bigger than the others and much more lively. There is a definite buzz about the place. It has a great music festival line up for the summer, and plenty of outdoor theatre events. There are day trips to coastline caves, available... so maybe next time, I will partake.