Live from Amalfi, Its Friday Night !
 

Hi Fodorites, I have been on Amalfi Coast for about a week now, a friend came with me and we are staying in Amalfi in a really wonderful apartment right in town.

I love Amalfi almost as much as Positano which is my main love. We spent the day in Positano today, shopping for clothes and had the special Positano sandals hand made for us. We had lunch at my favorite cafe Brunos on the main road, sat across the street from the restaurant at the railing and overlooked the beach eating homemade pasta with eggplant (me) and pasta puttenesca (her) with vino of course and delicious filet of fish.

Tonight we are going over to Teatro restaurant here in Amalfi, it is a family style small restaurant with good homemade food.

I will get my notes and bring them with me when we go over to Sorrento tomorrow so I can tell you about our good restaurants on the coast.

We are going to try to jump around in front of the Sorrento web cam about 7pm Italy time tomorrow too. I will come back here first and post if we are.

I am so happy I was able to come back here again so soon!

We will all be watching the Sorrento cam. Will you have your Fodorite sign?

SeaUrchin! I've been waiting to hear from you! So glad you are having a good time.

OK, I'm going to try to have the webcam up on my computer on Saturday 15 May, 7pm Sorrento time, which would be 10 am here in California (9 hours earlier).

Will you hold a sign up? Will you wear a bright color? I know what you look like from your on line photos, but I don't trust being able to recognize you on the webcam. What fun!

SeaUrchin
I was able to catch the Fodorites on the webcam at their GTG in Naples, Florida earlier this year & hopefully I'll see you tomorrow.

Jim

Hello SeaUrchin!!

I will be watching and waiting ((F))

Oh rats, SeaUrchin, I'm going to be on my way to the airport for a flight to the East Coast at 10 am. I've been waiting and waiting for someone to notice the webcam and wave.

Many times when I check it at night, there's a black and white dog sniffing around the piazza. I've adopted it as my virtual dog, Spot.

Hi SeaUrchin, How's the weather? I'll be in Positano at Le Agavi next week and am copying down your restaurant recommendations, keep them coming!

Hello SeaUrchin, it all sounds so wonderful! I can hardly wait to be there. I will also be watching tomorrow for you at the Tabacchi shop. Since I don't know what you look like, how will I know it is you?

Continue to have a wonderful time in Italy!

Yay! Can't wait to see you on the cam. Hope you remembered your "SeaUrchin" sign! Will be tuning in tomorrow afternoon! Have a great trip!

T-minus 83 minutes (?) until SeaUrchin waves at us from the Sorrento cam ... if my time difference calculations are correct.

Hi All, I am back in Amalfi. I waved again for family who missed the first one, then my friend drove us back to Amalfi for about two hours so we arrived about 1AM.

Today started out really beautiful, my friend go sick and I went to a looong lunch by myself at Da Maria in Amalfi, it is so cool. There is a piano player who teases me by playing Return to Sorrento which makes me misty eyed and that isnt easy. Locals eat there and the food is really good. I have had the mixed vegetable plate, vegetable soup, pasta alla Nona and the fresh fish over the last few days and really recommend the restaurant.

Another good place to eat down by the marina is Smeraldinos, yesterday for lunch we sat outside by the yachts and fishing boats in the sun and had wonderful pastas, fish and salad.

I also like Gemma for the attentive professional service and the imaginative eggplant with dark chocolate sauce for dessert. The wine list is extensive and it has really nice classy atmosphere.

Da Maria looks like nothing from the road but you go back to a family style dining room and I recommend it.

Luna Convento at the tower is a good place for dinner and drinks, it is on a point which is scenic and food and drinks are good, esp. for sunset (very romantic).

Last night we went to Peppinos Francescello on the road to Massa Lubrense and the food is great, service really good and there are views of not only Capri, but Ischia and Naples and Mt. VES. We watched the sunset from our table and it was so nice, you can take the Massa Lubrense bus from sorrento and it takes just a few minutes to reach it.

Just now it started raining in Amalfi so I am glad I stopped my walk on the marina and came inside to the internet.

There are some young people here now in the internet cafe looking to rent an apartment in Amalfi for a week, looks like they found a good one from this cafe, so dont always overplan and worry about reservations you can get an apartment even here flast minute for extremely reasonable rates, 479 euro for five nights, three bedroom.

Seaurchin, sorry I missed being with you on stage at the web cam, but I am in the middle of a lovely scandal of my own right now in your area.

Maybe we can meet up before you leave, hope you are having a great of a time as it sounds!

Isn't this fun?

BTW I hope you will write a full report when you get home, you are going home aren't you?

Am I?

Ciao SeaUrchin,

Have you walked around to Atrani yet?,there is a few bars & restaurants that may appeal

Just read this post and realized I missed SeaUrchin on the web. What fun that would have been! Where do you get the sandals made?

walkamalfi, a friend (who is trying to entice my friend) just walked us up to the mauseleum-monastery and showed us the path over to Atrani, is this correct? He said to veer left at the crossing, right?

What do you recommend at Atrani? Thanks walkamalfi, are you located here in Amalfi?

We had one of the best lunches I have ever had today at La Perla here in Amalfi, we had the set meal which was 16 euro and we had grilled fish which was delicious, salad and excellent minestrone soup, bread and more baba rhum for this price, we added vino of course.

Then we went to the marina and sat on the breakwater it is such a beautiful day today, then A. took us for the walk.

Of course as part of my daily routine I had prosecco at Pansa outside on the square today after lunch, I love it there, they give you little extra goodies to munch on, today cookies with dark chocolate.

We just lazed around this morning in the apartment, it was really windy and a pair of my undies blew away from the clothsline and flew away over the apartments, we had visions of pink undies landing on someone's table on the square!

wandering texan, I will check the receipt for the actual store but it is beneath the duomo in Positano. I ahd the daisy pair made for me exactlhy fitted to my foot. What fun.

wandering texan, I will check the receipt for the actual store but it is beneath the duomo in Positano. I had the daisy pair made for me exactlhy fitted to my foot. What fun.

Oh please be quiet SeaUrchin--I am so jealous I may cry,

Thanks SeaUrchin, I am anxious to get there! It sounds like you are so relaxed and having a wonderful time. Tell us more.....

Hi SeaUrchin,
There is a path which leads to Atrani to your left up the hillside just after the Florist shop as you walk towards the hotel Luna,however the quickest way to get to Atrani,is to walk along the road,past the Hotel Luna and then before the road tunnel walk through the restaurant(Zaccaria) to your right and then down into Atrani via the stairs and the small road. The L'Arcate restaurant is on the pier ,there is also a pizzeria called Le Palme and a few bars and another restaurant called A'Paranza.

I am glad you have made use of Andrea Pansa and on your next visit have an Amerena Cake made with pattiserie cream and wild cherries in wild cherry syrup. Have fun and get the bus up here to Ravello and visit the Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone(for the views)

SeaUrchin -- If you get back to Positano this trip, I would love to hear your opinion of the Marincanto hotel. It is on the same street as Le Sirenuse, and close to the bus stop. I can't seem to find any recent reviews from guests, although Wandering Texan has friends in Positano who recommend it. I'm loving all your food & drink recommendations! Can't wait to hear more.

SeaUrchin -
I'm also interested in the Marincanto hotel, especially the rooms. I told awbaker I finally found it in Charming Hotels of Italy guidebook, but it said it was 50s decor. I had heard the hotel just did a renovation, so hopefully the review was written before that.

I think it's near (same street as)the Sirenuse. Curious also if the rooms have decent sized balconies (big enough to comfortably sit out on) and location/reputation of the hotel

Seven of us stayed at the Marincanto 3 years ago. It is very close to Siranuse. The rooms vary greatly. Some have balconies with sea views. Others had no balcony at all. There is a nice terrace overlooking the sea. We brought our wine down there for sunset. It is very convenient to town, but has no pool or beach. However, I much preferred La Fenice. It is farther from town, but the rooms all have balconies with wonderful views. It has a pool built into the side of the cliff with flowers and view, and also a tiny private beach. It is about a 10 minute walk from town. Be aware there are lots of stepsto the rooms and the pool and beach, but well worth it if you can do it.

Sorry I wasn't able to check out the hotel for you two, I am glad joanw reported for you.

I am still deciding if I should write an actual trip report.

Well, write something, for heaven's sake, SeaUrchin! You can't give us a teaser (which thread was that on?) and not follow through. Have pity on us poor folk who did not get to Amalfi...

SeaUrchin, I'm waiting too.

Hi Fodorites!!

My pictures are finally uploaded, there are some of Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, Pontone, Massa Lubrense and Sorrento.

http://www.pbase.com/seaurchin/maggio2004

seaurchin, another job well done, is that "sorrentino" sitting on the wall at the marina?

Really, they are beautiful photographs, thanks for sharing.

Beautiful pictures! How many fodorites will change their computer wallpaper?

SeaUrchin, the pictures are just beautiful! Thanks for posting them. I saw your pictures the other day and one showed you dining at a restaurant with a white umbrella and a lovely view. Where in Italy was Sea Urchin?

By the way, we loved Massa Lubrense. Our favorite restaurant was Riccardo Francischiello at the Hotel Bella Vista. The other was right in the town center, on the water, across from the church and near the seaside park. I can't remember the name, but it had the best calamari I have ever had.

I can hardly wait - we will be there in two weeks!

Thanks!

Marianna, in that picture I was in Positano at my favorite little place, Brunos, right by the Sponda bus stop in Positano. It is at the end of this updated pbase version too.

In Massa L. we had lunch right near where I was snapping those photos in Marina Lobra, at a place call Da Michele, try it is is really good.

I think Riccardo Francischiello at the Hotel Bella is owned by the same family who owns Peppinos right down the street, another one of my favorites.

Have a great trip!!

SeaUrchin,
Great pictures!

But I can't believe nobody is commenting on the surprise appearance by the celebrity in your pictures!

So tell us, what is the story behind the picture!

Marcy, <i>I</i> definitely picked up on it! Tell all, SeaUrchin! Was that a Fodors travel guide he's holding? :-):-):-)

How observant you are, ladies.

We ran into him in Positano and he was gracious enough to pose with me. He has such a good sense of humor and he was really making me laugh, as you can tell from that picture, I look like a banshee.

Having just rented an apt in Amalfi for late Oct (can't wait to get back), I would love to see pics -- where do I find them --and also where is that live cam people are talking about?
Dee

Sheeeez...Loueeez. Beautiful pictures. THank you.
I could see me being there!
Someday! I'm envious but I hold 'hope'

dee2002, look at
www.pbase.com/seaurchin
for the pictures, just click on them and more will pop up.

For the web cam, go to slowtrav.com and click on the sorrento web cam and then you may become addicted too.

Hi SeaUrchin,
Enjoyed your pictures. Makes me want to return to AC and see all I missed.

SeaUrchin--where are you connecting to the Internet? I was recently in Amalfi, had that neat little internet room, but a percentage of emails arrived state-side only half complete for some reason. Are you connecting there? Just wondered -- for when I go again.