Lucy, I want a trip like yours, at least I think so. How does your trip end? Are you going to see him again?<BR>Write back soon.

Lucy, I want a trip like yours, at least I think so. How does it end up? Do you plan to see him again? Let us know asap. Just nosey.

At this point I don't care about pizza in Naples or anything else just tell us how it ends. This was a hoot of a story true or not I enjoyed it and would like to believe it happened

Love this! Don't stop, Lucy.

Lucy is not telling a tale, it is true.<BR>I have a few "Italian" lovers in my travels too. Lucy, go for more. It is<BR>so worth it!!! I must read the book you are all talking about. I will take it with me to Italy in October. Ciao!!

Yes it is a good story, true or not or just embellished. Lucy, please continue, it is a good read.

I woke up feeling down. What had happened to my little sight seeing trip? I should be thinking about how to get from tourist site A to site B, not thinking about a man I didnt even know a week ago and his mystery caller/lover. I had breakfast in my room looking at the last of my view, with last night's wine glass, one glass still on the veranda. Upset over an almost complete stranger? Come on, go, call the desk, get the cab and go on, Lucy. The cab picked me up outside the hotel, the Villa Franca Annex and we set off for Sorrento. The driver after a while looked at me in the rear mirror, where you go in Sorrento? I told him the Grand Hotel. He said many Grand Hotels in Sorrento, I thought he was proud of his hotels, all of them "grand". "What address?" I told him. "Many Grand Hotels in sorrento". Whatever. I gloomily looked out the window. (Cheer up, you jerk, you are in one of the most beautiful parts of the world and you are moping? ) I glanced at the rear mirror, the driver caught me, "why you go sorrento alone?" "Well, my husb, boyfriend is meeting me in a day or so" "why he leave you alone, beautiful woman alone? Not good". "He is coming soon," I lied.<BR><BR>Not good he leave you, he shook his head. Why he leave? When would the words "none of your business" ever come out of my mouth? "He'll be back". "I show you Pompei?" "I have been thank you" " show you Capri." "I have been there(and then some), thank you". "I show you tomatos." "tomatos?" "Not just tomato, best tomato in world". That sounded intriging. "Best tomatoes!" He threw his hands in the air to emphasis. "Put your hands on the steering wheel", I frowned, and he laughed, "and lemoni". <BR>

Lucy, I can't wait, what happens next?

Buon Giorno! I have just read about your escapade in Italy. I plan to go for 1 year and can only hope that I have a story or two to tell by the time I get back that even come close to comparing to yours. You have reminded me that it really is about the people you meet...and the rest is just scenery to spice up the romance.<BR>Grazie!

Tomatos you are right on. It is the people that make the trip for us too, that is why I would never take an organized tour, I want adventure! Like Lucy! And I have had my share!!

Lucy, what has been the most romantic place you have been so far?? and I hope you will continue with your trip report.

Hi Eva, in the old days, the south of France was romantic, in the new days, I would say Capri. Here is a little more trip report:<BR>He dropped me off at the Grand Hotel on Califano where I had a wonderful corner room with a view of the bay and Ves. When I went by the dining room it was completely full of british, not an italian in sight. The menu had an all british menu, but the views from outside the dining room were wonderful. so if you want to eat british food with british people, stay here. can walk easily into town.<BR><BR>The next day I had a decision to make, stick around the hotel waiting for a call or go with "Luigi" the taxi driver to see tomatos, not his real name either. I had both their cell numbers, but decided to wait a while before calling Giancarlo, so called Luigi. He showed up in an hour and we went into the hills looking for tomatos, we saw them, they are the best in the world for cooking San Marziano type, they are not round, but longish. Then to a lemon grove where I saw firsthand some of the last mom and pop limoncello factories, where they throw the lemons in the vats by hand, and of course had some, yum, so delicious. Then we went over towards Naples and into the hills to see olive groves and where some of the best olive oil in the world is made. Wonderful day. Had tastings at all the places.<BR><BR>Back at the hotel desk the manager gave me a note that Giancarlo had called and left a number for me to call, and had called back a few times during the day. I called, he answered and in his dreamy voice asked me if I remembered some friends he had introduced me to during my stay in Rome. They were a nice couple and I liked them, both very warm and outgoing towards me. He said that they had decided to go to their home in the outskirts of Volterra and have invited me and him to join them for a day or two. Interesting turn of events. Now I had a choice to make, I had plans and reservations for Taormina, but Taormina would always be there, but would Giancarlo? I said I had to have time to decide, so he agreed to call me in the morning. <BR><BR> <BR>

Lucy, don't stop now! I want to hear more.

Hi Kay, I have to leave the office now, I have Italian language lessons tonight at the local school. I will post later tonight if I get home early enough. I want to watch Ozzy on TV too. So maybe tomorrow morning. Thanks.

Keeping it closer to the top to make it easier to find...Lucy, keep it coming!!!

Oh Lucy, you do make all my old memories surface. Just remember they are always a thought away. Just close your eyes, and again you are in Capri. You can travel back to Italy at any moment. We all await more, and more. What is better than to hear from a happy traveler. Ciao

Thanks for the encouragement, I am just writing this as I think back, so if you want restaurants, traveling details, etc. I can look them up.<BR><BR>I decided to go with him. He called the next day before I went out and I told him so, so we agreed that since he had business the day we were to leave I would take the train to Roma and he would meet me and drive from there. That left me a few days in Sorrento. I looked up a friend of a friend who lives there and he took me on the circumvesuviana train to Naples, like I mentioned earlier. I really liked Naples, but then I was with a native of Naples, that could have made the difference. We took the bus from the train station and walked around and had lunch. That night I took him to dinner in Sorrento to thank him. We ate at the Buca which was really a good place, then had gelato at Davide which has many different flavors and you can sit outside. The next few days I bought paintings from local artists, bought myself a beautiful emerald Etruscian style ring in one of the local jewelry stores and a few dishes locally made. I got my hair cut at one of the little salons. I love Sorrento in the old part at night, everyone who lives there, or it seems, strolls the streets and it is like a party until very late. My friend said he can't get his teenage son to do any homework because there is a party scene every night on the streets below their apartment. I could see the kid's point of view. I ran into my hair stylist one night and she jumped on a scooter with her boyfriend and zipped around town. What fun. It is so nice to stay in one place for a few days and get to know and recognize the local people. It is a great feeling to have the grocer or one of the local artists greet you on the street. Like the Tomatos said above, a trip that is heart warming is one where you meet the local people and experience life for a little time like they do every day. <BR>

Love your report, Lucy! Reminds me of a few encounters I've had...

I think someone has to remove all of the comments leaving only Lucy's book in chapter form.<BR>

Does this guy have a brother?