Island of Capri...the most beautiful place on earth!

Today we woke up at 6:30 am because we are still messed up from the time change. We were the first ones to breakfast in the hotel and since it was buffet style, ate way too many pastries and sipped mimosas overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We took a ferry from Sorrento to Capri which took about 20 minutes and upon arrival had no idea where to start. We thought about walking into town but a nice taxi driver named Carlo Orazzo warned us it was all uphill and he would drive us. On the way up he suggested that if we wanted a true experience we couldn't miss out on seeing Anacapri and the South Side as well. He drove us up to Anacapri, stopping along the way a few times for us to take pictures and explaining the history of the island. We owe all of our credit for the most wonderful day of our live to Carlo, a native of the island, who was our driver for the whole day, recommending the non-tourist places to go and restaurant to eat at. He also kept us alive on the roads, since the driving there is absolutely ridiculous, with you only earning your license after 100 scratches on your car, which we found very humorous. Also, the taxi cars that drive everyone around, there are only 27 made in the world and they are all specially made for the roads of Capri!

View from Anacapri

on top of Museo e Casa Storica

St. Michele Cathedral

Our first stop was Anacapri, which is the highest city on the island. We walked around the streets doing a little shopping, eating pistachio gelato and toured the Museo e Casa Storica where we got to go on the roof. We also went to St. Michele Cathedral which was a beautiful place where they wouldn't let you walk on the sacred painted floors or use a flash on any cameras. Saving the best for last, we took a ski/chair lift up to the top of Anacapri which was the most magnificent and relaxing 15 minutes riding to the highest point on the island while overlooking the entire island of Capri. At the top, we got to enjoy a glass of wine while looking over the island and the Mediterranean Sea, and met a nice couple from Boston who was on their honeymoon. We were enjoying it so much that we ended up being 30 minutes late to meet Carlo, but he was very forgiving. This is where I saw the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever seen. To make it even more surreal, I looked up at one point and saw a rainbow in a circle around the sun! I literally felt like I was in heaven looking down on earth, I was so in awe! Pictures and words cannot even do it justice, it was by far my favorite place and I will be very surprised if anything could ever outdo what I saw today.

Dad and I on the chair lift down

Next was the South Side of the Island. Carlo brought us to Ristorante Onda d'oro da Maurizio which is where his girlfriend and he go to eat because he is friends with the owner. He introduced us and we were warmly welcomed and made us feel at home and like familia (not like typical annoying American tourists). There was only one other family there and we sat outside overlooking the sea where we could sea the Blue Gratto (the famous blue cave that you can go in by boat) as well as the castle on a point of the island owned by a businessman from Venezuela, and the area where Bill Gates parks his yacht on visits. Our waiter recommended the whole bay shrimp appetizer which still had their shell and head attached. We learned the proper way to eat them and ate everything from the shell of the body to the legs. Next, we ordered the entree that was the special of the day for two of Rockfish, linguini, mussels, and clams. I have attached the picture of it, which was prior to them preparing, deboning, and serving it onto each of our plates. We also enjoyed red wine, lemoncello, cappuccino, and the infamous grappa. It was both of our first times trying grappa which is a clear, Italian grape-based spirit made from the distillation of pomace. It was very, very strong and not very enjoyable tasting, but it is very popular in Italy, so we had to at least give it a try. This was the best meal both dad and I have ever had in our entire lives, I wish it was possible to share the taste of it on here!

In the south of Capri

Our last stop was the actual town of Capri, which was very touristy, but had amazing shopping. It was all very high-end and but interesting to see the similarities and differences between Italian and American shops. I could tell that everything local was way overpriced because it is a tourist spot and storeowners know they can get away with raising their prices. The view from the town of Capri was also very beautiful, as it was from the rest of the Island. We enjoyed coffee gelato and saw young girls that had just gotten out of school running around the town on their own with no parents, which you would never see in America in such a public place. We took a ferry back to Sorrento around 6 and then ended the day with getting pizza for dinner around 10. It was one of the best days of my life and Capri is my new favorite place in the world. We decided that if we win the lottery we are buying a house there without a doubt (but found out that a place there is 20,000 euro...per square foot)! It was a blessing to be able to experience something so miraculous.


Ciao,
Tarra