POSITANO
Clebrating Positano. I first went to Positano in the Summer of 1985. It was my first time to Europe, Italy, France, and Spain, and the most wonderful, eye-opening trip in my entire life. I was blown away, and the feelings I felt were oh so wonderful. I can only think back and try to remember as much as I can, and wish that I can have those same feelings I can. I can't. No matter how hard you try, it's just about impossible to have those same magical feellings that you had in your youth. Can't be done, so I try and savor them in my mind. That's all I can do. And so I shall journey back in my mind, and attemp to recapture those days. The one in Positano anyway.
OK, here we go. So on this first trip to Europe and Positano, I had alread gone to Rome (Loved it), Florence, Barcelona, Nice, Manaco and The French Riviera, Venice, and now Positano, and the Amalfi Coast, Italy.
OK, so I'm heading down to Positano. It's my first time. I take aet train from rome to Naples. In Naples I jump on the Circumvesuviana Local Train that goes from Naples to Sorrento and stops at more than 20 coastal towns along the way. I take to Meta, where I'll pick up a local Sita bus that will take me to Positano. It woudl turn out to be the ride of my life. I got off the train, and went into the cafe to buy my bus ticket and get a glass of Orange Juice, and waited for the bus to arrive.
Twenty minutes at the cafe in Meta and the bus arrive. I hopped on. This bus rid would turn out to be the most amazing, gorgeous, and most memorabel bus ride of my entire life. It was spectacular as a a matter of fact. I was on the bus and we took off, making our way to Sorrento and then on to Positano, along the Amalfi Drive and the most spectacular part of the ride. We stopped in Sorrento, and that it was on to the Costiera Amalfitana and what many call the World's most scenic road, The Amalfi Drive. I start seeing Olive Groves, little farms, and homes. The mountains begin to spring up out of the Sea and towards the Heavens, pratically straight up. And looking out of the windowI see the Sea spread out across the horizon. From the road, it's a deep drop to the sea below. The view is, yes "Spectacular." ! I tell you, it's so very beautiful, the ride from just past Sorrento, on your way to Positano. It just so amazing, it's really hard to put into words. As they say, "You had to be there."
I marveled, looking out my window, all the way. I could have taken the ride, over and over again. I've never ever seen anything quite so beautiful, before or even after, to this very day (May 10,2023) some 38 years down the road.
When we truned the bend, I set my sights on Positano for the very first time, my heart went aflutter. I could not believe my eyes. There it was, Positano. It was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.
I was drawn to Positano after I listened to the stories of friends. They way the spoke, I just had to go. There wasn't a whole lot of info on the place at the time, in the year 1985. There was no internet yet, and I hadn't seen a million pictures on Instagram, like you can today. I saw a few pictures, but that was it. My friends had inspired me, and that was it. I had to go, and there I was, a beautiful June day, in the Summer of 85, I made it to Positano.
The Bar Internazionale
Positano
The bus stopped in a higher part of town, right in fron of the Bar International. I was pumped. I grabbed my bags and left the bus. I walked into the Bar. I wanted to freshen up a bit, and get directions to the Villa Antoinetta. the little hotel that Rene Ricard had suggested I stay at. He even wrote me a letter of introduction to the signora. So I figured I'd ask them inside of the bar, and I'd get a little something to eat, a cold drink, and use the bagno. And that's just what I did.
I had another orange juice, a ham & cheese panino, and I got directed. I was all freshened up and ready to trek down to the little hotel. I walked down the passageway that the people told me to walk down, and slowly made my way down. And as I walked, I marveled at each different view of the town, that sprung up from the sea below, hotels and home stacked one on top of the other, it seemed. There was a road, and lots of stairs and passageways in-between. It was wonderful.
`i got down to the area called Mulino, and popped into a shop to ask where Villa Antoinette was. The lady said, "Ah, si. Villa Antoinette." She pointed and tole me to go up the path and make a left. "Grazia," I told her, and I walked up the path and found the hotel. We greeted each other "Caio" and I showed her the letter from Rene. She read it and said, "Ah Si, Ricard. Would you like to see the room. I did, she showed it to me, I said I'd take it, and she gave me the key. I started unpacking a few things from my bag, then jumped in the shower.
I put on a pair of shorts and a Polo shirt, and I made my way down to the beach. As I walked, I continued to marvel at the town and its many charms. I was in 7th Heaven, "I was in Positano," a place I dreamed of, and here I was. I felt quite Lucky. I was.
I got down to the beach, and I scoped out a spot to set my beach towel, and claim my little piece of turf. I kept looking around to check it all out. The sea in front of me, the small port to the right, the Hotel Covo Saraceni to the right as well, and that famous inclining hill, rising from the Sea and up to the Heavens, building topped one upon the other (or so it seems), the Sun was shining, and the sound of the beach : children's little voices as they played and pleaded to parents for Gelato. The sound of the sea splashing on the beach, seagulls gulling, music playing, and people talking, and it all blending together for what I like to call "Beach Sounds." Jasmine Scents filled sweetened the already lovely air, and yes, again, "I was in 7th Heaven. In Positano, on the Amalfi Coast of Southern Italy. I could I ask for more? I think not.
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
... to Be Continued ...
