Campania with love/Campania con amore!

     I could speak to all the different experiences and mention where I have been and what I did in the sunny region of Campania: Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Capri and more but I found this second visit to the Amalfi coast to be very interesting in a cross-cultural sense. Being the student of all things intricate, interesting and culturally significant, I found myself drawn to a sweet little shop once our ferry dropped us off in Capri. It was a sandal shop. But it was not a place that just sold sandals. It was a place where I could get a pretty pair of sandals handmade for my foot within a half hour! Why is this interesting? Because the sandal maker is a sweet young lady born and raised in Sri Lanka! her name: Rosie! Her smile and hope, contagious!

     After receiving the disappointing news that, yet again, we would not be able to visit the blue grotto, I thought what better way to cure my own blues than shopping therapy. Don't get me wrong, I am not a shop-o-holic by any means but I was unsure I would ever see the grotto... a dream foiled. We entered the shop and I was in love. There were so many choices, I was amazed! Then, we began talking to Rosie while shopping. It seemed like I was cultural shopping, not just buying an object to wear which was a souvenir but really getting to know Rosie. Getting to know a subculture of Capri or even other well known places: the various other ethnicities that flock to tourist-based landmarks across the globe to earn a decent wage.  She explained that she was a seasonal business person who would go home during the off-peak months with the money she earned making shoes to help support her family in Sri Lanka.  It was some sort of old fashioned, styled franchise. Nevertheless, Rosie was professional in every way: very reverent, very humble and helpful. I loved her spirit!

    Here are photos of her products. I will not tell the process of how she constructed the sandals. But rather, I will leave you to see how she worked and evoke your own feelings for how the process went.
    In all, meeting Rosie made me feel as though modern society across the globe can do two wonderfully, cross-cultural things: keep the sacred traditions of each ethnicity intact while reaching out to other cultures to gain intercultural wisdom and wealth. It is not a new concept. It was just wonderful to be a part of the exchange. And to Rosie, I thank you for the experience!

 

Final excursion in Italy/Escursione finale in Italia

             Here we were, in late May, traveling by car, headed south from Volterra for several reasons: the last game we would view of Virtus Roma ( our son's internship team), a chance to see a fantastic castle and gardens rivaling Versailles; Caserta , visits to ancient metropolis: Herculaneum & Pompeii, then off to Sorrento, Capri and the Amalfi coast. It was a fantastic ending trip during a wonderful year of culture, language, food and new friends.

             It was amazing that we were able to convince our oldest son, Grant, to stay with us a bit longer as he could have returned to New York after his internship and finished his coursework for the year. Instead, he remained with us in Volterra and completed work on-line. We love the magic of the internet! We are grateful because in previous years we only had the opportunity to see Grant but 4 times per year as we lived in Guanacaste, Costa Rica and he in the Northeast of the US. The opportunities to visit with one another were so limited.

             We got in some last site visits in Roma before we enjoyed seeing one last play off game. The Swiss Guard at St. Peter's Cathedrale, Bernini's Masterpiece, the famous altar: Il Baldacchino & Siena's pose inside the cathedrale.

        Unfortunately , the playoff game was a loss, but it was such a wonderful season. Grant had made so many new friends and contacts. He had developed a close personal relationship with the general manager Nicola Alberani and the energy in the air was amazing! Grant had learned so much. He went from learning all the Eurocup rules and laws of the game to later becoming a talent scout. By the end of his time interning with the team, Grant sought out two new players for the team and one was offered and accepted a contract with the team!  Grant had the incredible experience of watching his own pick, by his own merit, play on the floor of the Virtus Roma stadium!

       
          After several long goodbyes, it was time to hit the road another 3 hours south into a town
called Caserta, nearby Naples. Oh, what a sight it was! Friends of ours in Tuscany raved about how it was such a beautiful place to behold. And how it rivaled France's palace,Versailles. Once we ventured inside what looked like a hauntingly huge Palace, we were astounded. There were throne rooms, decorated bed chambers, children's fancy cribs and ancient toys, even a fancy marble bathroom Napoleon once used. The number of rooms were endless, it seemed. So much that we had to monitor our time so we could enjoy the bountiful gardens and fountains outside. A truly memorable visit.

Siena getting fierce in Caserta's grand entry staircase

 

Caserta's lovely ancient feat: a fountain system! Incredible!

      Next, we were off to the Amalfi coast! We lodged in Sorrento for the long weekend and visited both Pompeii & Herculaneum (Ercola) while gazing up at Mt. Vesuvius, So very daunting.

On a dare, Liam stuck his head inside the ancient, public cooking well/ fire pit... one of many in Ercola (Herculaneum)

Siena being Silly in Ercola!

Grant in Ercola!

Garden of the fugitives in Pompeii!

           At night, we walked the beautifully lit streets of Sorrento, so charming and lovely filled with shops overflowing with souvenirs and the aroma of pasta dishes and ragu. Our daughter, Siena, wanted to live there.

            By day, we boarded boats to visit the isle of Capri! We visited the Augustus gardens and the wonderfully fragrant perfumeries that dotted the walkways. It was heavenly and sweet smelling.

 

          Finally, on one ever so fateful day, we booked a boat to take us out to visit the blue Grotto. Amazing! We had to wait in a boat line to change into little rowboats, reminding me of Venice with a standing rower. I never knew we would have to duck our heads down into the boat in order to enter the Grotto. I certainly was blue and a bit warm with the salty air you could taste. The rowers slowly paddled us in a circle and sang familiar Italian tunes. The acoustics carried their harmonies and we felt like special guests. The blue hue of the water reflected light from outside in the Bay of Naples. A dream of mine to see for years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            On our final day in the Amalfi coast, we drove along the windy, coastal road past the cities of Amalfi, Ravello & Positano. Walking out to the sandy shores, visiting beautiful shops and gardens along the way while savoring every thought, feeling, smell, sensation and vista... like it was a bucket list location and this would be our last time. We even met and made a new friendship with another  international couple. I think we were approachable and open. It was a wonderful experience to not feel like a tourist as much but rather, a local visitor.