ITALY CONTINUES TO AMAZE US
Perry Como & Anne Bancroft -WHO DIDN'T LOVE PERRY COMO! Pleep can't stop singing the tune.CAPRI....well actually we stayed at AnnaCapri but toured the island and more. We were here 10 or 12 years ago and boy has it changed. Still stunningly gorgeous but oh so many day trippers and t-shirt shops. Yikes.
Per the Mayor of Capri "Capri's fabled beauty and refined hedonism (used to be refined anyway) has charmed them all, from Roman rulers and Russian revolutionaries to Hollywood legends. It’s the perfect microcosm of Mediterranean appeal, a fusion of glittering grottoes and coves, Roman ruins and chichi piazzas.
Already inhabited in the Palaeolithic period, the island was briefly occupied by the Greeks before Emperor Augustus made it his private playground and Tiberius retired here in AD 27. Its modern incarnation as a tourist centre dates from the early 20th century.
It’s also a favourite day-trip destination and a summer favourite of holidaying VIPs. Inevitably, the two main centres, Capri Town and its uphill rival Anacapri, are almost entirely given over to tourism, with the high prices that follow. But explore beyond the designer boutiques and cafes and you’ll find that Capri retains an unspoilt charm, with grand villas, overgrown vegetable plots, sun-bleached, peeling stucco and banks of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea".
Bubs better learn how to make this drink as Boca and Pleep really like it! Forget Lemoncello-when one can have a Granita.
Our boats await us for a spin around the cliffs and stunning grottos.
Eve the boat drivers are Mario Andriette trained.
Check out that ride Bubs...who owns it?
Someone from LA?
And there is Ivanka Trumps beautiful sail boat. Vavavoom.
Homes perched on the cliffs.
Hot dogging around the cliffs- let's play the Let's Scare The Tourist Game!
Breathtaking as ever.
So James Bond and yes many movies have been filmed here. Last visit, we saw Tom Cruise's over the top jumbo yacht float around this rock. About that carbon footprint?
Oh good, we are heading into a cave. Cool!
Into the "whales belly" and it sure did look like it!
How's that for some effervescent water? That is the second boat, carrying our fellow travelers.
The water is glowing. The most visited attraction in Capri is the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto). It is a special cave, discovered in the 19th century by foreign tourists and has been a phenomenon ever since.
More houses perched up on the hills..how do they build them up there?
See that tiny white dot on top? That's a home.
There's that cool black boat sailing around. Fernando, is that you?
And now we know where Pleep went...nothing like having a slide off the side of your yacht.
As always, the girls love the PLEEPMEISTER.
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING WATER FUN!
Time to take the finicula up to Capri town from the port ....
Had a great time singing funiculi fincula on the bus today. Keith thinks he sounded just like Pavorrati
This is the best way to get into the town centre from the port. There can be long queues but they clear quickly as there is always two cars running - one up and one down. Don't expect to sit down as there are very few seats and it was very crowded when we got on. But it only takes a few minutes and the views are great. Pleep rode the darn thing a few times he liked it so much.
We cool off with a refreshing lemon granita- I couldn't resist asking for a second. A walk to the see the gardens of Cesar Augustus...not as nice as last visit. What happened?
Very hot and tons of tourists up here....
And a fabulous and delicious lunch at Mamma's (Michelen rated)..
The Italian wine is growing on Bubs.
The food was fab, the service divine and the music was lively...Boca had to teach them to do the happy dance.
No Bubs this is not She Wore an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini town, this is Capri where many of these visitors make it a point to wear the pants named after the destination. Do you have a pair? I never did like them. I think they look a bit goofy unless you are a six foot tall model or bone thin. I think for us voluptuous babes it just cuts our calfs in half in a non flattering way but hey I am no fashionista. What the heck do I know! Keep calm and wear your capris! Or do you call them clam diggers? or as we did in the midwest- peddle pushers?
Of course we had to buy another suitcase. You know Boca likes her tschokes.
Ferragomo Vintage? Huh? Yes, Mrs. Boca, we have brought back some of our classics. For instance this is the Marlyn Monroe. We designed and made for her specifically.
And this one is the Audrey Hepburn, which do you prefer?
And maybe Boca found the perfect retirement job. Can you see her pushing this cart around Quail West?
Boca loved this one...
It is a sculpture made by Carole Feueranm- a pioneering artist in the world of hyper-realist sculpture. She helped start the hyper-realist movement in the 70's by making sculptures portraying their models a life like manner. Boca really loved this sculpture as it was so engaging. She mentioned to Bubs this would look good on their patio. He replied, "not if you want to go on another holiday next year." Have you seen Carole's work elsewhere?
Enough in Capri town..let's head back up to AnneCapri for some fun and a shower!
Another wild ride in a taxi on their hairy road filled with switchbacks, crazy Italian drivers and lunatic tourists walking or biking down the road. No big buses on these streets taxi's or the little style bus. I would like to say you get used to it but actually the more you ride the worse it gets- cheating death each time! Oy Oy Oy!
There are a few spots where you don't have to cross yourself and hold your breath.
Located next door to our hotel- The station for the CHAIR LIFT is in Via Caposcuro in Anacapri, near Piazza Vittoria.
During the rapid ascent in the chair lift to the summit of the mountain, we had an opportunity to enjoy the splendid views of the Gulf of Naples with Vesuvius in the background, the Gulf of Salerno, Anacapri, the Isle of Ischia and the incomparable beauty of the colour of the sea. Monte Solaro is the highest point on Capri. It is characterized by a deeply eroded slope to the east and south east right down to the sea and a incline which falls towards Anacapri.
Monte Solaro offers the visitor all the scenic beauty of Capri, from the proud Faraglioni emerging from the sea to the majestic rugged coastline covered with over 850 species of previously striking, luxuriant vegetation. Previously? It was sad to see the private gardens you float over mostly dead- due to drought conditions. The last ride they were vibrant, green and very manicured. Bummer.
I also wanted to kill Bubba. After we bought the luggage and I stepped into one of the many fabulous jewelry stores, he ran into the gals from our tour. They wanted to go swimming and asked if Bubs would take their camera and passports back with him. No problem. He put them in the new case. The next thing you know we are at the chair lift and Boca wants to leave the case with the chair lift operator then Bubs tells her that won't work. So Boca had to ride with the damn case up and down the mountain...people asked "where are ya staying up there? I only saw a ice cream store?" And I barked back " Got sick of the Capri Palace and thought there might be a Motel 6 up here!" If he was behind me I would have thrown it at him.
Why is that lady hiding behind her umbrella?
As we left the chair lift...last ride down we found another of Boca's favorite things...
Quite the flowing wedding dress. Alex take note!
Boca thought she did a nice photo of the groom and bride...Alex, we don't need no stinking photographer!
Time to find a pizza capri style...when Pleep saw what this boy was having a GINORMOUS CALZONE (award winner in Las Vegas) he had to have one.
While Bubs and Boca settled for a very tasty pizza and salad- couldn't take another 5 course dinner at 10:00!
Time to hit the road and back to the hotel. Been a long hot day. How much more can we squeeze in- we are exhausted and Boca jammed her knee some how- all those dang steps. Or maybe that's the universe telling her not to make fun of Bubs and his bastuni anymore. Pass that stick over Bubs- it hurts like hell! We will need a vacation from this vacation. Seriously.
And why does my next door neighbor have her own pool? I think the going topless did the trick.
Bubs couldn't wash his shorts fast enough for the view. Only Bubs would stay at the Capri Palace and hang his clothes out the balcony hillbilly style.
