Wednesday, October 8 –

A day that reminds you exactly why you travel.

Morning started with getting the bags packed and ready to go for the transfer to our next locale. Our driver picked us up in a comfortable (large for the region) vehicle and brought us down to sea level to the town of Maiori. Along the way, we realized why we are not the ones driving–narrow, windy roads, vehicles driving at high rates of speed, and bicyclists who apparently don’t mind taking their lives in their hands. I was glad I wasn’t behind the wheel.

We stopped for a coffee and a pastry in Maiori before starting the hike in earnest–got to fuel up for the hike, right? It was a good call.

Once we started, it was a constant ascent up multiple stairs–astute readers might have noted I did not run this morning. Never fear, I got in plenty of cardio.

Even though the trail was strenuous, I was constantly distracted by the absolutely gorgeous views. When I booked this trip, I was afraid that I might find yhat the Amalfi Coast is overrated. No matter what the next few days bring, this will not be the case. Every turn brought jaw-dropping viewpoints. I have far too many photos, and none of them do justice to the scenery.

After 1,600 feet of ascent, we reached the Convent of St Nicola and the peak of our journey. The hotel had packed us a picnic lunch–enough food for about 8 people–and we enjoyed it as we rested from all that climbing.

From there, it was mostly downhill, through woods, olive groves, grape arbors, and vegetable gardens as we approached the small town of Sambuco. There, we had to switch to walking on a paved road, which was my least favorite portion of the hike. It was narrow, cars were parked along the side, and log trucks kept passing through–note my comment above that careful, cautious driving is not the norm around here. I was happy when we entered Ravello, our home, for the next two nights.

Our hotel has been in business since 1880 and features beautiful tiles on the floors and walls. We also have a small balcony that overlooks the coastline. Certainly can’t complain about our accommodations.

After some time to rest and clean up, we enjoyed cocktail hour on the rooftop before exploring the streets and shops of Ravello. A nice dinner at the hotel, and we were all ready to call it a day–a wonderful day filled with perfect weather, beautiful vistas, excellent food, and great company. Who could ask for anything more?

21,411 steps

9.4 miles

154 floors!