4am out of Rome, crazy cabs and...CAPRI!

No TV, no radio. Just the sound of the water lapping below and birds. Thats it. Peace and stillness and the most insanly beautiful place I will ever be.

And it was the.perfect.day.

It was no easy feat getting from Rome to Naples to Capri. It was trains, automobiles,subways, cabs and boats. It took a long time but I was so excited to be going to the place I had dreamed about visiting for 11 years!

We found a man in the train station asking us if we wanted to hire a taxi, we decided to since we had no clue where the marina was. Naples is larger than I thought it would be. To be honest, I didnt particularly like it. It seemed really dirty and crowded. To be fair, we didnt spend much time there, but I was happy to be hopping on a boat to Capri. Ok, the so called "cab driver" turned out to be a local man hiring himself out for rides. We got in a rusty old white car that didnt even have handles on my side. I was a little nervous at first, wondering if we should even get in the car. We white knuckled it all the way to the harbour. He was the most insane driver. Hand gestures, you know the ones, not the finger but the italian hand gestures when he said "aiy aiy aiy, these-a-peoples drive-a too slow-a" his hand constantly on the horn. It was so crazy. I told Buddy I felt like we were in romancing the stone. Anywhoo, we made it to the harbour just fine and found our boat. It was a 45 min boat ride.



marina grande


The hotel itself was located on the edge of a cliff. literally. Its balcony overlooked the entire bay and the infinity pool made you feel like you were swimming right into the horizon. It was an endless walk of little nooks and crannies with the most beautiful vistas ever to be seen. There were lounging beds on the deck and little phone huts everywhere. Its like, whatever we want, just pick up the phone and its there. The color pallete was perfect. Yellow and white mixed with lemon trees, lush green foliage and dark brown lounge beds. It really is heaven on earth. To say I loved it is an extreme understatement.







(ug, my lens was so dirty..sorry)


















By the time we reached Capri, we were tired. We had walked countless miles, on the go, seen amazing things but a little tired after 10 days, we were ready for some serious R and R and that is exactly what Capri gave us. Seriously, we arrived at the beyond gorgeous Caesar Augustus Hotel and just lounged. We didn't want to do a thing. The hotel was a vacation in itself. But to start at the beginning, when we arrived in Capri, we found a cab in the Marina Grande and asked where our hotel was. He said pointing waaaaay on top of the cliff "see that-a yellow dot? that's your hotel-ah" We took a beautiful cab ride up sheer cliffs to Anacapri where we found paradise. Honestly. Words can no describe the beauty of the hotel. We wanted to arrive as early as possible, so our room was not ready yet. We were introduced to the owner and given a tour of the property. We felt like we were in a lush garden with the most amazing little coves and the view was unmatched. We found our way to a little nook and hung out for a few hours. Reading, relaxing, gazing over the bay of Naples, most specifically Mt. Vesuvius.

Where we hung out for the morning! It was unbelievably beautiful. The amalfi coastline is straight ahead. We stayed across the water in Sorrento after Capri.


through the stone archway is the photo above as well as the placard at its entrance thats at the top of this post.



When our room was ready, we walked in, and GASP! They UPGRADED our room to a sea view...for free!!

the view from our room



The way we could afford the hotel was to stay in a room with a little garden view, I honestly lost my breath when we walked in and the women showing us the room just smiled at me as my jaw was dropped. I just wanted to go to the deck, sit on the yellow chair and over look the island and the yachts below. Oh, I was in heaven. The room was fresh, light, vintage and airy. It was large with antique furniture. The scrolled iron bed with fluffy white linens just called me to lay down and sleep my afternoon away. Our room overlooked all of Marina Grande as well as the coastline and Mt. Vesuvius.




After getting settled in the room and since we just had a lovely morning of relaxing, we decided to walk to the little town of Anacapri, just steps from the hotel. We found a bus that read "grotta azura", paid e1.30 each and took a terrifically scary drive on the most narrow winding road to the top of the Blue Grotto. In all my research before hand, I knew to see the blue grotto, we would have to take a cab back down to marina grande (ca-ching ca-ching), take a boat around the island, (at a price) hop off that boat, take a smaller boat into the grotto, where we would then pay again, then repeat on the way back. We're not cheap, but it seemed a pretty penny. Wheeellll, I was so proud of our resourcefullness because this bus not only took us right to the entrance of the blue grotto, but it only cost us a few euro and was in steps from our hotel! (and you cant put a price on a bus ride that would make disneyland jealous)

walking down the million stone steps to get to the entrance


almost to the bottom


waiting in the boat for our turn. Only 2 small boats go in at the same time, which is nice. See how SMALL the entrance is? It really is as small as it looks. We were lucky to have great weather so we could go.


a little out of order, but we had to literally lay down in the boat to get in the entrance. I am certain this guy hurt his head if he didnt lay all the way down, but I totally cant blame him for risking an injury for a great photo :)



the guy that took us in asked for our camera to take our photo. When he pointed it at us he called us loverbirds.



Our guide taking giving us instruction. There is a chain attached to the left side of the opening that they use to pull the boats in. I asked him if he's ever taken celebritys in. He said he took Jlo and Mariah Carey. The couple in the boat with us was in Capri from California for a wedding. A WEDDING! must be nice.



once inside, I was expecting it to look bright blue, but it still looked dark. It wasnt until we turned around towards the opening to see the water the brilliant blue color glowing. The glow comes from the light source at the opening, which is in this photo, but directly under the water is a larger opening, which cant be seen, but is the primary source of light. It illuminates the water and makes the cave walls glow. It was really beautiful in there. We stayed for about 20 min.





After the Blue Grotto, we took the same bus down to Capri and explored. Capri is just whitewashed. Its so quaint. The marrow streets are lined with boutiques and restarants. Photos of celebrities are everywhere in the restaurants. It was fun to see who had dined where. In the main square is a wonderful terrace area that over looks the entire bay and up to Anacapri. See the mountain the the left of my head? Our hotel is right at the top, just out of the photo.






I have so many photos of Capri, I just cant choose which ones to share.




We then went back to the hotel to freshen up and went to happy hour on the lucious hotel terrace. The Hors D'oeuvers were beautifully presented and delicious. We watched the sun set on the terrace with our beautiful food and yummy sparkling drinks. It was the most fantastic sunset. Mt. Vesuvius in the background. awh...











Then in the evening, had the most romantic dinner overlooking the island on a table by the window. Buddy had the most melt in your mouth steak ever to be tasted and I had lobster risotto. Delicio!! Grazie Bon provacho. is what we said!!




this picture is from the same table but at lunch. Just imagine all of the night lights and the boats glistening on the water and Sorrento across the bay.



We then took in the night life in Anacapri and found a yummy pastry shop for desert. We also stopped by a neighborhood grocery for some drinks. Anacapri was quiet and kids were playing in the streets. It was a hot night. There are lights zig zagging over the streets making it just the most perfect night walk. I really like Anacapri.

Its funny because it was alot darker than it appears in the photos. Oh well, its pretty light or dark.






We ended the evening to a room that was turned down for us. slippers by our bed, a good night note for the evening, wonderfully smelling soaps and lotions in the bathroom, blankets pulled down and the curtains drawn. I spent some time on the deck overlooking the night life and water down below. I was so thankful to be there and wanted to soak into my memory the smell, the sounds the vision of this beautiful place.