I think I might have saved the best for last. The memories go on and on, but for now I’m ending this series, on beautiful Capri. On another scorching day, in what was apparently the hottest May for 20 years, we caught the morning ferry from Sorrento. Not the high speed hovercraft, but the journey was short. Shimmering in a heat haze, from the second we disembarked on Capri the only way was up. Avoiding the queues for the funicular, we crammed onto a bus and strap hung as we zigzagged up and up to Anacapri. I don’t think I’ve ever been higher without flying! Can there be a lovelier place to stop and eat? Ravioli Caprese, with Tiberio white wine, at La Terrazze.
It all went a bit wrong from there. You can blame the wine if you like, but we started to descend by a series of steps and didn’t stop till we reached the harbour at the bottom, completely bypassing Capri town. I was soundly berated by the husband. Not that he wanted to see Capri town, but he definitely didn’t want those endless steps in the heat. It did no good for me to point out the glorious landscape. Appeasement had to come in the form of chocolate and almond cake and reviving Spumante. I left them to it while I raced back to the cliff lift. I couldn’t possibly miss out on the Piazetta and those iconic Faraglioni Islands. I’m sure I wore an exhausted but beatific smile on the ferry journey home.
Overlooking the castello on Ischia 
3 happy boys at the hotel pool- mine in the middle
I wish I had more photos from those golden days. Islands always call to me and we just had time to squeeze in Ischia on our second last day. I’d glimpsed pictures of hot springs and thermal baths in an idyllic setting, but had no idea where to find them. In a spirit of optimism we boarded the round the island bus, sure to come upon them! We got off at the terminus and looked bemused, until the kindly driver of an endearing little taxi-bus, with open sides and stripey seats, took pity on us. He took us to the booking office for the Aphrodite Thermal Park in Sant’ Angelo, and from there we were whisked by water-taxi across the harbour to paradise. Time flew in those fabulous gardens, and soon it was time to find the bus back to the port, and one last coffee in the harbour beneath that Aragonese castle.
Enough reminiscing. He’s 31 now, and about to buy his first home. I wish him a bright and happy future. Thank you all for traveling with us.
Jakie piΔkne! So beautiful!
Tak! Cudowneπ€π
Beautiful, thanks for sharing!! β€οΈ
I enjoyed it so much. Thanks a lot π€π
Oh those steps in the heat. Some things are worth it though. At least that’s what I tell myself. When we can travel again I hope to not whine at such things. Glorious memories Jo.
We started down them quite by accident, ridiculous as that sounds, and then we couldn’t find a way to get off the steps other than climb back up! ππ
What a wonderful click!!
Thanks a lot ππ
Marvelous
Thanks π
I have thoroughly enjoyed your Bright Memories series, Jo … climbing those seemingly endless staircases … cajoling a child to come along … the stunning vistas ….priceless travel memories. All the more poignant when the child is now a young man!
It’s been an interesting journey, Ju-Lyn, and how lucky I am to be able to share it with you. Many thanks! π π
You’ve travelled to so many lovely & memorable places, Jo. It is our privilege to peek into your travel pics & memories!
Thanks, sweetheart π π
Aaaah! How lovely, Jo. Capri. Just the name resonates. And the nearest I’ve got to it, flying over on a summer’s afternoon, when it was hot and hazy just like your photo, and we were heading back to Kenya.
I was never sure I’d fit with the millionaire lifestyle, Tish, but you can’t blame me for trying. Never did bump into Clooney though π€£π
Always good to dip a toe in uncharted territory. Shame you missed George,
I felt like I was there with you! A beautiful island in the summer heat, a kid (or three), and even a cranky husband! Great memories popped up for me from your description, and I can just feel your own nostalgia for this special place.
Hi Lexie! The good news is we both still have the cranky husband π€£π Some days he’s better than others! These days I get cranky in the heat and he just chills π€π Hope life is treating you well.
Beautiful memories.
Thanks Rupali π€π
Gracie Fields is buried on Capri. I read that fresh flowers are delivered to her grave every day paid for by Elton John.
It’s a nice thought, Andrew. π€π
What stunning memories! Thanks for taking us along.
The world was our oyster, and I was permanently giddy with the places we saw, Gunta π π
Such lovely reminiscing Jo. It brought back memories for me too – of a day to Capri from Positano, and riding the chairlift to Anacapri. And we did also get to see the town, though I was not overly impressed by it.
Alison
I’d have liked to be there on an evening, with all those twinkling lights, Alison, but I’ve always had difficulty reining myself in π π
Beautiful memories β₯οΈ
Thank you! Your food looks delicious π π
Happy memories. I would have wanted to go up and find Capri too, despite the lure of cake.
Cake’s always better if you’ve worked for it first, Carol? π π
True!
Oh gosh, I felt a wave of nostalgia and a little sadness for those wonderful times gone. Thank you for sharing your memories, as it recalled many beautiful ones of my own, with my sons. I often shake my head in astonishment at the access people in Europe have to other countries. As I’m unsure if I will ever afford to travel so far, you’ve taken me to places that I would very much have enjoyed. Thank you.
Especially in these times, but even before this, I doubt Australia and the Far East are within our means. You’re right- Europe was an open book for us. But working, holidays were a special 2 weeks that you looked forward to all year. And didn’t we make the most of them! We were never big budget people, and my husband is a reluctant traveler, so there was always compromise too. But I do like my rose-tinted specs and the memories. And I’m grateful to share, and evoke them in others. Many thanks to you π π
Sounds like a glorious time, even with the heat and extra steps! And the thermal baths would have been something I’d have wanted to enjoy, certainly! Just so you know, I’ve had to blame the wine on more than a few things in my day. LOL!
There wasn’t another option, once we started the descent, to seeing Capri town, other than to climb back up again and back down the other side. Or so we thought! You can imagine the marital disharmony. And small boy, lured on with visions of cake π π It’s never all roses, is it? But we’ve shared some fabulous times.
Happy days and happy memories.
Yes, they were, Mel π€π
Marvelous memories, Jo, of a beautiful place. Time flies, doesnβt it?!
It often feels like a different me back then, Janet. Maybe more foolish, maybe less π¦
We had a lovely Easter break in Capri once. Must have walked just about every path on the island. We were wearing t-shirts, the Italians were still in fur coats! Though it did get very cold in the evening, and I ended up wearing everything Iβd packed at once! Or just about.
Easter must have been interesting, Anabel. Processions, etc? And not too many tourists? π π
I donβt remember any processions, not too many tourists.
Yes, you did save the best for last and what a best that is! Wonderful memories and even without images to illustrate your words told me all I needed to know about Capri. Do you know I’ve never been there despite lots of visits to Naples and that part of Italy. Somehow something else always cropped up – once I know it was because there were too many people for the ferry and husband just refused to board. Men!
I haven’t been commenting lately as I’ve been having a mini-break from the blog, reading only those I enjoy most but not commenting, or indeed writing anything of my own. I needed a break from it all and in fact, I feel a longer break is necessary and I’m going to be more judicious in my readings. At the moment I have to anyway, as each time I comment I have to sign in again with WP – I don’t think it’s WP fault this time, I think it’s my browser not having picked up all the information in the right order. I’m also editing a Memoir for a friend but I’m going to return this because I didn’t realize she was writing 100,000 words!!! I have to learn to say ‘no’ more often as my life doesn’t seem my own sometimes.
Enjoy the weather, there’s little else we can look forward to. Looks like it will be another year before I see my family and I suppose you are in much the same position. Green lights, amber lights, all very well but you can still be made to isolate if you fly on the wrong day or are caught somewhere when another outbreak happens. Take care, eat lots of chocolate!
You’re always a welcome presence here, Mari, but I know all too well how blogs can gobble up your time. I’m not far off taking a break myself.
Beautiful lady that she is, your husband maybe wasn’t wrong not to board the ferry for Capri. Crowds are seldom fun and I did find Ischia much more soothing. But there are places you just have to see, aren’t there? Stay safe and well in these crazy times. We have friends arriving this week who can’t wait to escape the English weather but they have a property here and that makes a difference. Thanks as always for your lovely company π€π