Chan Weng Kit's Blogspot: May 2018

May 19th

1) Today was the big one - five places in one go. It was a truly unforgettable day as we went to Salerno, Amalfi, Atrani, Positano, before finishing off with Sorrento! It all began early in the morning, when we took the train from Garibaldi Station to our first stop - Salerno. Once there, we walked to Salerno Cathedral - arguably its most famous tourist attraction. For an extra euro, we were given access to the crypt, believed to house the remains of Matthew the Apostle. All of the ceiling frescoes were painted by Belisario Corenzio and depict scenes from the Gospel of Matthew, as well as some episodes of the history of Salerno (such as the siege of the city by the French).

2) After the historical tour, we walked along the promenade, where we bought some buns for lunch. Next, we walked to the ticket stand to book our ferry ride to stop #2 - Amalfi! Amalfi has always been my go-to place, ever since I saw Mendelssohn's (the composer/pianist/organist/conductor) artistic impression of the place. And now, thanks to my parents, my childhood dreams have come true. And I got more than I bargained for too, since we visited so many areas along the Amalfi coast, including its next door neighbour Atrani. We had to skirt around the edges and cut through a cafe, before taking a staircase in order to reach Atrani. Add in the bright, sunny weather and it was really everything I could ever hope for.

3) In Amalfi, we made sure to pay a visit to the Amalfi Cathedral (Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea) - a 9th century Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Apostle Saint Andrew, whose relics are kept here. As mentioned earlier, we then walked over to Atrani, where we indulged in spaghetti and lasagna. Rejuvenated after the meal, it was time to say goodbye to Atrani and Amalfi, as we took the evening ferry to Positano - a village and commune on the Amalfi Coast. As we only had an hour to spare here, we weren't able to visit specific places. But we did walk all the way up to the bus stop (conveniently located high up XD), which gave us a lovely view of the area. There, we waited for the bus which would take us to the last stop of the day, Sorrento.

4) As the bus arrived, everyone made a beeline for it - to the point where some people who had been waiting for a long time couldn't get on board. "There's a line here!" someone in a green shirt shouted. Angers flared as the guy wasn't able to make it on board (he had five others with him so that may explain why), and my dad and I were literally the last two allowed on before the bus drove away. It was not a pretty sight, but I guess the pretty sight of the sunset made up for it? Anyway I just hope everyone got on the next bus safely.

5) On to Sorrento then, a town most commonly known for its small shops selling an arrangement of ceramics, lacework and marquetry (woodwork). With the last train back (via the Circumvesuviana) at 9.30pm, it was imperative that we make it back to the station in time. So we hurriedly made our way to Piazza Tasso (the central square named after the poet Torquato Tasso) and Villa Comunale (a large, bayside park known for its gardens, fountains and sweeping views). While it was dark when we got there, the night view was just as lovely and unique!

6) Last thing on the agenda was to get home, via the Circumvesuviana train. On the way back, we couldn't resist ourselves and we each got a granita from Il Gelato. What a perfect way to end what was essentially a perfect day for me :) That is all for today's blog post, and thanks very much for visiting as always. Have a nice week ahead, cheers!