Ciaotraveler

Along with the breath taking views of the Amalfi Coast, the cozy towns are known for plenty of great shopping, some of the best in the world.  Recently walking along the streets in  Sorrento, Italy, I shot these photos above.  See more local shops along the Amalfi Coast and Carpi...

This tips list may help you before your trip to Europe and solely based on my experiences.    There are also some tips for saving money while traveling abroad which I try to do, read on...   The Herculaneum ruins station (left) and Orvieto station in Italy

Top photo: My view was from the grand Hotel La Sirenuse  The beautiful church dome is "golden" Whatever you've heard about  Positano  has to be true...it's gorgeous, vivacious and just one of the happiest places on earth (exquisite food, shops, people watching, artisans, etc.).  I have to watch the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" again to see where "Frances" found her "Marcello" on the balcony with his "other" girlfriend. Positano is in the Campania region (not Tuscany) and considered part of the Amalfi Coast.  At the end of this post, you'll see information on how to travel to Positano. We dined at Cafe Positano which was mid to upper town level and had these great views of the beach and town.   View from our boat There are many street "levels" that wind up the hills of Positano.  Be sure to walk up as far as you can to see the view...

The view on the train ride from Naples to Sorrento...Mt. Vesuvius in the background. Beautiful  Sorrento  is nestled in the hills overlooking the Bay of Naples, south of the city of Naples in southern Italy.  It has a steady stream of tourists since the town is known for its quaint charm and small streets.  There's approximately 16,000 citizens residing in Sorrento.  While staying in Sorrento, its easy to  visit the ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculinum (Ercolano) as well as Naples, Capri, Amalfi, Positano, and Salerno.  At the end of this post, there is specific travel information how to get to Sorrento and nearby towns and sites.  The main piazza in Sorrento.

The famous Faraglioni (Ones of the Light) rock formation on Capri Capri  is captivating...great dining, people watching, shopping and sight seeing all on a beautiful small island. At the end of this post I will tell you how to travel to Capri and how to see the sites.   Although we'd prefer to say "capri" like the pants, the correct pronunciation is "KAHpree".  Yes, the capri pants were made trends by Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Onassis (she ordered many of them in the same color) who'd buy many pairs of these cool fashion items.    Caprese salad was also invented here.  Sophia Loren and Jackie Onassis purchased their handmade sandals here by artisans who are still making them today.  Giada De Laurentis often talks about her grandfather,  Director Dino De Laurentis, entertaining many celebrities on the Island.

When in Capri like most of Italy, Italians enjoy full lunches and late night dinners with several courses...pasta, meat/fish, salad, dessert and of course the wine.  First, enjoy the views and then mangia... Capri dining like the views is spectacular.  The chefs create many simple fresh dishes using the locally grown ingredients.  Lemons, olives, and vegetables are locally grown and the  seafood is caught nearby.  At the end of this post you'll see the most fabulous "coffee" drink I've ever tasted...

My first photo taken with my sister on the left in 1973--a Vintage Colosseum photo... I took these photos in April, 2012.  Its all about the architecture and the artistry of the food. Above left Trevi Fountain; right Colosseum; lower left Santa Maria Maggiore; lower right is the Vatican Rotunda.   2015 photos After the British Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris, the Colosseum is the third most visited cultural site in Europe.   Since the  collapse of the House of the Gladiator's  in Pompeii, the Italian Ministry of Culture has been under fire to restore historic monuments before they are irreparably damaged. The government has begun to seek private donations to finance the renovations.  At the end of this post, you'll find Travel Information that will help you around Rome. The Eternal City Year 1999 photo I took. Inside the Colleseum...the top floor is missing to expose the undergro...