Looking at Vesuvio from Sorrento
Sorrento is a bewitching little place and, like other towns along the coast, is terraced down in frighteningly steep steps to the cliff edge and then to the sea.
You need a good head for heights to live here, something I don’t have, but the locals run up and down the steps whistling and rolling Rs like sailors in the rigging.
I found the maze of twisting streets more exciting than the view across the Bay of Napoli and the houses perched on the cliffs.
A little laneway in Sorrento. I love these little alleys!
Once down these lanes, more little lanes branch off. And there are shops in them!
I bought a bag of plums from this fruttivendolo, four fat juicy black plums for 52 centissime. How can you pay someone 52 centissime? I found a 50c coin and a 20c in my purse and had to refuse his change quite firmly.
This one was like Aladin’s Cave and, as you can see, there’s a sign outside in English.
Sandwighes.
I couldn’t resist.
The horse and carriage, pony really, didn’t appeal to me. The thought of the poor little bugger dragging me up and down the hills made me feel a little ill, no thanks.
I had a ride on a train instead.
But let me tell you about the singing journey!
It was with great pleasure that I presented myself at the train ticket office at 7.30 a.m
After the customary Buongiorno was exchanged back and forth, I had my chance of a lifetime ..
Vorrei il biglietto di ritorno a Sorrento, per favore. I wish a return ticket to Sorrento, please.
I struck a dramatic pose
Ritorno a Sorrento!
To my delight the railway clerk burst into song – Torna a Surriento of course and the man behind me in the queue joined in.
It’s a beautiful song. You can see the beauty of Sorrento in this video and listen to the song in its Neapolitan language.
Sorrento celebrates the author, Giambattista De Curtis.
There are beautiful gardens in Sorrento. As the song says, Guarda guá’ chistu ciardino, and I looked for a long, long time. Finally I made my way to catch the elevator down to the beach (the beach had black sand!) and found myself in a simply heavenly patch with a simply heavenly statue of San Francesco d’Assisi. I’ve never seen a lovelier, lighter portrayal of this popular saint – the little Poor Man, Il Poverello.
I must return to Sorrento!