We're in southern Italy to visit the area around Naples and then on to Sicily. We'll stay in Sorrento followed by Taormina, Siracusa, Ragusa and finally Palermo.
On arrival at the Naples airport we caught a bus to Sorrento (90 min, 10 €/person). As the bus traveled south and west towards Sorrento what I saw brought to mind South America with views of dreary apartment blocks and neglected construction projects. Through the clouds are visible outlines of mountains, a promising break from the foreground's monotonous sprawl. The bus soon hugged a rocky cliff. Here and there terraces held olive trees with nets strung between them. Homes drilled into cliffs perch perilously over the Mediterranean. The scenery grew ever more attractive with each hairpin curve of the road.
In Sorrento we are staying at the Marina Piccola 73. It was once a coast guard station but is now a hotel with nine rooms and just steps from the water. I'm listening to the beat of ocean waves as I write this. The only downside to the hotel is the long set of steps to get up to the town.
The last thing we do this long first day is walk up the stairs to Sorrento proper, to buy wine and enjoy our first of many pizzas. The pizza is just as I like it, with anchovies, tomato sauce, and basil. Wonderful.
