inspired
Remember my travel diary about the Amalfi Coast? Well, the day before I went to Positano and Amalfi I was on the Island of Capri. Infamous for being the luxury vacation spot for the rich and famous. Since staying in a hotel on the island …
While on my adventures through Italy, I was able to travel to a few beautiful beach towns. Last week was Cinque Terre. This week I thought we could discuss Positano and Amalfi.
It was Spring so the water was too cold to bring crowds of people to the beaches. This is wonderful since crowds can make it difficult to enjoy the place you’re visiting. However, we were packed into a bus like a can of sardines going from Positano to Amalfi. Not my favorite way to travel, but if you plan to go to Italy for months or even weeks, you better get used to the adventure that is Italian public transit.
Positano
No Italian was swimming in the water. While the Americans were jumping in the water using bras, underwear, and scarves as bathing suits. I am not kidding. Americans can stick out like a sore thumb in Italy. Did I mention they also brought boxed wine to beach? No? Well, they did that too. What can I say? We like to enjoy ourselves everywhere we go.
I decided to do as the Italians do, I suppose. Sit on the beach fully clothed, then walk around the shops.
Positano had a lot of cute small shops. The clothing was all so beachy with its pastel colored lace and loose fit. I thought about buying something, but decided I probably won’t find myself wearing that particular style of clothing very often. See-through clothing isn’t my thing.
SHOPPING TIP: It’s a good idea to look at a clothing item before buying it and imagine where you will wear it. If you can’t imagine wearing it to something or some place you will be going to in the next 5 months, take it out of your shopping cart.
To get to the beach in Positano, you have to walk down a lot of steps. I mean A LOT. Not joking in the slightest bit. Everyone’s caves started twitching before we got to the bottom. But once we saw the view of this gorgeous town from the steps, we knew it was worth it.
After spending a few hours at the beach, and looking at all the cute shops, we climbed up the hill to the bus stop. The bus ordeal to get to Amalfi was a nightmare. First, we had to wait at the bus stop for an hour and a half. This was time we could have spent at the beach. Right before the bus came, groups of people started arriving to also wait for the bus. When the bus finally arrived, it was already half full! People who had just arrived and only waited 5 or so minutes tried to get on the bus before everyone else who had already been waiting for an hour. Do people like this have no compassion? Only care about themselves?? I can’t relate.
In the end, my friends and I squeezed on the bus…Standing in the middle of the aisles all the way to Amalfi.
Amalfi
Besides this Cathedral, a few gelato places, and a restroom that cost a euro to get into, I did not see much in Amalfi.
-Ayla
Cinque Terre was absolutely adorable. Such a cute and fun place to see and take pictures. It’s not necessarily exciting like Rome, where there is always fun things happening. But it is a great weekend destination to take photos and relax. I wasn’t able to go …
Exploring Europe with your best friend is something many people could only dream about. I’d like to think we’ve all been guilty of tagging each other in Instagram photos saying, “We have to go here someday!” I know I have. Sorry for the IG spam bff’s. It seems like something from a movie. It is something from a movie! You take a class trip to Rome, fall for a hot Italian with a Vespa, and become a pop star. Or if you’re really lucky, a princess.
I’m not sure how Grace and I convinced our parents to let us go to Europe alone. I mean, I was only 20, Grace had JUST turned 21. I don’t think they thought we were serious when we said we want to go on a cruise around Europe. It didn’t really hit our parents until we sat down one night, researched everything, and showed them our plans. We were going to fly to Venice, stay in a hostel next to the Rialto Bridge, board a 21 day cruise, get off at the port of Barcelona, stay in Barcelona for 5 days, and fly home. I think when you give your parents that much information it’s hard to say no. We were really doing this thing.
I’m going to start my travel diaries with the last place Grace and I went: Barcelona, Spain. The order of these don’t matter, so hopefully this doesn’t agitate anyone.
Before going to Barcelona, I didn’t know much about it except the famous Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and sangria. All of which we experienced on our stay in Barcelona.
The details inside the Sagrada Família are insane! It felt other worldly walking into this church designed by Guadí. If they had churches in a Dr. Seuss book, this is what I would imagine it to look like.
We were lucky enough to get inside the church right before the sun began to set causing the colors from the windows to shine brightly through and light up all the walls. Unfortunately, even the photos taken at this time don’t do this gorgeous catholic church justice. This is something you have to see in person to truly appreciate its beauty.
Park Güell, located on the Carmel Hill, is another site you have to see if you ever find yourself in Barcelona. Getting to the park is kinda cool too. You could either ride the escalators up the hill, take the stairs (Would not recommend. Why would anyone do this??), or take one of the many alternative routes up the hill that allows you to see street performers, shops, and restaurants.
Fair warning, try to not go on their busiest day. Like, Saturday or Sunday. Entrance to the park will have long lines and they will only allow a certain number of people to enter at a time. Grace and I were traveling in the beginning of June. Not the peak of travel season, but as you can see, there were a lot of people in the park. If crowds don’t bother you, fine; but there will be a lot of people in your way while trying to take pictures.
What’s great about Barcelona is there is a lot to see and explore. We were only there for 5 days but we were able to see all the major tourist landmarks just by grabbing a city guide and spending all day checking things off the map. Walking to the places instead of taking the metro also helps because you’ll run into things that weren’t on the map or you didn’t realize you’d be walking past. However, we did take the metro and a trolly a few times but only when it was necessary.
Free and paid walking tours are also great if you want to learn about the history of Barcelona or are overwhelmed by what to see and how to get there. Many hotels and hostel will give you directions on tour bookings and where the tour will meet. If you see a free walking tour advertised, it’s important to bring cash or coins with you. Free does not mean totally free. Your guide will expect you to give them a tip at the end of the tour.
Tibidado is a great place to visit if you are traveling to Barcelona with children. You may have to take the subway, a bus, and the Funicular de Tibidado (a railway to get to the top of the mountain), but the views are breathtaking and there is a cute amusement park for kids.
What’s cool about the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor is you can see it from all over Barcelona! It is a Roman Catholic church that is dedicated to the “Sacred Heart of Jesus.” There is something magnificent about standing on this tall mountain and look up at the Jesus statue at the very top.
Speaking of tall mountains, if you have the time, I recommend taking a trip to Montjuïc. Start the trip from Plaça d’Espanya, walk over to The Magic Fountain and Palau Nacional, walk up the hill, go inside a few of the museums you pass along the way (such as the Modern Art Museum), the Botanical Garden, and end at the Castell de Mountjuïc for more amazing views of Barcelona plus the Port of Barcelona.
It will probably take half the day, but you will see a lot more than what I have listed. & don’t worry, there is a Funicular de Mountjuïc that will take you back down the hill.
Torre Glòries isn’t THAT amazing, but we heard enough natives talking about it that we decided to go see it. It’s the third tallest building in the city and displays a light show in the evening.
Where we stayed: Casa Gracia, Passeig de Gràcia, 116 Bis, 08008
Where we got sangria: Ciudad Condal, Rambla de Catalunya, 18 08007
Amazing sangria and tapas sample platter at Ciudad Condal! Our favorite was the Chicken and Ham Croquettes.
“Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.” ― David McCullough Jr.
