The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria sits right on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples and atop rumored ruins of Caesar Augustus' villa. Y'all know that I rarely stay at the hotels on the list, but mostly they are open to the public for meals or a quick (somewhat clandestine) look around, but I didn't get ten feet past the gates before hotel staff stopped me. I guess they take rich people's privacy seriously there.
Instead of the gardens at the chichi hotel I walked down a market street to browse the 1001 limoncello stores (which most manufacture on site and offer free tasting samples).
This store also offered an array of lemon soaps and other lemon-based products.
Salvador Dali sculpture (Donna in Fiamme) in the square.
Farmer's Market
What? You can't rent a plane here?!
The news that smoking is hazardous to your health hasn't really sunk into the European mindset yet, but I love the tobacco stores all over. Plus you can buy other cool stuff in tobacco shops, for example, they are the official sellers of tram tickets!
Italians love scarves. Everywhere had scarf stores, vendors, etc. Scarves, scarves everywhere!
Almost every restaurant/cafe had a sign reading "Coffee Time". Is it always coffee time, or do they change the signs periodically throughout the day? Lunch time! Snack time! You're on vacation, have a cannoli and a glass of wine or limocello time?
I somehow ended up with pictures of green doors and windows in almost every city I visited.
I do not understand these pants. Like, at all.
After the market street I walked down to the cliffs.
And saw another weird sculpture.
Once you hit the view it is spectacular.
That is Mount Vesuvius in the distance.
It is all black sand beaches, because you know, volcanoes!
Did I mention the road to get from Napes to Sorrento was terrifying?
The road is very narrow and winding with sheer drops. Our guide told us that if the heights bothered us we should just close our eyes...like our driver does.
Bikini Beach!
Have you heard of this beach? It is very ...
This used to be a cement factory, but has been transformed into a luxury hotel.
