Sorrento Italy

Monday Oct 17 - tour day 10 - Sorrento Italy 

As the tour goes on I sometimes seem to be out of words for this blog!  Today was a very laid back day in Sorrento Italy.  I started the day with a self guided walking tour of Sorrento.  I wandered through city squares and back alleys and waterfronts.  The city is known for inlaid wood, even their businesses and churches have inlaid wood in doors and seats.  I also visited an inlaid wood factory and business.   It is a very open and friendly touristy town, but it wasn’t over run at all.  I will let the pictures tell the story.  
In the afternoon I went on a kayak ride with about 20 other people (not my tour group).  We went along cliffs, past a Roman ruin and into a beautiful grotto.  The website said it was for beginners, but I am not sure what they think is a beginner, but it was not for beginners! It took 3 hours and I had loads of fun! 
After a short siesta, we all went to a home cooked dinner in a lovely home.  It was the best food I had the whole trip.   

Tomorrow, it is on to our last stop of the tour - Naples Italy.  


Sorrento has a big gorge that separates the city center.  That is the bay of Naples in the background. 
Fun statue - of course I had to post that 

Throughout the city are shrines to Mary 
Look how thick the old Roman city gates/walls are.  I think they were 20 feet thick. 
Artistic view of the bay of Naples and you can just make out Mt Vesuvius in the background. 
This cloister turned into art gallery was beautiful. 
This was a nativity scene in the local cathedral.  It looks like a painting in the picture, but it is all individual pieces.  It was incredible. 
Inlaid wood in one of the stations of the cross in the cathedral. 

Welcoming to Sorrento is St Anthony the Abbott.  At least he was supposed to be welcoming, but after roadway changes, he is facing wrong way.  


13th century palace , now an elementary school


Street that goes back centuries before Christ in sorrento

When we were kayaking we took a break and climbed up to Roman ruins. On both the pictures top and bottom, those are our kayaks down at the bottom of the grotto.  

Above is a picture of the Roman ruin from the opposite cliff. 
This is the Roman ruin from the kayaks. People were jumping off the rocks there - not me! 


Rest break while kayaking.  We got a chance to swim, but I just waded. 
More kayaking 

The woman in the picture is Teresa.  She and her husband Luigi (in the background), welcomed us into their lovely home and fed us a dinner to end all dinners!! The grow their own veggies and they make their own wine.    


Comments

  1. Becky BushOctober 18, 2022 at 11:38 AM

    Everyday I look at your blog and want to comment "this is my favorite", so today I'm actually going to say it - This is my favorite! And I'm going to guess that I"m not alone. I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself and the weather look perfect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary VaughanOctober 18, 2022 at 12:15 PM

      Thank you Becky, it has been a great tour! I appreciate you following along

      Delete
  2. Christine StevensOctober 18, 2022 at 5:08 PM

    I keep wanting to "like" and comment on different pictures 😁 The kayaking day sounds wonderful! How cool that you had a real home-cooked dinner with kayaking friends. Love all the history and ruins, of course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary VaughanOctober 18, 2022 at 9:41 PM

      The home cooked meal was with my Rick Steves group, the kayaking people were just for a few hours. Sorry the explanation was tricky! It was all fun though

      Delete
  3. SueOctober 19, 2022 at 6:48 AM

    How gorgeous everything is! I love the little Mary shrines! What a fantastic idea to kayak, so glad you got to do that!

    I’m sorry I haven’t been following along as well as I did your previous trip! Larry’s mom has been in the hospital and still in rehab and it’s been a little hectic! But I am trying to go back to read all the posts today. Love you and so glad you’re having a wonderful trip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary VaughanOctober 19, 2022 at 9:06 AM

      No problem about following along! That is the great thing about a blog, you can read it anytime. There are shrines EVERYWHERE for Mary. I could have 100 pictures just with that

      Delete
    2. LauraOctober 19, 2022 at 11:10 AM

      This looks wonderful! I'm such a sucker for inlaid wood and would love to see all their detailed work.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousOctober 20, 2022 at 7:35 AM

    Kathy- I’m pretty sure the kayaking day would have been my favorite! Looks perfect. The walls of the city are pretty cool too. Love you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary VaughanOctober 20, 2022 at 11:46 AM

      Sorrento Italy is beautiful. I would go back in a heartbeat.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2023 at 9:49 AM

      Beautiful pictures!!! It looks like you had a good time. The kayaking looked great. I love how you get unique experience’s with Rick Steves tours like the delicious homemade dinner at a couple home. So cool!!!

      Delete

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