The last thing that blew my mind was the wind.
Unknown
After what was a surprisingly easy journey, we arrived in Praiano. Before setting off, we were dreading the train and three buses awaiting us – but it all aligned so smoothly and relatively painlessly. People travel around the Amalfi Coast via thin, winding roads; and there is a constant sound of horns in the distance as buses alert oncoming traffic of their presence. While I’m glad we opted to take the bus rather than driving, it was still always a hair-raising ride! The drivers move so quickly around each bend, and if you’re sitting on the waters’ side of the bus, it can feel as though you’re going to topple over the edge. People on bikes and scooters weave through the traffic with reckless abandon – I was in a constant state of anxiety just watching them!
We were treated to a beautiful room with a balcony and a breathtaking view at Hotel Torre Saracena. It was centrally located, just a 10 minute walk to Marina di Praia, where you could swim and choose from a range of beautiful family-run fresh seafood restaurants. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t very kind to us during our stay – the wind was unbelievable! It was still pleasant on land, but the waves were absolutely smashing the rocks. There were some brave souls attempting to swim, but it’s hard enough to stand on a pebble beach without waves knocking you down. It made for some of the most entertaining people-watching we’ve experienced on the trip…so many stacks!
We spent most of our time enjoying the view from the balcony and taking walks up the hill to surrounding restaurants. There are beautiful ceramic mosaics lining the footpaths, and adorable shops selling limoncello, wine and locally made ceramics.
Most afternoons, while the town was closed down, we would pick up a bottle of wine and watch the sun set on the balcony. Not a bad way to wind down after 7 long weeks of travelling!
