FUN-travel: Zambrone/Tropea, Italy to Taormina, Sicily
October 30, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Zambrone/Tropea, Italy to Taormina, Sicily
Day 38 – Wednesday, October 23 – Zambrone, Italy to Taormina, Sicily – Full Day – full sun – high 75 – low 59
Pompeii
What I LIKE
Pompeii
- *7:30 – walk down to restaurant –sandwich to go & hard boiled eggs
- huge resort w/beautiful gardens – bushes, trees & flowers on way to breakfast next to pool & beach
- 8:30 – ready to go on next adventure
- **check out & room is free – thank you MAX!
- program GPS
- 8:40 – take off
- ***9:55 – only drove 50 kms & need a break
- more good cappuccino @ auto/truck stop on A3 – cheapest yet @ $1.30 ea
- +more tunnels & switchback roads
- ++11:00 – arrive Villa San Giovanni port for ferry to Messina
- 11:20 – depart
- 11:50 – arrive
- 12:00 – drive off fairy
- GPS knows where we’re going!
- 78 degrees w/blue skies!
- +++arrive toll booth for ticket
- 10:45 – arrive Taoramina – nice police woman & taxi driver direct us
- #1:00 – arrive Villa Ducale in Taoramina
- can see plumes of smoke coming from top of crater
Pompeii Ceiling
What I DON’T LIKE
Pompeii
- 7:00 – Chris wakes me up trying to be quiet – then comes back (as breakfast starts 7:30)
- *machine cappuccino not good – tastes funny
- machine coffee not much better
- no fresh fruit
- **Max has business & not available to meet
- GPS takes us the shortest distance
- ***roads in desperate need of repair
- washed out in some stretches
- +more road work – only 1 lane & really slow
- ++GPS recalculating again! drive in circles & figure it out ourselves
- +++say we owe them $2 Euro & Chris gives it to them! (you pay at the end)
- # GPS recalculating again! – road signs (or lack thereof) very confusing or non existent
- internet & email not working 100% – can’t post
- Hot Spot is same provider I had in Trieste – my computer doesn’t like it
FUN-fact – First time we saw a hotel with 5 stars and an L added at end. Means 5 star Luxury.
Taormina – View From Hotel
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #482: Presence
October 30, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #482: Presence
Presence – the ability to project a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance.
Who do you know that projects a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance? When communicating with them do you feel they are paying attention to you? Does their presence leave a positive impression?
Long time friend and client Joe had this to say regarding last week’s WOW. “Charismatic is a great word. For me, it is how a person’s personality is revealed. Some are boisterous, others are reserved, but all of us have a charisma peculiar to who we are. So, it is not necessarily being outgoing.
When I meet people for the first time, in addition to the eye contact and smile, I almost always shake the person’s hand. Some are tentative with the return handshake; others are forceful and grab my hand strongly.
And, as I am listening, I always make sure to look in the other person’s eyes to give them full attention. If there is anything that I have learned in the short time I have been on this planet, is that people not only like to have people call them by their names, they like to be LISTENED TO when speaking.
In many instances in life, people are not paid attention to, either at home or in the office. So, when they talk they want others to pay attention. I think that is human nature. This is especially evident when these people are interrupted by others. They can get defensive and assert: “I have not finished talking!” So, listening until the other person makes his or her point is important.
Finally, is closing the deal with the handshake. It is a great way to leave another person with a positive feeling about the conversation. Once again, I always finish with the handshake and a smile. These are the last impressions we leave with another person. So, make it memorable. Great word, Susan. Have a great week. And, Go Red Sox!”
This week’s focus is on your presence. Would you agree that you project a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance when communicating? What would your customers, guests, members or clients say? Does your presence leave a positive lasting impression?
FUN-travel: Sorrento to Zambrone/Tropea, Italy
October 29, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Sorrento to Zambrone/Tropea, Italy
Day 37 – Tuesday, October 22 – Sorrento to Zambrone, Italy – hazy turns to full sun – high 75 – low 59
Positano
What I LIKE
- *7:30 – more good macchiato
Positano
- 9:30 – breakfast
- 10:00 – ready to go
- Pierpaolo has friend Max w/hotel in Zambrone for us to connect with
- **front desk calls for 5:00 meet up there
- ***Chris taking really long time bringing car up from garage
- ask front desk how you get out
- she views camera & opens door for him
- ask front desk how to go w/car & directs us to faster road south
- English radio in car
- more really steep road w/switchbacks
- glad we have automatic!
- 11:00 – arrive Positano – JTC!
- find parking right in town – only $4 Euro for 1 hour
- wander through maze of small streets
- 11:45 – hot cappuccino break
- 12:00 – ready to go
- 12:30 – arrive Amalfi – eat to go sandwich @ fountain by sea
- walk around town – more JTC!
- +1:30 – more hot capp @ stand up bar – $5 Euro
- share bar w/bicycling buddies
- took picture for my brother who loves to cycle w/his buddies
- ++1:45 – ready to head south
Positano
- more teeny, tiny road snakes down & out of Amalfi coast
- +++4:35 – gas/cappuccino/cheese & arugula panini break
- 5:00 – continue
Amalfi
- big mountains give way to rolling hills
- lots of tunnels
- #7:00 – arrive hotel – il Borgo de Principe (after passing it, coming to a dead end road & doing u turn)
Amalfi
- front desk gives us biz card for restaurant in Tropea (10 kms)
- leave big bags in car – too much hassle!
- 8:00 – we find it! good signage & directions from locals – Il Convivio – in medieval section of town
- Negromare 2010 vino rosso – have no idea where it’s from – $23 Euro – calabrian salad (basically like greek w/o feta & olives) – lasagna (swinging out & trying something new) – so so Chris thinks mine is better – bread is like pizza w/o toppings – tartuffo for dessert (for mama & whitey) – ball of vanilla ice cream filled w/chocolate syrup & rolled in powdered chocolate – capp for Chris – $43 Euro
- 9:15 – OWF – attempt to find way back!
- need to go left & arrow points right only
- when in doubt play stupid & go where you need to
- 10:00 – arrive w/no map or GPS – unbelievable!
- 12:00 – night night
JTC – Just Too Cute!
OWF – Oh What FUN!
Amalfi
What I DON’T LIKE
- *Chris wakes me up 6:15 – thinks it’s 7:15!
- **traffic is crazy & roads under construction
- Don’t arrive until 7:00 pm & miss meeting Max
- ***he’s stuck – garage door won’t open
- +asked to sit @ table in Piazza & told had to eat so left & found this place
- ++not ready for the long drive
- +++lots of roadwork – only 1 lane for long stretches
- #GPS can’t locate hotel
- we’re so late Max has gone
- no internet @ hotel
- missing my bed big time!
Amalfi
FUN-fact – Amalfi means the “Devine Coast” and Positano is said to be the most “Devine Town.”
More FF – Flavio Gioia, who invented the compass, was born in Amalfi.
Not so FF – Calabria reminds us of Mexico.
FUN-travel: Sorrento, Italy – Full Day 2
October 28, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Sorrento, Italy – Full Day 2
Day 36 – Monday, October 21 – Sorrento, Italy – Day 2 – full sun – high 75 – low 59
Hall of the Augustals – Herculaneum
What I LIKE
Herculaneum
- 7:15 – try macchiato & much better!
- 9:30 – breakfast & to go sandwich
- I ask directions for driving out of garage – WWIT!
- Elisabetta @ front desk is the best
- BI – assumes we’re taking train to Herculaneum & Pompeii
- *10:37 – train on time
- only costs $2.20 pp one way
- faster & no traffic nightmare
- 11:25 – arrive Erculano station
- not sure where it is so just follow the crowd down hill
- 11:35 – get tickets – $10 Euro for 1 site or $20 Euro for all 5 sites
- only going to Pompeii – but hey, save $2 Euro
- **free booklet describes the ruins
- lovely Brit gives me his map – says no need to pay for audio – booklet has same info
- 12:00 – start walk down – area approx 4 big blocks by 4 big blocks – just some of the things we saw:
- Barrel Arches – vaulted rooms – port warehouses – discovered in 1980 w/300 skeletons
- House of Relief of Telephus – 2nd largest – between columns hang plaster casts of marble to ward off evil
- Taberna – public dining w/marble covered counter held large jars inserted w/hot food
- House of Neptune & Amphitrite – glass paste wall mosaic of Neptune & Amphitrite
- Hall of the Augustals – frescos depict Hercules
House of Neptune & Amphitrite
Barrel Arches
- ***1:30 – finish
- +1:50 – arrive train station
- chat with lovely couple from Perth while waiting
- 2:37 – take train to Pompeii
- 2:57 – arrive & entrance is right there
- I was here 15 years ago – Chris’ 1st time
- wander streets – amazing how big city was!
- 4:00 – overwhelmed & done
- beer break – Heineken 22 oz – $5 Euro
- stations very well marked for tourists & they announce sites
- ++4:25 – get a seat
- 4:55 – arrive
- 5:15 – see couple eating pizza & ask how good – they say driver recommended it (next couple to sit down after us says same thing)
- nothing fancy – 3 high top tables on narrow sidewalk
- Pizzeria Franco – diavola & caprese salad – more homegrown tomatoes –2005 Vigna Piano d’Angelo – the BEST so far! $53 Euro
Taberna
- 6:30 – back to hotel
- pack & get ready for next big adventure
- +++10:15 night night
BI (brilliant idea!)
WWIT (What Was I Thinking!)
House of Relief of Telephus
What I DON’T LIKE
- *SRO & packed like sardines
- **have to buy audio guide to get map
- ***some things I want to see closed for renovation
- +ask for directions & miss 1:53 train – have to wait for next one
- ++4:17 – train late
- +++twinkle no longer dancing in distance
Pompeii
FUN-fact –Unlike Pompeii, which was buried under a layer of ash and lapilli 6 to 7 meters deep, Herculaneum was submerged by a mud and lava flow measuring up to 25 meters deep. It is the mud that preserved everything it came in contact with, effectively sealing it and petrifying it.
More FF – Herculaneum was a very affluent community with large villas filled with rich collections of art and sculptures.
More FF – Herculaneum and Pompeii became a UNESCO site in 1997.
FUN-travel: Sorrento, Italy – Full Day 1
October 27, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Sorrento, Italy – Full Day 1
Day 35 – Sunday, October 20 – Sorrento, Italy – Day 1 – full sun – high 75 – low 59
Capri Port
What I LIKE
Sorrento
- 7:00 – wake up
- 7:15 – machine cappuccino – so so
- *9:40 – breakfast
- 10:20 – begin Sorrento adventure
- **10:45 – walk down to dock for boat to Capri
- 11:15 – arrive
- find ticket booth for boat to Blue Grotto
- ***11:45 – boat reservation
- 11:55 – takes off
- +12:15 – arrives Blue Grotto
- ++1:00 – transfer to smaller boat – only holds 4 + driver w/oars
- wonderful – sings opera inside w/other guide/drivers
- clearly enjoying his job!
- 1:15 – head back to port
- +++1:30 – arrive & thirsty
- get funicular tickets – talk man into taking $12 US
- 2:10 – beer break
- 2:30 – short walk around town
- 3:00 – funicular down
- #3:15 – boat reservation back to Sorrento
- 3:45 – arrive
- walk back up to Sorrento town
- 4:00 – late lunch/dinner @ Aurora Restaurant on Piazza Lauro – 2008 Sole di Sesta – sicily syrah $30 – caprese salad & diavola pizza – not the best – $53 Euro
Blue Grotto Entrance
- 5:15 – walk around shops
- 7:00 – back to room for happy hour on balcony
- more unbelievably beautiful twinkle on the bay!
- not hungry – so another cheap food day
Blue Grotto
What I DON’T LIKE
- *no fresh fruit – only canned
- **costs $70 Euro for 2 – only cash
- ***costs $27 Euro for 2 – only cash
- +there’s a big back up of boats waiting
Capri Town
- ++park entrance fee for grotto is $25 Euro for 2 – only cash
- +++out of cash – just blew through $122 Euro!
- ATM in Capri @ top of hill – over 30 min walk & don’t have enough time
- #not enough time in Capri – should have booked the 4:30 back
Capri City Center
FUN-fact – Unlike the other islands in the Gulf of Naples, Capri’s origin is not volcanic but sedimentary.
More FF – One of its first fans was the Roman Emperor Tiberius, who spent the last years of his life here.
Not so FF –And rumor has it he liked to be “entertained” by little boys in the blue grotto.