The reason I wanted to come here in the first place is that I've been here years ago with my Dad. We didn't have enough time to really explore Sorrento or venture out to the Costiera Amalfitana.

Well, we finally made it down here. Driving here is insane, but fun at the same time (if you are a passenger, that is ;).) People drive generally the speed limit +30km/h's, they pass in the most impossible of curves, it's a matter of who pushes the gas pedal first goes first, no matter what the rules of traffic say. Even as a pedestrian you aren't safe, crosswalks seem to be painted on the streets for decoration, nobody will stop for you if you don't bravely jump on the road to cross it. Well, it is awesome, though, and it somehow works pretty effectively, a big fun organized chaos. This place is a great mix of locals and tourists, it is bursting with life and fun, the noise level is crazy.

Our hotel http://www.ilrosetosorrento.com/ is a gem, run by a young family, located on the busiest street in Sorrento (if there is such a thing, the streets are all crazy busy); it is hard to carry a conversation out there. However, when our host showed us our room, I was surprised by how quiet it is back here. The house built along the street shields the back building, where the guest rooms are located from the noise, and there is a beautiful garden that we look out onto. It is like a little oasis in the middle of this happy loud chaotic place.

There are tons of stores here, many tourist traps, but some also offering wonderful ceramic crafts from the area (and I am not really into that stuff, but since we're in Italy and I am biased towards everything Italian OF COURSE I like it!). You can buy limoncello, the lemon liquor, everywhere. Again, we took a break from the busy part of Sorrento by walking down to the Marina Grande. It was a wonderful change of pace, crazy city life up on the cliff, where the city center is, but quiet and calm fisher life at the little harbor of Marina Grande. Noah finally got to play on the beach for a little bit, and I got to take pictures of boats and sand and surf. It helped, that it was yet another overcast day, there were hardly any tourists there because it just wasn't a beach day...that's my kind of day...