Stormy Weather!

Sunday March 18 started out with very heavy rain and the high only reached 12C.   We did some grocery shopping for dinner at the salumeria (delicatessen) and grocery store in the only square of Montepertuso.  Their produce, cheese, meats and pastas are all excellent and one buys the local bus tickets there as well.  We decided to brave the elements and took the 12:50 bus down to Positano-- a rather harrowing ride in the rain.

We have learned a bit more about Positano.  It is probably the oldest place on the Amalfi coast, with settlements dating back to the upper Paleolithic Age.  After competing with the Republic of Amalfi for supremacy of the Mediterranean Sea trade, Positano gained supremacy in the 18th century, under the Bourbons.  Starting in the 19th century, it became a popular holiday resort preferred by Italian and foreign artists.  Positano Fashion, featuring bright colour and natural materials, dates back to the 1960s.

First a few photos from Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Alain on Saturday night with the pastries we had bought in Amalfi- all wrapped beautifully
There are two apartments in this small alcove-- I'm leaving ours on Sunday morning--
we love this old fashioned curtain leading to the narrow street
 There was a soccer match taking place in the rain in the large field near the square.
The beautiful game even in the rain
Fans cheering in the rain
We got down to central Positano a little more slowly than usual due to the heavy rain.  Fortuitously, just as we left the bus it stopped raining and did not start again until we got on the 3:20 p.m. bus to head back to Montepertuso.  We immediately stopped for a coffee at Collina Bakery just opposite the bus stop.

There is a chain of clothing stores featuring brightly coloured clothes that we saw in both Positano and Amalfi.  I don't think they will quite work in Toronto- but lots of fun.

Lots of colour- definitely for the beach
Positano Fashion in 2018
 We walked down to the main beach (Spiaggia Grande).

View looking up at the homes in the hills of Positano
On the beach
Alain in a panoramic shot
The waves were the highest we had seen to date.  Definitely stormy weather.

The waves
We decided to walk along the coastal path to another beach called Spiaggia Fornillo.  It wasn't too far and there were lots of big waves.  There had been a 12 and 30 km run this morning and stragglers were coming along the path-- the weather had been very grim so we're not sure how many people actually participated.
Crashing waves
Alain- we are just west of the town
Along the path
The next beach- Spiaggia Fornillo
We passed one tower and saw another off in the distance.  The towers were built in the 16th century to protect the coast from enemy raids.

Torre Clavel off in the distance
Closer up
We headed back to the main beach passing a pile of fishing nets.

Fishing nets near the Main Beach
As not many restaurants are open for the season, we ended up sharing a pizza at Collina Bakery's small restaurant across the street from the bakery.  We hopped on the 3:20 p.m. bus just as it started to rain again.

During the five minute walk from the bus stop to our apartment, we passed a house with nine cats in front of it.  They started to move towards us as we stopped to take pictures.
The cats of Montepertuso
Two beauties
We continued our packing and had a rest.  We had a quiet dinner at the apartment.  On Monday March 19, we head east on the Amalfi coast to Ravello, around seven km east of the town of Amalfi.  We have enjoyed our stay in Positano very much.  It is quiet during the off-season and it was lovely to have our base in the small village of Montepertuso in hills.  The rain and unseasonably cool weather were a bit of a damper and the Internet issues a bit frustrating at times.  However, it is a breathtaking part of Italy.  Our adventure continues in Ravello.


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