Blog 22: Positano... La Dolce Vita

  Blog 22: Positano... La Dolce Vita

“Find your passion and go for it. Get out of your comfort and try new things because you are in a beautiful and magical place.”- Kayla and Crystal’s letter (from my message in a bottle)

            The stubborn glass finally shattered. Among the scattered shards, I carefully picked up the rolled up letter and began reading. No matter how old you get there will always be something childishly thrilling about finding a message in a bottle. I had found the wine bottle while kayaking with my family along the Amalfi Coast. When I fished it out of the water, I hadn’t realized that nestled deep inside the bottle was a letter. It wasn’t until we returned to shore that I finally discovered my “treasure.” I felt like I was five years old again. I violently shook the bottle and wedged my fingers inside trying in vain to fish the letter out. (We ended up having to break the bottle) Ironically, it was written by two University of Idaho students who had been studying architecture in Rome. They wrote a beautiful letter about their experience abroad telling the reader to follow their dreams. It has become my favorite souvenir from Positano.

            The village of Positano is peppered with romance. The location is idyllic with its resting place between the misty mountains and pebbled beaches of the Amalfi Coast. Sun drenched houses stack along the cliffs like a large, overextended family. Drying laundry lazily flaps in the wind from balconies. Among the crowded houses lies the cathedral with its dome of brilliant gold, green, and indigo. Below the village, the Mediterranean provides safe sailing for a small fleet of boats. And the faint fragrance of lemon is ever present (lemon trees flourish in this region).  Legend has it that the Greek Sea God Poseidon created Positano for a nymph who he desired. (The less romantic origin is that ancient Greeks settled here after fleeing from an outspread of malaria in nearby Paestum) In the past, Turkish pirates used to threaten to sack the village making it seem like a setting from a adventure storybook. Whether you’re a helpless romantic or the world’s biggest pessimist, it’s hard to not be seduced by Positano.

            Unfortunately Positano is flooded with honeymooners and wealthy tourists. The charm is somewhat diminished by the crowds. I tend to be a picky traveler and I hate feeling like I’m in the “Waikiki” of Italy. Yet I would still return to Positano in a heartbeat. If you’re willing to work a little harder and dig a little deeper, you can still experience the true Positano. Interacting with locals was one of my favorite parts of my stay. Firstly, I love listening to Italian. Italian has a sing-song sound and is delivered with an extra spark of expression. It always sounds like Italians are having the most fun, intriguing conversations. I also found most southern Italians to be exceptionally warm and friendly. They didn’t scoff when I butchered Italian words and the grandma running our hotel would pat me on the head like I was her own granddaughter. Family ties are strong in Southern Italy, which I found heartwarming and refreshing. While buying groceries at a family run store, we were worried that we didn’t have enough money to pay for all our food. We had started taking items out of the basket when the family running the place stopped us. “No problem! You pay later,” they told us. I didn’t know this kind of trusting nature still existed.

            But my best advice is to slow down the clock. Get lost roaming the narrow streets of the hill neighborhoods, sunbathe on the beaches, stare for more than a few minutes at the breathtaking scenery, and nurture a gelato in the sunlight. Embrace the Italian saying “la dolce vita” (the sweet life).

           

My message!