We started our trip off the EXTRA way by treating ourselves to an Uber ride to the airport complete with Prosecco roadies! To say we were excited would be an understatement. We knew that something wonderful was about to happen. I had just gone through a horrific move that nearly gave me a nervous breakdown so I was BEYOND ready to have an adventure. Kelly, being her super organized self, had us apply for TSA PreCheck so we breezed through security. Since it was a night flight, we hit the nearest bar for some Mimosa’s on the rocks and a hummus platter. We wore loungy, comfy clothes hoping to be able to catch some zzz’s while we sat in the cramped steerage section for our 8 hour flight. We took our Ambien, wrestled our sexy compression stockings on, and placed our Beats on our ears and fell asleep dreaming of Cacio e Pepe.
Buongiorno Roma! Exhausted from a lame sleep and after a nightmare wait at the Herz counter, we finally found our rental car. Now renting a car was Kelly’s idea. I could NEVER have the cojones to drive in another country with Italian road signs and expect not to have a heart attack from the stress. Oh and, by the way, the only things the Italians do fast is drive. Their cars are tiny, little bullets and the scooters weave in and out like little noisy assassins. Kelly had to drive us to Vico Equense and I had to navigate her there.#sweatfest#valiumnow. Vico is the first town along the Sorrentine peninsula in southern Italy. It is as cliffy as the rest of the Amalfi coast. These roads climb slopes and are extremely narrow. I had to pop a few Dramamines to help me survive the carsickness. Kelly took to this challenge like Mario Andretti himself. Four hours later, we arrived in one piece, and I was never more proud of this girl in my life. Thelma had ovaries of steel.
We arrived to the picturesque Le Ancore Hotel with a staggering view of Mt. Vesuvius and a one minute walk to the beach. It had an elegant Mediterranean atmosphere, a friendly staff, and your own private balcony overlooking the Bay of Naples. I am not even kidding when I tell you that every day of the ten that we were in Italy were hot, amazing blue sky days. Every single day. We started each morning sitting outside with our perfect cappuccinos eating the most to die for breakfast. Each morning we were tempted with multiple cakes, muffins, croissants, yogurt, mozzarella, prosciutto, eggs, and tomatoes. It was a STRUGGLE not to pig out. We found this magnificent beach club called the Murrano Mare which was basically a Miami hotel in the Naples Bay but with cheaper drinks, better food, and no required tipping! We ordered two rounds of drinks for five people which came to $58 US dollars. I almost fell off my lounge chair; I felt like a thief! The octopus sandwich my buddy ordered was brought in by a fishing boat just that morning. Oh and every European guy was wearing a mankini. Unfortunately, for us, some looked like Borat, manscaping was overlooked much to our displeasure. Everyone attending the wedding had arrived. So more drinks, nuts, buffalo mozzarella, calamari, the bread, Prosecco, tuna tartare: soon I was busting out of my bikini. Back to the hotel for a shower and more Prosecco (shocker😝) on our balcony to soak up our view of Vesuvius and listen to the Italian language on the streets underneath us. Our friends’ wedding was held at a restaurant on the cliffs of Vico next to a 14th century Church. The view of Sorrento was so beautiful it even left ME speechless and that’s not an easy feat. Italy is the ideal place for people, like myself, who are night owls because everything starts around 10pm. Just my style.
Kelly and I splurged for two fantastic excursions while we were in Vico. The first was a day trip to Positano. We hopped into a tour bus and once again took our lives into our hands by driving up those cliffs of insanity. Be under no illusions, driving the Amalfi Coast with its hair pin curves in a bus or car is one of the most dangerous things you will do in your life. Positano is Vico on steroids: the madness, the traffic, and the hoards of tourists. Since Kelly and I are on the Shopping Varsity team, we were in sheer heaven. Positano was so alive: linen galore, lemons everywhere, inexpensive bikinis, and jewelry. #ohmy. We took a much needed app and bev break and headed straight to the top. Le Sirenuse was the ultimate spot for a Bellini, some basil gnocchi, and the most breathtaking views of the yachts down below. I looked at Kelly and said, “Why are we not on one of those yachts? I’m sure they want to hang with two fun Americana’s?” Seriously, I was ready to hire a dude to take us out on a dinghy to get out to the yacht party zone.#gettingtotheyacht#yachtenvy#yachtgroupies
Our next excursion took us to the captivating island of Capri. As a group, we hired a private boat with a captain and stocked it with a cooler of Prosecco (shocker😝).#boaties. We took this incredible boat trip to Capri, an island famed for it’s rugged landscape, limoncello, and more yachts. Our captain stopped twice so we could swim off the boat and drink in the best-known natural site: the Blue Grotto. Do not miss this phenomenal day excursion which also included a fab two hour, five course lunch with a billion dollar view of yacht alley.#todiefor. Vico Equense was the perfect destination for exploring a coastal town relatively undiscovered by tourists. There were multiple excellent local restaurants, pizzerias, and gelato shops by the waters edge. Not to mention the gorgeous rocky beaches. Vico, we will return.
Let me also discuss footwear here. I, Queen of shoes, absolutely screwed up on my shoe choices for this city. I packed strappy, flat sandals, with no support, and sneakers. Due to the sweat from the heat, my socks were slipping off and causing blisters, multiple blisters. Super ouch. Kelly brought an exposed looking Teva shoe with straps. She had ventilation, thus no blisters. I had to suck it up Buttercup and tredge on!#poortootsies
One night in Rome involved hitting a local bar and having some drinks with some American air force pilots. Real life Top Gun!#maverickletsplayvolleyball.
Of course, come to Italy and party with the Americans, too funny. The highlight of our trip was by far an exquisite rooftop dinner at the Hotel Forum with an unspoiled view of the Forum of Nerva and Augustus’s Temple. The Eternal City was truly at our feet, and the Italian chef took us through a culinary journey of traditional flavors. It was truthfully a pinnacle moment in my life; to be toasting bubbly with Kelly, celebrating our 34 year friendship while savoring the beauty of ancient Rome. It was an evening with one of the love’s of my life that I will never forget. It was difficult to say goodbye to Rome, but on the other hand, if I didn’t get out of there soon, I feared I would be unrecognizable to my family after ten days of eating all of that incredible food. As we headed back to the airport with our super hot Italian Uber driver Giovanni, Kelly and I promised each other to continue our EXTRA traveling adventures.
Bravo enjoyed so much reading some of your entry’s I can see a book ahead… thanks for letting me feel like I traveled with you, I had so much fun and great laughs…
sending you lots of hugs blondie ❤️😘