Wonder and Joy

Today we had only a couple of hours in Rome before it was time to pack our bags and catch a train. We decided we would go back to the Trevi Fountain afterall to see it without the big crowds with their selfie sticks that are present throughout the peak hours of the day. We can do early morning departures when we put our minds to it! We arrived by 7:30am. There was already a bit of a crowd, but not enough to impede our enjoyment.

The girls and I got teas at a cafe across the street and we all sat on a bench overlooking the fountain and took in the sight and the sound. The carving of the stonework is really remarkable, especially how it looks like it's coming out of the building as though the fountain and the building were carved from one giant piece of stone. In my experience, the fountain doesn't feel ornate or ostentatious, it surprisingly just feels beautiful and peaceful. It's truly a wonder how something so remarkable was created by hand (especially given that it was designed by a poet and philosopher with no architectural experience). We threw coins into the water, made our wishes, and headed to the nearest gelato shop for breakfast (this promise was made yesterday). Four gelatos to go, and by 8:30am we had experienced wonder and joy in our day already, with so much more to look forward to still.

By mid-day we were on a speed train headed for Napoli (with our ultimate destination being the Amalfi Coast). The train ride is just over an hour, but the girls managed to do some journaling and homework. Meanwhile we were struck with more wonder as we watched the mountainous countryside of southern Italy.

Our friendly and informative driver Michela (a great referral from Bill & Riley) picked us up right from the train platform, and within minutes we were in his van heading south along the coast. One of the sights along the way was Mount Vesuvius. It has erupted over 50 times during the last 2,000 years (most recently in 1944) and is best known for it's eruption in 79 AD when it killed thousands of people and completely buried the nearby cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

After an approximate 1.5 hour drive, with the views of the coast becoming increasingly breathtaking with each mile, we arrived at our villa in Praino, situated between the better known towns of Positano and Amalfi. And voila! The house, the view, the salty breeze and the sounds of the sea scooped us up like a warm "welcome home" hug (well we wish!). The villa has a beautiful terrace overlooking the Mediterranean with lush flowers, herbs and more lemons than you could ever imagine! We are looking forward to making a pitcher of fresh lemonade tomorrow.

The girls promptly suited up in their bathing suits and snorkel gear (sure, why not!) and eagerly jumped into the pool. Matt whipped up a cheese board with beautiful berries, as well as lemons and basil he picked from our garden, put on some tunes, and we eagerly jumped into a bottle of local red wine! Pure joy all around.

Eventually I decided to walk into town to get more supplies for dinner and tomorrow's breakfast. It was a questionable decision from a safety standpoint, but I was able to really see the wonder of how miles and miles of roads, buildings and supporting infrastructure were built along the side of these cliffs. There are so many beautiful hotels and restaurants with patios hanging off the side of the rock. And the way the cars and motorcycles zip around on these narrow windy roads is a wonder in itself!

Matt prepared a delicious dinner with the few groceries I brought home (pasta made in a small town outside Napoli, tomatoes, garlic, sea salted capers) and basil from the garden while I did some laundry (clean clothes make me happy!).

We are excited to be here, to experience a very different part of Italy with a different culture and pace from Rome, and to enjoy our time together in this beautiful place.

With hearts full of wonder and joy,

Laura, Matt, April & Fiona 🍋