Viva L'Italia - Still My Heart's on the Isle of Capri

                                        Isle of Capri, by Al Bowlly
       
It was on a sunny morning we took a hydrofoil to Capri. Blue Italian sky led us to the the island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. I've heard that this is the island of romance. Oh, so it must be beautiful I thought. We were on our way to Capri, yet we didn't know it was really a romantic fantasy.



Once we arrived at the island, we went to the ticket desk for visiting La Grotta Azzurra to check if the Blue Grotto was open to tourists that day. Because the entrance of the grotto is not big, it cannot be visited during adverse weather and sea conditions. Luckily, we got the answer "Yes, it is open today." So we jumped on a motorboat with other tourists to go there.

It was almost noon when we were close to the entrance of La Grotta Azzurra. There was a long line waiting to enter it. The sea breeze eased the heat of summer so it was not to unbearable to wait. About 1 hour later, it was finally our turn to go inside the grotto. My aunt said it was worth waiting. The sunlight went underwater and shone through the seawater created a stunning blue reflection. Therefore, the grotto looked like a huge sapphire. Our boatman sang the traditional Neapolitan song "'O sole mio" while rolling the boat in the grotto. His voice echoed around the grotto that made the ride greater.

Grotta Azzurra, the Blue Grotto

After visiting La Grotta Azzurra, we came back to the wharf of Capri. When we tried to find a bus to Anacapri, a taxi driver offered us a special price to climb up the mountain. The road was really narrow and had lots of switchbacks, but our driver's driving skill was perfect. We had lunch and lemon-flavored gelato. My cosuin Minmin and my aunt bought some limoncello for lemon is one of the specialties in Capri.

Capri, lemon, ice cream, my pink shorts, and my family

My cousins Yuhsuan and Yuhsiu took the cable car up to the very top of the island. I wrote a postcard with the picture of La Grotta Azzurra for my friend. Then I took an afternoon nap lying on a stone bench under the tender sunshine. After visiting some attractions in Anacapri such as the Piazza Armando Diaz, Chiesa di San Michele, Casa Rossa, we took a taxi again to go back to the wharf. 

Lingering away a lazy afternoon in Capri

My cousin Yuhsuan said Capri is her most favorite place in Italy. It is highly possible that we won't go back to the island again. However, I will remember Cpari forever, the wonderful stroll on the street of Anacapri, La Grotta Azzurra, the best afternoon nap, and the pleasing but somehow sad song - 

"It was goodbye on the isle of Capri."