Views of Amalfi

Stone and sea

Just back from a magical, if lightning-quick trip to the Amalfi coast, which was blissfully sunny and warm for October. Our white-coated waiter told us we were enjoying the warmest October they’d seen in 150 years. Off season, it felt like we were travellers in another, quieter, more elegant era–a feeling made more acute in the wonderfully ’50s Italian vibe of Amalfi.

Ridiculous beauty

The setting is so absurdly picturesque, you can’t help feeling you are inside a vintage postcard.

Room with a view

This, I kid you not, was the view from our room–the interior of which, was also fetchingly turquoise and white.

Tree and sea

One afternoon we drove up the mountain road to Ravello, where we wandered into the Villa Rufalo and admired the old stones.

Cool vault

And then, of course, we went for another gorgeous lunch overlooking the sea. And walked the old streets looking at storefronts.

Compelling signage

One evening, we survived (barely) a harrowing drive into Positano, only to discover a vintage Fiat 500 rally in the streets.

A red one

They were all gorgeous–and in much cuter colours than the new 500s come in. Many had their own novel accessories.

Alpine Fiat

This one, for instance, had its own set of wooden skis.

And of course everywhere you look, everything is in the classic Vietri painted ceramics.

Vietri fixture

On our way to the airport in Naples we made a quick stop at Pompeii.

These feet in ancient times

Pompeii pillar

Pompeii, or Etruscan Red

It was strangely complete. I was surprised to find the ruins more like an evacuated urban centre than an archeological site.

And then some relics seemed, in retrospect, to be like warnings of an imminent disaster, like this fountain head:

A sign, in stone