P O S I T A N O

"Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone. Its houses climb a hill so steep it would be a cliff except that stairs are cut in it. I believe that whereas most house foundations are vertical, in Positano they are horizontal. The small curving bay of unbelievably blue and green water laps gently on a beach of small pebbles. There is only one narrow street and it does not come down to the water. Everything else is stairs, some of them as steep as ladders. You do not walk to visit a friend, you either climb or slide. Nearly always when you find a place as beautiful as Positano, your impulse is to conceal it. You think, “If I tell, it will be crowded with tourists and they will ruin it, turn it into a honky-tonk and then the local people will get touristy and there’s your lovely place gone [to nothing]." 
--John Steinbeck

***

There are no words or photos that can really, fully describe the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. It's just one of those places that you have to GO to experience it and soak in every part of it. And even then, when you're there, it's hard to believe that it exists. The sights, the smells, the sea next to the colorful and stacked buildings--it's just unlike anything else. (If you've been there, you know just what I'm talking about!)

Our drive along the coast towards Positano was simply breathtaking. Our amazing driver, Luigi, pulled over at the most scenic spots to take photos for us (he was the BEST!).

^Sorrento, Italy^

^Positano, Italy is behind us^

There were the cutest lemon stands along the road above the coast.They literally had lemons the size of a child's head!! SO amazing. This one wearing sunglasses cracked me up!

When we got to our hotel, I basically DIED over the views from our room. I kept asking Jordan, "Is this for real?? Is this really our life right now??"

There were two balconies, and each one had the most spectacular view I have ever seen. The room was incredible, too! If you're planning a trip to Positano, I'd highly recommend Villa Yiara (not sponsored...just loved it)! It was a dream.

^ I mean...just insane!!!^

^I think I need to redecorate my whole house like this STAT^

So, so beautiful. We felt lucky to stay there. 

We also felt a little bit like scroungy rats, though (remember how we had just flown in to Italy that morning? woof!), so we got cleaned up before we headed out to find some dinner. As we were getting ready to leave, the sun started to set and it was just pure MAGIC. 

^I love him I love him I love him^

We thought we'd take a casual walk down to the beach and find some dinner...and ended up unintentionally going down (and back up) about fifty flights of steep, steep stairs. Haha! When in Positano it's pretty unavoidable to encounter a million different staircases in every direction, but I guess we just weren't prepared for the intensity of it all! We were laughing (and sweating) so much by the time we made it back to the top.

But we had some AMAZING nighttime views of the lit-up buildings, made it to the beach, and then decided to stop at a little panini shop we had passed earlier.

^The Church of Santa Maria Assunta at night was so gorgeous^

^Admiring the view of the buildings from the beach...and catching his breath from the stairs? haha^

We grabbed some paninis & Fantas to go, and sat out on our balcony soaking up the view before bed. It was low-key and perfect to end our amazing (but long) travel day.

***

After we slept for a solid 12 hours (jet lag is rough), we woke up to the most BEAUTIFUL day. Warm, sunny skies, the blue sea down below, birds chirping...it was just surreal. 

And it was the perfect day to wear my lemon dress from Wynsum Wardrobe! So comfortable and flattering for a day of wandering in the sun. (I love all of their dresses so much!! Seriously go look. You will DIE.)

We got ready and headed out to explore Positano!

^heading up to the road from our darling hotel^

^Casual donkeys on the side of the road^

^How cool are those carvings in the side of the mountain??^

 

^That water!!!^

The views around every corner were just OUT OF THIS WORLD. 

We kept looking around saying, "Where even are we? Is this real???"

It was like something out of a fairy tale.

We loved walking through the little shops on the narrow streets.

We were so glad we came during the "off-season," because the streets weren't too busy, and we had room to explore and wander without all of the crowds that come with the tourist season. (We hardly ever travel anywhere during peak season for this reason!)

We made sure to travel here close enough to tourist season, though, that things would be open and the weather would be great. And holy cow, it worked out so perfectly!! We could not have asked for a better day to explore.

^These teal doors. SWOON.^

^I loved this vibrant painting of Positano^

We stopped at a little deli shop to grab some lunch, and the owner and her daughter chatted in Italian while they made us the freshest, most delicious sandwiches ever. Crusty bread, tomatoes & lettuce, salami, prosciutto, mozzerella, olive oil, salt and pepper--and then lightly toasted. YUM to the YUM. 

We grabbed some oranges and sodas along with the sandwiches, and carried it all down to an open square to enjoy our food outside in the sun.

^SO fresh. They were the best oranges we'd ever had.^

^Sharing my lunch with the birds^

^JUST LOOK AT THAT CHEESE. Seriously still dreaming about this sandwich.^

We took a quick look inside the Church of Santa Maria Assunta before heading down to the beach, and wow. It was so ornate and beautiful. Pictures really don't do it justice!

^My happy place.^

Then, to the beach!!

We sat down at the beach for hours--just talking, laughing, and soaking up the incredible views in every single direction. 

^The coastline was so beautiful.^

We wandered around the corner where you cold see remnants of old castles along the cliffs, and it was so beautiful. 

Also, we could not get over how BLUE the water was. It was mesmerizing to watch the waves come in and out. I literally could have stayed there, watching the water, all day long.

^Attempting to climb some castle stairs. It didn't go so well. (flats & a dress were not meant to hike! haha)^

^We sat and watched this fisherman for a long, long time. It was fascinating to watch his craft.^

We decided to walk up through a pathway cut through the mountain, and it ended up being one of my very favorite things we did all day. We were almost the only people on the path the entire time (I think we maybe saw five other people?), and the views were unbeatable. 

^heaven with my lover^

The pathway led to a small, private beach that was covered with thousands of pieces of smooth sea glass and colored rocks. I collected a few for the boys (they loved them!), while Jordan skipped a few on the water. 

It was just us, and the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach. It could not have been more perfect.

^THIS. This is why we took this trip! Pure bliss.^

On our way back up the mountain, we grabbed some gelato and ate it as we walked. It was creamy and cold, and it was the perfect treat after a day out in the sun.

^also found this cute car!^

Later on, we grabbed some jackets and headed out to wander the beautiful streets as the sun went down. Seeing the buildings lit up at night--above the sea-- it was just so beautiful.

^Can you even handle this view???^

We ended up at Ristorante Mediterraneo for dinner, and it was SO GOOD. We ordered an appetizer of prosciutto, fresh mozzerella, and bruschetta, alongside a stuffed squash blossom (highly recommend!!).

For our main courses, Jordan ordered the gnocchi and I got the spaghetti with fresh marinara, parmesan, and basil. Let me just tell you...this was not your everyday pasta. It was seriously so flavorful and fresh!! YUM.

Since the Amalfi Coast is a huge producer of lemons, we made sure to order a lemon dessert! We got the creamy lemon sponge cake...and holy cow. Literally heaven.

^I had to stop and get a pic with some of the giant lemons they had at the restaurant. So huge!!^

^Heading down to our hotel for the night. Isn't the entrance cozy?^

The next day was our last day in Positano, and we had the most perfect morning before we left. We ordered an incredible breakfast from our hotel, and at it on our balcony that overlooked the ocean.

We sat and talked as we drank fresh squeezed orange juice and ate flaky pastries and tart fruit salad...and just enjoyed every bit of it.

^YUM^

We soaked up the last view from our room, and then head off to wander Positano one last time before our driver, Luigi, came to get us.

I knew we were headed to more exciting places in Italy that day, but it was still so hard to leave Positano!! It was just so good.

^He was such a good sport to take a million photos with me. I didn't want to forget any bit of it, so you'd better believe I took a LOT of pics. Haha!^

^Me:"Hey, smile for a pic by that cute church!" Jord: *does a little jig*^

^ I loved all of the narrow, almost hidden staircases^

^he's handsome^

^I kind of like him.^

^Italian paradise^

I will never forget our time in Positano. 

It was breathtaking, and truly life-changing. To go there and experience the beauty of the Amalfi Coast in person was just everything. 

If you have even the slightest inkling of desire to go here, MAKE IT HAPPEN. Sell stuff you never use. Get creative with stretching your grocery budget so you can save money each week. Find cheap flights. I promise you--whatever it takes, you won't regret it. The memories are 1000% worth all of the sacrifice! 

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