Amalfi and Positano

The Amalfi Coast is a beautiful and extremely touristy area of Italy. Lifestyles of the rich and famous is very applicable here.

We were in the general area years and years ago on our whirlwind bus trip with Keith and Denise but we never made it to either of these towns choosing to visit the Island of Capri instead.

Today's excursion is a boat trip from the town of Amalfi to the town of Positano. Then a walk around Positano and then a boat ride back to Amalfi.

So the description of this excursion starts with "Step aboard a motor launch at the pier and set out on a memorable cruise..."  

This is the Wikipedia description of Motor Launch..:

A motor launch (ML) is a small military vessel in Royal Navy service. It was designed for harbour defence and submarine chasing or for armed high-speed air-sea rescue. Some vessels for water police service are also known as motor launches.

That didn't seem to make sense...maybe they meant just a "launch"...and here's what Wikipedia says about a launch...:

A launch is an open motorboat.The forward part of the launch may be covered. Prior to the era of engines on small craft, a launch was the largest boat carried on a sailing vessel, powered by sail or by oars. In competitive rowing, a launch is a motorized boat used by the coach during training.

Well that makes more sense..

Nope...this is what we got...I'm not sure what this type of boat is called..

This is what I hoped we were going to do

Anyway, we went down the coast and saw some fantastic homes and hotels and beaches.

I don't know how people even get to this beach - there must be a hidden stairway.

A fantastic hotel.

Homes built right into the cliff face.

Another fantastic hotel ...look at the stairway leading down to the beach.

A closer look.

Positano

A closer shot as our boat is about to dock.

Positano is a very busy place. People everywhere. This is the only way to get from the seaside to the upper levels.

A couple shots from up above.

Some of  the beaches here are private.

If you want to have a chair or umbrella you have to pay. Even for a shower you need to pay. 1.5 euro for a hot shower, .5 euro for a cold shower.  Unreal!

This, I suspect, is the public beach.

Back in Amalfi...