After a sometimes-harrowing bus ride from Naples, the Amalfi Coast revealed itself, and I understood why people from the Mediterranean are stereotyped as dramatic.
The landscape!
I wondered how one could live a carved existence in these volcanic hills and not be dramatic.
Upon tasting the local food I wanted to grab our waiter, kiss him, then slap him. How dare he feed me in this way – to stir such emotions!
Yes, I fell in love in Amalfi. But not just with the waiter. I fell in love with everyone I saw. How could I not?
Ciao, Amalfi; grazie.
Mafia! (Someone was going to say it eventually).
Lovely photos! I like the one with the boys on the carved path. It says, “On these cliffs we forge our manhood.” But that next guy, still hanging out with the boys at the cliff, is probably a member of EUMBLA.
The guy after that looks like James Gandolfini, and the bride and groom look like they are straight out of the Godfather.
Great photos. Can you say something about how you approach strangers and ask to take their photo? I have like to take street photography sometimes, so I always like to hear how others approach a subject.
agree with rogan: tony soprano was there with you…?
Signor Godfree, these pictures are terrific. The Amalfi coast rocks–the seafood, the scent of lemons in the air, the single road in and out of town that hangs off the side of those cliffs. One of my favorite memories of a trip to Amalfi was the night before, in Sorrento. When, after a very late supper, our waiter heard how far we’d have to go back to our hotel in a cab, he jumped into his car and offered to drive us himself. And we accepted! (p.s. I’m sure the waiters get kissed and slapped all the time.)
More, please!
Amazing pictures.
“EUMBLA” is awesome.
1: the only picture that I asked to take was the one of the two gentlemen in suits (they were actually part of the wedding party), and they seemed amused that a funny little American thought them interesting enough to waste a picture on. As for the rest, I acted as though I was taking a picture of something behind them. No one busted me, but I was a little nervous a couple of times.
As for the picture of the boys forging out their manhood, they were diving off a cliff (higher than the one I jumped off of, Jeremy) that was about 35-40 feet high. The man in the next picture is named Kiko. He’s the father of one of the boys, and introduced himself to us by sailing up to our dock and offering to take us out to sea – an offer we jumped at, or dove at. While sailing along, he got into an altercation with another sailor that ended with them both laughing, and I imagined that if they weren’t in separate boats they would’ve hugged and kissed in apology to each other.
I agree that the one guy looks like Tony Soprano – believe me I did more than a double-take when I saw him. The funny thing that you can’t tell from the picture is that, unlike Tony, he’s about 5’5”.
I love seeing European men friends walking along with their arms hooked together. It’s just so cute. Thanks for all these pics! Everybody looks happy and relaxed. It must be the great food and beautiful scenery.
Scotty, I love imagining the moment you shared with the gentlemen in the suits. Somewhere in a parallel universe, you and they are playing cards and sipping grappa every Friday night. Either that, or playing Guitar Hero.
Sounds like a truly wonderful trip!
Awesome photos… Btw, I was totally waiting for the photo of you, at the end, now completely immersed in, and part of, Italy and Italian culture (no longer just a Stars-Their-Just-Like-Us Tourist)… because one of my biggest fears is that you will, indeed, someday really make good on your threat to move far, far away.
(Which is why I say: Go Obama!)
Ask and ye shall receive…
Yeah! As much as I loved the fantastic fotos of strangers, I was really wishing for a photo of you and your lovely lady. Atleast, I got half my wish. And you look strangely italian. in a fabulous foppish way. More photos please.
that was Farrell Fawcett for the record.
yay!!
nice photo uncle scotty!
that was really trixie btw
This is also Trixie BTW.