Today’s episode in the travelogue is a short post.
We finally stayed put in the same general vicinity, walking only to a beach and back. It was lovely.
Marina Piccola – or “small marina” – is the main swimming beach on Capri, with its crystalline waters and view of the Faraglioni – three “rock stacks.”
Here’s the simplistic aerial look showing our jaunt.
And here’s the more realistic topographical look.
Marina Piccola is just up from these words, where the water turns from deep blue to an azure teal color, held in a little bay by the Faraglioni jutting out to the right.
The walk from our place went through the narrow streets of the outlying neighborhood where our AirBnB was…
Into Capri town…
And down a long series of steps to the beach…
This is it – Marina Piccola. Looks overcast, even chilly, right? Photos are deceiving. It was HOT! We knew it was the best kind of weather we could ask for in order to avoid maximum sunburns, so we took advantage of every exposed minute before the clouds burned off and the sun blasted its full radiance on our lily-white edges.
The three rocks have names: Stella is the closest to shore, Faraglione di Mezzo is in the middle – with an archway that boaters go under, and Faraglione di Fuori – also called Scopolo – is on the right. I just read that Scopolo is home to a famous blue lizard whose camouflage matches the water around it. We missed the lizards! Darn. Gotta go back.
Once at the beach, you can turn left, which is this view above, to enjoy the paying beach. I think it was something crazy, like 18 euros each. Or you can turn right, the view below, for the free beach only a few meters away as a crow flies. You can see which one we chose.
These colors are not enhanced. I always thought I’d have to go to the South Pacific for these kinds of blues, but WOW, was I wrong!
Walk around some rocks and you’re on the other part of the free beach, now just a few liquid meters away from the pricey beach. Hmm. Not too shabby.
We swam for hours.
The sun began burning off the clouds, and it was about that time that our tummies gnawed in hunger and thirst. I love that Italian shops on the beach don’t just sell gelato. They sell all-fruit smoothies as well. We sucked down some fresh smoothies on an uneven rock outcropping in the blasting sun and decided we needed some more downtime. Days of going nonstop had really caught up to us.
We walked up the mountain of steps, stopped in a wonderfully air-conditioned market, and bought some fixins for another big fresh-from-the-ground meal back at our place.
I can’t even remember what else we did besides photograph potatoes. I think it’s because we finally sat down and didn’t get up again until the next day.
Steps: 11,150 (~5 miles)
Miles to the beach and back: 3
Next stop: Anacapri’s Monte Solaro, the island’s highest point
Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns I: The Planning
Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns II: Rome Arrival
Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns III: Sorrento
Walking Italy’s Scenic Towns IV: Amalfi to Ravello
