Capri last day :( - Blue Grotto!

What an amazing 2 days we had in Capri.  We will miss the island but have great memories and lots of pictures to remind us of our stay.

Below we  are on our way back to Villa Brunella after our dinner.  You can see how narrow the walkway is and at night there is hardly anyone on it.  At home I would find this a bit scary but not here.  Just peaceful......

The road we are walking along is called "Tragara"

One of the things we wanted to do most while in Capri was visit the "Blue Grotto" or in Italian "Grotta Azzurra".  For those of you who have not been here, it is a cave that holds the most beautiful sapphire blue water you will ever see.  A hidden opening in the rock refracts the light.  We got there via the boat below and then transferred to smaller boat.

Waiting to take off for the Grotta Azzurra.....

Once you arrive there are many boats waiting to disembark their passengers to the smaller boats for entrance.  All the captains seem to be vying for their space in line and this was one of the moments Phil and I wished we understood Italian.  Some of the vying was not so friendly but yet could've been entertaining.  LOL!

 Once inside.....speechless

The other couple in our boat (only 4 to a boat) stripped down to their bathing suits and jumped in.  This is a pic of the gentleman.  Didn't know you could do this - the water did feel amazing but wasn't sure if Phil and I could get back in the boat afterwards (no ladder).  Thought we were going to tip over when they did and they were very young and should I say......skinny?

Our guide explained to us that this was a passageway for the Ancient Romans - where to I'm not sure. When I looked it up in my Fodor's it said it was once adoined to the villa of Gradola.

Being told to lay back down on our exit.  You have to literally LAY DOWN in the boat to get in and out....

 Mount Vesuvius as seen from our boat on the way back to the village of Capri...
We were going to try to make a stop there while we're in Sorrento but think we will just take it easy for the next 3 days till we return home.  At this point we're all "toured out" - but quite content!!

Will post more to the blog once we arrive in Sorrento!

Vatican & on to Capri!

The Vatican tour was amazing.  Before we did it I really didn't know what was entailed.  I knew there would be the Sistine chapel and St. Peter's Square but there was much more.  I took a million pics but will only share a few.
Below we are waiting in line to enter...

This is one of the beautiful gardens that seem to be everywhere...I think the Pope has a pretty good thing goin' on....  :)

Our tour guide, Roberto (another older Italian dude that was quite the character) told us that this umbrella pine was hundreds of years old.  They truly look like an umbrella too.

Your first stop on the tour is the Vatican museuum.  This hold tons of sculpures, paintings and artwork.  Again, I'm only going to post a few....

One of the many gorgeous ceilings in the musueum...

and.....there's Roberto!  He seemed to follow everything he said with, "eh?"
Kinda like - "this sculpture by Michelangelo is a masterpiece, eh?

I'm not only into the wooden doors but also the shutters, ok!  These were absolutely gorgeous.

The Pieta.  Need I say more?  This sculpture (by Michelangelo if you didn't know) always reminds me of my Mom because she always had this on her dresser when I was a kid.  Sadly, I don't know what happened to it. Oh....and this is displayed in St. Peter's church where the following pics were taken.

The duomo of St. Peter's looking up.....

This fact I didn't know.  The church was erected on top of St. Peter's tomb - and here it is.

The Swiss guard that guards the Vatican.  Guard on the left can't move for 4 hours at a time.  Crazy!
Kind of like the guards at Buckingham Palace.  Just try to make them laugh!

The beautiful St. Peter's Square.  Breathtaking!

Window in the center is where the Pope comes out to bless everyone on Sunday at 12 noon.

Ciao, ciao Roma and onto Capri.  At the Tibertina train station waiting for our train to Naples.

Arriving on the dock in Capri!
I have to say they are pretty organized here.  They meet you at the dock, have a list of everyone who's on the hydrofoil and where they're staying.  Then they take your bags and deliver to your hotel.
Sweet!

You take a cable car up the mountain and this is the view when you get off.  Stunning!

This is a framer for sure!

We are staying at "Villa Brunella" and this is a pic of our room.  Oh, and we were upgraded to a suite because our room wasn't available yet.  hehe

The gardens outside our room are so pretty......

View from the pool.....

These beautiful flowers grow all along the rock walls lining the walkways...

Our first night in Capri Nina & Joe Peri suggested a restaurant named "Le Grottelle" for dinner.  It truly was a hidden gem.  It is actually built into the side of the mountain and as Nina would say "Mama cooks in the cave" - and she wasn't kidding.
It was quite a trek getting there - up winding narrow roads which were only about 6ft. wide and also lots and lots of stairs.  We worked for our dinner, that's for sure.  But it was well worth it!  We ordered the fish for two - fresh fish that he brings to your table - you choose which you'd like and they grill it to perfection.  Served with assorted roasted vegetables!  Bueno!!!!!
Below is a picture I took as we were making our way there....

You can't see it in this pic but the view was beautiful of the Amalfi Coast at night.  Twinkling lights everywhere.

Christmas lights in the trees!  Loved it!

Indoor the restaurant...told ya it was in a cave :)

This was a really cool part of Le Grottelle.  Up a flight of stairs on the side of the restaurant you will find the pizza station.  He has a wood burning stove right inside the mountain.  You  order what kind of pizza you want and he calls you when it's ready.  This little boy was waiting for his!

Our waiters who were fantastico!

Leaving for Sorrento in the morning but will never forget our time in Capri!

Posting pics of the "Blue Grotto" later, stay tuned!!!