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Positively Positano!

“Positano: Que Bella!”

Arguably, the most visited town on the Almalfi Coast is the town of Positano.  Located about 35 miles (57 km) from Naples, Positano offers some of the most breathtaking views of Italy and its magnificent coastline.  The town itself is perched on an enclave on the face of a hill and winds down towards the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.  Naturally beautiful, Positano attracts thousands of visitors every year.

In Positano, life’s a beach!

While there, be sure to bring your bathing suit, because the beaches here are beautiful!  When I went swimming here, the clear blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea wasn’t the only amazing thing I found here.  I picked up some neat looking rocks from the bottom of the sea floor.  Because the tide is weak, there isn’t that much erosion on the seashore, so don’t expect smooth sand between your toes.  This allows for some neat finds at the bottom, like volcanic rocks, layered rocks, or even a piece of iron ore!  And if you look hard enough, you might just find a chipped mosaic that may have washed ashore from the wreckage of Pompeii, but don’t expect an archeological find during a leisurely swim.

While there, sip on some limoncello.  Thanks in part to the abundance of lemon trees around the region, there is no shortage of lemony goodness!  Locals have taken advantage of the sweet and sour fruit in many ways, and not just in food.  Scented candles, medicine, hygiene, candies, and potpourri are just a few of the many uses.  The most common usage, however, can be found in the form of a strong liqueur that is sipped at the end of a meal.  It is primarily used to cleanse your palette, while leaving a refreshing lemon flavor on your taste buds!  But it is nothing like sipping lemonade, for it is really, really strong!

“Narrow merge, ahead!”
“Beep-Beep! Coming through!”

For the visiting tourist, one might want to hire a driver; driving the narrow, cliffside roads is not something for the faint of heart.  As scenic as the drive up the coast is, it is also a dizzying and sometimes, vertigo-inducing experience.  The winding roads, combined with the high altitude of the mountain, and the narrow gap needed to pass oncoming traffic is an adventure by itself!  While I sat in the passenger’s seat in a small van en route from Naples to Positano, I naturally, succumbed to carsickness!  Thankfully, it resulted in nothing more than a splitting headache and not a tummyache!  If it hadn’t been for the eye-catching scenery and beaches down below the road, I would have been miserable that whole way down!

But wild rides and lemons aside, Positano is one of those places that definitely stays with you.  Maybe it is the multitude of colorful home tucked away on the side of the mountain that blends right into the scenery, or maybe it is the clear waters of the sea that gives the town an exquisite backdrop.  Or maybe it is the sweet smell of lemons coming from all sides of this seaside town.  While Positano may feel touristy at times, don’t let that deter you from seeing a gorgeous slice of Italy!  I guarantee, you will positively love Positano!

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