Flynn and Ollie have been very busy ~ frankly too busy having “experiences” to be bothered with keeping up on the captain’s log. So, think way back when to almost a week ago….
F & O did manage to get their fuzzy butts outta bed, and embark on their day of laborious day of hiking. Originally (the week prior), the goal was to hike the Path of the Gods. On advice of one of their many drivers, F&O opted for La Valle del Dragone hike which was a bit shorter, easier to get to, and mostly downhill. It was a beautiful day for a stroll, which started out as a bus ride atop the tourist bus to Ravello as the cheap local bus is a zoo, and not fit for pre-caffeine travels. Of course there was coffee and a snack before hitting the trail. Finding and staying on the trail turned out to be harder than it seemed; F&O utilized a paper hiking map (pretty, but the worst option), a hiking travel forum on the web (better), and pointing and gesturing from non-English speaking locals (best) who thought they were morons, but at least got them there eventually.
The Red Bus 
Fortification 
Find F & O
Eventually. Actually, this was a pretty good hike, even though F&O ended up taking a lovely unplanned tour of Potone because apparently in Europe it’s pretty easy to walk from one town to another without realizing it. It was a long way down and around and down some more. Did Flynn mention that there were some helpful signs? Yes, about 4 of them. It should be noted there were at least a dozen places where the Ollie had to make a choice (NOT proverbial cross roads, but instead real ones). It should also be noted that the views were spectacular <- not breaking news, since everywhere almost on the coast is spectacular. Except the ground. More on that in just a minute.
Bus drop-off 
We are going down there 
View of Pogerola 
View of the tower from Potone 
It’s a sign! 
It’s the other sign! 
Still downwards 
Big garden – long way out of town
Really old stairs
The initial view from Ravello to Atrani made the hike look daunting, but in reality it was quite doable and relaxing. Flynn and Ollie would not want to go the other direction, but they passed plenty of others who were attempting it. Overachievers, Flynn calls them. It should be mentioned that the gorgeous, stunning, jaw-dropping views of the sea, landscape, architecture, and history were frequently disrupted by trash. All over the place: on no-where trails, in the river, along the road. Makes F&O sad. Especially since Atrani proper is obsessed with garbage disposal and recycling. Good on Atrani, bad on the litter-bugs. Lesson: Don’t look down, just look at the view.
Back to the crash pad, F & O hung out and rested their flippers and feet until the following day. Sadly, the next day was the last full day on the Amalfi coast. In order to get a last look of the area, it was decided by majority vote to get back on the ferry and have lunch in Maiori. Boat rides are fun for both avian and mammal alike, and the views can’t be beat. Trusting social media, F & O stopped at Chiosco Bar S. Francesco, a tiny tent-topped joint on the waterfront for chow and were not at all disappointed. Flynn knew it would be good when the owner read the menu off a scratch pad. The only permanent menu they had to distribute was the local beer menu – they had a home brewery as well. Ollie was a happy camper. Flynn stopped counting at Ollie’s 4th beer and he got some to go as well. Flynn is not a beer bird, as his sophisticated palate prefers the hard stuff. He had an Aperol spritz, which seems to be the Amalfi-coast national drink. It did the trick.
Flynn on art in Maiori 
Aperol Spritz 
Lemon ice bike 
Da Boat
So, dear readers, that brings us to the last few hours in F & O’s Italian adventure. There was more souvenir shopping to be done in Amalfi, so Flynn would like to leave you with some images that bring the experience home. F & O will miss this place.
Italian clothing shop 
Amalfi humor 
Wishful thinking 
Carlos – he’s a great painter 
Giant lemons 
Fish!
The following morning, the limousine arrived at the crack of dawn to whisk F & O off to the Naples airport, where they were headed by plane to Paris. For the record, the VIP lounge in Naples does not hold a candle to the one in Seattle, but it still beats the alternative. Taking off!
Arrivederci Amalfi, Bonjour Paris.
Fin
Flynn