flashback: adventures in italy -- part 1

mid-october, 2007, we take advantage of an opportunity to stay at the family home of one of chris' states colleagues. the ferrigno family (yep, relations of that one) house is located in positano. because the weather is still good along the amalfi coast in october - jeans and light sweater weather - and because the sand is still warm, we plan a 5-day get-away.  

unfortunately... well, read on.

we arrange for a mid-sized rental car with two car seats.  we receive a small car with no car seats.  we decide to still make 1 1/2 hour drive along the windy, steep two-lane road. joe perches on his knees, gaping and soft-voice-wowing at the scale of drop into the ocean.  i waver between laughter and tears.  a roller coaster with a spectacular view, but we are certain to perish.  well, i am certain that at least joe will because i CANNOT keep him in an ordinary seatbelt.  so much freedom of movement!  so many frightfully exhilarating things to see! 

we make it positano intact and immediately notice that the streets are strangely empty. we stop at a market to pick up some essentials (beer, wine, beer, wine) and learn that a mini-monsoon is predicted to hit that evening.  "like nothing we've seen in many, many years," the man at the counter says.  is this an episode of the simpsons?

after we park, we lug the children up thousands of stairs and maneuver thru narrow passageways to reach our lodgings.  we drop them unceremoniously at the door and chris looks back down the trail with deep resignation.  we still have five days worth of luggage and beverages in the car.  meanwhile, i wonder if we should plan for 2 or even 3 hours to carry ourselves down to the beach the next day.

i needn't get ahead of myself, however.  

once we all tumble inside, i make for the patio, where i snap the above fotos of the amazing view.  that's the extent of my enjoyment of the patio, however.  i put my camera aside and begin chafing my arms.  it seems as though the temp has plummeted since our climb.  i scurry inside.

an hour or so later, after the luggage and groceries are sorted, the sky turns black and the wind begins to howl.  chris and i search in vain for the heat, and after speaking to the temporary property manager, learn we have no gas at this point in the year.  and no wood for the fireplace. all we can do now is huddle on the floor with nutella and bread.  and wine, lots of wine...(tbc)