Capri

Capri a lovely island off the Sorrento peninsula inhabited by the rich and the famous "even the poor are rich here" says our guide, Gerry. But he also says that the only problem with Capri is that there are too many tourists and he's not wrong. We should have guessed this when the people were thronging to get about the hydrofoil. It only takes 20 minutes on the jet or hydro foils or 40 minutes on the ferry to get to the island. When you arrive on the island there at least a half dozen other boats disgorging their passengers that must number in the hundreds per boat. You are then met by numerous guides offering their services and minibuses to ferry you to one of the two towns on the island, Capri and Anacapri.

We start off with Anacapri. Our bus takes us up the narrow roads where you think the buses and cars would have to be smeared in butter in order to pass each other the road is so narrow and winding. Our first stop is the chair lifts that take you to the top of Mt Solaro (589mt). Where you can get panoramic views of the island and the Bay of Naples.

A quick look around, a cup of cappuccino and then we head back down. We have a nice light lunch of salad, pizza and ice-cream for a reasonable €15 before heading to the Town of Capri. This also is at a height overlooking the grande Marina. The town is full of expensive and named boutiques (Prada, Gant, etc). But it's difficult to just wander around and enjoy the ambiance due to the crowds.

But the weather is beautiful and we head up back streets to get to see the place better. Time to head back and we take funicular train down to the Marina and out return boat. But even this takes an age as the queue for the train is huge and reminiscent of Disneyland.

Finally we make it to the boat with a rush and now we are sitting here tired and falling asleep as we head back to out hotel. But another good day all the same.

Some more of the photographs are here.

Video from the Chair lift.