Yesterday a very large cruise ship arrived at Amalfi before 7.15am (the time I got up to make coffee) and little boats were busy depositing cruise passengers into Amalfi even at that ungodly hour. Consequently, by the time we got to Amalfi around 10am it was bedlam. People everywhere, either from the ship or from tour groups, and given Amalfi has only one small main street, it was not pleasant. After an hour of jostling, we high-tailed it back to Atrani for coffee in the little main square. So much better, with hardly any tourists and a relaxing atmosphere!

After a late lunch and more coffee in the beautiful Atrani square, we watched the ship leave, so decided to try Amalfi again . This time we could actually get up the main street, which was a huge improvement on the morning! The sun was also at the right height to make all the gold on the cathedral absolutely glitter. Garth bought a small pair of binoculars so that we can get a better view across the mountains from our apartment and when we are out walking.

This morning we hiked to Ravello again, but this time via the back streets of Amalfi and via Pontone. This walk is longer than going up the steps behind our apartment because you go up many steps and paths to Pontone, than go all the way back down to the Ravello road, then all the way back up the steps on the other side of the ravine to Ravello. It's one big up and down climb! The scents along the way were beautiful - the smell of the fig trees made me think of my childhood, but the scent of lemon trees and other bushes also pervaded the area. The views to Amafi are quite spectacular on this walk, and when you get to Ravello and walk along the opposite ridge, then the views to Maiori are equally stunning .

This time we headed to the area around Richard Wagner street where there are many 5 star hotels perched on the cliff tops, with their restaurants, terraces and swimming pools overlooking the fabulous view. When I checked on booking.com, one of these hotels was charging €1900 for one night in a double room (it did come with breakfast!!!), so I don't expect we will be staying there anytime soon!

Back in our apartment, we stood mesmerised watching the traffic banking up on the very narrow Amalfi to Salerno road. Once again, buses going in opposite directions ended up facing each other on a corner, with no hope of reversing because the traffic was banked up for about half a kilometre in each direction. This time though, an ambulance, complete with siren wailing, was trying desperately to get through to the hospital, so a couple of citizens ended up directing traffic to clear a path. After much manoeuvring, the ambulance got through, and I think it was a better and much quicker result than when we have seen police trying to direct traffic (it generally becomes gridlocked much quicker!).

We had a couple of drinks in the Atrani square tonight, watching all the young kiddies running around and treating the area as their back yard. Little girls have dolls and prams, and little boys have guns - it's so funny that kiddies are the same across the world!!