The lovely Isle of Capri (Capri)

Member Name: byblox

Product:	Capri
Date:	31/07/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Views

Disadvantages: Rushing and rip offs

Visiting Sorrento, we were instructed by all and sundry before we left that we had to visit Capri. It was really the only trip we did as relaxation was top priority rather than any frantic sightseeing, so we went a few days into our trip.

We walked down the steep steps and roads from Sorrento to the harbour. The walk down was slightly hairy due to a lack of footpaths and the crazy driving of the inhabitants! Once we were in the harbour there are various companies that you can travel with, the next ferry across was due so we got tickets from a very rude girl in a kiosk, E54 for us both, pretty hefty but you have to don't you?

We boarded the large craft and settled into our seats, it wasn't too crowded and we could admire the views from the windows. The craft had an eating area for anyone wanting snacks and there was room to move around. The crossing was smooth and the views sublime, as far as I could see, there was nowhere you could go on deck into the open air we were all inside. Crossing took about half an hour.

On arrival we made our way down and very quickly we were into the harbour. Throngs of people milling everywhere and behind the pretty harbour buildings a pretty sheer cliff/mountain had to be negotiated before we got to Capri. Call us green, we didn't know what a funcular (a sort of cablecar/train hybrid) was and so we caught a bus that wound up the mountainside into the town.

We were dropped off in the main street and walked up to the centre. The views are breathtaking, a dazzling sea, cliffs and mountains and quaint buildings. Naturally it was crammed with tourists like us with everyone grabbing photo opportunities where they could. The main square was quite small and divided up between four cafes and their seats, the staff weren't overly pushy and we had a drink at a reasonable cost (unlike later).

A quaint bell tower dominates the sqaure with a tiny tourist information kiosk underneath. Steps led up to the white painted Cathedral, beautiful and peaceful and with only a handful of visitors respectfully viewing the amazingly beautiful artworks.

Small, narrow cobbled streets led us on a bit of a mystery tour that ended up with us doubling back a few times as they were obviously residential. We happened upon the shopping district which is any fashionista's dream. Every shop was designer, Versace, Prada, Ferragamo, Dolce and Gabbana... The windows themselves were beautiful to look at. Each shop was quite small but extraordinarily stylish as you'd expect.

We'd been told that Capri was exclusive and expensive and expected as much, it was a spectacle and I'd have loved to have seen it at night. Cafes and restaurants were as stylish as the shops and no doubt carried the same price tags. No wonder the steps outside the Cathedral were full of people sitting eating panini they'd got elsewhere.

We were aware that ferries only run until certain times (after which I'd imagine Capri becomes much more exclusive after us plebs have gone!) so we spent a couple of hours exploring before we decided we had to go.

We walked down from Capri instead of getting the bus or funcular, it was steep but the steps are quite wide and fairly well signposted. It took about 10 or 15 minutes and we came out in the harbour. Stupidly we then went to one of the nearby cafes and had a beer which cost us E14 which was such a rip off but then we had been warned!

The journey back was quite different to the journey there. Our tickets didn't state which number we had to go to to get the ferry so we ended up wandering around worriedly for a while following the hoardes of people until we asked at one of the boats and were directed to the right place. We got on the boat (not the same as the one we crossed in) and it was packed to capacity. No hope of a nice view on the way back then! Infuriatingly many people had piled shopping bags up on seats at tables so no one could take the seats, the rudeness! Grrrrr.....

I'm sure that Capri would be beautiful at night, the views and the ambiance must be lovely, happily we were in a small village outside Sorrento where we had both in spades and so didn't feel jealous at all!

Summary: I'll hire a villa there next time...ahem!