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Ciao Amalfi

Amalfi, Beaches · March 10, 2009

La Festa del Sole

On Sunday we woke up to a glorious day here on the Amalfi Coast, perhaps the best day of the year so far. When I opened the window in the morning, I knew immediately how I wanted to spend La Festa della Donna. It was time for the first trip to the beach of 2009! I packed a picnic of tuna and pomodoro panini and blood oranges, and we set out. The beach was empty and the sun was warm. It was almost surreal to have the beach in Amalfi alone on a beautiful day, and today I had to go back and look at the photos to remind myself it actually happened. It was a wonderful reminder that summer is coming soon!

Amalfi on Sunday
It was great to see one of my favorite restaurants Lo Smeraldino,
lower left, open and full of people enjoying the sunny terrace.
Toes in the sun!
Blood oranges on the beach
Shells and Rocks

Posted In: Amalfi, Beaches

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Comments

  1. South of Rome says

    March 10, 2009 at 20:53

    Hey, I have a funny for you and a question.. My neighbor (the daughter) came over with 2 giant Amalfi lemons. She got them in Amalfi on Sunday as she was there celebrating la festa della donna with 17 of her friends. She said they went to the beach and then to lunch.. maybe you saw her? (Just kidding, as I’m sure she looked like every other cute and fashionable Italian gal you saw that day!) I was laughing when she brought the lemons over and told me that story b/c I knew you had been at the beach that day too.. oh, small world!

    Anyway, my question, what should I do with the lemons?? She said they served the coffee at the restaurant with lemon peel?? Is this normal in Amalfi? She just shrugged when I asked (sometimes we have a communications break down, but we try!)

    Ok, one more question, what type of guide is your boyfriend?? For trails, or just the Amalfi Coast in general? Would he have any insight into a moderately priced cooking class?? I’m looking for something that won’t break the bank for when my friend visits in May.

    Also, if you want to just email me you can (karenmlandes@hotmail.com).

    Ciao, K

    Reply
  2. Laura says

    March 10, 2009 at 21:13

    Ciao Karen! That’s funny…It is a small world! When we first arrived at the beach there was a group of younger people hanging out there. I bet I did see her! Around 1:30 the beach cleared out as people went to lunch. After the quiet winter I have to admit it was great to see people enjoying the restaurants and beauty of Amalfi.

    Ah… Amalfi lemons! I am not sure how they are this time of year, but they can be so good. Yes, it is normal here to serve coffee with lemon … caffè con scorzetta di limone. It is so good!! But we put lemon on or in just about everything here. 🙂 Just slice off a little piece of the yellow skin and drop it in your espresso before serving.

    I will be in touch soon via email to answer your other questions! Ciao!

    Reply
  3. Chef Chuck says

    March 11, 2009 at 02:11

    Ciao Laura, What a wonderful day on the Amalfi Coast! That is nice to soak up the rays for a change! Great Photos.
    Enjoy!

    Reply
  4. Laura says

    March 11, 2009 at 12:09

    Ciao Chuck! I did enjoy that beautiful day on Sunday! Yesterday was another lovely one. Today everything is white out the window again and more rain. But the nice weather will be back soon enough!

    Reply
  5. Anne in Oxfordshire says

    March 12, 2009 at 11:40

    What a lovely way to spend a day…No beach for us here..it would be so cold!!!

    I remember last year in November we were on the beach in Liguria..it was fantastic. And very unusual for us.

    You are very lucky to be living in Italy…we need spring to arrive first and then we might get a summer!

    Reply
  6. Laura says

    March 12, 2009 at 21:07

    Ciao Anne! Thanks for your comment and for introducing me to your blog…Anne in Oxfordshire. I will check it out often! You have some blogs I haven’t seen in your list of Italian and Sicilian blogs, too. Always fun to find new blogs!

    Last November I was surprised to be on the beach here. It was beautiful still, although the water was a bit cold, and there were so few people. Yes, Spring first definitely! Last Sunday was confusing, because the weather promptly returned to cold and rain. Ah, but my daffodils are blooming, and I noticed today the trees have buds… Spring is here! Thanks again for stopping by to say ciao!

    Reply
  7. Amber says

    March 13, 2009 at 01:15

    I’m jealous of your bare feet experiencing outside air. My poor little toes haven’t had such an opportunity in months! With a high of 4 degrees celsius today they aren’t coming out of hiding soon.

    Reply
  8. Laura says

    March 14, 2009 at 09:32

    Ciao Amber! Oh… I know! I remember the long Minnesota Springs. I think I always will! It is definitely cabin fever time. 🙂 Hang in there … soon you will have the lovely grass between your toes and be enjoying the beautiful summer!

    Reply
  9. Amanda says

    March 15, 2009 at 21:13

    That was a gorgeous Sunday! We live just north of Naples and my husband and two children and I drove down to Vietri for lunch and then couldn’t resist the beautiful weather and headed up the Amalfi Coast for a little bit.

    Reply
  10. Laura says

    March 16, 2009 at 14:38

    Ciao Amanda! Thanks for your comment and for introducing me to your blog. Always great to meet more bloggers in the area! I love your photos from your sunny day on the Amalfi Coast. That really was a perfect day!

    Reply

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My name is Laura and the Amalfi Coast is my passion and my home. I’m a writer and photographer who is endlessly inspired by the incredible beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Welcome to Ciao Amalfi!

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This month’s newsletter continues the travels in This month’s newsletter continues the travels in Italy with American poet H.W. Longfellow in 1828 as he made his way down to Naples. Plus a look at Grand Tour volcano tourism and a bonus of 19th-century tips for now not to be a tourist. Link in bio!
Mmmhmm autumn is definitely my favorite season. 🧡 This morning I woke up a bit earlier than my alarm and looked outside somewhat perplexed. The entire sky, the town—everything—had a burnt orange hue. A hurried lacing up of the shoes and still bleary eyed, but I just had to see it better for myself. It was a glorious sunrise. Now the rain has just gently started falling and I’m in full autumn ecstasy.

Later I’ll return to the piano to pick up where I left off yesterday learning this beautiful autumn waltz by @andreavanzo_composer. 🍂
Just by chance I happened to catch the very beginn Just by chance I happened to catch the very beginning and end of season at @cantine_marisa_cuomo this year. It was fun to see the grapes on the same vines just before harvest begins. Swipe to the right to see the same grapes back in May. Happy autumn!
Huge thanks to @italia_magazine for the lovely fea Huge thanks to @italia_magazine for the lovely feature of the second edition of Moon Southern Italy in the August/ September 2025 issue. Love the great description of @moonguides as well. Grazie mille! 🇮🇹
My heart might forever wander, but it’ll probabl My heart might forever wander, but it’ll probably always take a crosswalk. E si fermerà chissà…
This morning was a little cloudy when I went out f This morning was a little cloudy when I went out for my morning walk like I do most mornings in Amalfi. Down the coast, across the Gulf of Salerno, rays of light were shining right on the city of Salerno. I had set out with Salerno on my mind because it was there that 82 years ago today—on September 9, 1943—the Landing of Salerno began during WWII. My Grandpa was in the Army during the war - a lot of it in Italy. Yet he would never speak of where he was or what he did, and certainly had no desire to ever see Italy again after the war. While he probably wasn’t in that first landing in Salerno, he would have been somewhere in Italy, perhaps further south in Calabria or in Sicily. I always think of him during these days and wonder about those hard experiences he must have had in Italy. And very grateful for what he and so many fought for and endured. 

If you ever visit Salerno, south of the city there’s an Allied War Cemetery that is a moving and important place to visit. 🤍
Have I ever shared one of my favorite poems about Have I ever shared one of my favorite poems about Amalfi? It’s by the American poet Sara Teasdale (1884-1933). It’s simple and it’s heartbreaking - like first loves so often are. But I think about it often, especially on night walks in Amalfi. 

Night Song At Amalfi

I asked the heaven of stars
What I should give my love —
It answered me with silence,
Silence above.

I asked the darkened sea
Down where the fishers go —
It answered me with silence,
Silence below.

Oh, I could give him weeping,
Or I could give him song —
But how can I give silence,
My whole life long?
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