Sunday, August 30, 2009

You know that it’s August in Positano if…

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You know that it’s August in Positano if…

  • You wish, really wish, that it would rain to bring relief from the heat.
  • You make do with whatever you have at home because everyone refuses to brave the hot stairs to do the shopping.
  • There are zillions of ants everywhere.
  • You burn yourself in the water that comes from the cold water tap.
  • You have figs from the garden for breakfast (and lunch and dinner).
  • Navigating at sea means narrowly avoiding boats moored everywhere.
  • You feel guilty when you are charged €4 for the same pizza that a tourist pays €7 for, only because you are a local.
  • You try to get into the Music on the Rocks Club as a tourist, to avoid paying a €15 entrance fee as a local.
  • You give up trying to catch a Sita bus in the Sorrento direction in the late afternoon, knowing that it will not even stop at Positano, due to the ridiculous amount of tourists that got on at Amalfi.
  • All prices go up on the 15th.
  • You have to take a ticket and wait in line to eat at the beach bars at lunchtime.
  • The area under the beach bars becomes jam packed with everyone’s water floats.
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  • The hotel puts a sign up saying that only clients of the hotel can use the lift to the beach. Locals ignore it.
  • You know that Ferragosto is codeword for ‘noise’. Loud rockets thunder an echo around the mountains all day long. Fireworks, boat horns blaring, sirens wailing, helicopters hovering, speed boats showing off, dogs barking, children yelling become background noise all day and night for two weeks.
  • You are glad to pack your bags at the end knowing that this is not the real Positano you love.

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24 comments:

Paul Anater said...

Welcome back and thanks for the itemized list of why I avoid the Amalfi Coast in August!

Dewi said...

This is why we decided to visit Italy not in August! Thanks for sharing your thought.

Laura said...

Ciao Scintilla! After spending my first complete August here I can totally agree. I should put together a similar list for Amalfi. That would be fun! I saw the lines of cars on TV the other morning and though, "Ah, finally we might be able to park in Amalfi again." It has been an adventure! Hope your summer was a bell'avventura! :-)

Lucia said...

Just what I wanted to read! Now I know some of the little secrets of being tourist and non tourist! Great photos as always! Hope you are having a lovely summer.

cathi said...

Welcome Back! Thanks for the tips on when not to be a tourist...:) Here's hoping you had a wonderful summer, despite all the tourists..

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Welcome back, I love the tips you have given. That is why I holiday out of season in Italy :-)

And this holiday in Paris is the opposite, the Parisians leave and shut up shop. But it has not been too bad, I have found lots and lots open...!! I think is just the little gift shops etc lots open around me.

Eleonora Baldwin said...

Bentornata! Well... OK, your post kinda says it all.
I have only once made the fatal mistake of coming down to Positano around Ferragosto, and boy THAT never happened again. You painted the picture perfectly, I'm surprized things haven't changed over the years.

Oh, oh I have one more for your bulleted list. You know it's August in Positano when:

- The hydrofoils and waterbusses send columns of exhaust pipe gunk in the air 96 times a day, while hordes of barbarians alight. Not only do they not invest in the town, but rather leave behind tons of trash.

Then I remember how I love that place and put the dreadful images behind me and dream of wisteria and datura bells cascading, the trees at La Zagara and the sun-play on the shimmering water at noon.

Miss it so...
~Lola

Annika said...

Doesn't seem all that awful to me... then again I'm suffering from terrible withdrawal so everything about Italy sounds tempting and wonderful now.

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Not sure if my previous comment worked...but I agree with all of your points...most of all I just wish it would rain!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back!
Yeah, this is why I pray for August to FLY each and every year. I can't avoid it, I LIVE here.
Also, we had a LITTLE rain yesterday but, what changed? Absolutely nothing.
dollyna

Laura said...

It rained!! It finally rained!! :-)

Barbara Jacksier said...

And I thought the weather was sizzling and the buses crowded in July! Is Enzo my fellow diner at Mediterraneo or the lemon man in Ravello?

qualcosa di bello said...

well, i almost bit my computer screen at the sight of those FIGS!!!!!!!!!!! yum!! (love the new header)

Lisa at Wanderlust Women said...

Ciao Scintilla. We missed your posts and your stunning fotos. And thanks for reminding me why I visit in the off season. LOL

Saretta said...

It's almost over, right? ;-)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

welcome back!!

note to self: Avoid Positano in August. :)

Anonymous said...

Some parts of your post sound similar to where I live ... Not so much noise - but similar :0)

Anonymous said...

Ciao Scintilla,
And, this is why l made my exit at the end of July! Thank you for reminding me :)
I hope you had a great summer!
Cleo

Anonymous said...
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Fifi Flowers said...

You take marvelous photos!

Proud Italian Cook said...

Hello Scintilla, and welcome back!
I will repeat these words to myself or anyone I know, that wants to visit there in August!!

The Food Hunter said...

This is great. Just back from Praiano. Oh those ants!

Kay said...

Hi,

I am a painter and almost invariably use my own photographs for many reasons. However, your ripe figs are superb. Should I feel the urge to at some point, may I use that photograph as a reference please? I do have my own fig tree but yours were photographed at the most sumptious moment! If I do paint it I would of course acknowledge you as the photographer.

You can check me out here if you like. www.kayscott-artist.com
I am happy to have found your blog.

Best wishes
Kiwi in south Lazio.

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