1. << The Amalfi coast, Italy by Danny Babin >>
A
h, the Amalfi coast of Italy. Seventy miles of rugged beauty overlooking the sun dappled
Mediterranean. Sleepy fishing villages seemingly bolted to the cliff face. The scent of thyme and
lavender, the fishing boats harvesting the bounties of the sea. And the drive of a lifetime.
The best way to describe it is to think of the road through Coffee Creek, except that the Amalfi’s level. Now
picture sixty or seventy miles of it, with 180 degree turns and a sheer drop of five-hundred feet to the sea.
Narrow, twisting, blind corners, flimsy guardrails. And Italian drivers.
I’m sure you’ve heard the stories. “Don’t drive in Italy. They’re all insane behind the wheel.” “Nobody
obeys the rules. It’s every man for himself”. I took these warnings with a grain of salt. Self-preservation
is part of the primal hardwiring; no one is going to drive so recklessly that they’ll risk their life (Kootenays
excepted!). Not to mention the cost these days of repairing or replacing a car. So, brimming with self-
confidence, we rented a tiny little “Cinque Cento”at the Rome airport and, top down, toodled south to the
Amalfi Coast.
The A1, the autostrada, is state of the art, three lanes each way with trucks relegated to the right lane and
speed restricted. Everyone stays in the centre lane; the left is strictly for passing. So with a posted speed
limit of 130kmh, it came as a surprise to see cars whizzing past us. Every 50k or so there were signs, in real
time,warning of weather conditions ahead,or of accidents or roadworks. Drivers actually slowed down. So
far, I am impressed with the Italian driver. Time for a break.
We pull off at an “AutoGrill”for our first Italian espresso and are surprised by what we see: drivers lined up
at the counter like it was a pitstop in a Formula One race, downing their shots in two sips in less than thirty
seconds. No chat, no newspaper, no pastry. Refuelled, they’re back in their cars and are gone. We decide
to sit and watch this ballet with a cappuccino and chocolate croissant...
To be continued....
Done That>>
<<
Been There
Meticulous Travel
Full Service Agency
3062 Hwy 3A
Nelson, BC V1L 6Z9
250-825-9668 •1-855-825-9668 • sbabin@tpi.ca • www.meticuloustravel.ca
Sandra Babin
Owner/Agent
CPBC licence No. 54033
Danny taking a break beside the Cinque Cento on the Amalfi Coast