Almost Paradise.

**Note: Post Date is July 5, 2009**

8:00 am the alarm goes off. I wake up, rest my eyes. 8:40 am I really wake up.

“Well guys? Are you guys going to come?” I ask Bo and Kevin.

“I don’t want to spend money,” Kevin replies. I understand that he wants to save money but he has already spent so much. The opportunity cost is so low (speaking economically) that the cost of a ferry ride to Capri is nothing compared to larger scheme of things. He admits he’s cheap.

“I’m too tired,” replies Bo, who was hung over from the night before, and frankly sleeps too much anyways.

So it was just me heading off on the 10:35 hydrofoil boat to the Island of Capri. And what a beautiful island it was. It was more than worth the cost. The boat ride it self was gorgeous. Never thought I’d be pleased with a boat ride when I live on one, but I was. You could see Mount Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast, and of course Capri in the distance. As we arrived closer I thought I was setting my eyes on Paradise. It was like something I’d see in a James Bond movie.

Success! I had escaped. I was finally in a place of wonder that I could fully appreciate. Of course my day was tainted by the disappointment of the day before and the fact that I didn’t come here sooner, but every day is a new day! With only one life you cannot afford to linger on the days that have past. I was alone for all of 5 minutes until I heard someone call my name. It was Jess and Kelly, two sweet girls from Semester at Sea of course, who I have met along the way. I have played games with thembefore and they were with me on my hike yesterday. They invited me to sit down for lunch and proceeded to tell me about their lovely night on the Amalfi Coast and their love for the Capri Island. This only enhanced my frustration for my own stupidity of not leaving earlier to come to this mystical place.

The sun was shining, the town was bustling and the water was crystal clear. I can only imagine what Croatia is going to look like. On top of this mountainous island there is a small, elite town called Anacapri. To get to this secluded area you must take a bus, again about the size of a bedroom, and ride it up the thin and narrow pathways along the side of the mountain. The only protection was a side metal railing that maybe came up to my waist. The drop immeasurable. I don’t even have pictures because I couldn’t bare to move let alone take out my camera for a terrifying shot of this drive. The driver did not seem to mind seeing as he was traveling at about 30 miles per hour (manually mind you) making twists and turns along this windy road. I’m sure my heart skipped a beat as my anxiety sky rocketed. I feel for Jess and Kelly as they endured my squealing on the entire bus ride both up and down. Did I mention it was a two way street?

As terrifying as the ride was, the view was well worth it. The view of the ocean, the rest of the island and the quaint little town that sat at the top was so serene and relaxing that I didn’t want to leave. We perused the town attempting to shop but failing to dodge high prices. It was my last day in Italy so I was on a mission to eat as much gelato as possible without going broke. Besides I needed some cheering up. I made several stops for gelato on the top alone. The houses here are gorgeous and I only wish to have a summer home here, if not to have my mom stay here for a summer. Maybe not considering the treacherous travel up, but this place was almost paradise.

Erika had left earlier in the morning with SAS to this glorious sight and I knew, once I got there, that she would fall in love with it and she did. She did much more than me considering she paid more and of course my envy grew greener with the talks surrounding the amazement of Capri. On the ferry ride home I had to take it all in. Rome, Civitavecchia, Naples, and Capri. I made a mistake to not stay in Rome for an extra night and in return essentially wasted an entire day in Italy. I then made that mistake again in Naples where I let my apprehension overrule my initial instincts to leave for Capri earlier. And I let time on a train intimidate me from doing something I actually saw worth doing, such as visiting Montemurro. All in all I have lost sight of the quote that sits at the top of this blog and has inspired me to actually take this trip. “In twenty years you will be more disappointed with the things you didn’t do than the things you did do.” There couldn’t be any more truth in this statement considering that everything that I didn’t do in return resulted in ultimate disappointment.  I decree that I will, from this point forward, follow my instincts and my heart in making decisions. This trip has proven itself to be amazing, but it can become stressful and hurtful if you allow it to. You must do the things that you want to do otherwise you come back with a sense of regret and to me there is nothing worst than regret, for there is one chance and one chance only.

On the ferry I was very calm and at peace. I looked around at all the different nationalities that were on this small ferry alone and could see from a far how one couple played with there young infant, how an elderly couple took a picture together, how a group of young teenagers were enjoying each other’s company through laughter and love, and how some people just aren’t amused by anything. It was in these watchings (I just made up a word)  that I realized that we as people are constantly categorized into being foreigners. We constantly equate foreigners to being different, and not like “us”. But if you sit back and just let life unravel you will see that there is a very slight difference between you and them. Maybe the food, maybe the dress and their lifestyle, but the fundamentals: A mind, a smile, a frown, a heart. We are all the same. I take this with me into our next leg of the journey and beyond.

Back at the boat, Semester at Sea held a huge cookout in light of the fourth of July. No there weren’t fireworks but there was the food. The obvious choices of hot dogs, hamburgers and macaroni salad and for dessert: cake and ice cream. Everyone was outside, enjoying our last sights of Italy, the music, the decorations, the pool and the friends; I felt right at home. I never thought I’d be happy to be back on the boat, but I was and I was having a great time. The A.B.A. clan was in quite a giddy mood; Laughing and giggling at nothing in particular. Part due to exhaustion from our adventures in Italy and part due to the fact that we have class tomorrow. It is an early night though. Good Night.

Today’s Expenses:

………………………………..............Euros…………Dollars
Ferry Boat (Roundtrip)……….32.00.………..46.40
Lunch…………………………............8.00.………..11.60
Deadly Bus Ride………………......4.50.………..6.53
Total Gelato…………………….......5.00.………..7.25
Shopping……………………...........15.00.……….21.75

Total…………………………............64.50.……….93.03

Spain: a surprising A
Italy: a disappointing B+
Croatia: TBA

Explore. Dream. Discover.

~Michael-Anthony

P.S. Capri? Like a Caprisun?