Day 3 - Maiori, Italy -> Piano di Sorrento, Italy

Sat, June 15

21.9 Miles (81.9 total)

Slow going today! And a late start! Slept a little longer than I was planning - just an extra hour and a half before Dad woke me up. First thing I noticed as I got on the bike - immediate butt soreness. Went away after a bit, but I was surprised it was already hitting me. We finished off the calzone leftovers for breakfast and hit the road.

Pretty sure 90% of the ride today was uphill. It wasn't too steep though, so we took our time and chugged away. Lot more traffic today on the coast roads. Again, just crazy how the traffic works. Tour buses, cars, and scooters going around these corners and small roads with no shoulder. There were also other cyclists out there, and even a cycle tour group. But no cars honked at us and no one yelled, so it feels like people are relatively patient with cyclists. 

The ride today was almost all on the Amalfi Coast. We were overlooking the water, so clear you could see the rocks underneath in the shallow areas. We passed through towns built into the side of on hills, with plants and flowers and color everywhere. They have these magenta flowers climbing up buildings and on the side of the road that are so pretty, and flowers lining the side of the coast road. And the hills these towns are built on... We cannot figure out how people get to some of these buildings, or park for the hotels and restaurants. I would never want to drive in Italy - the drivers are crazy, and good luck parking. I'd have to get a scooter or taxi. And the stairs going up and down to the hotels and the water below... Just crazy. It would feel great going down and getting in the water, but you have to be a sweaty mess once you get back up.

We stopped for Italian ice today and yesterday! Yesterday was lemon, with actual lemon chunks in there! Super sour, and it was mostly liquid with lots of ice flakes - you could have easily drank it. Today had much more of a slushie consistency.

We stayed at another cute bungalow today, Villaggio Turistico Fiori D'Arancio. Yesterday, the place had lemon trees in the courtyard area, and the place today had orange trees. It was a brutal climb up to place, the steepest climb all day. We cooled off in the pool, washed down, and got dinner in the eating area. I got a burger with buffalo mozzarella in place of burger buns. It was tasty! Burger itself could've been better, but still an experience eating it!