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Since 2001, my wife, Lynne, and I have traveled to Italy to see the sights, enjoy the food and relax. During each trip, we've visited a different region of the country, but have made it a point to end up in the beautiful little town of Positano.
You enter Positano by descending a winding, switchback road that goes as far as the town's main square before heading back up the cliffs. From there, a single walkway, tightly lined with clothing shops, restaurants, jewelry stores, art galleries and hotels, rambles down to the sea. Along the way, it branches here and there into narrow sidewalks and small plazas. But while the pace in Positano is truly laid back, the action above the town is quite the opposite. The spectacular Amalfi coastline, which also includes the towns of Praiano, Amalfi and Ravello, meanders for 43 miles from Sorrento to Salerno. Connecting these towns is Amalfi Drive, a cliff-hugging road carved high above the turquoise sea into limestone cliffs. This road must have at least a thousand turns, each with a different view. Erosion has shaped the cliffs into cathedral-high spires and deep grottoes. White and tan villages, surrounded by bougainvillea, fruit trees and olive groves, crowd the coves at sea level, or climb the steeply terraced hills high above the water. Navigating any vehicle along Amalfi Drive requires one's complete attention. However the huge number of motor scooters that weave in and out of traffic and pass cars and huge tour busses on the turns makes driving along this two-lane road a truly hair raising experience. An accident can lead to either crashing into the cliff face, or flying over the guardrail and landing in the sea about 800 feet below. Now understand, the majority of these two-wheeled daredevils -- both men and women -- are driving underpowered scooters, not full-sized motorcycles. The women are just as in a hurry and skilled in scooter maneuvering as the men. What makes the scene along the drive even more surreal is that most of these scooter-pilots are going to or coming from work. Therefore, many are dressed in business suits. Some are returning from the market with bags of groceries wedged between their feet. Occasionally scooter-drivers enjoy the company of their pet dog or cat sitting in their lap. The little critters have learned to lean left and right as their masters swerve through the turns. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Two-wheeled travel and other adventures in Italy in Motorcycles is owned by . Permission to republish Two-wheeled travel and other adventures in Italy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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