"Nooooooo, Mummy we don't want to get in!!" We screamed, again and again. We were stood in our knickers, on the sandy shores of Positano beach and were quite content playing in the sand. We clearly had absolutely no desire whatsoever to get into a little wooden boat that would take us into the
Once our lunch was demolished, we watched an extravagant parade, from the comfort of our balcony, mesmerized by the colours and statues that were being carried through the city. They looked heavy and the street was crowded, but the sounds of hundreds of Italians chanting and talking was comforting. With Nanna and Grandad close by, as well as our Mum and Dad, we were practically home.
The next day we took a trip to see our Aunties in Praiano, a small fishing village, and no doubt our favourite place in Italy. We climbed what felt like hundreds of steps, for our tiny legs, to make it to the house Nanna grew up in. Years later we came to count those steps and hundreds there are indeed. Once at the top we proceeded to scream from the hilltops 'Billy!!! Billy!!!", the name of our Auntie's dog, who had ran through the gate to greet us and then kept on going. Completely distraught in our fears that we had lost him forever (you may have gathered by now that we were quite dramatic children) we stood and shouted his name until he thankfully came back.
And so, with Billy safely within the house walls, we helped our Auntie's prepare lunch in the kitchen, whilst yet again, sporting just our knickers - notice a theme, one of which we have no idea why - We stood on little over turned crates helping to clean the freshly caught fish of the day while happily getting our hands mucky and listening to the chatter of our family in the background.
These are snippets from our very first trip to Italy, when we were four, and when Grandad still owned an apartment in Sorrento. From pictures and a few family videos, these are the moments we remember the most. It was the only time we went to Italy with both our Nanna and Grandad at the same time, as years later, Nanna had a heart operation and stopped flying. We have been back three times since this trip, but we remember these fragments of our first time there fondly. We hope to go many more times in the years to come and we especially can't wait to take our husbands. It's about time they saw what all the fuss is about!! :)
We hope you enjoyed another of our Italian posts. We can't wait to read your favourite Italian Cities and memories in this months #DolceVitaBloggers :)
Read our first #DolceVitaBloggers post "Our Italian Connection"
Buona Giornata!
Auguri
What a lovely post - I'm hoping to visit more of Italy - we only visited for the first time at the end of 2016 and definitely need to go back. I loved Milan - but more so Lake Como! Praiano sounds wonderful
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Thank you so much for reading! :) We would absolutely love to visit both Milan and Lake Como. They look beautiful and both sound like such interesting places. Our aim to travel all around especially to see more of The Amalfi Coast! <3
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Lucy & Kelly, I loved reading about your childhood memories in Italy!!! Isn't it funny how a little perspective can change the scary sea into something beautiful!? Your family is from one of the most stunning places in the world!!! I've been to Positano before (definitely one of my favorite places in Italy & the whole world!) but I'd love to see Praiano and other towns on the Amalfi Coast. I love how you mentioned the sound of Italian was comforting, I think so too even if I can't understand everything! When is your next trip to Italy? I am sure your husbands will love the Amalfi Coast!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kelly. We are absolutely loving writing these posts. This one was especially fun to jot down old memories. These stories have stuck with us for so long and mean the world to us. You definitely have to visit Praiano, it's a small place but utterly idyllic! That's exactly like us, when we walk into our Nanna and Grandad's house, just the sound of the Italian TV playing makes us happy, even if they talk so fast, we're always 10 words behind - our Grandad always made fun of us for talking loud and fast, yet we only have him to thank! :p
DeleteWe're hoping to go in April for a project we are working on. What about you?
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I really want to visit Positano, Sorrento and Praiano. They all look like such beautiful places to visit!
ReplyDeleteYou absolutely should, you will fall in love! :) xx
DeleteThe places with the best memories always seem to remain firm favourites. This is a lovely post! I spent a little time in Sorrento with my mum last summer as she had her honeymoon there and had always wanted to go back. It's a beautiful place! Nikki x
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Aww wow, what an amazing place to have a honeymoon, we're so happy you liked it! :) Thank you so much for your kind words and for reading! xx
DeleteBrava, I had a big smile on my face reading your beautiful post. It felt like I was there too (maybe not in my knickers) helping clean that fish!! Wonderful memories of your favourite city guys. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, your comment made us laugh so much, thank you! :) We're glad it made you smile! Thank you for reading! xx
DeleteWhat a great story! It's wonderful to have memories like that! Billy made me laugh. He reminds me of a few of my dogs. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for reading! Haha, now we admire dogs like him, who can wander but always come back! :)
DeleteLucy & Kelly, loved the narrative on this. Reading some posts, I regret not writing mine in the same style! It really took me straight to the Amalfi Coast. YOU MUST TAKE YOUR HUSBANDS!!! ASAP! Love, Jasmine (questadolcevita.com)
ReplyDeleteAww thank you so much Jasmine, that makes us smile so much. We love telling stories! :) We know, we have to soon, we talk so much about it that they really need to see it in person and meet all the family! :) Looking forward to reading your post! xx
DeleteYou two are great at storytelling, I want to read more!! I think the Amalfi coast must be an incredible place to experience as a child, but yes, now time to take your husbands!
ReplyDeleteAww thank you so much, that means the world to us! :) We love sharing our stories and will definitely post more! We are working on it for sure, we think they will love it! :) Thank you so much for reading! xx
DeleteWhat amazing memories! This is so sweet! I would love to go to Sorrento, I'm dying to get down to the Amalfi coast I haven't explored there yet. It sounds incredible! xx
ReplyDeleteAww thank you! :) Oh my goodness, you will fall in love with The Amalfi Coast, you won't want to leave, it's so beautiful! :) xx
DeleteAww such beautiful memories! I loooove Positano! I hope to take my partner there one day! Nothing beats nonni's pasta! <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteYay, Positano is amazing! Aww we hope you get to take your partner too! We couldn't agree with you more! :) xx
DeleteThere's something so special about connecting to your roots. A few years ago, I visited the town where my great-grandparents came from in Sicily. It was very emotional.
ReplyDeleteAww, that sounds lovely. It is very special. Last time we went to Praiano was after 16 years away from it. We couldn't believe how much we remembered and how much it felt like home. We were walking the streets at 5am to go to the cemetery of all places and yet we didn't feel scared or anxious. It's quite amazing how that special connection makes you feel.
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Sorrento was one of my absolute favorite places of all times. Your stories really remind me of experiencing Southern Italy with my family there (in Calabria). I definitely felt the emotion in this post. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you so much for reading and for the kind words! Southern Italy is a beautiful place! Glad you enjoyed your time there too! :)
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