Travel & Hotspots
7 THINGS MAY ALSO LEARNED IN CAPRI
I lie in my little bed with my laptop open. Yesterday was just like that when I suddenly spotted two sun loungers in my ‘shot’. Ah, my room naturally overlooks the pool, I thought. So when I was a bit appropriately dressed, I cautiously walked with suitable steps towards the pool party. But what turned out... I had my own pool. I repeat: My. Own. Pool. I had to sit down for a moment to process it. Thank goodness the sun lounger I collapsed onto was wet from the night's humidity. That sobered me up a bit. But really just a bit.
The trip is almost over and yes, I have learned some extremely useful things. Hereby noted so you can also benefit from them.
1. Remember the word ‘attenzione’
No, that's not to save your little behind when you drive up that too narrow path with a loudly singing taxi driver. No, ‘attenzione’ is the code word in Capri for discount. “Fammi un attenzione, per favore?” or “What about my attenzione?” and you will definitely get ten percent off. Anke, the marketing manager of Glamour, negotiated hard from a Miu Miu sunglasses priced at 260 euros down to 160. Without batting an eye. They think it's fantastic here. So you know what to do, attenzione is the word.
2. Italians and wifi remain a tricky thing
From solid field research (from which all this also emerged), I know that the more expensive your hotel is, the more complicated (and expensive) it is to get a bit of wifi. In Italy, it's three steps more hassle. So I have a room fourteen meters long, a private pool (yes, I write that casually and in passing) but every time I close my computer and then open it again, I have to request a new code. One phone in my room doesn't work (the one next to my bed) so then I have to walk fourteen whole steps to the bathroom (yes, that's no small feat) to then call the reception with a crackling wall phone. Then I get three codes that definitely don't work to then try as a 'guest' with a newly linked number. Guys. Open that wifi, what can happen? Or should I also sign up to be allowed to continue in the toilet? this ‘ Guys. Open that wifi, what can happen?’
”3. Bodyism is the new Pilates”
Because we are here to kick off the Glamour Health Challenge (that's a month that Glamour organizes to make us all a bit fitter and ready for our bikinis with by the way a very nice free event in the RAI and for which
Jet went to St Tropez last year ), there was also an hour of exercise on the menu. We did that on the roof of the hotel with a view that could only be described as 'meravigliosa'. Bodyism is a way of life that in terms of sport lies somewhere between yoga, Pilates and, okay, maybe a bit of Ballet Beautiful, and also has its own dietary pattern. They train Hugh Grant (not that I would immediately want his body, but it must be fun), Elle Macpherson, and Lara Stone. So....4. Leave your heels at home.
I wore heels here twice, walked to the taxi with them, and then took them off in the taxi twice. Capri and heels do not go together. Or a wedge, but on a steep path, that's not handy either. Just choose a sandal or something. But remember
this wise lesson 5. Italians lie hard on pebbles ‘Take off your shirt!’.
Yesterday we had lunch at Fontalina, a restaurant that you can only reach by boat. We left from the marina piccola (the small harbor) where there is also a piccola beach. Well, what am I saying, not a beach, more of a pebble corner. Although with the most beautiful view in Europe, but still. Pebbles. And there they lay. Guys shining from the fat, grandmas with hats, couples, tutti. Towel and don't complain. They ate pizzas from boxes and drank Peroni beer and everything was more Italian than I could imagine.
”Although with the most beautiful view in Europe, but still. Pebbles”.
”6. Boating is not an easy ride”
So don't think a bit smart that you can rent a boat yourself and dock at Fontalina. That's like the wild water ride of Efteling times a hundred. The restaurant is not in a bay, so the waves are fierce and because the passage is very small, the waves gain extra strength. We really had to be held and guided by three men to safely make the jump to the shore.
7. Singing, singing, singing.
They do that everywhere here. The taxi drivers, the men from the rowboats that take you to the Grotta Azzurra, in the café. And everyone can do it wonderfully. It feels like Volendam.
The moral of this story: go to Capri. You fly to Naples in two hours, take the boat and you are in the most romantic and photogenic place ever. With the best food. Just don't be surprised if they charge you ten euros as standard because they have laid out cutlery and a bread basket for you. And if you are also lucky that Danie Bles organizes your trip and you are spoiled every second of the minute with goodies, treatments, and fun stories, then you are close to what is called heaven.
I lie in my little bed with my laptop open. Yesterday was just like that when I suddenly spotted two sun loungers in my 'shot'. Ah, my room naturally overlooks...
