Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Catching some serious pressure from a friend to forgo one of my twice a year trips to St Barts and go to Positano and Capri instead. Would probably stay at Sireneuse and Capri Palace, both first rate.
Would it be fun? Bien sur. And I have seen the thread on this site about Capri. Even so, what say yea? Go to Italy or just bag the thing and "settle" for St Barths?
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andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12131
Loc: Philadelphia
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You can't go wrong with the Sireneuse under any circumstance and get in the Italian mode- it's molto bene.
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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I love Capri, Amnalfi, and further south to Sicily every bit as much as I love SBH.....I would go in a heartbeat......I used to go every other year until this whole 9/11 thing happened.....I want to go back soon though....
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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thanks andy, miker. Having just discovered SBH, I really like going there. Even so, a trip across the pond may not be a bad idea.
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andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12131
Loc: Philadelphia
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The last time we went to Italy was on Sep 14, 2001. We were the first plane out of Philly to Europe after 9/11. I could write a couple of books about that scene and the trip.
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Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Yikes andy. That had to be interesting to say the least. A couple of the hotels on Capri (such as Capri Palace) look as nice as Sireneuse. We are therefore thinking about splitting time between the two. The other option is just stay at Sireneuse, or a villa, and daytrip over to Capri. Any thoughts?
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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Andy....I initially had my wife on that Bos/LAX flight that went into the Trade Towers.....we were just moving out to Colorado and there was a car at my inlaws in California that she was going to get from them and drive to Colorado.....only because I'm such a cheap son of a gun and found a flight with a plane change in Chicago for a hundred bucks less....did I change the flight....
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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Lauren
Reged: 10/10/02
Posts: 1332
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Of course, you could fly to Paris for a stopover, then fly/drive, either stopping in Burgundy and/or Provence or just flying into Nice. Rent a vehicle and spend a bit of time in the hinterland visiting art museums near Grasse and Vence, shop Monaco... then drive east across the Italian frontier... along the Ligurian Coast, then swing north past Milan to Lombardy and the lake region (Como in Italy and Lugano in la Suisse)....
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Shhhh, Lauren. My friend might hear you. He once took his wife, three kids, mother, sister, brother in law, niece and nephews to northern europe and Scandanavia for three months. He had the thing so planned out that he had FERRY RESERVATIONS to cross a fjord about midway through the trip arranged almost a year ahead of time. If my friend reads your post, we may have The Clark Griswold Amalfi Vacation Video, 43 Sites Visited In Six Days.
I am not NEARLY that active on vacation. Deposit me on the beach or by the pool and bring me drinks until I get hungry or fall out. Then point me either toward the restaurant or bed, whichever is most appropriate.
About midweek, I could consent to popping over to Capri, but that is it.
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Maureenm
Reged: 03/19/03
Posts: 185
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In my opinion, one should never pass up the chance to go to Italy. We do St. Bart's once a year and love it but going to both St. Bart's and Italy in one year is truly wonderful. The food, the color, the people, the culture -- you can never get enough. I've stayed in both Positano and Amalfi (in the San Pietro in Positano and I forget the little place we stayed in in Amalfi . The coastline is beautiful . For Capri, we stayed at the Scalinatella. I liked staying there as opposed to daytripping. It's wonderful when the crowds go back to the mainland and you can really investigate the island. I guess Italy and St. Bart's are my two favorites places so I would say IV go for it.
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Sandy
Reged: 09/11/03
Posts: 220
Loc: South Philadelphia
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Do it, IV, just do it! La Costiera Amalfitana is one of the world's most beautiful places, in my esteem (but then, of course, I haven't seen the entire world). Eat the gnocchi in Positano, scale the heights of Ravello, take the motoscafi across the Bay of Naples to Capri -- and then take the harrowing ride to Anacapri waaaaay up top. It's breathtaking. I have millions of photos, but I'd have to figure out how to download the negs. Of course I've not been to St. Barths yet, but from what I've read here about the roads and the culture, there's a definite parallel with Capri -- good eating, frighteningly narrow roads (like in most of Europe), surreal views everywhere. My family isn't far from Naples, so I've always day-tripped or stayed with friends, but I noticed WIMCO rents villas in Capri. Sounds like a dream ...
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South Philly vs. St. Barth -- Hmmm ...
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Lauren
Reged: 10/10/02
Posts: 1332
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Hey IV, I'm a talkin' bout a month or so for dees vacation......slow and easy, a few great restaurants, patisseries and chocolateries in Paris for six days...a short drive to Patriarche Fils cave in Beaune and a romantic resort just outside the town to chill for a few days... then an hour or so to a beautiful hilltop aerie in Les Bories, Provence...eventually the Hotel du Cap in Cap Ferrat....end there, a week in each place, or continue around the mediterranean to a wonderful waterfront hotel in the hills on the Italian coast, POSSIBLY going up to the lake region for two weeks to end it, flying back from the outskirts of Milan all the way home.....not on the beach all the time, admittedly, but you know you couldn't POSSIBLY last a month just laying on a magnificent beach and eating all the time, partying through the evening, with all those massages and exhausting trips to Saline and such........
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Oh, I see Lauren. Yes, such a schedule, paced out over a month or so, would do quite nicely. I was meant to lead a life of liesure and pleasure. I could see myself weeks on end eating and drinking my way around the beaches of the mediterranean, with the occasional massage to relieve the rigors of such an arduous journey.
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DAL
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Easton, Ct
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Hi IV - We must think alike!! Just got back from 2 weeks eating and drinking (pouring) thru St. Barths, and have had a trip planned for Rome, Capri & Amalfi this June for several months. I can hardly wait. Of course the diet starts now!! Plan to do 3 nights Rome, 5 nights Capri, 8 nights Positano (Le Sirenuse) and 1 night back in Rome on the return.
Quote:
I am not NEARLY that active on vacation. Deposit me on the beach or by the pool and bring me drinks until I get hungry or fall out. Then point me either toward the restaurant or bed, whichever is most appropriate.
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Diane
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Bob
Reged: 10/04/02
Posts: 370
Loc: Southeast Virginia
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IV - I had to smile over your posts. I remember your posted schedule for your first SBH visit...you have become quite the laid back guy! How about a villa for that Italian trip?
By the way, thanks for "introducing" me to California red zins. Very nice indeed.
Bob
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Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
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Thanks Bob. There is no question that villas offer MANY advantages on SBH and I am staying in one this june. We have checked out villas along the amalfi coast and there are many options (including through WIMCO). From what I can tell, hotels may actually make more sense in that environment. Certainly the places I am looking at are expensive, no doubt. But so are the villas in Italy.
In some ways, we are spoiled in SBH. Go out of season and you can rent a very nice villa in the 3 - 5K range in june. Given the familiarity we have with SBH, there is little risk of downward surprise. In Italy, June would be high season and that kind of money (3-5K) would not get us in something high end. On the other hand, the hotels there are WOW with a capital W O W. Add the convenience, and it is hard to pass up.
We may or may not pull it off. As a new convert to SBH, I am, frankly, loathe to go ANYWHERE that costs me an SBH trip. Even so, I imagine we will do it in the next couple or three years.
As to my activities and my SBH schedule, yes, much has changed since actually going there and seeing it myself. Perhaps nick the dog said it best way, way back when: You just have to go and see it for yourself.
Indeed. If you haven't seen it, you cant quite understand. If you have, explanations are not necessary.
I am cognizant that there have been MANY changes on SBH in the last dozen or so years - some good, some not. Even so, pray that the embargo on Cuba is lifted soon. Once that island is open to Americans, Niche Players like SBH will be below the radar of many again.
SBH will never be what it was. But what it is now is still pretty special. Hopefully it does not change TOO much.
As for the Cal Zins, another wine you MUST try is the Sangiovese, particularly from Italy. This is the grape that is found in "Chianti" - usually mixed with a little merlot. When done right, it can still be found for 9 - 15 bucks a bottle and is THE BEST wine for acidic (tomato-type) foods such as pastas, spaghettis and the like. Also, holds its own with mediterranean dishes, spiced or peppered dishes.
A few americans, particularly californians, are doing this grape now and actually doing a credible job of it.
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Bob
Reged: 10/04/02
Posts: 370
Loc: Southeast Virginia
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Thanks again, IV. Well said.
Bob
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Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15729
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
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IV..try Santa Cristina...a very nice sangiovese at a avery nice price.....
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karma is a beautiful thing at times
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LindaP
Reged: 03/15/03
Posts: 209
Loc: Albany, NY
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My husband and I have also forgone our trip to SBs next year, we decided to celebrate my 50th in Italy. I've been once, and he's never been(the Italian one). We are planning on going to Capri, Florence and Rome. I have gotten excellent help and advice from the Italy board, especially from a woman who's husband is from Capri. She said that the hotel Luna is very nice and excellent location. Most of the hotels are closed now, but you can still e-mail them. On her reference, we hired a driver to drive us from the Rome airport, to Naples to the port so we can catch the ferry to Capri.....we just spoke with the driver yesterday, and he was great! So, have a great time, ciao! Linda
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