//J.bex/

That song in my head from previous post

102 Days

102 days ago I set off on one of the best experiences of my life. Unsure of what to expect, the nerves, excitement, anticipation built up inside me. Within the last 102 days I have explored 6 countries and 16+ cities throughout Italy. These days have had lots of laughter, some anger, some sad and many happy moments. I can honestly say I am very thankful for having this opportunity and being able to share it with some Great Girls. I couldn’t have ask for better roommates. Making Life Long Friends. I’ve grown spiritually too. God has revealed and showed me things that aren’t always the best things in me but has taught me to grow and move forward in the way I need to. I’ve learned from mistakes but take joy in them.

With that, 7 days, 168 hours, 10,080 minutes, 604800 seconds remain of this adventure. It is so Bittersweet. I’m excited to see everyone at home and excited for what this summer and next year brings living with New roommates, new house, last year of school but I am still enjoying EVERYTHING about Italy and Europe. There is still so much to see and so much to do. I am going to have to come back some day.

amalfi coast

Part 2

After two exhausting days of constant walking/hiking and my body was numb and calves were in pain, it was time do something we all were talking about for awhile. RENT SCOOTERS! Now if some of you don’t know Italian drivers are insane. People constantly weave in and out of each other, the streets are narrow and there is no patience. That is the one thing I don’t like living here….trying to walk but Traffic is always in the way and they don’t care about pedestrians.  Us four girls who have never driven a scooter before…well I did 4 years ago around the block a few times on my uncles scooter decided that would be the best way to explore all the other coastal towns and would save us money on bus fairs since 1. They are never on time 2. you are driving on curvy tiny roads in a big bus and can’t enjoy the view as much 3. Money

We all arrive at the place and ask if there is anywhere we can practice and the lady was like nope only the city streets. I was like ok, a little nervous and not sure if I really wanted to do this. Two of us had to go to another place to pick up our scooter so Bre and I headed over to JOLLY (the scooter place) The guy there was very nice and very Italian. He was like be honest have you ever driven a scooter before and considering the circumstances we bother were like “Nope!” He was like ok I will teach it will take some time but I want you to be safe. So he taught me since I would be the first one driving since I kind of had some scooter experience, more than Bre. I practiced going about 5 feet and then backing up, getting a feel for it and then we was like ok you are ready go take a loop. I stare at him with bug eyes and was like on the street? He said yes but do not weave and stay on the right. I was so nervous. 1. There was a festival in Sorrento so the streets were crazy and 2. I hate Italian traffic. ANNNND before he He taught us he said leave Sorrento there is TOO much traffic here today since there is a festival. So he wheels the bike into the street and gets it ready on the side of the road and then goes back inside. I look back at Bre nervous. I start the scooter and there was so much traffic I hesitated to go but finally did and was wobbly and crashed into the side of the sidewalk and tipped the bike over. I’m holding up traffic, don’t know what to do and Bre is yelling BEKAH GET UP!!!! GET ON THE ROAD!!!! I’m getting honked at galore and Bre is yelling and laughing. Great….not how I wanted to begin. But I go on and took a look and it went so smooth once you get going! It’s going slow and stopping that is the hard part. So I made it around safely and ALIVE. So I pull back around to pick up Bre because I had to practice with her on it. We go around and a part of the loop is the main train station with so many people crossing the street. As we are approaching I just scream “NO CAN STOP-O!!!!” and I’m wobbling and unbalance and Bre is laughing and nervous and these two Italian men see us blonde americans struggling go into the middle of the crosswalk and part the pedestrians like the Red Sea so I could get through. Bre and I burst out laughing…know how ridiculous we probably look. I was very thankful for those two men.

We decide to see how Alise and Olga are doing. We pull up and they are fuming. They got put with a giant scooter that they couldn’t control and the lady was yelling at them because they weren’t driving or doing something possibly. They weren’t sure if they wanted to do it anymore, but had already signed the contract. Bre and I were like this was the best decision after. We didn’t want their moods to ruin ours so we left and filled up with gas and took a few more laps around town. Luckily Alise and Olga were able to get a scooter like ours after lots of hassle, arguing and anger. We were all finally off down the amalfi coast to Positano!

The best way to explain this is….You know those movies where 4 friends decide to rent scooters and go take a joy ride in the hot sun down the clear blue Mediterranean Sea Coast line of curvy roads with beautiful cliffs and coastal towns?….well that was us. I can’t explain the Beauty. I was in awe, and it made me appreciate God’s creation even more. He is SO GOOD! I was getting very comfortable with the scooter and just flying along the road while Bre is in the back taking pictures and enjoying the view.  Alise did well keeping up. Once in awhile Bre would be like slow down on the turns! and you could hear Buses honk because on the blind turns they don’t stop they just honk and go. SCARY! We reached Positano…my favorite! We parked the scooters, pretty sure illegally but I can’t read Italian especially road signs. After spending and hour or so in Positano we were off to Amalfi and Ravello. All we wanted to do was ride the scooters as much as possible. As we were heading up to Ravello, the roads got curvier and tighter but so much fun to drive on.  It felt good to be behind a wheel again.  When we go the top there was huge hill and I had to slow down so I became a little wobbly again and pushed the gas and totally ran into a wall…Bre jumped off that scooter so fast. Because the rule was if it looked like we were going to crash or go off the edge of the cliff BAIL we will pay for the scooter damages later. She Bailed. She was like I AM WALKING UP THIS HILL, I’m not getting back on that scooter with you. I’m yelling back I”M NOT LEAVING UNTIL YOU GET BACK ON! she got on…and we made it up the hill. No damage was left on the scooter…just in case you were wondering. Well since we were about 2 hours away from Sorrento and it was time to head back …. It was Bre’s turn to drive. And I had to teach her. That was the other thing, the guy from Jolly told me you can teach her later. Okay, seeing she has never driven a scooter before and my life is in her hands. But she practiced on a straight road in Ravello and it was either go big or go home. So I get on, said my prayers (BIG PRAYERS) and we were off. It is completely different riding than driving. I was scared and she understood now why I was so wobbly when I had to slow down…It’s hard! But she did really well and soon she became comfortable and decided to fly! We consistently had to stop and wait for Olga and Alise to catch up. Olga was a granny driver holding up traffic, even a guy on a mountain bike passed her! haha! But we had So much Fun! Bre was a crazy driver by the end, taking those turns so fast, but a BLAST! BEST IDEA EVER!!!

That night we all went out for nice dinner since we wanted to do that at least once this trip. I got ribs, first time in 4 months and they were delicious!

We we go back to the cabin that night I was getting ready to shower when all of a sudden I hear Alise say to Bre….”Bre, We have a lizard in our room” Sure enough in the corner of their ceiling is tiny lizard. He looked really cute but Alise took a photo with her zoom and he was NOT cute. He had spikes and bulging eyeballs. Alise was getting nervous, Bre wanted it out so I decided to help. I got a broom and dust pan can gave Alise a Pot. We looked ridiculous trying to get this lizard and Bre is laughing and taking photos. As we get close it scurries down the wall as we all jump and scream so loud and crawls underneath the wall probably back to outside. Gah! At least it was gone.

Our last day, we checked out and decided to lay out at the pool all day! RELAXATION! It was the best way to end the trip. Everyone got fried by the sun…me not so much (I used my sunscreen mom)

It was one of the best Trips! I want to go back.  Highly recommend southern Italy.