Ciao Amalfi Newsletter - October 2022

Meet my creative friends on the Amalfi Coast.

Oct 15, 2022

Autumn has arrived on the Amalfi Coast and we’ve had a mix of rainy days with the beautifully sunny yet thankfully much less humid October days I love. At our home here we’re slowly recovering from some very sad days in our little family. Autumn has always been a regenerative time for me and the change of seasons in the air seems to be helping a little bit each day.

“I will cut adrift—I will sit on pavements and drink coffee—I will dream; I will take my mind out of its iron cage and let it swim – this fine October.”
—Virginia Woolf

While I’ll be drinking tea not coffee, I am very much trying to enjoy the moments I can on these fine October days. Just today I cut adrift and took the ferry over to Positano for a much overdue catch up with my friend Nicki. You probably know her from her popular Positano Diaries videos on YouTube. If not, head over there to subscribe - you’ll love them. We spent the day chatting about life, books, and creativity – and it was much needed!

Nicki has been hard at work on several projects and one of them has just recently been released. Her new eBook The Positano Diaries: Recipes & Stories from the Amalfi Coast is now available! It’s beautifully done with her photos and recipes along with fun local stories. Click on the image below to find out more:

And speaking of Amalfi Coast inspiration, my friend Lucy Kiely has just released her new album Un’Estate Italiana. Lucy is an Australian jazz singer and songwriter who lives on the Amalfi Coast. I am endlessly amazed by Lucy’s beautiful talent and the music she creates inspired by our adopted home here on the Costiera Amalfitana. Check out my interview with Lucy below to find out more about her latest album and creative process.

I’m grateful for my creative friends—nearby on the Amalfi Coast and all over the world—who have kept me inspired and going this past month. Read on to find out more about Lucy!

MEET LUCY KIELY

In a landscape so beautiful it often seems straight out of a film, what’s missing is a soundtrack that captures the essence of the Amalfi Coast. That’s where the music of Lucy Kiely comes in. Lucy’s latest album Un’Estate Italiana has just been released and it captures the beauty and dreamy la dolce vita vibe of the Amalfi Coast. I recently sat down with Lucy to chat about music, creativity, and the powerful inspiration of place.

KEEP READING ...

AMALFI COAST TRAVEL NEWS

Did you catch this recent article about Positano on Vox? Besides the fact that the author had a horrendous tour guide (my husband is a tour guide here - and what she quotes her guide saying is absolutely reprehensible), she’s represented a very real problem, but with remarkably little depth. If you haven’t already read the article, it’s not terribly worth the read. If you have, I’m sure it sparked a lot of thoughts for you too.

Yes, Positano is busy. Yes, it’s also more expensive than the other towns on the Amalfi Coast. Does it have history? A LOT. Will you be alone when you admire those gorgeous summer views? Ummm … nope. Expecting that to be the experience is a good reminder of the importance of managing expectations while traveling.

Maybe it doesn’t go without saying that daily life on the Amalfi Coast isn’t quite like the over-saturated, over-edited photos you see on Instagram. Some days it is. Other days it rains. There are steps everywhere. Everyday things like taking your cat to the vet or going to the doctor or getting a package delivered can be a ginormous pain in the bahoochie. But you come on holiday to get away from everyday life, right? However, expecting the essential facts—likes all the steps or the popularity—to somehow disappear is just setting yourself up for disappointment.

But having just been there today, I can say that Positano was splendid. Yes, there were a lot of people still - remarkably more so than usual for mid October. Did it ruin my day with Nicki? No, not at all. It was about as far from “a terrible place to be” as I could possibly imagine.

I shared that article here because it reminded me about one of the most important elements of Ciao Amalfi for me. It’s always been about sharing what I love about life here along with thoughtful ways to slow down while traveling and really see this place and the people here who make it so special. So today I’ve shared about two of those people—expats like me—who truly love and are inspired by this place.

If you’ve read the article and have thoughts, I’d love to hear them!

ON MY BOOKSHELF

While in Positano, I had the chance to finally pick up a copy of One Italian Summer that Rebecca Serle was so very kind to leave for me when she was visiting earlier this summer. Her latest novel is set in Positano—a place Rebecca loves—and I can’t wait to dig in. Have you read it yet?

GET A COPY

(NOTE: Book links are affiliate links, which offer a small commission on purchases to help fund the free content on Ciao Amalfi.)

KEEP READING

Here are a few more good Amalfi Coast and Italy reads:

Rome-based writer Laura Itzkowitz and recently launched a new Substack called The New Roman Times that is already a great read.
Enjoy the flavors of the Amalfi Coast at home with the Pasta Grannies' spaghetti with lemon pesto recipe.
Love a good before & after remodeling story? Check out Italy Perfect’s Maestro apartment in Florence!

Thanks as always for reading! I know we all get too many emails these days, and it means a lot when you take time out of your busy days to join me here. If it’s easier, the Substack app is great and it’s now available for Android too. The app makes it easy to see all posts, comment, and connect with me online. Or you can also find Ciao Amalfi on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. If you’re not already subscribed, click the link below to get future updates. Grazie!

Ciao from Amalfi,

Laura