The Bells That Mark Time in Minori, Italy
Blue as far as the eye can see, above and below, all other colors seem trivial. But as the hours and minutes tick by, marked every half hour by the dinging of the church bells not so far away, the blue gives way to pastel pinks and pale purples. I close my eyes and take in the smell of the salt as the breeze drifts by me. I can hear the waves crashing on the shore as if right in front of me, though in truth it is not so far off.
The scent of the ocean and the sound of waves have always calmed me. But more so at night when the beach is empty. I enjoy the solitude and the vast expanse of the water slowly becoming more difficult to see. There’s a simplicity to it that opens my mind to the possibilities that lie just beyond the horizon.
When I open my eyes, I can see the blue and orange umbrellas that dot the beach below have been closed up, their time to rest before tomorrow’s small group of beach goers arrive. A group of men, at least in their 70s, sets up their card game where the road meets the dock. Like clockwork they are there every night as the sun begins its slow descent. Ducks squawk their nightly routine, though I don’t know what they are fighting about.
I sip my cheap beer and watch as Andy sips his. Our conversations flow back and forth, and in between, moments of silence as we both let our surroundings take over.
I am content, relaxed, on this tiny terrace 87 steps above our hidden corner of the Amalfi Coast. If only we could stay in this moment, in this place, forever. But the bells in the distance chime again, reminding me that time does keep moving, and soon we must move on as well.
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August 5, 2013 @ 3:40 PM
What a gorgeous place!
August 5, 2013 @ 5:11 PM
It sure was!
August 5, 2013 @ 9:30 PM
I love all the photos I see of Italy, I really hope I get to visit soon!
August 6, 2013 @ 3:46 PM
Thanks Jennifer, I hope you do too! Italy is one of my favorite countries.
August 5, 2013 @ 11:53 PM
gorgeous!
August 6, 2013 @ 3:47 PM
Thanks!
August 6, 2013 @ 11:56 PM
Ok, I’m officially jealous…would love to be sitting on your terrace with a good book right about now
August 7, 2013 @ 1:38 PM
I wish I was back there right now!
August 7, 2013 @ 12:09 AM
I love finding those peaceful moments that you wish could last forever — but hey, I guess we do have to move on to the next great place with the potential to amaze and soothe us.
August 7, 2013 @ 1:40 PM
Exactly! It’s like collecting relaxing memories. Love it!
August 7, 2013 @ 4:54 AM
The image of the coast in the evening fog is perfection! Wherever life takes you from here, I hope that you keep writing! This is such a beautiful line, “the bells in the distance chime again, reminding me that time does keep moving, and soon we must move on as well.”
August 7, 2013 @ 1:41 PM
Mary, thank you so much for your kind words! This is probably the best comment I’ve ever gotten, and I really appreciate it! I’m glad you enjoyed this post so much.
August 7, 2013 @ 12:38 PM
I so want to move to the Amalfi coast. Those skylines are to die for. I just love the vibrant colors of the coastline and of the houses. So many stories they would tell of lives lived now and in the past and of so many dreams dreamed in the nights spent there. I would never tire of it.
August 7, 2013 @ 1:43 PM
I don’t think I’d ever tire of looking at this view either. Just find yourself a place that isn’t up 87 stairs! But the little apartments we passed on our way up those stairs must have had so many stories behind them, like you said. Tiny places fit into the nooks and crannies of the hillside.
August 8, 2013 @ 8:39 AM
Although there are some places in Australia with a jagged coastline, Tasmania is the main place that comes to mind, we don’t really have a place quite like Amalfi. And although we have many different sunsets and cloud formations that make up the Australian skyline, there is something very special about the sunsets of places like Amalfi and Santorini that you simply can’t get here. And on top of that they are very suitable for painting as well.
August 8, 2013 @ 3:29 PM
Australia is beautiful. I haven’t been to Tasmania yet, but that might have to be on my must-do list next time I make it over there. I think where Amalfi Coast, Santorini, and places like that have you beat is the history with all those old houses clinging to the cliffs.
August 8, 2013 @ 12:08 PM
Great photos! We stayed in Ravello when we visited the Amalfi Coast and had a view of Maiori from our hotel. Though we were unlucky and had an extremely rainy visit.
August 8, 2013 @ 3:35 PM
Thanks Jennifer! What a shame, this was probably our favorite part of the whole trip, just relaxing with that view for a week. We might try Maiori next time because as much as we liked Minori, it was just a bit too small.
August 8, 2013 @ 7:41 PM
Beautiful writing and imagery. The place you stayed at seems absolutely amazing. Hopefully we’ll hear more about it!
August 9, 2013 @ 2:30 PM
Thank you Lauren! I’ll write more about Minori and the Amalfi Coast soon! I usually post in chronological order, but it didn’t work out that way for this trip.
Minori : the most amazing sleepy resort town - Grounded Traveler
September 14, 2013 @ 8:54 AM
[…] out Ali’s wonderfully evocative post on Minori as […]
September 27, 2013 @ 7:26 AM
Can’t wait to visit Italy. This post has just made me a little more impatient!
September 27, 2013 @ 10:41 AM
Italy is one of my favorite countries, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, Dan!