C’era una Volta, Positano – Local atmosphere, stunning view & great food combo

We ate here the first night we arrived in Positano and what a perfect start! We decided on this place because of family recommendation, which ate here about 2 years ago, and we are glad we listened. It turned out to be so delicious that we came back again later in the week despite a lot of other delicious restaurants in town. We were welcomed by Frederico, the owner, who is quite a charmer (so typically Italian) and very hands-on. We were quite a big party of guests but they instantly arranged a long table for us out side. I think you can sit inside however we never saw the inside, since the weather was just so perfect. The restaurant is located quite “high” and therefore very early on entering the town on the main road which obviously gives the veranda such a stunning view over the valley of Positano and the majestic mountains overlooking the town. It is really a beautiful spot for a restaurant. The “lantern-like” streetlamps decorating the side of the veranda are also just a special touch. To be quite honest there is not really a lot of interior decorating in the restaurant, it is very basic, but it doesn’t bother you because of the stunning view (and Italy is known for its basicness after all).

Sorrento’s Restaurante La Lanterna – Italian atmosphere & food at its best!

View of the Restaurante La Lanterna

There are a lot of small quaint restaurants to pick from in Sorrento. It is hard deciding on only one since you would just love to probably visit all of them.

We were in Sorrento for the last night of our honeymoon in Italy and since we just adore Italy we really wanted to celebrate it with a typical Italian restaurant to say our goodbyes.

After wandering the streets and checking out all of them we decided that Restaurante La Lanterna, almost in the middle of the old town, definitely looked the most inviting and just plain romantic!

It is located in a small alley with tables and chairs with green overlays laid out right to the main walkway street, which makes it part of the overall buzz of the town passing by. You can obviously sit inside as well if you want to.

It seems like it is also a local spot since there were a couple of locals greeted by hand when they left.

Quick Directory for Big Wine Bottle Names

Whenever I walk into a restaurant and I see those wine bottles arranged from small to big I always wonder what exactly the names and sizes are. I basically know just enough to get myself into trouble.

Luckily I stumbled onto this handy piece on the Wine Lovers Page:

Big bottles: What are their names?

Wine may go back many millennia to Bronze Age times, but the wine bottle as we know it today is only about three centuries old. It was only the development of the cork-stoppered, cylindrical glass bottle – which could be stacked on its side, keeping the cork airtight and wet – that permitted the development of age worthy wines that improve with cellaring.

The “fifth” bottle, originally one-fifth of a gallon, now rounded off metrically to 750 ml., was said to be a suitable ration for one man with dinner, back in the days when men were men (and most wine was quite low in alcoholic strength). One theory holds that this size bottle was actually the largest that early glass-blowers could produce with one full breath.

But even in those early days, for very special occasions, wineries would put up their product in impressive, oversize bottles. For reasons lost to history, most of these bottles were given the names of Biblical figures like the evil king Nebuchadnezzar and the long-lived Methuselah.

Tips to Handle a Long Flight – Part 2

See Part 1

6. Keep it light

These days airlines will limit you with the amount of checked luggage you are allowed to take on a flight. This sometimes courses you to take a lot more carry-on luggage. This is not a good idea. Economy class is not nicknamed “cattle class” for nothing.  There is just not really enough space to make you close to comfortable. Therefore limit the amount of carry-on luggage, to ensure you have more legroom and less confined sitting space. Also to keep your most important documents and wallet with money preferably on you at all times, in the case of falling asleep. Just to make sure everything is secure.

7. Dress accordingly

I know everyone wants to look good when boarding as well as when they step of the plane. (especially women)However, you have to consider if skinny jeans and high-heeled boots are the best outfit you can choose for a long flight? It looks great but it might be a health risk when it starts cutting off blood flow to certain parts of your body. Ask Lady Gaga, whom had a big scare recently when dressing up to kill, in a very tight outfit,  for a long flight and almost got killed due to possible deep vein thrombosis. Luckily she realised something was wrong in time. Keep your outfits loose and comfortable as far as possible. Take comfortable shoes that can be easily taken off and put back on again since your feet might have swollen during the flight.

Tips to Handle a Long Flight – Part 1

No matter how much you like flying, having to kill more than 11 hours in a small combined space with strangers, can become quite a skill. Something not a lot of us have, if any.

Even if you are lucky enough to have a very compelling neighbour with the most interesting stories to tell, you most likely cannot make small, or even big talk, the whole flight through.

Then there is also your health to consider. Being stuck in an uncomfortable seat for so long (it can even be a lazy boy and it’s still going to become uncomfortable after three hours) can take its toll from your body as well.(causing among other things, deep vein thrombosis) Since you might be paying a lot to go on this vacation or wanting to have enough ‘oomph’ to party all night when you step of the plane, you want to do your at most best to stay in top tip shape.

My advice to you:

1. Know what you are getting yourself into