“If he hasn’t proposed to you in Capri, he’s not going to on this trip!” quipped my boyfriend’s dad, Vince. I smiled, knowing that Douglas was a private guy, not the type to propose on a family trip. But it made sense that Capri might be a place to do it. On this tiny island off the southwest coast of Italy, love floods your veins. The natural beauty, the warmth of its people, and mouthwatering Neapolitan cooking make Capri continually alluring.
I was traveling to Capri with my boyfriend Douglas and his family; it was our first stop on a seven-day trip in Italy. We flew nonstop on Eurofly airlines from New York’s JFK airport into Aeroporto Internazionale di Capodichino in Naples. We then took a long bumpy, stomach-turning taxi ride from the airport to the port of Naples, and hopped on a ferry to Capri. Once there, we rode the funicular up the hill to The Hotel Canasta, a beautiful boutique hotel overlooking the Bay of Naples.
It’s a short walk to the Piazzetta (main square) and nearby Via Camerelle, a street known for its high-end shops (Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton) as well as several jewelry stores and gelato stands that caught my eye. That first night we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Ristorante Buca di Bacco (Via Longano), where the gnocchi was to die for. As Doug and I strolled back to the hotel arm in arm under a moonlit sky and felt the Mediterranean breezes on our shoulders, I told him, “This cannot possibly be the same moon we see in New York!” He laughed.
The next day we had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and then strolled through the Gardens of Augustus. As my boyfriend’s mom Susan explained, you have to walk slower in Capri. A stroll is a “passeggiata!” she told me. I could get used to this! After taking in all the views, we stopped for a limoncello, a curious mix of lemon zest, alcohol, sugar, water, and herbs—an uber lemonade that packs a punch. It can be consumed alone or mixed with sparkling wine or vodka. There are limoncello distilleries throughout Capri and Sorrento. The exquisite little bottles make a great gift (Limoncello di Capri, 79 Via Roma (tel. 081-8375561). We also peeked inside the Carthusia-Profumi di Capri to indulge our senses in unique perfumes made from wild carnations, mimosa, iris, jasmine, and lily of the valley. I meant to return and buy a small bottle, but I forgot.
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