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     The grand city of Amalfi was our next stop and here we parked with thousands of other bikes along the beach just outside the main city gate. We walked through the city gates onto a picturesque street bordered by sidewalk cafes, art galleries, and gift shops. Our main interest was the striking Moorish Cathedral of Amalfi, currently being restored. It contains treasures and sacred relics, paintings and sculptures dating back to the twelfth century. After a cappuccino, serenaded by a cute little mutt who stared at us from between the rungs of a balcony, we bid arrivederci and hopped back on our preferred mode of transportation. We continued toward what would be our final destination, the exquisite town of Ravello.

     Ravello might be only five kilometers from Amalfi, but those kilometers are straight up! Never have we experienced such a switchback-filled road. How could anyone have lived here before motor vehicles were invented?

     Here I must pause as I savor the memories of this precious jewel of a place. Ravello was a walk through an Italian version of a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Ancient buildings, cobblestone streets, charming stone walls, yes these are everywhere in Italy, but even more beautifully packaged and adorned in Ravello. The main square overlooked the Mediterranean Sea, a backdrop to the lovely town. Indeed as we wandered through the gardens of Villa Rufolo, we noticed the construction of platform built to jut out over the ocean, several thousand feet below. One of the workers explained that every year in July, a Wagner Festival was held in these gardens and an orchestra full of musicians perched themselves on this specially constructed stage with the Mediterranean a dizzying drop below their feet. As a musician, this awed me. I sat there and just imagined it all taking place that very moment. I could indeed hear the Flight of the Valkyrie sweeping out over Ravello and beyond.

     Music is the heart and soul of Ravello. Chamber music concerts perform year round. Indeed that very day, one of the gardens was being set up as an informal theatre for a string quartet performance to take place that evening. We seriously contemplated staying overnight so we could enjoy the concert but decided to head back. It was starting to cloud over. We had to catch an early train to Florence. As we rode back down from the charming Ravello, I looked back. I would return.

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