Mike O.
Yelp
STOP. Go look at the photos of this place, then come back and read the review. :)
ZOMG. Yelp is in Italy. I have *SO* *SO* *SO* many reviews to write. If you have ever asked why my review scale is so tilted (lots of 2's, not so much on the 5's), it's because I've been to places like the Poseidon.
Take a moment. If you're browsing my profile, come in to this place's home page and LOOK at the pictures. They only *begin* to open the door to the glorious splendour and relaxing, romantic heaven that is Positano, one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
--top 5 list of honeymoon candidates.
have you seen *Enchanted April*? Do you remember the feeling of bliss which overcomes the characters? In a place such as Positano, even the most hardened, busy, workaholic will be transformed by the view, the quiet, the decor, the food, the service and town.
Sure, it's not the private italian villa you have to your own... and no, i won't be sharing those locations with you! I've seen what these reviews do to a place once exposed... you just can't get in! :) But Poseidon is sheer heaven, and presuming you're not going when I'm planning to go, there should be room for us all!
THE DRIVE FROM NAPLES
If you haven't hired your limousine (yes, in Italy that means an extended-axle mercedes with a bit more legroom in the back seat) to drive you down from Naples, you'll have to get a taxi. Be sure you do it from a taxi stand where there are lots of drivers to fight over you and negotiate a price. OK, if you're not up to it, it'll cost more, but it's fun to get all these drivers screaming at each other, arms waving. But, as in other countries, be sure you choose an *official* taxi. Learn the logo before you go.
If you can find a taxi that is small enough, you'll be treated to the roller-coaster ride of your life. Hang on tight. Italian taxi drivers will get you there, and fast!
Over the mountain and along the coast, winding down, down, down, you'll arrive Positano. There's a pic of the entryway to the hotel. [closing eyes] oh, what memories it conjures.
THE TILE
Take note of the beautiful Italian tile throughout the hotel. It's from a town up the Amalfi coast called Vietri. If you hire a car, it's a great day trip. If you know a guy, you can get a tour of one of the factories where they make the tile, and the ceramic bowls and plates which are so characteristic of this region. You will also learn to appreciate the details of the standard to recognize the cheap chinese knockoffs.
THE LOUNGE/BAR
Check out the pic. See the piano? ZOMG. It was but the first afternoon after my arrival and I realized I would need some piano scores to set this place alive with Chopin, Debussy and Brahms. Not having scores with me, I called back home and had them FAX me some of my library. The glow, the people, the view. I had to play.
THE BREAKFAST
You can always tell the new arrivals from America. On their first day, they gorge themselves on the breakfast and the staff comply with their every desire. On their 2nd or 3rd day they have let go of their insatiable lust for food and are transfigured by Positano. It's good too because...
THE FOOD
The water of Italy elevates her vegetables and produce to heights of flavor and purity you can't find anywhere else in the world.
A single tomato (tiny by american waxy, grown-for-yield, Monsanto-modified standard shit) BURSTS with flavor in your mouth. All I could think of when I took my first one was a Bubblelicious commercial.
Southern Italian is about the purity, clarity and simplicity of the ingredients.
Be sure to take at least one of your dinners on the veranda on the top level. It might have been one of the most romantic spots in the world. If you're lucky sound from the violin played in the lounge below will be on the gently blowing breeze.
THE BELL
As is the case in most of these spots, the roman catholic church still asserts herself prominently. Even if all of Positano doesn't make its way every Sunday, the church's bell rings to remind you that time does indeed pass in this glorious place.
THE PIZZA
You may have had the pizza of chris bianco. *This* part of Italy is where you'll find the style is from.
THE BEACH (THE SEAFOOD)
There is something quite satisfying about lunching steps from the beach, watching a fisherman pull up in his boat, carry a huge fish toward you, be greeted by the owner, and then pause while the owner comes over to you and your party to offer it to you. A little less than an hour later, you're enjoying some of the freshest seafood of your life.
THE WINE
No sulfites. That means you can keep drinking wine ALL DAY and just enjoy yourself. I think 12 bottles in one day was my personal best.