I stayed for a few nights in the town of Sorrento, which is south of the City of Naples and sitting on the Gulf of Naples. The thing that impressed me the most about Sorrento (and places in Europe in general) is how everything feels so walkable. It is obvious that there is more of an emphasis on pedestrians rather than vehicles. The closest cities I can compare to this where I stayed a few nights are Ottawa and Montreal, but even those cities are still too vehicle-centric compared to Europe. In evenings in Sorrento, the streets in the town center close, and so the pedestrians fill the streets walking around.
Looking out of my hotel window on the first evening, I could sense that the streets were going to come alive with bustling crowds and busy establishments. Italy felt like such a culture shock to me on that first evening and staying in the country felt like nothing I have ever experienced.
I did my trips during the day so I got to walk around Sorrento at night after dinner. I would walk to the town square and the whole place would light up. This was maybe on my first or second night in Europe but I have never seen a place like this in my life. I felt like I was in a completely different world, and this was when the culture shock hit for me. There is all this history surrounding me with these low-rise old-style buildings all bunched together. I would hear the yelling of Italian and touristy English all around me. There are these narrow streets in the town with shops and restaurants that are open late, and there were all these banners of SSC Napoli players celebrating their recent Scudetto. I knew I was completely out of place in Sorrento but I was also so curious with being somewhere I never thought I would be.
With being in Sorrento, I have had my share of pasta and pizza on the trip and it was all delicious. There were instances where the cooks would come out and cook our food right in front of us.
On a couple of visits, I went to a speakeasy hidden in a dark alley in Sorrento. The front was a normal restaurant, but there was an attendant in front that led me beyond a velvet rope and led me downstairs into the basement. I thought for sure the attendant was going to rob me, but to my surprise, there was a hidden bar in the basement. There were shelves full of all different brands of liquor, including a big shelf full of whiskey around the world. There had to have been at least a hundred different brands of liquor on these shelves, and it was the most impressive thing I have ever seen in a bar. The music the bar was playing were these 1920s-inspired tunes, giving the atmosphere of a prohibition-era hideaway.
I loved hanging out here and sampling some brands I have not had before. Sorrento is also known for their Limoncello liqueur and I have seen many Limoncello bottles on sale in the souvenir shops. I have tried some samples but I did not enjoy the taste. While at the bar, I was talking with patrons from America and Australia, as well as the bartender. When the bartender let me know that she made some homemade Limoncello, I had to get a shot for my own. I took the Limoncello shot, and it was extremely tasty and smooth.
My time in Sorrento had the side-quest of finding and drinking some authentic Sorrento-made Limoncello, and I am glad to report that this side-quest was successful. My entire time in Sorrento was amazing and I would love to come back here again.
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