The Intercultural Communication Course Blog
Authors:  Kelly Boyle (UMD), Debra Cespedes (UConn), Samantha Libecci (UMD), Abi Robinson (UConn)

This past weekend the four of us, Team Stranger Things, went on an unforgettable trip to the Amalfi Coast in Campania, a region in southern Italy. Our eight-hour bus ride to and from this area was totally worth the discomfort, as the rest of the weekend was full of activities that made our experience great.

The first full day was on Friday when we took a bus down to Positano and laid on the beautiful beach that is the muse of hundreds of pictures. This area has tons of shops and restaurants, varied in prices, selling Italian clothing and food, such as the local specialities: fresh flavorsome shellfish and huge juicy organic lemons.

On Saturday we took a ferry from Sorrento to the island of Capri and went on a guided boat tour to see the breathtaking sights around the island. We explored Capri and took a bus to the highest point on the island, Anacapri. While at the top, we visited the many famous shops, such as “Carlo’s”, a custom-made sandal atelier where many celebrities shop, including Taylor Swift and the Kardashian family! The rest of the day was occupied by more exploring; we took the cable railway up to incredible views and a boat ride back to Sorrento where we were staying.

Our last day was spent back on the bus to return to Florence, with a stop in Pompeii – the ancient Roman town near Naples which was buried under 20 ft. of volcanic ashes in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Everything has been so well-preserved for almost two thousand years: streets, houses, frescos, objects, human and animal bodies even… no wonder it attracts over 2 million visitors each year!

This weekend was incredible and will definitely be at the forefront of our memories when reflecting on our time abroad after we return home.