Here’s what you do in paradise.
You wake up each morning to the warm music of a Mediterranean coastal village – the distant sing-song voices of children from the beach below, the quiet droning of motor boats and then the quaint clap of bells from a nearby chapel. You open the doors to your terrace and the sky and the sea are all around. The sea is blue. So, so blue. The sea here in paradise is the deepest and truest blue I have ever seen in nature.
In the mornings, Denis works on his computer for awhile. I gorge myself on fresh fruit. I bathe in a tub that seems to float above the sea. I slather self-tanner on my skin and then flit around the room naked, for fear of staining the white upholstery in this delicious blue and white room. I fret about the children and worry that my life is too blessed, that tragedy will soon follow. Then I put on a robe, walk out onto the terrace, drink it all in and delude myself that I’m worthy. That’s how we begin each day, here in paradise.
Here’s more stuff you do in paradise: You are ferried about in a Riva Aquarama called the Five and Fifty – a wooden speedboat that is so retro and sleek and chic that you cannot help but feel like you’re a 60s Bond girl when you leap aboard (aided by the strong hands of handsome dock hands). You loll about in the sun, on the cushioned stern of this, the sexiest of all boats, then weigh anchor and dive into the deep blue and gasp at the coolness of the sea and at the suddenly ominous walls of ancient volcanoes that rise up above and all around. You spend the entire day at sea, probing grottos, arriving at ports, leaping from boat to dock, and scampering up ramps into restaurants where you suck prawns barefoot and tell your new friends your innermost secrets. Then back aboard the boat to speed off to Capri; to open-air taxis, winding, shaded sidewalks, dizzying sun and then, shade and a cool breeze and a drink. Back aboard the Five and Fifty to Positano. That’s what you do in paradise.
And now I must reveal the name of the hotel where we’re staying, as we are only here another day and I can’t keep it a secret for another minute. It’s Le Sirenuse, this perfect place, owned by Carla, Antonio and Franco Sersale. Here they are in a photo I lifted from a travel magazine. Carla and Antonio have been our Positano hosts and they are just as fun and glamorous in person as they look.
I don’t know that we’ve ever felt such an instant rapport with another couple, but Carla and Antonio have this incredible energy that’s seriously contagious. They’ve lived all over the world and are just fascinating creatures. They met when they were twelve! Here on the beach in Positano! They’ve traveled and lived on many continents, and share a most admirable love of literature and art and their beautiful home of Positano.
Starfish
by Eleanor Lerman
This is what life does. It lets you walk up to
the store to buy breakfast and the paper, on a
stiff knee. It lets you choose the way you have
your eggs, your coffee. Then it sits a fisherman
down beside you at the counter who says, Last night,
the channel was full of starfish. And you wonder,
is this a message, finally, or just another day?
As Liz Lemon would say, ‘I want to go to there.’ The water knocks me out. Can you snorkel, do you see fish? This place would bring up some serious change of lifestyle issues.
I think all I can say is WOW! I recorded the name of the hotel so that when I win the lottery I can stay there too. Are you jet setters on your way home next or off to a new magical place? Honestly, so glad you took the time to share these breath taking photos, it is cold and rainy here and I sucked in the pics as if I was with you. xoxox, be safe.
You sound like Nickelback “Somethings gotta wrong ’cause I’m feeling way too damn good”
The blessing is you appreciate and value it. My man and I have been together since I was 18, and I agree with others, a sense of humor is key. We vacationed for 3 weeks in April and laughed a lot. One day he asked me ‘what day is it?’ I said ‘I don’t know’, so he said ‘well what’s the date?’ I said I don’t know. We both stared laughing and giggling ’til my eyes watered. I’ve really enjoyed the stories of long lasting relationships too, I’ve heard of 2 marriages breaking up this week, one after 31 years.
WOW! What a gorgeous place! It is lovely being in paradise, isn’t it? I think that is what’s so delicious about being on vacation – it can be like being in paradise, especially in such a stunning place. The pictures are great! Enjoy the rest of your time in paradise and have a safe trip home!
Would you have ever imagined 20 years ago you would be writing your own blog to 1000′s of people all over the world from Paradise, and two healthy great kids. Plus, you look exactly the same. We have all been so blessed, you do start to become paranoid. Alot certainly has happened since the first time Denis brought you home.I can’t remember if it was Mom or Dad that said, “I love her….Oh she’ll never last”. We’re all glad you stuck with the Leary’s, and we are blessed to have you in our lives. Get home safe xoxoxo
Okay, so we all love that you’re so down to earth, in spite of being an accomplished author, famous wife, owning a beautiful home, wonderful family, great pets, blah, blah, blah…. but SERIOUSLY – you can successfully apply self tanner?????????? I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy……
Pix and post were beautiful!!
Wow — it sounds absolutely lovely!!
Thanks for letting us live vicariously through your trip …looks amazing and so beatiful.
Ann you torturous little minx. TORTURE I tell you!!!!! Happy Happy Anniversary!!!! These photos are just incredible!!!!!!!!! Do you think you will ever come back?
Ann – don’t come home!!!! The weather has been rainy and miserable here in the east. It is a disgusting vortex!!!!! ENJOY!!!!
Nice. Very nice. It sounds like heaven.
Anniversario felice!
Sandy; your cracking me up. That SO sounds like me and mine!!!!! Like, what the hey?
It does sound wonderful. But I believe that, despite the beautiful setting (and it IS beautiful), what makes it paradise is sharing it with the one you love. And that’s what you are doing.
Sandy–don’t lose the faith..despite how it sometimes seems, not everyone is breaking up. My husband and I have been married those same 31 years and we are still happy and enjoying each other. When we were being interviewed by a social worker as part of the adoption process, she asked me about my husband’s qualities. I was so nervous, all I could blather about was his sense of humor and how he made me laugh. My huisband told me I was beginning to make it sound as though I had married Jerry Lewis !! Fortunately, we got the baby anyway, and he still makes me laugh.
Humor and fun are wonderful ingredients to life; soundds like you hhavve lots of both of them… enjoy your trip.
Nope, I do not have the Schweinegrippe. I got me some allergies instead. Even the doctor was happy (saw it in his eyes).
And dear Ann, what you write about and how you write about it is pretty darn wonderful. I am happy for you two. An yes, the colors!!, the light is different, isn’t it?. The Mediterranean (overall) although there are different names for the different areas. The seas…and just lovely.
I love the History of that part of the world. One of the people in charge of admitting you or NOT into their History Minor… commented that I was too biased about Europe and should I want to graduate, that I needed to study other areas too.. I am not sure what I answered, if anything.
So. Happy times in California without the cloud of a potential contagious disease looming over me head…and paying attention because it is out there, somehow, now a global pandemic.
Enjoy.
I practically had to catch my breath after reading this post and gazing at Ann’s photographs.
If you haven’t already done so, be sure to click the link to the hotel’s website that Ann provided. The history of the hotel (click on “The Hotel” and then “History”) is really interesting, and the photographs of the various family members exude such warmth and hospitality!
Paradise indeed! Absolutely stunning. I can’t imagine that you want to leave – I hope you’re going somewhere just as wonderful next.
I bookmarked the hotel, as I put it out to the Universe that I want a free trip there.
I love their web site. The way they do the slides for the history, the rooms, etc, wonderfully done. I can see what you mean about the bathtub! Oh, I don’t think I would want to get out!
I keep forgetting to ask, are these pics with your new pocket camera, or did you get your broken one fixed? They’re beautiful.
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
No worries, just enjoy! This is what life is about! You are blessed and your goodness is rewarded.
The Sirenuse is divine and you couldn’t have picked a better place. Thanks so much for sharing and bringing back so many wonderful memories.
And darling, you are! a Bond girl, you just haven’t noticed!
To all, Betsy is my sister-in-law. I have the world’s best in-laws.
This is where I struggle to comment, because my vocabulary just doesn’t support the right words to describe your photos and writing!! Thank you for helping me escape this “disgusting vortex” (well put, Kim!!) to join you in paradise for a few moments this week. Enjoy every minute!!
Happy Happy Anniversary! Congratulations on finding the perfect way to celebrate. So hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the lovely wedding in Marblehead. Thanks for all the coolness points I’ve gained over the years when I just let it slip that we were at your wedding.
Ann,
I have put the hotel in my “travel” file, I will be in that bathtub one day!!! GORGEOUS!!! Positano looks incredible, the hotel looks incredible, the sky and sea melding into one in your photo looks inviting, everything about your photos that you’ve shared are appreciated.
You SO DESERVE all you have in your life! Not knowing you personally, just through your blog and emails, you exude warmth, compassion, love, humor, and on and on…:) I am a HUGE believer in you get back what you put out there, so ENJOY! The rug won’t be pulled out from under you.
I figured Betsy was an in-law, such a nice thing to say.
Now, I have to ask, (for research;) Which self tanner do you love?
Safe trip home! Enjoy!
Exactly what I was thinking Courtney, you know we believe the same thing. Ann, all the positivity, love, & warmth you put out there comes back to you tenfold. So don’t think that disaster lurks. If you THINK that, then it will happen. You deserve all the wonderful things you have because of all the good you put out to the Universe. Enjoy them, & keep putting out love and joy! It’s a wonderful thing.
The photos are so beautiful–almost surreal. I am not a traveler but must admit jealousy and feeling stupid over the fact that I am not a traveler and obviously missing so much. Some friends are in Greece right now and I feel the same about their trip.
Take more fabulous photos before you leave. Travel safe!
Ann, I must say I am living vicariously through your blog and photos. I should be doing my own things in paradise today, too. BUT while you were floating around the in bluer than blue seas, my day was spent in the airport trying to get out of town.
We arose at 5am for the airport, checked our baggage in long international lines, got to the gate and told we would board in approximately 15 minutes. Upon returning from the bathroom all chaos had unleashed… our flight (along with many others) was cancelled due to the inclement weather we were having. Thus began a day of waiting in lines, holding on the phone, rebooking flights which were also later cancelled, racing to the next terminal to start the process over again. After three cancelled flights (we would not make our Miami connection to paradise) we swallowed the hard reality of spending our first vacation night IN OUR OWN HOME. There’s no place like home, but come on! After 15 years of marriage we certainly knew how to make the best of it, stay positive and help each other get through it. We will now leave Sunday as all flights are booked solid with people in the same predicaments, so I shall have to wait for my “to-do in paradise.” sigh.
Then I read your blog… talk about salt to the wound! (just kidding). Your trip seems amazing. I have put your trip on my places to go list.
Here’s the bright side: my luggage is arriving in paradise today and will enjoy 2 extra days of vacation! We were able to extend our trip to make up the time lost. I cannot wait to be re-united with my running shoes and swim suits!
Thank you for taking me away from my boring desk for a trip with you. The photography is amazing, each one postcard perfect. You make us feel as if we were really there.
Happy Anniversary!!
Thank you for sharing all your wonderful photos! How very lucky you are, of course you deserve it. I love the tanning lotion story, I ruined a perfectly wonderful set of sheets by going to bed with self tanner! have a safe trip home!
Dear Ann, I read your posts and the comments attached and was moved. I am in London – sunny, to be honest, for once – and miss you and Denis terribly. We did have such a great time together. Truly! Antonio and I loved sharing our private Paradise with you guys. Please come back sometimes! Lots of love and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the good things you said about Posi, our hotel and us! I’ll blog again… Carla