Part one of our Amalfi Coast adventure picks up right after the wedding festivities, when we hugged our friends goodbye and hit the road.

We rented a car and - wild to say this out loud - drove across the country to reach Ravello. (We had trained it from Rome to Bari for the wedding, so it felt exciting to see Italy from a completely different perspective on the way back.)

One thing we absolutely didn’t expect? The magic of an Italian gas station. I kid you not - the pizza was that good. Honestly, better than most restaurants back home. If you ever find yourself fueling up in Italy, don’t sleep on the gas station pizza.

Somewhere along the drive, curiosity pulled us up into a little hillside town called Montemiletto. Perched above the highway, it was tiny, quiet, and charming - the kind of place you stumble upon and instantly feel like you’ve discovered a secret.

By the time we reached Ravello after our half-day journey, we were met with our first real taste of Amalfi Coast reality: the stairs. And let me tell you, they are no joke. Pack good shoes and patience.

But every step was worth it the moment we arrived at our Airbnb and saw that view. Ravello really does greet you with a postcard scene.

As the sun dipped lower, our stomachs reminded us it was dinnertime. We wandered to the Piazza Centrale, the beating heart of Ravello, and down a small alley that led us to Trattoria Pizzeria Cumpa' Cosimo. This cozy spot was unforgettable - not just for the food, but for the warmth of the owner, whose photo hangs proudly on the wall. She personally brought dishes out to guests, making it feel more like family dinner than a restaurant meal.