When Everything Was Golden

April 2025

Colors often carry emotions. For me, golden means joy, warmth, and that rare feeling when everything aligns so perfectly it almost glows. It’s not easy to feel golden - those moments in life where you stop and think, this is it, this is perfect. My Easter break trip to the Amalfi Coast with my dear friends Coni and Nicole was one of those moments.

I remember being ecstatic when I heard that Coni - my number one travel buddy - was planning an Amalfi tour during her Easter break. Having always heard about the breathtaking beauty of Amalfi, I knew I had to join. And because it was her, I just knew it would be a trip for the books.

Joining us was Nicole, one of Coni’s friends whom I’d never met - or at least I thought so. The moment we met and she hugged me, I knew this was someone I would instantly click with. The three of us formed what I can only call our golden trio.

The golden trio got to work right away. We had an ambitious itinerary: two days in Naples, one in Pompeii, and three in Sorrento - from where we’d explore Positano, Capri, and Amalfi. Everything came together like clockwork, as if the universe had decided to hand us this glowing week on a silver (or golden) platter.

Naples lived up to its title as Italy’s food capital - from the pizza to the seafood fries to the sfogliatella, every bite felt like a dream. I was in disbelief that I was eating pizza in the very city where pizza was born. It was one of those golden moments, and it was only the beginning.

Naples

When we made our way to Pompeii, my excitement was impossible to contain. The train was packed, but I couldn’t stop smiling as Mount Vesuvius came into view. Growing up, it was the volcano I heard about most often - my mom told me the story of Pompeii when I was ten. That morning, when I told her I was finally visiting, we both knew it meant something to that ten-year-old version of me.

Walking through Pompeii felt like stepping through time. The preservation of the ruins, the quiet stillness of ancient streets - it all felt sacred. Coni, Nicole, and I wandered in awe, sharing thoughts that drifted between history and gratitude.

Pompeii

Sorrento, our base for the next few days, had a golden energy that was impossible to resist. The cliffs, the houses, the cozy restaurants - everything seemed dipped in light. Our first adventure was Capri, a short ferry ride away. The weather didn’t cooperate - rain greeted us the moment we arrived - but even under gray skies, Capri shimmered. Its narrow lanes and layered landscapes gave it a charm that no amount of rain could wash away.

Sorrento

Capri

The next day was Positano, my personal favorite. Being there felt like stepping inside a postcard - every corner framed like a painting, every color saturated by sunlight. It was one of those rare moments when life felt completely golden. I remember standing there, speechless, overwhelmed by the kind of beauty that doesn’t just please the eye but settles into your memory forever.

Positano and this majestic, majestic view

Our final day brought us to Amalfi - a town that glowed with its own personality. Everything seemed to orbit around its majestic cathedral, the Duomo of St. Andrew the Apostle. We had what I would call the best lemon gelato of our lives, walked streets lined with lemon-themed souvenirs, and ended the day watching the ocean sparkle nearby. It was as if the whole town was painted in gold and citrus.

Amalfi

The end of the trip was bittersweet. I remember Coni saying at the beginning, “We’re going to miss this when it’s over.”And she was right. Even as we were living it, I already felt nostalgic for it - for the golden sunsets, the laughter, the glow of friendship that made everything feel brighter.

Now, when I dream of the Amalfi Coast, I don’t just see it - I feel it. It’s the color of sunlight on water, of laughter echoing through narrow streets. It’s golden - through and through.