ohn,

I trust you are all well in Vermont. Sue and I are just back from a ten day break in Italy – five nights in Rome and five in Sorrento. While in Sorrento, we took a day trip to

Positano and the Amalfi coast.

In past centuries, when Italy was a collection of independent city-states and small republics, there were four maritime republics – Venice, Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi, of which I attach a photograph, taken from the sea. Even today, there is a boat race where a boat with a crew of 24 rowers represent each republic. In one of the little squares, there is one of the former Amalfi boats, on which I left a Sam Stone.

Hugh Varilly
Director, Varilly Associates Limited

Adjunct Teaching Fellow, School of Management, UCL
Phone: +44 7967 275955
email: Hugh_Varilly@live.co.uk