Space savers
June 5, 2009
A shrine to Snow White and her crew on Capri. By Mac McKerral
But adaptability and imagination abound for Caprisians when it comes to dealing with the limited space.
High on a terrace overlooking Anacapri, a man huffed and puffed his way around a running path created on the perimeter of his garden, maybe 50 yards around.
Along a footpath on the terrace, another patch of land no more than 20 yards long and 8 yards wide features two official-size soccer nets and a raised fence strung with netting to keep stray shots from the kids from going who knows where.
Some use the space more “capriciously.” One tiny back-yard pitch served as a shrine to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Religious Icons accompany almost every “casa,” always the Blessed Virgin as a theme.
Townspeople walk and ride an array of two- to four-wheeled vehicles — all miniature versions of American mades — on Capri’s “two-way” streets that in width measure less than one lane on an American road. Whatever Caprisians choose to drive, they drive fast along the twisting matrix of streets from the base of the island to the upper terraces and back down, always honking, never worrying and with few if any accidents.
Imagine a life-size game of “Chutes and Ladders” and think of any five-ticket ride at a fair or carnival. That’s the equivalent of a cab or bus ride on Capri.
Practically every piece of ground grows something — vegetables, flowers, bamboo, fruit trees and plants, and of course, grapes. Wine flows freely and since Caprisians make much of it at home, for them it comes freely, too.
The smell of compost wafts through the air, and each morning barking dogs, crowing roosters and a bleating donkey start the day for me long before the alarm goes off.
This place of unlimited beauty and serene island culture would take some getting used to for me.
But I’d take a shot at it — if I hit the Powerball lottery.
The cost of living comes at a premium as well.
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