What a trip!
I just returned home from the most magnificent vacation to Positano – a picturesque, cliffside village on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Fred, the other half of Two Average Gamers, married his lovely wife last Monday, April 15th.
The newlyweds rented out a 12-room historical villa, originally constructed in the 1700s. Each room connected to a terrace providing a panoramic view of the iconic coast.
This villa was fully staffed including an amazing chef who only knew how to produce pure deliciousness. I’m struggling to find the words to describe just how extraordinary this villa was, so just check out some of the photos.
The wedding ceremony and reception were just as beautiful as the venue and I am ecstatic for both of the new husband and wife.
During the stay, we partook in a few excursions. Each provided unique history, views, and at times, physical challenge. By the end of the trip I was experiencing a weird sense of Deja Vu despite this being the first time I left North America.
Side Note: Did you know that when flying from North America to Europe you don’t fly straight west to east over the Atlantic Ocean? Instead, you fly on a northern trajectory passing over Greenland. Eat your heart out, flat earthers.
All good things must come to an end
After landing back on U.S. soil I had to figure it out. A couple of Google searches later, I realized much of this vacation resembled Naughty Dog’s most recent title – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
More specifically, Chapter 6 and 7 drew many comparisons. These chapters are titled “Once a Thief” and “Lights Out”, respectively.
For the rest of this post I share some of the parallels and similarities between the game and my real life experience. Had I realized the connection before visiting I would have made more of an effort to really match scene to scene.
The Replica
Chapters 6 and 7 of A Thief’s End places Nathan Drake in southern Italy with his brother, Samuel. The duo must backdoor their way into a villa hosting a high-end auction.
They begin on the surrounding mountainside and traverse the terrain until they can sneak into the staff area. From there, disguised as waiters, they cut the power, steal the goods, and attempt to sneak and shoot their way out to safety.
If you have not played Uncharted 4, I urge you to treat yourself to a great single-player experience. Naughty Dog always delivers in this area and we are looking forward to it’s next blockbuster dropping later this year – The Last of Us 2.
The Source
This trip was my first time leaving my native continent. Still, I can’t imagine this planet providing much better views than Positano has offered.
From our villa to the town, beach, and cliff side, it felt as though we were in paradise. The villa wasn’t as large as the one in Uncharted. However, it would be difficult to deny the inspiration in architecture and art.
Bonus
Though not technically featured in the chapter, there is another gem located on the Amalfi Coast – Il Sentiero degli Dei. In English, “The Path of the Gods“.
This aptly-named hike is a scenic yet challenging 7 km (4.3 mi) journey along the mountainside. Starting in Nocelle and ending in Bomerano, the hike gave our group serious Uncharted vibes.
As you can tell from the pictures it felt like we were in our own adventure game. Upon completion, one of the members in the group hummed the Final Fantasy victory theme.
What about you?
Have you visited the Amalfi Coast? How about Italy in general? Ever visited any exotic places that have been featured in video games? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Meanwhile, Fred and his wife are still enjoying their vacation. Two Average Gamers should be fully functional next week!
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