We were attracted by the golden glow of the cliff face and walked further down the main street than we had ventured previously for a closer look.
But the inexpensive souvenirs caught my eye and I lingered a little longer than usual, trying to make up my mind about some ceramic scenes of Sorrento, Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
I asked hubbie for his opinion. Then ignored it and walked inside the last shop on the street to see what else was in store.
After much pondering, we decided on two pieces. The old shopkeeper began wrapping the goods.
Then hubbie added an Italian boot-shaped limoncello jar. Then I found an inlaid wood jewellery case.
All along, the kindly gentleman talked to us in good English ("Lots of practice in the shop," he tells us) about football and Sorrento as he continued to wrap.
Then when we went to pay, he had no credit card or eftpos machine. Oh, no.
We asked where the nearest ATM machine was.
"It will be too hard to explain," he said.
"I will show you."
So before we knew it, he had left his wife (whom we didn't even realise was sitting near him in the corner until now) in charge of the shop and he was bundling us into his car across the road in a side street - all along apologising for having the use "the dog car" he transports his pet around in.
For the next 10 minutes, he played taxi driver, tour guide and surrogate uncle to us as he drove us to the bank.
On our return, we wanted to tip him for the petrol money - a modest 5 euro extra.
But he refused to take it without giving us another souvenir in return.
His name was Francesco, like the pope and the saint whose tomb we had just visited in Assisi.
And to us, he was just as holy, just as wonderful, kind and generous a human being.
It was a chance meeting, but it seemed to sum up the type of people we have met as a whole in Italy.
Certainly, this was the first time I had left a stranger's shop after hugging and kissing him on both cheeks.
Earlier in the night, we had chanced upon a trio of Aussies at the trattoria we stumbled upon in a side street off Sorrento's main square.
Over separate dinners and drinks (but so close we may as well have been sitting at the same table), we shared travel experiences, pitfalls and pleasant surprises.
Both our extended holidays in Europe are drawing to a close. While we will be happy to see familiar faces and loved ones, we cannot believe the wealth of wonderful experiences and newfound friends our travels abroad have delivered.
The world truly is a beautiful thing.
Lesson of the day: Forget the stereotypes of nationalities and embrace the good in each individual.
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