Caro figli e amici,
Just couldn’t let our first day in Napoli go by without sharing it. All the stories we had been told had us anticipating Naples with some trepidation. After a quick trip from Rome on the Frecciarossa at 300 kmh, we arrived in the turmoil of Napoli Stazione Centrale, home of pickpockets and rip-off taxis. However, a quick call to our hotel had a cab there in three minutes and us to our hotel a comfortable €10 later.
The stories of piles of rubbish were a little exaggerated, the chaotic traffic not. Our hotel though in Piazza Bellini is in a fantastic location off a quieter piazza on the edge of the old city near the Museo Nationale. The first pic shows the hotel’s entrance, courtyard (and aperitivo drinking area).
To help get orientated, we had booked a half day walking tour. The 2.5 hrs we had booked turned into an enjoyable 4 hrs with our guide, Salvatore (who lectures in linguistics at the university in his spare time). He took us through 2,000 years of Neapolitan history, along with all the sites, churches, street food delicacies, San Carlos Teatro (the oldest, still operating opera house in the World), Napoli culture, dialects…and hand gestures. The pic shows the typical architecture with the vista’s through narrow streets. The last pic is with Salvatore sharing a campari.
I think Naples can be ugly and dangerous (pericoloso); but what we saw was interesting, welcoming, more laid back than Rome, passionate, loud and even beautiful in many places.
Tomorrow we explore more history at the Museo Nationale. Then Positano on Monday.
A presto, Colin and Sally
Colin & Sally's Travels 