The trip from Rome to Naples was 60 minutes at 300kph. The only thing going for it! Am at a Mercure hotel in an alley near the central station: first time ever with Mercure and inside it is quite fine. After unpacking I did a bit of exploring. Took the subway (noisiest I have ever come across) and funicular to Montesanto – the city’s high point. Great 360° views across the Bay of Naples towards the Isle of Capri and the Amalfi coast; inland to the mountains; and across the city and suburbs. The height is crowned by the ancient Castel S.Elmo which is a very spacious fortress that now houses a gallery of historical Neapolitan art.
Dinner tonight in a nearby trattoria recommended by the front desk. What a circus. Everyone shouting at everyone else. Patrons shouting at waiters, waiters back at customers, the madrona at the waiters and kitchen staff; you tell the waiter what you want and he tells you what you should want! For all that, cheap and the food was good. I just wish they would learn to take the heads off prawns over here.
I realised today that here and in Rome I missed seeing a lot. Have to walk head down everywhere because the footpath/roadways are so broken and unevenly paved I need to watch where I put my feet all the time. I have got into the old man’s habit of walking a few paces, then stopping to look around. Lots of mumbles as people dodge around me
Every high school student in Europe must be on tour here in Italy just now. An unending line of buses disgorges them chattering like monkeys at every tourist spot I have been to so far, where they quickly exasperate their teachers trying to keep some order amongst them. Here in Naples I find myself hanging on to my wallet and camera tightly every time anyone comes near me, suspecting them of being pickpockets. That’s a bit sad.
Early night tonight; plan to go exploring Pompeii tomorrow.
A few pics of the Castel here.
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