Eat, Pray, LOVE!

Since Venice, it has been a complete change of atmosphere. We had a great little 1 hour or so EasyJet flight from Venice to Napoli. We took a bus to the train station centrale. As crazy as it seems not knowing where you are going or where you are, the people here and around the stations are very helpful. Once we were at the train station, we really got an eye opener. Te parking lot the buses stopped at had an huge pile of garbage taking up the size of like 15-20 car stalls. Wow. I felt like I was in the middle of East Hastings street. It didn't get much better since we had to walk to our hotel through a piazza, also filled with trash. There are A LOT of African Americans here selling purses, watches, jewelry, shoes, you name it. As fast as you see them try and sell you something they can also pack up. Some weird call from friends down the street to sound the alarm of Polizia and they are packed up and out of there!

Anyways, we walked to our hotel from the bus stop at the train station and it took about 5 minutes. Once here, we saw that we were still in a sketchy part of town but it was still light out and we should still check it out. We set out looking for Da Michele pizzeria where Julia Roberts had her famous scene in the movie Eat, Pray, Love. We were very unsuccessful and ended up down some weird streets. After finding a main road we stuck to it and went to a nice restaurant on it for some fresh pizza and salad. They charge you a weird service fee at the restaurants here like 1-2€ per person just for sitting down and then also the cost of food, drinks, and service/gratuity. Anyway lunch was good and we continued our trek towards the main castle and the palace and ended walking back a long the main shopping street and back through some really crazy, sketchy streets. The sad thing is that ALL the streets are crazy and sketchy. I kept feeling like I had to look over my shoulder or some scooter was going to swipe my bag. So things I learned on this adventure:
- travel in numbers to feel safe and also cross the street when a local does
- no matter what, keep moving
- don't make eye contact
- the police are friendly and help out with directions

Okay and on to day two, today. We had a questionably nutritious (they eat a lot of white bread here) breakfast at the hotel and then decided taxis were our friend. We caught one to head to the hydrofoil station. It said 3.80€ when we got in, 6.80€ when we arrived but the taxi driver said "okay! 10€ please." and we didn't argue.

I got quite sick on the water taxi rides in Venice so we were skeptical of the hydrofoil ride but the sea was so calm and the travel time was half that of a ferry ride. We met some American friends in the hydrofoil - mostly because I commented on the Tampa Bay lightning shirt the guy was wearing. Turns out they are from Tampa bay and after a few chit chats on board i said, "well, hopefully see you in the finals!"

We took the hydrofoil to the amazing island of Capri. On route we got our first far away glimpse of Mt. Vesuvias and the Amalfi coast. Capri reminds me of what I picture Greece to be like. yes, VERY touristy and crowded, especially now at high times but outside of Capri town the tourists start to fade. Capri town itself is full of high end shopping and hotels so, we had our famous baked goods from the special bakery including the infamous canolles like on Cake Boss and then took a bus to the rival city of Anacapris. We had our first Napolian pasta meal and then moved on. We went back to Capri town for the best NOW known treat which was fresh gelato IN a brioche. yeah, it was like an nice cream hamburger. YUM!!

We took the hydrofoil back to Naples and walked back to the hotel, this time more confident of ourselves and our location. We went straight to Da Michele pizzerias after asking for directions. We saw the photos of Julia Roberts in there and it actually wasn't THAT busy!we ordered to pizzas to go and headed back to the hotel to enjoy the BEST pizza in Naples. It was so good we are going back again one more night to make sure we get it when it's RIGHT out of the oven. After that, we were pretty much wiped and ready for bed so while Dan packs it in early, I thought I would update the world on my first impressions on Naples! But now I am ready for some rest because a big day lies ahead tomorrow. We are taking on Herculaneum, the ancient city, and climbing to the top of Mt. Vesuvias! I cant't wait!