The compact center of Naples is filled with palaces, churches, convents and monasteries and it all revolves around just a few streets. Those streets today were jammed up pretty tight with protesting trash remover workers who were on strike. This happens pretty regularly in Italy, how fun.
It was also raining for most of the day and at times very heavy. I can’t complain because we’ve had good weather for most of this journey.
Typical Architecture of Naples
Typical Street Scene
The Police
More Marble Sculpture
Naples Mall
For the most part the shopping in Naples was very high end. I didn’t buy anything but enjoyed browsing. Styles are very sophisticated and sexy. Ladies shoes are pointed and very high heeled, nice to look at but they must be very uncomfortable. Image is everything. The podiatrist here are certainly not lacking for patients
I couldn’t resist taking this picture. This sweet Bulldog was inside a high end store and leashed to that pole. Bulldogs were my Dad’s favorite dog but we never had one. Guess Mom objected.
A Timberland Store. I was surprised to see this NH based store here at the Mall. Must be some Outdoorsy Italians around.
Il Pomooorino where I had Pizza Marguerite which was invented here in Naples and named for the current Queen. It was good but I certainly couldn’t eat the entire Pizza by myself. For the first time on this trip I have been wishing that I spoke the language, it is just so beautiful. I enjoyed my meal but the hostess who greeted me at the door was a little off-putting. She told me in a rude and snotty way, that the restaurant was closed. It was noon and I saw a man eating in the back room. It was pouring down raining outside and I just needed a quick lunch before I caught my next “Hop on, Hop off” bus. In a guidebook that I was reading this evening they called this Neapolitan behavior a “certain kind of rude ebullience”. I was nicely saved by the maître de who said that he could get a table for one woman with one pizza.
View of the Tyrrhenian Sea from the high point of Naples.
Castel Nuovo
I met Todd and Cody here and we decided to go in. I found it huge and boring. So much for me and medieval castles.
Downtown Naples taken from the top of the castle.
Two sleepy dogs in front of the port terminal.
It’s very common to see dogs just roaming about and lying down wherever it pleases them. As you can see the sun began to come out just as I was getting ready to board the ship.
Fantastic view of Mt Vesuvius taken during our “sail away”.
Unemployment, poverty and crime are a constant problem in Naples and I remember it being the same when my sister Sheila and I were here over 40 years ago. I read tonight after my day in Naples that the Camorra is as deep-seated here as the Mafia is in Sicily. I didn’t see any of that but I don’t doubt it for a minute.
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