Day Nine: Posillipo

Naples is a hot hot hot city. The heat can really wear you out, sometimes it feels hard to get out of bed. It takes lots of motivation to venture out when you know you will be covered in sweat only 10 feet from the door.

Our friend John-Maria had suggested a beach up on the Posillipo, meaning "respite from worry". Being that we'd lost our suntan lotion in Capri, we went and bought some more, then hopped in a cab.

The beach was only a 5 minute cab ride (we should have walked) and is very clean considering that it's right off the shore of the city. If you're getting images of Coney Island water in your head, it's farrrrr from it.


Ton's of Vespas.


YSL Vespa.


















Kids diving off of the dock.

Day Eight: Museo di Capodimonte

After an exhausted Monday at Capri, we decided to take it easy on Tuesday and checkout the Museo di Capodimonte. The museum was at the top of Napoli, in the midst of a beautiful park. The collection was vast, even though most of the art had one common theme... Christianity.

After the museum we took an amusing cab ride (make sure to watch the video below to see what we mean). The Piazzo Bellini was filled with a bunch of restaurants, Greg was starving, but none of them were serving food at the moment. We hung around for a bit then walked home. We were still worn out from yesterday.



















































Press play (below) to watch the video of our cab driver to Piazzo Bellini

Day Seven: Capri

It seems like every adventure we go on gets better than the last. Today we woke up early (almost slept the day away) at 8:00am, and headed over to the Molo Beverello to catch the 9:10am ferry to Capri. We got there with time to spare, so we sat and had an espresso before boarding.

We arrived in the Marina Grande, the main port on the island. Haley had been to Capri before, so she led the way. We took the Funicular up to the village of Capri, a pish posh town filled with fancy designer boutiques. Undecided of where to head next, we asked for some guidance at the town tourist booth. She circled three places on the map, but couldn't recommend one above the next, as she said, "everything is amazing". So we went to Antico porto di Tragara, a spot that Haley had been to years prior.

There were two private beaches surrounding one "public beach," which had sharp cliffs and steep drops. It would have been easy to get into the water, but getting out would leave one's body mangled and shredded. After scoping out the free "public beach" for about an hour, we caved... we decided a safe trip in and out of the turquoise sea would be worth the 13 euros each. The water was spectacular!!!

We swam and tanned until three o'clock, then took the Funicular back down to the Marina Grande for a trip to the Grotta Azzurra (the blue grotta). When we arrived, the line was drastically shorter than it had been at 10 that morning. There was only 5 minutes before the next trip departed so we quickly boarded the small motorboat with only 7 passengers (this was very lucky). In about 15 minutes we had arrived at the scene of the grotta. Row boats, captained by middle aged Italian men filled the area. They would paddle up along side the motorboat and offer a ride into the grotta for "only" 9 euro. The other members of our group hopped onto row boats and left Haley and I. Another row boat quickly came along side and offered us a private ride... the captain of our motor boat said we were very lucky for such an intimate experience.

The entrance to the grotto was a small hole, no larger than 5 feet. The driver holds onto a pully chain as to not be driven off-course by the incoming waves. The grotto was pitch black. We ventured deeper into the darkness and began to see the diamond blue water caused by light refraction. All of the row boat drivers were singing opera, the sounds banged off the walls. Our driver then told us to get in. We stripped down to our bathing suits and did cannonballs into the glowing, electric blue water, the drivers still singing.

10 minutes of swimming flew by like nothing. We were told to get back on the boat. We thanked him as he took us back to the motor boat.

By now it was 4:45pm. The next ferry left at 5:10pm. We contimplated staying until the last ferry (7:10pm), but decided that the day couldn't get any better, and that we should probably head back.




Walking to the Antico porto di Tagara..


The view on our way down.


Lizzzzzzzzzard!!!!




The view from the Antico porto di Tragara.




Waaa waaa.


Greg really likes octopus.




Getting tan.




Heading back.








This one's for you, Tara.




Why choose just one?




Pirates of the Mediterranean.










Inside the grotto.


The photo doesn't do it justice.


Exiting the grotto.


Back on the ferry to Naples. We will be back Capri, don't you worry.

Day Five: A trip on the sailboat

Our day was a blast. Quite possibly our best yet. We woke up at 8:30am, got dressed, had a bowl of cereal and some coffee. A cab picked us up downstairs and drove us to the seaport. From there we took a ferry to a smaller island about an hour away. Pietro's sailboat was stationed there. Once we landed on the next island we took a cab to the dock and hopped on.

The weather couldn't have been better.

Haley and I tanned for some time (we both look like bronze gods), swam, ate lunch, swam some more, tanned some more, talked, and swam... all day long. This is the life.

After spending the day out on the boat, we sailed it back and docked it. Haley and I were a disappointed that the day was over and we'd have to take the ferry back to Naples. Then, out of the blue, Pietro's friend showed up and offered us a ride back in his motorboat.

We arrived in Naples as the sunset.


Getting on the ferry.


Checkout the grotto.


The lil' champion felt a lil' seasick.




I love these little cars with only three wheels.


At the dock we found Pietro's sailboat.


Pietro is a good captain.




Lunch: Tuna, tomatoes, apricots, and some weird pizza/sandwich thing that was filled with spaghetti.


You've got to click this photo to see it bigger!!! BEAUTIFUL!




Our new friend Francesco took a dive. He's 11.








Leaving the boat we had to walk this dangerous little plank.


Rather than take the ferry back to Naples, we rode on a motorboat. Haley took a nap.


























Once we'd parked the boat back in Naples we had to take a smaller boat to get to land. There was a restaurant right on the dock. We all ate gelato.




We ended up right at Castel dell'Ovo as the sun was setting.

Day Four: A lonnggggggggg walk

Ciao i miei amici e famiglia! I am so glad that Greg and I are able to share our travels with you. Our fourth day in Naples was yet another splendid adventure. We started our day at the Naples aquarium, which was one big room filled with fishies in formaldehyde and tanks filled with creatures I hope not to run into in the water (except for the maybe starfish ;) Honestly, I found it to be pretty sad, the tanks were so small, dirty, and over capacitated. In one case there was a giant sea turtle whose tank was placed directly across the room from a dead, stuffed giant turtle just like him (probably his brother), aw poor turty.

After our short visit at the aquarium we took a taxi to the Santa Chiara Church and Cloisters to seek out some serenity in this bustling city. The cloisters were beautiful and calming, with its series of white tiled columns, and the lemon trees and tomatoe plants that filled the garden, bellisimo.

I thought Michy and Chiara (the two Italian girls staying at my house) would find it hard to sleep on my loud Manhattan block; but to my surprise it is just as noisy, if not louder here in Naples than it is in the heart of the East Village. We walked back to the apartment down a long street called Spaccanapoli which divides Naples down the center. It is filled stores, cheap and expensive, and is comparable to NYC's dowtown Broadway. The traffic here, both pedestrian and motor vehicle, is madness and I am glad we have our NYC "street cred" to help us along the way.

On a final note for today, one of my favorite aspects of Naples so far is how un-American it is, NOT anti-American, just un-American. Other than Nike's (they are mad for AirMax) and Winnie the Pooh, there are few signs of American culture in this city; and why should there be? Hardly anyone speaks English, and Mcdonald's are few and far between. Still, when we hung out with some people our age the other night, they told us their dream is to go to America and they think Victoria's Secret is "fantistico!" But who can blame them, these days it seems like the U.S. is a giant Wholesale Liquidator's, to these Euro's and their Euros...

Anyways, fino a domani! (til tomorrow!) Enjoy the pics!


Octopus's.


There was a sign that said I was allowed to touch the starfish.




Eel!!!!


Lobsters.



After the aquarium we decided to checkout Santa Chiara. It's set in the historical centre of Naples, in the area of Piazza del Gesu’ and close to San Domenico Maggiore, the Complex is inside the Franciscan citadel and includes the Museum, the Archaelogical Area, the Majolica-tiled Cloister, and the collection of Nativity Scenes (also known as Christmas Cribs) from the 1700s.

We hopped in a cab and were on our way.






The exterior of Santa Chiara














A wall inside the church was filled with framed memorials. The person's name, age, etc., is written and placed next to a silver piece symbolizing their sick or failing body part. I had to sneek this picture, so I wasn't able to capture all of the memorials in the room, there must have been atleast 500+.








President Bush loves the Pope.




Inside a giant courtyard was an obstical course. This poor girl barely made it, knocking down pretty much everything.




Haley had something in her shoe.






Yum.








In Italy they have cellphones that let you watch TV on them.








Football anyone?




























Doesn't it look like gelato?

Day Three: The Bike Ride

At 10am we were driven back to the airport to get Haley's delayed baggage. Phew. Do you have any idea what she would have been like had it actually been lost???


The graffiti in Naples is awesome.


Greenhouse's.


Following the set of greenhouse's was a nice landfill.



When we got back to the apartment, Allini, the housekeeper, made us wonderful lunch. Neither Haley nor I know what it's called, but it was good. If we find out we'll make sure to fill you in. Then we did the official unpacking... take the shirt out of the bag, refold, place on shelf, repeat.

By noon we were on the bikes and cruising around town. We biked in the chaotic, vespa and car filled cobble-stone streets, past the castle we had seen yesterday, then made a full loop into the opposite direction. After we'd had enough of the biking madness, we decided to bike along the water. The view kept getting better and better. There were shops selling drinks, food, candy and ice cream along the way. Looking over the edge you see tan Italian men and women on the beach. Bello!








Galleria Umberto




PegLeg










Stray dogs.


Dog's napping in The Galleria Umberto.




More lounging on the water.




Staying hydrated.


The color purple.




Beachin'.


STUNADA!


Bella.




Peroni.
















I'm turning into an Italian.

Day One & Two: Airport and Mini Adventure

Buongiorno!!!

We decided to make a blog for our travels, this way we can easily share our endeavors with our family and friends. We are trying to take as many photos as we possibly can without seeming too "touristy". We hope you enjoy and come back, as we will be updating frequently.

Haley and I have ventured to Naples, Italy. We both took seperate airlines, and both experienced two hour delays before take off. After flying thru Rome and finallly arriving in Naples, Haley was hit with the fact that her bag had been delayed. Suprisingly she kept it pretty cool (I can only imagine how I would have been in her situation). But we made it, safe and sound in Naples, Italy.

Below are photos from day one of our trip. You can click any of the photos to view fullsize. Lastly, please feel free to comment by clicking the Comment button below each post, we would love to hear back from you.


Lots and lots of traffic leaving the airport.


Naw?




Vesuvius. We plan to hike up it one day.






What a charming young lady.






Lounging by the sea side.


Naked babies. What more can you ask for??!!


She's not upset. She's just tired.




Castel dell'Ovo




Boating.




Cat nap.


Capone. Zulu. Garbage.










There are tons of little bugs on the bottom of the palm fronds.


Down the block from where we stay.


Across the street.


The living room.


Aweeee. What a cutie!