What I must learn is that going out Thursday nights before having to get up at 8am the next morning is never a good idea. (But, let's be honest, it isn't going to stop me for doing it!) Friday morning I woke up literally 5 minutes before we were supposed to leave for Termini (the Italian Train Station). I didn't pack yet either. I threw some clothes in a backpack with my toiletries bag for traveling (I guess I'm smart enough to have that). We got to Termini just fine, a little late but we felt like we had enough time to buy or tickets to Naples, validate the ticket, and head to the train. But of course something goes wrong, there is a threat of strike (of course, it's Naples) and we get on a train that was delayed a half hour and is literally packed with people. We ended up having to stand by the doors for 2 hours because we didn't have seat reservations and there were too many people. It was stressful. But somehow we end up in Naples! Yay! We are here this is so amazing! Let's find the metro to get to the hostel! Oh wait...shit....it's roped off, either the people are striking or it isn't working. Either way we had to pay for a cab to take us to the hostel.
Our hostel was called 6 Small Rooms, and despite the name, the rooms were very nice. Once we got up to the 3rd floor. We had to climb up 90 stairs. After 3 hours of sleep, a 2 hour train ride where we had to stand, and a hot crazy taxi ride, the last thing I wanted was to climb stairs. It was a great place and after a quick rest we were off to walk around Naples.
Now Naples has a bad reputation, and it's probably earned for the most part. It's the city that everyone, especially Italians, loves to hate. It's dirty, there is graffiti everywhere and I would keep track of your purse or wallet. But there is something about the city that I can't quite explain...When looking at these fashionable Neapolitan women gracefully step over garbage, ignore the leering men, and look at tourist like they are insects- you realize that Naples could care less if you like the city or not. It is what it is- and it isn't going to change. (Or the mob won't let it change..either way). But despite the crime and dirt, it's a beautiful city. It accepts the fate it has been given, but still exudes grace. The Amalfi Coast is gorgeous. And the pizza is to DIE for, I'm serious, It's the best pizza I have ever had in my life.
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| Pizza Margherita |
Speaking of Pizza, Saturday morning we woke up early to head to L'Antica Pizzeria de Michele, you know that famous pizza place for Eat Pray Love, where you could wait for 2 hours for pizza that will change your life? You know of it? I sure hope you do. Well we got there at 9am prepped for battle which of course didn't happen because we got there so early. We had time to get a cappuccino and walk around before getting seated right away and ordered one of the 2 different kinds of pizza they serve- Pizza Margherita or Marinara. Those are you choices and don't you dare ask for anything else. They serve the best pizza in the world..this isn't Pizza Hut.
Oh and don't you worry, I ate the whole thing...of course I did. It's a sin against God not to!
Oh and I saw Julia Roberts there too ;)
Ok it's a picture, but she was there! And I met the guy on the far left- that counts for something!
After the best pizza of my life, we waddled...really, we waddled, to the Circumvesuviana, the train that took us to Sorrento. A beautiful place about an hour and a half from Naples. It was kind of touristy with all the shops, but when you walked up to the Sea, you forgot all about it. The water is so blue, you think you are looking at a painting.The town is picturesque, much less crazy than Naples, and cheaper than Capri. If I was heading to the Amalfi Coast again, I would stay there and head everywhere else for the day.
We didn't enjoy much of a nightlife while in Naples, it was a matter of safety and exhaustion. Our days were packed with places to go and by the time we got back to 6 Small Rooms the last thing we wanted to do was descend the 90 stairs and go out. Also, Sunday we had to get up at 5:45am to catch the ferry to Capri. And even after going to bed at midnight that was still rough.
Sunday was the day for Capri. We ended up getting lost heading to the port, it took an hour (instead of 10 minutes) to get there. But it didn't even matter, they were sold out and we were forced to take the more expensive and faster ferry to Capri. We ended up sleeping the whole hour there anyways though! But the extra 6 euro was worth it, because Capri is a beautiful island. I would say it's a close second to Santorini. But the town is kind of snotty, there are a lot of designer shops, and the villas show you how wealthy the people who live or own homes there are. The guy we met in Sorrento said they are all stuck up in Capri. And to a point they were right. It was expensive.
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| L to R Sarah, Chana, Mallory, Me, Sarah |
However, the best part of the day was walking around and ending up climbing up the mountainous part of Capri and getting to look of a cliff and see nothing but clear blue water. It was an amazing sight that I will always remember.
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| Mallory and I enjoying the view I also want you to know, that we hiked up this mountain in flip flops and Mallory was in Converse sneakers. We were so sweaty and gross afterwards but the view was worth it. As we stood there looking at the Sea we kept saying, How is this real life right now? How are we so lucky to spend the weekend in Capri and see all these amazing places. We are the luckiest girls in the world. |
We also said, that if it was our time in Chicago...we would be heading to the library. Gotta love J-Force! We got a good laugh out of that.
So yes, we probably spent more money than we planned on this weekend. We bought some souvenirs that were not necessary. But it was our first real weekend of travel. So we lived it up.
And we can't wait to travel again!
We ended up back at J-Force around11:30pm. We were exhausted after standing sitting by the door for another train ride. (We didn't have seat reservations this time, Trains in Europe are really nice, but that doesn't stop them from being a pain in the ass). I changed, got a chance to talk to my dad about our weekend, and skyped with one of my very best friends from home, Krista. She will be studying abroad in Paris, she leaves in 16 days. I can't wait to see her in Paris in October and hopefully in Rome before that! We keep joking that we are never going to leave and spend the rest of our lives in Europe. I don't know if that will really happen. But I wouldn't be upset if it did. Actually I would be really happy to live here, I love Roma.
So I'm beginning another weekend of classes, which means I might actually have to do homework and study. But still the homework load isn't bad. I got fingerprinted for the government today so they know who I am (it's a part of the visa process) A woman from the US Embassy came to talk to us saying that the US will not intervene on our behalf, so we better behave. So don't be the stupid kids that got drunk and peed on a cop car while they were standing 20 feet away. They were deported, they had to leave Italy in 72 hours and are not allowed to travel in the European Union for 5 years. I swear, sometimes people are dumb asses, pardon my language.
Well! On that happy note. I must get some reading done about a Sicilian Duchess who is mute and deaf, god I love my Italian American Women Writers Class.
Until next time,
Ciao Bella
I love you and your blog. Miss you more than words can say darling.
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