Woke up to an insane amount of noisy people outside who decided it would be a great idea to have a market right below our window. We quickly packed up and left the hostel in search of another.
Finally getting used to crazy Italian traffic and crossings - it seems the correct procedure is to simply walk in front of a car to make it stop. More problems finding a place to stay tonight but eventually decided to take one that was available in Sorrento (about a 40 minute ferry ride away). Once we got that sorted we planned to see as much of Naples as possible before catching one of the last boats out to Sorrento. Our findings were far from impressive.
Naples is dirty.
As the day deteriorates, so do any pleasant thoughts I had on Naples. Flies, litter, petrol fumes, dangerous driving, strange and limbless people, unfriendly folk, stray dogs and pollution of every variety. I felt very insecure walking the streets. If I inhale one more toxic fume I think I might die. We couldn't have been happier when we were told that the clocks changed today. I would struggle to think of a better place to loose an hour of my time! I remember looking in awe at the airport buses that drove past knowing that they are taking people to a nicer place.
There I was, sitting on a bollard (because there are no public seating areas) amidst the fumes of polluted air that surround me, waiting for our 5:15 ferry to Sorrento where we hope is much more pleasant than here. I was amazed at the amount of scooters driven by pairs of kids racing around the city. One couple even mounted the curb in front of us and began to window shop whilst riding down the pavement.
Number of photos taken in Naples: 2 (to prove how filthy it was)
6:55pm - Sitting on the window ledge of our beautiful, clean, fresh dorm room situated among the lush hills of Sorrento. I have a huge smile on my face. Such a contrast to where we have just been. The second we stepped off the ferry my immediate thoughts were... I want to stay here for 2 weeks. It's beautiful!!! My not so Happy Easter is rapidly changing for the better. After a quick shower I think we're going to head out in search of a nice little bar with a view of the hills (and hopefully Mt. Vesuvious - the largest active volcano in continental Europe). Ali is the happiest I've seen her (and that's not to imply that she's been miserable, because she hasn't) and has been singing what sounds like every single song from West Side Story.
About Me
- Kris McKnight
- I am currently Managing & Creative Director of KMD, a London-based visual communication agency. This is my personal blog. I'd like to share with you some of the more interesting places I've been, things I've seen mixed with random thoughts and frivolous finds.