a planned early start stealthily subdued by needed sleep
seems a week of mid-night work shifts has caught us up
so at 9am we are in the c1 and heading for the autostrade
talk of a possible scenic route to naples is also scuppered
but what fun on the racetrack with 3 adjacent lanes of traffic
hard right - don't bother me - i'm in no mood or vehicle to race
middle lane - i'll do it by the book and stick to a constant speed
hard left - get out of my way - my vehicle is up for my aggression
jumping into hard left shortens the journey but raises the anxiety
a fast-passing couple of hours sees us move from rome to naples
our choice of accommodation is a southern coastal town of portici
we leave the car there and catch the suburban train back into naples
first impressions - well - we're commuting it on a neglected system
emerging at garibaldi central and much the same - it's a working city
hot too as we trudge past market stalls and hawkers as we orientate
we're spinning a bit so an iced coffee and map consultation is taken
our choice of stop is adjacent to centro antico - the historical centre
good-o - we have 4 places selected for a visit and all now walkable
though the ancient castle gates we pass and now the jaw is dropping
there's a perceptible change in our surroundings as we gape around
endless blocks of 6 story buildings separated by very narrow lanes
pedestrians, a few scooters and the odd very small car competing
and the shops - small, specific and plentiful - mostly food outlets
we sense that what we are amongst has changed little in centuries
naples is the home of pizza and we find a shop claiming invention
noted for a later possible visit then the first planned visit - under
we are lead down into some archaeological digs beneath the city
an ancient town from the centuries b c has been found and restored
fascinating really and a stark contrast to the busy city directly above
back there we then wander to our second target - sansevero chapel
totally nondescript on the street but it's small interior is bewildering
significantly the awe-inspiring prone marble statue of the veiled jesus
our audioguide providing an essential explanation of this stunning piece
it's not alone though with the chapel's other contents equally impressive
back outside and we find and enter into a number of maggiores in the area
all huge, unique and spell-binding examples of humanity at it's very best
we end our time in this unesco listed area with a meal at an outdoor cafe
then head off to the bustling street of via toledo - shops and pedestrians
it is buzzing this late saturday afternoon and so people-watching rules
we cross the large and central piazza del plebiscito and head to the water
it's all very relaxed on the boardwalk as we sit with cocktails in hand
gaze across at vesuvious and contemplate the fine day's adventuring
a taxi to rail central and a return journey home with 4 friendly locals
somehow we sparked some friendly debate on the location of n z
a tiring walk back to our digs for these 2 totally fulfilled beings...
