Leaving Positano was heartbreaking. ..my happy place. Gippy arranged for a taxi to Naples…the drive itself is a wonderment. Amalfi drive is nothing but corkscrews around cliffs, but arrived in Naples safe and sound.
My first impression was a mix of Shanghai, and the roughside of Atlanta. The taxi took me to the doors of my B&B….oh lord what have I gotten myself into? The area looked rough at first, and the building was slightly scary…I rang the bell per instructions, and the inn keeper electronically opened door…I walked into a inside/outside area and made my way up the stairs. .. (I already had my phone out looking up hotels.com)..Then I met inn keeper, Robby and walked into the flat….don’t ever judge a book by its cover. I soon found this to be true of the city Naples also.
The flat was adorable…my room was all done up in lilac…beautifil curtains, Kingsize bed and sweet decor. Robby laid out map and gave me all the directions I needed to get about town (yeah right)..
I put my stuff up and I headed out. As I stated at first Naples first hits you with a little scare, then I began to see what was under inside the cover… I wasn’t very far away before I began to feel its charm, or get lost….I believe I was 2 streets over nefore regretting by direction. I actually broke my own record by passing the same woman 5 times….she waved at me the last time….in Naples people are loud yet friendly, the driving is crazy and chaotic. To cross a street I just got with other people , halfway closed my eyes and went for it. I walked and walked…I got so wrapped up exploring the city, especially when I came across the castles, that I lost track of how far I came and of course I lost my way back…it was getting evening and I wanted get back to room…because the first thing I figured out, is the bus system seems much more complicated than the other cities. So I start doing my typical “where am I “questioning.. Problem is Napoli has much less tourism as the other cities, so finding people who speaks English was a little difficult. …now understand everyone was friendly and willing to help, I just couldn’t understand them…so I broke down and got a taxi…at first they(group of taxi drivers) looked at address and couldn’t figure it out…however one did and tried explaining to my taxi….hmmm not good sign.
After a while of driving I could see we were close…then he pulls up into a deadend alley and says “here “….It didnt look like my place…he overcharges me and I get out…I walked around and realized my road was no where to be seen, my gps was dying, and it was dark.
I walked into a market and asked owner, no English, he yelled (I think his sons) they both came and was looking at address, finally the younger one found it on his gps and walked me to my room about 2 blocks . I tried to pay him for his kindness but he refused….
Napoli (Naples) chaotic but interesting.
travelingwithkim 