Hello from Napoli
February 6th 2008 20:56
The keyboard Iām currently using has keys shaped like diamonds (except for the ends, and Y, H and N, which are shaped like trapezoids). Itās really quite impressive. Iām in a hotel I didnāt catch the name of as the internet in our Best Western doesnāt work, and for some reason there arenāt many internet cafes in our area (the most seedy part of town, near the āStazione Centraleā).
We havenāt done anything in Napoli yet even though we got here at 12 oāclock yesterday... we went to the Archeological Museum but it was closed, and so was the Museum of cOntemporary Art and the Duomo, so apart from enjoying the facade of the latter we were frustrated, walking around in what can be a run-down and unpalatable town.
I must say that out of all the places I have been in Italy, Napoli is currently my least favourite... I knew it wouldnāt compare to the charm and elegance of Sorrento, but I was surprised at how polluted and seedy it was.
I wanted to say that you can tell youāre in Italia when the graffiti on the walls is an innocuous āti amo (I love you)ā.
We spent today in Capri, which was very pretty. I particularly enjoyed Anacapri, the second most populated part of the island, which is on higher ground and enjoys prettier piazzas, walkways and more diverse shopping than Capri Town. The light grey stone walkways were slightly rounded and raised in the middle, making up about a third of the road as it wounded here and there. The benches were made of large white ceramic tiles, painted with pictures of people or objects in yellow, blue and green. We came across a cute piazza right outside a church which had three such benches on each side, and couples sitting around and talking on almost all of them while children in coats chased each other around the square. I wondered about what kinds of lives those kids have had so far, and what kinds of things lie in store for them in the future...
We found a very scenic spot near Capri Town, where you could see the craggly facades of the almost white rocks plunge into the sea, and two little islands, which I learnt were featured prominently in representations of the island as seen on ceramic tiles, paintings and such. The water was Thaliand-blue, and you could see some rocks which could not quite pierce the surface submerged underneath the surface. Nearby were statues of āAfroditeā and, believe it or not, a representation of Lenin! Apparently Capri had been frequented by Russian revolutionaries...
Apart from that, we walked to the Natural Arc, which is made of the same rock that the island is made up of, and met a couple from Bilbao, Spain, there.
We finally departed at 6:30pm, catching the last catamaran back to Napoli, which should yield some amazing fruit for us tomorrow in the form of the Archeological Museum and the MADRE Gallery... dad wants to see Herculaneum now, but we may not have time as there is much to do here.
Iām really happy that we got to see Capri as we were worried that the seas would be too choppy, or that there would be no return journeys in the latter part of the day and we would get stranded there. It turned out to be a mild and pleasant day, and the cleanliness and picturesqueness of the island made for a very memorable afternoon. I wasnāt expecting to like Capri as much as Positano, but itōs right up there with Sorrento for atmosphere and accessability from within.
I canāt wait to upload my photos...
We havenāt done anything in Napoli yet even though we got here at 12 oāclock yesterday... we went to the Archeological Museum but it was closed, and so was the Museum of cOntemporary Art and the Duomo, so apart from enjoying the facade of the latter we were frustrated, walking around in what can be a run-down and unpalatable town.
I wanted to say that you can tell youāre in Italia when the graffiti on the walls is an innocuous āti amo (I love you)ā.
We spent today in Capri, which was very pretty. I particularly enjoyed Anacapri, the second most populated part of the island, which is on higher ground and enjoys prettier piazzas, walkways and more diverse shopping than Capri Town. The light grey stone walkways were slightly rounded and raised in the middle, making up about a third of the road as it wounded here and there. The benches were made of large white ceramic tiles, painted with pictures of people or objects in yellow, blue and green. We came across a cute piazza right outside a church which had three such benches on each side, and couples sitting around and talking on almost all of them while children in coats chased each other around the square. I wondered about what kinds of lives those kids have had so far, and what kinds of things lie in store for them in the future...
Apart from that, we walked to the Natural Arc, which is made of the same rock that the island is made up of, and met a couple from Bilbao, Spain, there.
We finally departed at 6:30pm, catching the last catamaran back to Napoli, which should yield some amazing fruit for us tomorrow in the form of the Archeological Museum and the MADRE Gallery... dad wants to see Herculaneum now, but we may not have time as there is much to do here.
Iām really happy that we got to see Capri as we were worried that the seas would be too choppy, or that there would be no return journeys in the latter part of the day and we would get stranded there. It turned out to be a mild and pleasant day, and the cleanliness and picturesqueness of the island made for a very memorable afternoon. I wasnāt expecting to like Capri as much as Positano, but itōs right up there with Sorrento for atmosphere and accessability from within.
I canāt wait to upload my photos...
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Can't wait to see the pics.
Michaelie
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc