Napoli!

For my stay in Naples, I found a great hostel called "Hostel La Controra Flashpackers." What I liked about this hostel is the staff seems to have a sense of humor. Unclear about what the term "flashpackers" meant exactly, I looked the word up to find that flashpackers means "someone who backpacks with flash, or style." So basically, rather than simply finding the cheapest accomodation, flashpackers look for the cheapest accomodation with STYLE! Perfect, right?

Anyway, this hostel received a 93% satisfaction rating from travelers on HostelWorld.com. Reading the reviews from previous travelers always helps seal the deal for me. La Controra is a monastary that has been transformed into what it is today. There is a lounge bar within the hostel that is used for art exhibitions and events - pretty cool! The rooms have recently been renovated to include decorations of "art sculptures, floor tiles featuring sea shells, Neapolitan coffee pots, garlic and chilli peppers, "ex-voto" and red coral horns (ethnic Neapolitan esoterica and good luck charms!)." Sounds pretty interesting! Anyway, the hostel boasts prices for this "luxury hostel" as low as 13 euros for a 10 person mixed dorm. Sounds like fun!

Day One:

For my first day in Naples, I'm going to spend the day orienting myself in this busy, whirring, crazy city!! I'll grab a map from the front desk of my hostel, and head out to explore some of the important piazzas and free places to sight see.

An example of one place I'll stop is Piazza Dante, which I hear is a must-see in Naples. This piazza was named for poet Dante Aligehri and is marked by Romanesque architecture and Gothic flourishes. The area dates back to the 1500's, with its signature landmark being a 1872 statue of Dante standing in the midst of the square. After talking about Dante and his work in class, this should be pretty cool to see!

For other historic sites to see today, I will make a point to see Il Duomo as well. Within it stands Christianity's first basilica!! Fun fact: there are two vials of St. Gennaro's blood within the chapel (Chapel of San Gennaro)! Anyway, the Duomo was built over the years of 1217-1315, and is open for visitation from 8:30 am-7:15 pm, with a break in the middle of the day from 12:30-4:30 so I'll make sure not to come during that time! And the best point is - entry is free! I'll try to make it there before lunch.

For lunch, I feel that I HAVE to go to a Pizzaria. I simply cannot be in Naples without buying pizza for my first meal! I did some research online (can't go to just any pizzaria!) and read that the Piazzaria Trianon is a popular one among locals, and has been in the pizza industry since 1930! They offer a wide selection of different pizzas and seem to be popular amongst those who know their pizza - so I'm sold!

After eating lunch I will spend the afternoon continuing my tour of historical sites within Naples. I would love to stop by the La Fontana dell'Immacolatella, which I hear is incredible. This elegant and beautiful fountain was built in 1601 by Michelangelo Naccherino and Pietro Bernini.

I'll probably head back to the hostel for dinner tonight in their cafe and lounge, catch up on the adventures of some of my fellow travelers!

Day Two:

Today I will tour the ruins of Pompeii! I've read that to get there, I will have to take a train ride from the Central Station in Naples and travel about 20 miles south of Naples on the other side of Mount Vesuvius. I looked into joining several tour groups, but have decided to travel there on my own and explore the ruins myself. There is so much to see, I'd rather be able to spend my time in areas that I am interested in. The ruins are open from 9 am to one hour before sunset (around 6 pm), and I can guaruntee I will be there until the very last moment I can! While reading reviews of past travelers, I learned to get there early because depending on the number of visitors I may have to wait a while in line. It costs around 10 or 11 euros to get into the attraction, and it was recommended that while a guide book comes with your entry, the audio guide is a very helpful addition to learning about the history of the ruins. Can't wait!

Day Three:

Today I'll start with a little more sight seeing and eventually head into a few museums. A place I didn't hit on the first day that I'd like to see is Teatro San Carlo. This theatre is one of the oldest in the world and was designed by Giovanni Antonio Medrano under the direction of King Charles of Boubon. It was officially opened in November 1737. It still hosts numerous productions including that of the oldest ballet company in Italy!

I'm very excited about my dinner choice - I will be eating at a restaurant called Dal Delicato that overlooks the gulf. While enjoying the gorgeous view, the staff is said to be very knowledgable and helpful in suggesting wine and entree choices. It is a seafood restaurant, and has a huge selection of delicious fish to choose from!

Day Four - Amalfi Coast Side Trip!!!

Because the Bay of Naples is such a great starting point to explore the bay and coast area, AND after having such a nice dinner last night overlooking the gulf, I'm inspired to spend my last day in Naples exploring the Amalfi coast and seaside! After reading the advice of Rick Steves (our favorite tour guide!), I picked up on his suggestion to take either a bus/car ride along the coast or a ferry ride, to stay distanced from the overpriced, crowded touristy towns along the coast. While they're beautiful and fun to explore, they're also great to see from a distance and in passing. A tour that looked fun is through a private tour guide named Giuseppe De Toro. His business is called Sorrento Top Car, and seems to have some great reviews. He is a local and knows the area around Naples, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast very well! He offers a variety of tours, and I have chosen the Boat Trip. The price isn't listed on the website, but his contact information is, showing the personal touch of his business and the experience of the trip. You have to contact Giuseppe himself to get the details. Hopefully that's a good sign! The boat is a traditional "gozzo" and the excursion includes Sorrento, Capri, and Nerano. The view from the boat will make for some wonderful photo opportunities!!