I am enjoying a quick trip to Southern Italy to replenish my vitamin D, and see a completely different part of Europe. It is hard to believe that the European Union contains such completely different cultures. Lithuania, Sweden and Italy have nearly nothing in common, but they are all part of the same union. It is quite amazing that the EU functions at all.
The first impressions of Napoli, Italy are unfortunately of a city with a lot of trash problems. Traffic is haphazard, and some things don’t quite make sense. For example, why is the subway system cheaper than the bus system, but fewer people seem to use the subways? There is clearly a lot of underemployment, and it is quite poor. The city is diverse with people from Africa and Pakistan among the Italians. The archeological museum could not keep all the rooms open, due to lack of funds. It is not a rich city. But the history and riches of culture are truly incredible.
I had no idea what to expect of Pompeii. Unfortunately, I never really studied much history from that time period. The train ride to Pompeii is just about 40 minutes, and suddenly you are in a 2000-year-old city. Of course I knew about Vesuvius and the eruption that devastated the city in the year 79, and killed and entombed people while they were trying to escape with gas and ashes. But I wasn’t aware of the incredible art, and the vastness of the spaces. The mansions and bakeries, the baths and brothels. It doesn’t require a lot of imagination to visualize how life was then, and how in reality, we are not much different today. Herculaneum is also fantastic, and although much smaller, it is perhaps better preserved, and there are even 2000 year old wooden doors, and shelves in the ancient stores. These places are impressive.
The National Archeological Museum in Napoli is full of the treasures from Pompeii. The mosaics could have been done yesterday, with bright colors and some surrealistic scenes. Huge roman statues and paintings that seem much more modern than what was done 1000 years later.
Pizza marinara! People pay more than $20 for this kind of pizza in San Francisco, and here it is about $4. Absolutely delicious at Pizzeria da St. Michele, and also Pizzeria Sorbillo. What I love is that at one of the most famous pizza places in the world (da St. Michele), they only have two types, marinara (vegan) and margarita (with cheese).
Today the sun shone in Capri. This is the island of the rich and famous just 45 minutes from Naples. It is a different world. The views of the natural beauty next to the clear deep blue sea with jumping dolphins and lemon orchards clarify why this is a world destination. No boats were going to the blue grotto, but I got to hike and explore several parts of the island. The house of Axel Munthe, a Swedish doctor who lives in Anacapri, was probably my favorite historical site. Like me, he was a bird lover, and a vegetarian. I bought his book “Boken om San Michele” and I will start reading it with sincere interest in this part of the world. For the next few days, I will be exploring the wonderful Amalfi Coast in spring by the blue Mediterranean Sea.
