Naples, Italy – First Impressions

It feels good to be back in Europe. Surprising how I react to that, but I guess I’ve spent so much time in my life in Europe
that it has become a natural feeling for me, even when I don’t speak the language. (At least Italian has a lot of similarity with French and Spanish, so that helps. I’m surprised how many staff in tourist businesses in Naples don’t speak English.)

After three long flights (Edmonton – Toronto, Toronto – Munich, Munich – Naples), we finally arrived in Naples. I was incredibly impressed by the efficiency at the Munich airport. We only had 45 minutes to get through customs and make our connection, and we could actually do it! They have 46.3 million passengers through there in a year and can pull that off. Calgary only has 17 million, and you’d never manage that there. 

​I was fascinated, flying over Naples, to see the density of the buildings. Clearly no land is wasted! DH, from his side of the airplane, got a great view of a crater. 

From his side of the plane? I hear you wondering.  Well, after many years of travelling together, we finally realized that:

1. We both hate middle seats, 
2. We both love window seats, but for incompatible reasons (see point 3).
3. He sleeps on airplanes and I don’t. So I want to look out the window; he just wants to shut the blind, lean against it, and sleep. Thus….
4. Our marriage can survive not sitting next to each other when we fly. (In fact, it may survive better if we don’t sit next to each other!) Often we get window seats with one directly behind the other, but that isn’t always possible. On this flight we ended up in the same row but on opposite sides of the plane.)

​We stayed at the Santa Caterina B&B, on the 7th floor. I forgot to take a picture of the delightfully antique little elevator, that even had a bench in it so you could rest on your journey up the flights of stairs. Last year’s electric scooter would not have fit in this one! Nor would a wheelchair. If one has to break a leg, try to avoid doing it in Italy. 

I’m not sure why, but jet-lag doesn’t seem to hit me as hard as it did when I was younger. I remember my first couple of trips to Europe in my 20s: I felt literally sick with fatigue when I arrived. Now, despite getting only 45 minutes of sleep during our 20 hour journey, I was full of energy and able to wander around Naples for a few hours before needing to crash.​

​For lunch we had a lovely pizza (how cliche, I know!) at Pizzaria Nennella, a roadside spot which has served some of Naples best pizza since 1931. 

After more wandering, we allowed ourselves a 1 hour nap, and then went out for an evening stroll and dinner at the Hosteria Toledo. 

We enjoyed a peek at a beautiful full moon on our stroll back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.