drianwa (drianwa)

We spent Sunday in Naples. This was right when the trash situated was starting to get some press but other than seeing some smoldering piles along the tracks on the train ride in, I thought the city itself looked actually cleaner than last year. The Piazza Plebescito is beautiful and we had a wonderful espresso and sweet at the Cafe Gabrinus. We took a taxi up to the art museum at Capodimonte. This houses a beautiful collection of mostly Italian art and the grounds were full of families and lovers picnicking, kicking soccer balls, or having a siesta under a tree. We left the grounds briefly and had a classic pizza and giant Peroni at Bruno's, a little corner venue outside the gate. The week we were in Italy was Cultural Week so all our trips to museums and archaeological sites were free so it was nice to be able to leave and come back at will.
So that's the highlights. I know I will return again to southern Campania and still have new adventures. I love how at home we feel in Pisciotta. The shop keepers remembered us, our hosts are now like family, and now I just have to find a way to buy my own Room with a View of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The next night we went across the street from Zi Caterina's to the small family run Trattoria Add' u Mimi. It was great. It was pretty much a fixed price for a multi course meal of antipasta, several pasta choices, and a meat or seafood second course, a wonderful lemon cream tart and a decent vino di casa. We felt like we were dining in their home. Everything was delicious and I think we paid €25 per person.
The ruins of Pompeii were amazing. We hired a guide for 2 1/2hrs. I had prearranged this several months prior based on the recommendation of a frequent ST poster. He was very knowledgeable, his English was perfect (he had lived near Philadelphia some time ago) and he knew how to get around the other tourists. We have some great pictures with no people in them. Amazing! We really liked the town of Pompeii. I had heard about the hoards of teens in the park and pedestrian street in the evening but I found the whole scene perfect for people watching and even on Saturday night I didn't feel overwhelmed by it at all. I bought a very chic pair of eyeglass frames for €80 in Pompeii and we also found some interesting kitchen items in a local housewares shop away from the main piazza. Everyone back home is jealous!