After my warm up to Italy aka relax central (rancho relaxo) we moved onto Rome, Italy's capital. My awakening hit when we briefly visited my parents hotel first (mine last year) the Rome Hilton €500 a night, before dropping by Palace Alessandro (mine and ash's hostel). But to be honest I was glad to see a hostel & other young folk once again and held no qualms in sharing a bathroom with 7 others.
When in Rome (ha) do as the tourists do. I found myself once again visiting the Vatican, the Pantheon, Piazza Nuovona, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. There is something truely special in Rome in that every single part is as famous and recognisable as the next and all are very awe striking. My favourites still being eating Pizza on the Spanish Steps, onlooking Keats' house and admiring the VERY well dressed Italian men, and hearing the pounding of water rushing from the Trevi, while naturally the La Dolce Vita scene flicks through your mind.
It's very busy, dirty, loud, dangerous, expensive and fantastic. Eating out is a risk, hoping you don't get conned (which we did one night, but still my mussel and cherry tomato linguine was delicious). Ash and I went out one night by the floating bars on the rivers edge, where we experienced €10 beers and €15 basic spirits. Needless to say, we and some other hostel folk talked our way into 3 bottles of Vino Bianco from a restaurant and wined outside the Vatican, impressively lit up at night. Don't say we're sacrilegious.
After 3 nights I parted from my family and began my solo leg. To Naples, home of pizza and Mafia. Where I learnt that holding my keys in my knuckles is the only way to walk at night. An odd hostel with a very helpful/creepy owner but who pointed me in the right directions in my daily sights.
I discovered Naples has a underground city as it does hilltop castles with spectacular views. Next I went to Pompeii which was something else, and suprisingly massive. I was so glad I saw it and definitely one to tick off my list. So well preserved and scarily so with Mt Vesuvius looming giantly on the horizon. After that I spent a day heading to the Amalfi coast stopping at Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Solerno. Such a glorious day, the most beautiful white and pastel towns built onto sheer cliffs and with the water a killer aqua. I learnt also that Italians don't swim, they go knee high in the water, wearing designer swim suits and chat. Or bake under the perfect rows of striped umbrellas. The water (Mediterranean) too is so salty, it must be impossible to drown. Salty nonetheless I swam out almost 80m, in its true beauty. I think the Amafi coast is a must, the rugged /glamorous coast line with tunnels dug out of the mountain sides is such a great drive.
Once home, My friendly/creepy hostel owner helped me get a bus ticket to Bari, by taking me on his 300kg BMW motorbike through the streets of Naples by night. He showed me the sights and the famous harbour, palace and lookout. A thrill to be on his bike (my first time, and in a short dress mind you) but also a little weirded out. The mindset has to be 'just go with it'.
Last day in Naples was a amazing fresh food and clothes market, which such things as alive snails and octopus, 2kg of peaches for €1 and fresh FRESH pizza. I departed for Bari to then board a MASSIVE ferry to Dubrovnik, Croatia Bound.
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