Monday March 2nd
2020
2020
Naples, Italy
(unless we have been blown to Sicily)
(unless we have been blown to Sicily)
Woke up to a slight
breeze and sunshine. Not too bad, I suppose. The coffee in the room
was awful. I threw the first cup away, because the cup smelled like
detergent. I made a second and even after washing the cup out it
still smelled like soap. I’ll use my mug and Starbucks instant
tomorrow.
breeze and sunshine. Not too bad, I suppose. The coffee in the room
was awful. I threw the first cup away, because the cup smelled like
detergent. I made a second and even after washing the cup out it
still smelled like soap. I’ll use my mug and Starbucks instant
tomorrow.
I went down to the
breakfast area to grab a cup of coffee and a pastry. The hotel
charges for breakfast $20 when you book with the room and $30 if you just want to
pay for it. (Euros of course). The server brought me a solid silver
coffee pot and 4 smaller pastries. Good, and I was expecting $10, she
put down a $5 check for just the coffee. I motioned her over to point
out she forgot the pastries. She said they were included with the
coffee, they were small and of no consequence. Wowerzers. This is
from the same hotel that said they would exchange USD for me at $100
to 65 E. (The exchange rate is currently 89) I know they are not a
bank, but if Jesus stayed here he’d be flipping the Concierge
counter over.
breakfast area to grab a cup of coffee and a pastry. The hotel
charges for breakfast $20 when you book with the room and $30 if you just want to
pay for it. (Euros of course). The server brought me a solid silver
coffee pot and 4 smaller pastries. Good, and I was expecting $10, she
put down a $5 check for just the coffee. I motioned her over to point
out she forgot the pastries. She said they were included with the
coffee, they were small and of no consequence. Wowerzers. This is
from the same hotel that said they would exchange USD for me at $100
to 65 E. (The exchange rate is currently 89) I know they are not a
bank, but if Jesus stayed here he’d be flipping the Concierge
counter over.
I put on my parka
and strode into the wind and found that it was much too warm for the
parka, even though everyone else seemed to be wearing puffy jackets.
A quick change into my hoodie and I was just about perfect.
and strode into the wind and found that it was much too warm for the
parka, even though everyone else seemed to be wearing puffy jackets.
A quick change into my hoodie and I was just about perfect.
I had no plans, just
walk and see where it takes me. With Mount Vesuvius to my right I
headed towards a cruise ship in the distance. Thinking that was where
my friends Lynda and Dick might have docked when they “Cruised the
Med” a few years ago. That way I would be closer to the tourist
area and might be able to find a money exchange that will give me 66
Euros, for my Benjamin. I walked along until I came to a decision
point, go down of stay level? Stay level almost always wins, and it
did this time.
walk and see where it takes me. With Mount Vesuvius to my right I
headed towards a cruise ship in the distance. Thinking that was where
my friends Lynda and Dick might have docked when they “Cruised the
Med” a few years ago. That way I would be closer to the tourist
area and might be able to find a money exchange that will give me 66
Euros, for my Benjamin. I walked along until I came to a decision
point, go down of stay level? Stay level almost always wins, and it
did this time.
The largest plaza
I’ve seen with a big church on one side and a museum facing it.
With big advertisement for Paul McCartney coming in June. Hasn’t
that old fart made enough money already? I saw him 40 years ago and
his show wasn’t as lively then as The Stones are now. What’s he
going to do, come out with his walker and sing “Maybe I’m
amazed”? It’s the crowd that should be amazed.
I’ve seen with a big church on one side and a museum facing it.
With big advertisement for Paul McCartney coming in June. Hasn’t
that old fart made enough money already? I saw him 40 years ago and
his show wasn’t as lively then as The Stones are now. What’s he
going to do, come out with his walker and sing “Maybe I’m
amazed”? It’s the crowd that should be amazed.
Where did that rant
come from?
come from?
So back to my
stroll, past shops your recognize if you lived on Rodeo Drive in
Beverly Hills. I didn’t come here to look at Tommy Hillfinger, and
Vicky’s Secret’s windows. I saw an arrow to the left that said
Catacombs. Cool ! Only problem. It is up. How can catacombs be up? I
went up, and up. The street was straight and less steep than dinner a
few nights ago, so keep on going. I was getting deeper and deeper
into locals only area. Not dangerous, just no tourists. After five or
six blocks it was getting clear to me that the catacombs were more up
than I felt their down would be worth it. So, I went lateral. Past
the green grocers the meat stores. The guy sitting on a stool
stripping leaves from their stems. He man was a machine, fast and
accurate. I was so deep in local the they stopped to watch me to take
a picture of a cat on a Vespa.
stroll, past shops your recognize if you lived on Rodeo Drive in
Beverly Hills. I didn’t come here to look at Tommy Hillfinger, and
Vicky’s Secret’s windows. I saw an arrow to the left that said
Catacombs. Cool ! Only problem. It is up. How can catacombs be up? I
went up, and up. The street was straight and less steep than dinner a
few nights ago, so keep on going. I was getting deeper and deeper
into locals only area. Not dangerous, just no tourists. After five or
six blocks it was getting clear to me that the catacombs were more up
than I felt their down would be worth it. So, I went lateral. Past
the green grocers the meat stores. The guy sitting on a stool
stripping leaves from their stems. He man was a machine, fast and
accurate. I was so deep in local the they stopped to watch me to take
a picture of a cat on a Vespa.
I could have kept
lateral for miles, but it would have been more of the same, so a
right for some down. I got down to the fringes of tourism and decided
it was time for a coffee. Maybe I should have had the coffee on the
up and not the down? Coffee is funny here, I’ve already told you
some, also there is the payment system. Sometimes there is a cash
register back with the Batista, sometimes it is somewhere else in the
store. You ay at either place, but if it’s in the store, you get a
receipt to take to the coffee bar. The first one I ran into was the
store type. I told the cashier what I wanted, twice. She looked up at
me and made a personal call. Maybe she needed to phone a friend to
figure out what an Caffe Americano was. Regardless after it was made
clear I was being snubbed I left and went next door where I was
successful.
lateral for miles, but it would have been more of the same, so a
right for some down. I got down to the fringes of tourism and decided
it was time for a coffee. Maybe I should have had the coffee on the
up and not the down? Coffee is funny here, I’ve already told you
some, also there is the payment system. Sometimes there is a cash
register back with the Batista, sometimes it is somewhere else in the
store. You ay at either place, but if it’s in the store, you get a
receipt to take to the coffee bar. The first one I ran into was the
store type. I told the cashier what I wanted, twice. She looked up at
me and made a personal call. Maybe she needed to phone a friend to
figure out what an Caffe Americano was. Regardless after it was made
clear I was being snubbed I left and went next door where I was
successful.
Further in the
camera toting crowd I look across the street and espy the most
wondrous temple to consumerism. It was absolutely beautiful, and I
knew I was among my tourist peers when I saw the Golden Arches on a
flag. Fifty feet off the floor was an arch of glass the ran off into
the distance on all four points of the compass. Capped at each end
with Romanesque arches.
camera toting crowd I look across the street and espy the most
wondrous temple to consumerism. It was absolutely beautiful, and I
knew I was among my tourist peers when I saw the Golden Arches on a
flag. Fifty feet off the floor was an arch of glass the ran off into
the distance on all four points of the compass. Capped at each end
with Romanesque arches.
Continuing on a
caste loomed on the seashore. That could be fun. The guy at the gate
says they have 2 types the 6 and the 11. The six is the grounds and
the museum. The eleven is the same with the dungeon. Dungeon? That is
close to catacombs! I give the cashier a 20 and he has a hissy fit.
Don’t I have the eleven? I reaching my pocket and toss some hand
sanitized, a wadded up Kleenex, a 10 and maybe $.40 in small change.
There it is Tiger. He’s still pushing the change and 10 around
while holding the 20 and waving it. Finally someone with common sense
came up to him. I paid half to him and paid the rest at a different
location.
caste loomed on the seashore. That could be fun. The guy at the gate
says they have 2 types the 6 and the 11. The six is the grounds and
the museum. The eleven is the same with the dungeon. Dungeon? That is
close to catacombs! I give the cashier a 20 and he has a hissy fit.
Don’t I have the eleven? I reaching my pocket and toss some hand
sanitized, a wadded up Kleenex, a 10 and maybe $.40 in small change.
There it is Tiger. He’s still pushing the change and 10 around
while holding the 20 and waving it. Finally someone with common sense
came up to him. I paid half to him and paid the rest at a different
location.
The museum was works
of art on one floor and sculptures on another. Some good and most
unmemorable. I met up with the group for the dungeon tour near the
appointed time. Out of one of the rooms come men in suits and women
in dresses. Flowers and smiles, so probably not a funeral. I was a
wedding. I was fortunate that the tour didn’t start until after the
bride and groom emerged. He dungeon was a disappointment. Concrete
steps down, and plastered walls in the dungeon. No cold stone with
rings inset in the walls. No rats. No fun. I will have to put that 5
down to a donation to maintain the castle.
of art on one floor and sculptures on another. Some good and most
unmemorable. I met up with the group for the dungeon tour near the
appointed time. Out of one of the rooms come men in suits and women
in dresses. Flowers and smiles, so probably not a funeral. I was a
wedding. I was fortunate that the tour didn’t start until after the
bride and groom emerged. He dungeon was a disappointment. Concrete
steps down, and plastered walls in the dungeon. No cold stone with
rings inset in the walls. No rats. No fun. I will have to put that 5
down to a donation to maintain the castle.
Back to the hotel to
kiss and make up with my sore feet and kill time until the
appropriate 7:30 dinner hour.
kiss and make up with my sore feet and kill time until the
appropriate 7:30 dinner hour.
come here to look at Tommy Hillfinger, and
Vicky’s Secret’s windows. I saw an arrow to the left that said
Catacombs. Cool ! Only problem. It is up. How can catacombs be up? I
went up, and up. The street was straight and less steep than dinner a
few nights ago, so keep on going. I was getting deeper and deeper
into locals only area. Not dangerous, just no tourists. After five or
six blocks it was getting clear to me that the catacombs were more up
than I felt their down would be worth it. So, I went lateral. Past
the green grocers the meat stores. The guy sitting on a stool
stripping leaves from their stems. He man was a machine, fast and
accurate. I was so deep in local the they stopped to watch me to take
a picture of a cat on a Vespa.
Vicky’s Secret’s windows. I saw an arrow to the left that said
Catacombs. Cool ! Only problem. It is up. How can catacombs be up? I
went up, and up. The street was straight and less steep than dinner a
few nights ago, so keep on going. I was getting deeper and deeper
into locals only area. Not dangerous, just no tourists. After five or
six blocks it was getting clear to me that the catacombs were more up
than I felt their down would be worth it. So, I went lateral. Past
the green grocers the meat stores. The guy sitting on a stool
stripping leaves from their stems. He man was a machine, fast and
accurate. I was so deep in local the they stopped to watch me to take
a picture of a cat on a Vespa.
I could have kept
lateral for miles, but it would have been more of the same, so a
right for some down. I got down to the fringes of tourism and decided
it was time for a coffee. Maybe I should have had the coffee on the
up and not the down? Coffee is funny here, I’ve already told you
some, also there is the payment system. Sometimes there is a cash
register back with the Batista, sometimes it is somewhere else in the
store. You ay at either place, but if it’s in the store, you get a
receipt to take to the coffee bar. The first one I ran into was the
store type. I told the cashier what I wanted, twice. She looked up at
me and made a personal call. Maybe she needed to phone a friend to
figure out what an Caffe Americano was. Regardless after it was made
clear I was being snubbed I left and went next door where I was
successful.
lateral for miles, but it would have been more of the same, so a
right for some down. I got down to the fringes of tourism and decided
it was time for a coffee. Maybe I should have had the coffee on the
up and not the down? Coffee is funny here, I’ve already told you
some, also there is the payment system. Sometimes there is a cash
register back with the Batista, sometimes it is somewhere else in the
store. You ay at either place, but if it’s in the store, you get a
receipt to take to the coffee bar. The first one I ran into was the
store type. I told the cashier what I wanted, twice. She looked up at
me and made a personal call. Maybe she needed to phone a friend to
figure out what an Caffe Americano was. Regardless after it was made
clear I was being snubbed I left and went next door where I was
successful.
Then I heard the chanting and bullhorn and whistles. Yes ! I found myself in a protest! If there is a protest anyplace in the city I am visiting I’ll somehow stumble onto it.
Further in the
camera toting crowd I look across the street and espy the most
wondrous temple to consumerism. It was absolutely beautiful, and I
knew I was among my tourist peers when I saw the Golden Arches on a
flag. Fifty feet off the floor was an arch of glass the ran off into
the distance on all four points of the compass. Capped at each end
with Romanesque arches.
camera toting crowd I look across the street and espy the most
wondrous temple to consumerism. It was absolutely beautiful, and I
knew I was among my tourist peers when I saw the Golden Arches on a
flag. Fifty feet off the floor was an arch of glass the ran off into
the distance on all four points of the compass. Capped at each end
with Romanesque arches.
Continuing on a
caste loomed on the seashore. That could be fun. The guy at the gate
says they have 2 types the 6 and the 11. The six is the grounds and
the museum. The eleven is the same with the dungeon. Dungeon? That is
close to catacombs! I give the cashier a 20 and he has a hissy fit.
Don’t I
have the eleven? I reaching my pocket and toss some hand
sanitized, a wadded up Kleenex, a 10 and maybe $.40 in small change.
There it is Tiger. He’s still pushing the change and 10 around
while holding the 20 and waving it. Finally someone with common sense
came up to him. I paid half to him and paid the rest at a different
location.
caste loomed on the seashore. That could be fun. The guy at the gate
says they have 2 types the 6 and the 11. The six is the grounds and
the museum. The eleven is the same with the dungeon. Dungeon? That is
close to catacombs! I give the cashier a 20 and he has a hissy fit.
Don’t I
have the eleven? I reaching my pocket and toss some handsanitized, a wadded up Kleenex, a 10 and maybe $.40 in small change.
There it is Tiger. He’s still pushing the change and 10 around
while holding the 20 and waving it. Finally someone with common sense
came up to him. I paid half to him and paid the rest at a different
location.
The museum was works
of art on one floor and sculptures on another. Some good and most
unmemorable. I met up with the group for the dungeon tour near the
appointed time. Out of one of the rooms come men in suits and women
in dresses. Flowers and smiles, so probably not a funeral. I was a
wedding. I was fortunate that the tour didn’t start until after the
bride and groom emerged. He dungeon was a disappointment. Concrete
steps down, and plastered walls in the dungeon. No cold stone with
rings inset in the walls. No rats. No fun. I will have to put that 5
down to a donation to maintain the castle.
of art on one floor and sculptures on another. Some good and most
unmemorable. I met up with the group for the dungeon tour near the
appointed time. Out of one of the rooms come men in suits and women
in dresses. Flowers and smiles, so probably not a funeral. I was a
wedding. I was fortunate that the tour didn’t start until after the
bride and groom emerged. He dungeon was a disappointment. Concrete
steps down, and plastered walls in the dungeon. No cold stone with
rings inset in the walls. No rats. No fun. I will have to put that 5
down to a donation to maintain the castle.
Back to the hotel to
kiss and make up with my sore feet and kill time until the
appropriate 7:30 dinner hour.
kiss and make up with my sore feet and kill time until the
appropriate 7:30 dinner hour.
