Naples, Italy

Wednesday, October 16th, 2013

Naples, reputed to be the dirtiest city in the world and having the highest crime rate in Europe, treated us pretty well today.  We went ashore around 8:30 and talked to a cab driver about taking us down the Amalfi Coast, time and cost.  The rates are fixed and it takes about seven hours for the drive and shopping and lunch time.  The weather was iffy, so we decided to go up to the museum at the top of the hill and then take a Rick Steve's self guided walk back to the ship.  The museum is full of most of the artifacts recovered from Pompeii.  Great, huge in some cases, statues.  The photo is of the largest statue from antiquity that was recovered intact.  It is 13 feet high and depicts a woman being tied to a bull. 

It rained.  Heavily.  So much that we took extra time in the museum to avoid being in it.  After the downpour, there were smaller showers and we were able to shelter next to buildings, under cover of the eave overhangs.  We did learn that when pigeons roost directly above and have eaten, that it is not wise to stand below.  We were thankful for hand wipes, which cleaned up her hair sufficiently.

On the walk down, we stopped in several churches and squares.  The usual photo stops, but in the nicest church we visited, no photos were allowed.  Flash or no flash.

We will be back in Naples on the next to last day of the cruise and hope to take the trip down to Almalfi.

Colleen and John