Naples, the birthplace of pizza.

The plan today , after the success of yesterday's Rome visit, was to take the train to Pompeii to visit the ruins. As we sailed into Naples the sun picked out the houses on the hills and we looked set for a fine day.

Before going ashore we decided to take part in the early trivia, and although we didn't win we did manage to add some pens to our collection. Returning to our room we gathered our things together ready for our trip and proceeded to the shuttle bus. By this time a little rain was falling but by the time we reached the drop off point, a mere five minutes away, the heavens had opened. The rain came down so fast that the car park rapidly gained the appearance of a boating lake. Even though we were prepared with both cagoules and umbrellas the rain proved too much for us and so we reboarded the shuttle and returned to the ship. The rain did however produce a lovely rainbow.

We stayed on the ship until around 12.30 and then once again made towards the shuttle bus, the rain having now ceased. Due to the time lost with the first aborted trip and the chances of the rain reappearing, this time we restricted ourselves to a walk around the city of Naples.

First stop was the Castel Nuovo, an old castle building just outside the dock gates,......

......before moving on to the large shopping arcade.

Naples is famous for inventing the pizza and gelato and is also well known for its mouth watering cakes and pastries. Many of the shop windows featured examples, but we were too full of cruise food to be tempted.

Although historically a wealthy city Naples is apparently the most densely populated area of Italy with a population of up to 5 million people in the greater metropolitan area. It is therefore not a surprise that many of the backstreets appear very overcrowded.

Naples is not a pretty city and even areas that have historical significance, such as the Royal Palace, appear run down and uncared for.

But wherever you are in the city Mount Vesuvius sits above watching over you.

After this rather fleeting visit we returned to the ship where the sun returned to allow some late afternoon sun-bathing.

I don't like expressing an opinion of a place after just one brief visit but Naples was not a place that I would choose to visit again. I would still like the opportunity of visiting the historical sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum but I would give the city a miss.

 

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