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Other entries in Naples

Filthy Port Town, but cheap drinks

After two full days in Rome seeing everything we had time to see, my dad and i rented a car and decided to travel the country at our own pace. we had trouble getting out of the city because they havent done that much in the way of adapting to the needs of tousands of motorists (many of the roads are still the size they were when they supported chariots) but once we escaped the metropolis, we found the countryside to be quite pleasant. the drive down to Naples was pretty quick and we arrived with plenty of sunlight left to aide our hotel search. i have somewhat converted Pops to the way of the Dirty Hippie Backpacker in that we dont make reservations ahead of time, rather just walk around looking at different places until we're happy. in Naples, we set out in the right general area with the help of my guide book but in fact were in the complete wrong area because the guide book's map was pretty poor. we walked around for a while in a bluecollar area where children were crowding the streets joking and playfully punching each other, men were enjoying post work cigarettes all the while expressing their speech with showy waves of their limbs, and restaurants were dusting off chairs and tables in preparation for the evenings business. after a while, we concluded that we were either in the wrong area or just were not going to have any improved luck so we returned to our car and left.

after driving some more, we found signs indicating the area of many hotels but when we followed them, found nothing. we eventually gave up looking by car cause it was friday night and the streets were very busy so we parked and started to look on foot. we found out that we were in fact very close. no more than 5 minutes walking in the direction we were just driving, we found a plethora of hotels each promising the best service in town. we looked at a few, made a decision on one, and then on the way back to the car to get our bags, i spotted a hotel that my 4 year old guide book highly recommended. we inquired within, found they had a room for us, and decided to take this one because it was by far the cheapest availible. when we returned with our bags, we found out that there was a reason for the reduced price and that was the lack of hot water. now, in my travels ive become accustomed to this lack of luxury but my Dad understandibly has not. and it was also pretty cold out to boot. we forwent the showers and headed out to get a drink because the day of driving in a foreign land had really taken it out of us.

right across the street, there was a sweet shop that also sold booze. im surprised that no one in the states has thought of this. what else do kids need besides ice cream and whiskey? we were served two tall glasses of Johnny Walker on ice each for 2 euro. this was cheaper than an orange soft drink at the Colliseum. so we enjoyed the post headache, calm enducing drinks and then had seconds. after that we used the internet briefly then had dinner. Naples is supposedly known for its pizza so i gave it a shot. it was good. so now you know that as well. we went back to the hostel to get to bed because we were going to see Pompei in the morning, as well as try to get up to Florence. But my overall impression of the city was that it was a working class port town full of foul mouthed grandmas looking for their next tattoo. you need not visit.

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