A Slice of Neapolitan Life! pt. 2

Naples, vivacious yet stressful!  A place people either love or hate!  It is the third largest municipality next to Rome and Milan and has a parallel to my hometown Chicago - the third largest city in the U.S. next to New York and Los Angeles.  Its quite chaotic - pedestrians, scooters, taxis, and buses...people, more people - everywhere you look!  It is noisy and congested and unlike Chicago, the streets are dirty and lined with graffiti and laundry hanging across buildings to dry like Downy Fresh advertising a commercial.  A third of the city is also unemployed, so con artists are as clever as the panhandlers often found on EL platforms!

Napoli is also the birthplace of pizza and pizza is what I live for.  Let the comparisons begin!  Chicago-style pizza - commonly known for its deep-dish, thick crust, high-quality ingredients, lots of cheese, topped with premium tomatoes vs. the Neapolitan-style pizza - typically made with a flat bread, mozzarella (preferably the kind made with the milk from water buffalo), basil, fresh Roma tomatoes, and extra-virgin olive oil, of course.  You know, I’ve decided…I can’t decide!  We’ll call it truths!  I’ll eat as much as I can and just enjoy this moment!  Before we head out to explore the rest of the city, I run to the tiny girl’s room where the toilet tank is above my head and the bowl is on the ground as usual.  Interesting, I can’t say I’ve seen this before. 

While wondering about, we stumbled into a beautiful neighborhood - outside the sprawl - it reminded me of Oak Street with a castle.  Across the way was a small but lavish restaurant offering a picturesque, panoramic view of the city.  Afraid they wouldn’t allow snapshots without a purchase, we ordered a coca-cola and a bottle of water.  For 2euros, we would enjoy a priceless view!  The owner comes over to greet us.  He resembled the Godfather in an Italian Mobster movie, but was quite the opposite - very charming and charismatic!  “Come back tonight and enjoy our jazz club,” he summoned and just like that, all the arrangements were made.  Our car would arrive to pick us up at 8pm.

After a quick tour of another museum, we were exhausted!  We headed back through the maze in search of our hotel and a quick nap before a night out on the town. 

Alarm clock set?  Check!  Oh boy, sleep prevailed!  Our driver was prompt and we were as ready as the Republican Party is to extend benefits to the unemployed for another 9 months. 

We arrived to a scene of well-dressed ladies in designer shoes and gents in custom sport coats floating across an all white room with elegant, purple lighting.  Champagne, appetizers and pastries were being passed as the instruments echoed the vocals of Walter Ricci.  Hold on, did you say dinner is now served?  Ha!  Exactly how does an Italian girl maintain her petite figure after eating so much?  The night was amazing!  Who would have thought?  In a place where local governments could make the Mafia proud, warmth exudes like warm apple pie!  As we headed downstairs for an after party and then out the door for the hotel, our new Italian friends begged us to stay another day.  “The night is still young,” Antonio exclaimed!  “There is SO much more to see,” Walter cried out!  As it turned out, one “slice” of Napoli was like trying to eat “one Jays potato chip,” it is virtually impossible! 

"We must start our next adventure in the morning," I murmured!  Another pair of pre-paid, none refundable train tickets to Sorrento.  

Ciao Bella!  Ciao Bello!  “Until we meet again,” we say as we kiss the cheeks of our new Italian friends - right left right!  Napoli, it is my new favorite South Side of Chicago in southern Italy!