Naples

Hello again,

We wanted to go into Naples to see the Capodimonte Museum and then onto Pompei. We had our journey planned down to the last bus and thought that we would be able to fit both in with time to return to the camp site for a swim in the volcanically heated swimming pool. Oh how things can go wrong. It started of so well because we managed to catch the right but, unfortunately we were not so sure about where to get off so once we got to the port we thought we had gone far enough and got off to look for the next bus up to the Museum. Well, to find the bus we had to pass through a market which held us up a little as Sheila decided that there were a few nice bits and pieces that took her fancy and she ended up buying two dresses and one top for €3 (vintage you know). Off we went again to get our bus and of course we managed to get on the right bus but didn't quite know where to get off. Everyone wanted to help us: it's 9 stops said one old man, you should get off at the next stop said a young girl, I'll tell you when to get off said the bus driver, he was the one we listened to and for a good job because it we had taken the advice of any of the others we would still be walking up the hill now. Well, we know how the best laid plans go wrong, instead of a couple of hours in the museum we managed about five hours and I have to say, if it is possible, we're all Caravagio'd out. Again we have been blown away by art. This time it was the turn of Caravagio with a smattering of Raffaello and El Grecco amongst others but also the ceramics and the furniture were gorgeous.

We left the museum satiated of art and headed back down to the city centre, having realised that we would be unable to make Pompei before the museum closed. The buses are famous for being a little unreliable and after waiting over an hour for our bus back we thought it might be quicker to try the bus station in the hope of having more choice. We got about 200 metres along the road when the biggest thunder and lightning storm started and the heavens not only opened but actually gave way to a torrent of rain that neither Jean or I have ever seen. There we were in a park standing with a bit of cardboard over our heads watching everyone else scatter for the shelter they knew, getting soaked to the skin. The water was running down the street like a river and dripping of the end of our noses like a waterfall. We were both great candidates for the next Mrs wet T shirt competition and starting to feel just a little cold and soggy.

As we were more wet that we could ever be again, we decided to walk to the nearest bus stop, doorway, shelter, anything that might give us some shelter from the storm. We stumbled across a cafe with a canopy and asked if we could sit outside and shelter, the owner invited us in but we were dripping wet and just couldn't. The next thing we knew, they had brought us two coffees with smiley faces on them and two lovely little hot brioche buns. We were so grateful for something to keep us warm and the smiley faces really cheered us up. After the rain had stopped the owner offered us the use of his bathroom to get changed into (remember the two "vintage" dresses). Once we had dried ourselves down with paper towels and got changed we walked out of the toilets and you would think a couple of film stars had just walked into their cafe. They were cheering and smiling and giving us air kisses, it was fabulous and certainly cheered us up. Please don't let anyone tell you not to go to Naples, it has the friendliest most helpful people we have ever come across.

We had read in our guide book that the bus service was a bit unreliable and we found that to be the case. Remember we had already waited ages for our 152 and it never came. Well we crossed the road and waited at another bus stop forever... However, once again somebody came to our aid. Another lady who was also waiting for the bus told us how to get to the metro from the bus and we finally managed to start our 1K walk up the hill. Just outside the campsite we noticed a flame grilled chicken bar and thought that the very least we deserved was a proper meal so we bought the most magnificent portion of chicken and roast pototoes with rosemary. KFC eat your heart out, it was better than finger licking good.