A new week, a new adventure. This time it’s even a bit more,
it’s a ‚birthday adventure’. Some of you might know that I celebrated my
birthday yesterday and I thought it’s a good idea to take you on a birthday
trip. Last year a childhood dream of mine came true and I went to visit the
excavations of the ancient city of Pompeii and climb the volcano Mount
Vesuvius. I was staying in Naples and experienced that south Italian port town
as well. But let me guide you through.
Let’s start with the host city, Naples. Napoli is located in
southern Italy and is the regional capital of the Campania province. It is
situated underneath the volcano Mount Vesuvius on a wide Mediterranean bay.
Enough romanticism. The city is a mess. Let’s put it clear. When I arrived in
Rome and rented a car, the person at the counter asked where I wanted to go
with it. After saying Napoli he raised his eyebrow and I think he sold us a
triple insurance. A fact I came to appreciate after experiencing the Neapolitan
traffic. The only rule that applies: honk the hell out of it and don’t give in!
Beside the fact that Naples seem to be in a contant chaos
and is plagued with several binmen strikes a year, I happened to discover some
charming corners, particularly in the old town. The narrow streets and little
shops are full of Italian authenticity – way more than the polished stradas of
Rome or Milano. And the food, the food. No words. You must try it. I haven’t
had one single mediocre dish while being there. Everything was incredibly yummy
and fresh. And if you happen to visit Naples one day, don’t miss the best pizza
in town in ‚Da Michele’ – a tiny little tavern with just a few pizzas on the
menu and incredibly low prices. Plus, this little place hosted some world
famous stars that are depicted on the restaurant’s walls. And another little culinary tip: In some pizzerias you will find a teasing dessert pizza - a pizza with Nutella. Nothing more to add!
The main reason for my trip was the ancient town of Pompeii.
During my childhood, I always wanted to become some sort of Indiana Jones and
Pompeii was the most fascinating spot on earth for me. Thus, I spent a whole
day wandering the cobbled streets of the ancient town that gives you an
excelllent idea of how people used to live 2000 years ago. The almost perfectly
preserved examples of architecture and interior design – yes I paid attention
to that too – is simply stunning. The richness of interior frescoes, the
abundance of colours and the refined structures of ancient homes was worth
every chaotic minute in Naples. To round-up my last year’s birthday I climbed
the volcano Mount Vesuvius up to his main crater and enjoyed a magnificent view
of the coast and Naples.
You might ask now ‚what about this year’s birthday trip“?
Well, this on is yet to come and will be featured here soon. Happy new week!
Photography by Igor Josifovic
