Italia Bella III: Napels (Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius)

April 16th



We woke up the morning and headed down to breakfast and said goodbye to our Australian friends.
We took the train to Pompeii.
We decided to go to Mt. Vesuvius on a tour.

It was amazing but it was crazy windy and the walk was intolerable in flip flops and leggings. I should of planned better.
But non-the-less I was glad I did it. We went to the top and saw the crater. It was insanely windy and cold however, and I was so happy when i got to the bottom.












Once we got to the bottom, we were off to explore Pompeii. We did not have to pay because that week was Italian heritage week and everything was free! We walked around and saw some friendly dogs that live on the property. They have an adopt a dog foundation. The day was beautiful so it made everything look a bit unreal. Seeing how close Mt. Vesuvius made me uneasy, but at the same time in awe of how everything was built. It was a great way to end the day.














We got dinner when we finny made it to Napels. Lets just say I was extremely hungry. We looked for the pizza place that was supposed to be the best in town but we found another which seemed to be equally fine. Right across the street was a pastry place. It was probably the best I have had in my entire life. Both of the men in there were extremely genuine and friendly. They reminded me of my uncles growing up. Filled with smiles that could tell stories. They also had Pizza Gran which made me jump up and down. I tried to tell them how my family makes it on the holidays. I just used my hands and smiled a lot, I think they understood.












That night we headed to bed early for we were off to Sorento the next morning.

Italia Bella II: Napels

April 15
Day 2-5

I think that Napels was by far my favourite city. Although it might not have been as appealing as Florence or Rome, it was, in its own way, beautiful.

We got there on the 15th late so we just grabbed some dinner. Our hostel looked like it was not in a good area, but the place was actually very nice. It was at the end in an ally way and the had to buzz us in. Once you were in though, there was a small courtyard and a palm tree. It was an oasis in the middle of a city. It was very artsy and young feeling.





We walked to the city centre. We walked for a while until we found a place that did not just sell pastries. I had the best meal I have ever had in my life. It was fresh, homemade pasta surrounded by a bread with small clams in it. Oh was it delish and everything was fresh! I fell in love.
Now I know why Grandma had a nac for cooking.





After of course, we got pastries. They were the best I have ever had in my life.

When we got back we met some of our roommates.
There were two Australians we shared a room with. I was talking with them for a while. Their names were Luke and Sara and they met in the navy together. They were the most amazing people in the world. I don't think they will understand how much they have impacted my life. They made me want to catch a flight to Australia.
He was spontaneous and had been traveling since September with the money he received from the army, and she was there traveling with him for a few weeks through Italy. She was lovely and full of laughs and smiles. He was more the same and lived life on edge. They rented scooters that day and went down the Almafi Coast. Words could not describe how jealous I was.

We left to see what the night time was life in Napels. We stopped at this one place and got something to drink. We met a man from Napels who knew English. He was very nice as well. He told us about the city and also taught us new words and how to pronounce them. He told us that there are two types of sfogliatelle and the differences between them. He also was the first person to tell us how amazing the coffee in Napels was, and about Lemoncello. I was thankful we met him.

We left to go out but it was not the best. Long story short we got home and went to bed.
The next day we were off to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.

Italia Bella I: Salerno

Day 1: Salerno

Oh Italy, It felt like home.



Salerno was very nice. It took us almost a whole day of traveling to finally reach it. From the airport on the bus the train station in Rome to Salerno.

The start of our journey was April 14 at 1 am. We caught the bus to Dublin for our flight as 6am.

The first thing we did was find a place to eat when we were in Rome. We found a place that had a sandwich for €2. It was huge. Tomato, Motozella, and Lettuce. It was the best sandwich I have ever had in my life. I savoured every bit of it.
We then got pastries in the train station as we were waiting. We got sfogliatelle and a lobster tail. I don't know what it is called in Italian, but I was in love after the first bite. Oh my goodness. It was delish.





We took the train to Salerno. What a great travel. It's a beautiful country side and landscape.
When we finaly got there we explored for a small bit. We were right by the water.








We learned that Italians are crazy drivers. It's a cross whenever you can, frogger game. Mopeds are everywhere. It was crazy the traffic. We soon found out hostel. It was not the best one I have ever been in, but it was a place to sleep.
We went out for food, and we explored the area that night. We had a pizza-type food, and I also got fresh Motezela and tomatoes. YUM!















We were off to shower and bed. The showers were crazy for me. They were all open and the sensor light kept shutting off, but it was the warmest shower I had in 4 months so I put up with it. Our roommates were also older women, they left in the middle of the night.



It was all a bit dodgy, but we woke up the next day and headed for Napels!

I left my heart in Palma Mallorcia..

Oh Hello Mallorcia!,
Where have you been my whole life?
April 7th-10th.

As each night fell on the small island, I could not picture myself leaving. We were there for three days, and each day was beautiful. When we got to our hostel it was a bit late and the reception did not let us pay until morning because they knew how tired we were. They were the most amazing people I have ever met. The owners were so sweet.

Our hostel was La Mimosa.
We were on the top floor. The staircase was lovely and the place was very fresh and airy.





The first night we were there we arrived about midnight. Dinner was almost over, but we found one place that had food. It was a German lady who made fresh food. It was one of the best things I have ever had. She wasn't serving at that time, but she did special for us. I guess we looked a little jet lagged, lost, and hungry.
She was wonderful.
The first picture is the airport.



Mallorcia was nothing short of amazing.. It made me wish that I payed attention more in school to Spanish... because I never thought it would be useful... I did however remember some phrases and words.







I have to say at times it made me miss home because I was hearing spanish all the time, and the signs are in Spanish. My town has no comparison to the landscape of Mallorcia.

Every morning we were awakened by the freshest air I have ever breathed in my entire life.






The first thing that I noticed the first day that I was there was how fresh everything was. I was so comfortable, and it was the first time, in a long time where the whole day I was not in a throbbing pain. I never knew how much weather could impact everything. It was insane.

Our hostel was beautiful. All the windows opened in the morning, and the doors led out to a white sidewalk which led down to some stones and the beach. It was beautiful. A grocery, a bakery, and a fruits and vegetable market was in walking distance.


The first day we were there we explored and went into the city center. It was a gorgeous day. The flowers were Beaufifulllll as well as the ocean...





The city was filled with cobble stoned streets and small shops packed with jewelry and clothing.
Churches towered randomly in corners and on streets. The were all breath- taking. Shopping was amazing there. Besides the designer stores, but was very inexpensive.
We saw the square where there was a market happening. It was very nice, and much was handmade. The streets were so clean and everything was beautiful.
I have to say it was hard to get used to shops closing around half one and opening back up at five and having dinner at ten o clock at night, but I did love it, and time slipped by like water beneath our feet.



We explored the outside of the museums as we waited for some shops to open back up and we grabbed lunch and ice cream.











I then got my ear pierced. I was going to get my nose, but I knew mom was going to kill me. I'm sure she will not be happy with this one.

We headed to dinner by night time. We were tired, but we got some wine, and a great meal. It was at a place called the Jamrock Cafe.


Our waiter was amazing, as was the food.







We went to bed early-ish the night because the next day we were headed to the beach.

We woke up and went to the Bakery for breakfast.You could literally smell the place from a mile away. I was in heaven! Mine had fig on it and Grace had apples, so we split.





We waited at the bus stop and started talking to these two kids going as well. They were very nice, still in High School and from Germany. I envied them. I would love to stay there for longer then 3 days.
But the beach was the most beautiful beaches I have ever been on in my entire life, minus some boobs every time I turned my head.

The water was green and the san was so white. It was amazing. It was a getaway.






After the beach we had a lovely traditional Spanish meal in Genova.
It was not beans and rice, but olives and unusual ingredients. I was not adventurous enough to try the snail, but I had chicken. It was soo nice. The coffee was wonderful as well.









After we caught the bus to the city centre and we walked around.
We saw something religious going on. I'm not sure what it was.






I think we were all very exhausted so we caught another bus home. While they went up to bed I stayed downstairs and wrote to my mother. I asked the lady at the front desk for the post, and she told me not to worry, she would mail it for me. She was honestly one of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. She was full of stories about her family. We wound up talked about New York City.
I spoke about my favourite professor, and she about her brother.
She was amazing, and unforgettable.

We ate Italian that night.


It was amazing. We were then off to bed to catch the bus in the morning the airport to head home.
During breakfast we met someone originally from Canada. He is currently living in Barcelona. He packed up and left four years ago and headed toward Spain on his own. He was in Mallorcia for the weekend on a holiday.

Not a bone in my body wanted to go home at that point. I feel in love with the place. Now I understand why people say Spain is a beautiful in it's own way.
I would love to go back sooner rather than later..