well, we did it. we rented an apartment for 2 weeks in Napoli and had a lovely vacation. We did not rent a car. We did have an italian SIM for our cell phone.
Too many people told us to be careful. We went unmolested on the streets, it was wonderful. I loved walking up and down the spaccanapoli and buying fresh produce from street vendors.

Good for you!
Will we be getting a trip report? Please?

yes. I am starting it today.
I realize we went where people don't usually
go.. (and had a great time doing it!)

I am glad you enjoy your stay in Napoli. Wish the American girl mentioned in this article could say the same: Napoli train station.

This article is in Italian but if you run it through one of the translation engines, you will get the picture.

It is a sad story, but where can you find a place anywhere in the world where nothing bad happens to anybody ?

I live in a relatively quiet part of the UK, and my house is not very far from pleasant countryside. Three years ago, a young student was assaulted and murdered and dumped in a field less than half a mile from my home. It doesn't stop me living here.

I think I understood most of it, except this sentence:
"Poche ore sono bastate per far scattare le manette."

How would you translate that into English?

It only took a few hours to track down the culprits - litterally - to bring out the handcuffs.

Creepy indeed when it is persons in a position of trust who commit violent crimes.

But there was a double shooting outside Il Cavallo pazzo bar a couple of blocks from my house a few nights ago (and I don't live in what is usually thought of as a rough neigbhourhood). Alas there is violence and abuse everywhere.

Mimi,
Good for you.
We almost made it this year, but caved in to the nay sayers.

I can't wait to read your trip report. You sound like our kind of traveller -wandering into untouristed areas. I'm also eager to find out about your rental in Naples. They seem to be few and far between!

Peg

If I understand correctly, two guards raped a young American tourist who had missed the last train and was waiting at the Napoli station until morning? How does the system work - are these two guards likely to be back at work there even now?

stuff like this happens in the USA all the time.
Near where I live certain police officers have
been up on trial for doing the same sort of things.

quote:

Originally posted by Peg:
Mimi,
Good for you.
We almost made it this year, but caved in to the nay sayers.

I can't wait to read your trip report. You sound like our kind of traveller -wandering into untouristed areas. I'm also eager to find out about your rental in Naples. They seem to be few and far between!

Peg

I think rentals are often done by word of mouth, but one of the students from my husband's class got hers from a travel agency. Thanks for reminding me, i will write to her and get that information.

Hurray for Napoli!!! I love it!!

We also just returned from a week in Napoli and it was my favorite place on our 5-week trip. Yes, people try to get you to stay on the Amalfi coast, instead of in Naples. And, yes, people give you lots of warnings when they hear you are going to Naples.

All of them are wrong, wrong, wrong!!

We, too, spent lots of time in the old part of town (Spaccanapoli) and were treated like part of the wallpaper. We ate our best pizza, twice, at El Presidente Pizzeria on via d. Tribunali--where hang several pictures of Pres. Bill Clinton from his visit to this pizzeria. The second time we came in, they greeted us like old friends.

Mimi, how did you find your apartment? I searched and searched on the internet for apts in Napoli, and couldn't find any small ones. We finally stayed in Hotel Pinto-Storey near the subway stop Piazza Amadeo, and it was very convenient to get everywhere.

One other note: There were pairs of young people on the streets, especially around Spaccanapoli, who had bright orange messenger bags filled with maps of the city and subways. They were smiling and eager to help tourists, Italian or otherwise. The ones we spoke with were college students. They loved their city and they wanted others to enjoy it as much as they do.

Napoli! Napoli! Napoli!!

Charity

quote:

stuff like this happens in the USA all the time.
Near where I live certain police officers have
been up on trial for doing the same sort of things.

Yup. I have mentioned before that Naples reminded me too much of my home town, Detroit where stuff like this happens all the time. Just as grimey also.

Charity, we got the apartment through a friend of a friend.
We also had a heck of a time (on our own) finding a place.
But a lot of middle class Italians are holding on to extra apartments for security and investments.
Our friend's parents also had an extra apartment but they had it rented out to students.
I'm glad you had fun in Napoli too.

Did you get to Pozzuoli or Procida?

they were fantastic in May but I can imagine
the press of the crowds in the summer would be something I couldn't deal with.
Pozzuoli is a seacoast town and Procida is an island off the coast of Pozzuoli.

My daughter and I went to Pozzuoli in March 2006. We walked around for about 3 hours trying to find the Archeobus or the #12 bus, but the tourist office told us that it hadn't run in 2 years. Ther tourist officer told us we could get to Cumae using the #12 bus in the port. We went to the port but couldn't find any bus stop for a #12 bus. We ended up walking back to the Metro stop dead tired. maybe it was because it was March, but we never saw any cabs at the cab stands or driving around. The scenery was beautiful, and Terra Rione looked beautiful from a distance. it is only open on the weekends.

we have rented www.fleagreahouse.com in the Bacoli area of Naples for 2 weeks in August and hope to visit all that Naples has to offer. I was abit apprehensive about this area but as there are 11 of us we simply could not justify the prices for a villa on the Amalfi coast sleeping so many. Looking forward to seeing your full trip report.

poet123,
Two slowtravelers live in Bacoli--Kim and Kevin Clark. My husband and I had an intimate Slowtrav get together (GTG) with them recently at a restaurant in Naples.

Do a search for them on Slowtalk and ask them any questions you have about Bacoli.

Charity