Napoli to Sorrento

After my grumpiness in Napoli the first day, I had a really good night's sleep in fresh sheets. (had been itchy scratchy in Palermo).

And I woke up with clarity and orientation. The previous night I'd polished off the Tears of Christ Vesuvius white wine with a lovely young  Japanese fellow called Kai. He'd worked in television but his more recent work was in marketing and translating funny cat and dog clips for YouTube.

He loved travelling and had a map of the world with red pins where he'd been and yellow pins where he'd like to go. He had it covered, even done seasonal work in Australia.

So my first mission was to go to the Chiesa of the Miseriacordia where Carravaggio had been commissioned to do 7 artworks under the circumference of the dome.  These related to things like healing, quenching thirst and feeding the poor.

Immediately Dad was with me. Whether through my thinking or through the soul, it was that Dad was so drawn to Carravaggio. And through looking at the paintings I could feel something about Dad. That dark view of life he seemed at home in.  He may have been a dark and shady person, Carravaggio (a murderer who was in love with young boys) but the feeling and expression in his artwork is incredible. The 'try hard' artworks in the gallery upstairs just didn't cut it. Dark anguish and cherub filled skies has to have something else to make it work.  Carravaggio had the x factor.

It was the first time since Dad died that I had a solitary place to remember and honour him. It was very special.

Walking along the narrow streets of Napoli with many tourists just like me, sensing the lively chaos. Enjoying the music and the super-junk. See Facebook.

Coming back to scassacocchi to collect my gear, being lowered down 4 floors with Melania controlling the chain. And actually walking in a straight line to the station. Holy mother of God! 

I get on the wrong train along with 4 other young Australians. We strike up a conversation about our respective travels, and then change to the correct train. They get off at Pompei.

I alight at Sorrento with a trainload of Tourists including women of a similar age.

At the Airbnb I meet a young Serbo-american girl called Alex.  My Italian comes in handy with the husband of our host who doesn't speak English, and I find myself translating.

After we settle in, we go out together for eats,and WIFI. No Wifi at the place.  We have a great meandering conversation over a great meal, sharing pizza, then go off exploring together.  It was really nice and I trusted her sense of Discovery and went with it. We ended up drinking lemon liqueur and lemon granita after doing heaps of window shopping. A really fun night.

Today I'm in Positano but I'll leave that for another time. Killing time while I catch the boat to Amalfi with vino and WIFI and use of bathroom.

Xx