Napoli

Really narrow streets, really crowded, really noisy talkative people, kids playing in groups on their own, boys playing soccer. Older boys on scooters. Mums sitting on chairs outside on the street. Clothes lines between buildings.

Into one of these narrow crowded Street drove the taxi driver. He ripped me off by giving me hardly any change then driving off.

And I was in another 10foot tall door in a courtyard, that is pretty dark and random and has doors going off in different places. I call my host, Melania.  In Italian - i wasn't expecting you for another half hour she says, I need to clean the room. Then I'll wait, I say. No come up, she says and repeats that I'm too early. But I don't know which door to go into, or which floor. She says, the one with the bicycle down the bottom.  So I find that and start pulling my suitcase up the stairs. I can't see Melania and I don't know where I'm going. When she sees me struggling with the suitcase, she comes out then tells me to attach the suitcase to this central chain in the stairwell.  I don't get it so she shows me then starts hauling it up. Turns out it's the 4th floor.

She sits me down then starts working, mopping, cleaning. She reminds me of Silvia in that pint- sized determined ball of energy who has to have everything just right. I just let it go.

Then I went out to explore twice. Twice I got lost.  Walked si much further than I should have - for nothing!

I was so pissed off. I'd been up early from Palermo, didn't sleep well in anticipation, walked to the station with my suitcases. Just missed the aeroporto shuttle bus. Next one would be cutting it too fine. Taxi Driver said 35 to airport but the said 20% extra because Sunday. I paid 40. Driver in Napoli chard 40 too. So the taxi fares cost more than my airfares.

Having been so pissed off I did share a bottle of wine with a Japanese Airbnb guest here too, called Kai.  He works in video you tube industry and was visiting Cannes for tv industry awards.

Beddy Byes