Back to Naples.....
I headed to the Napoli Cathedral. It truly took my breath away with its astounding beauty. I seem to just walk right into everything on this trip… I do not know if it is just a brilliant design by the city or it is just the natural timing that I luckily have….but I was able to see the beautiful nativity scenes and wood carvings…the talented locals you can see in their shops working on a new piece-painting or building…there were houses and all kinds of figurines….many red hot peppers….
Had some amazing Pistachio and Fiore gelato…smaller portion
for me because I am a tourist of course….
Went to a nice art gallery
Went to Domenico church
Went to Chise church…
Went to the church for mass that looks like an expensive
building outside
Went to Sapori grocery store and bought pistaccio cheese,
truffle cheese, caviar, salami, and prosciutto and eggplant Milanese…
It is just better to eat from the grocery store and eat from the locals at home....big expensive restaurants are overrated and not preferred to eat in alone, especially with Italians-no thanks. Like my friend said, they would probably be laughing about me back in the kitchen. They are a bit intimidating at this point- restaurants, cafes, and overall service type atmospheres- they make me feel a bit nervous because I am so extroverted and I just have to be quite, reserved, and order. I do not know what their mood or attitude will be towards me so I just become shy now.
The churches were like
God, “Today is the day, I’m going to give you peace and you are going to
connect with me.” The paintings, the stained glass, the sculpture-the various
depictions of Mary and Jesus…I felt much more connected to these churches than
in Rome…it was like I was taken to the moments of Jesus suffering…the pain, the
struggle, the suffering depicted in every intimate way…it was a very divine
experience from one church to the next… not one positive or memorable
interaction other than the lady who asked her friends to move over so I could
sit down at mass…that was really the extent of it….
It felt like I was stuck from one tourist street to a next
with many people….it was nice seeing each and every church along the way… My
host jokes that it is Pizza, bar/café, and church just going down the streets.
There were some antiques, art, and Africans selling sunglasses and fake purses
on every corner…
It feels like when you walk around people are just always
shouting and the rest of Europe is not like that at all…even in Spain they are
alive, warm hearted, and they are loud, but not like Italians. Everyone knows
everyone and you always hear a Ciao bella on every corner…It is really nice the
sense of community, but is there community so close they can’t let tourists
into the equation…it is an interesting concept to think about….too much
community…is there such a thing?
Italian people believe in auspicious behavior…There should be
12 people sitting at the table or 14, not 13 because of the Last Supper. There
were 12. Black cats are bad luck…no umbrellas in the house…don’t try and give
yourself luck or buy luck for yourself. Give it as a gift to someone else.
Keeping it is bad luck for yourself.
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