Horizons Broaden With Travel and Food!

It’s always refreshing to see and learn how others do things better.

Buongiorno! Come Sta? Bene, Grazie!

Our day started about 7:30 am. After a nice breakfast we took a taxi for an easy ride to the train station Roma Termini which took around 10 minutes and cost around 9.40 euro plus a small tip. Train travel so enjoyable! It must be one of the most relaxing ways to travel especially in Europe. They do train travel very well, a streamlined experience. We heard train travel can be a bit delayed in Italia at times, so far, no problems.

Our day trip from Roma departed at 10:00 am after gazing out the window at the beautiful countryside (impressed with the hay agriculture here) we arrived at Napoli main train staion Napoli Centrale at 11:16 am. Gennaro was patiently waiting for us. So good to see his familiar face after spending the previous day with him in Roma he truly is like a good friend of ours now!

Reserve a Napoli Food Tour with Gennaro! https://www.withlocals.com/it/host/gerrib57d4e6718/

We hopped in his car and wow were we in for a totally different experience…Napoli is a fast paced, chaotic city, quite diverse. Lots of traffic cars, trucks, vespas, scooters, pedestrians all trying to use the same roads and intersections. So glad Gennaro was driving in his home city he is a pro driver especially when parallel parking, he can squeeze his vehicle into the Smallest spaces with just inches to spare (or less!). (Tip: If renting a car in Italia, smaller the better will make your life easier.)

*Gennaro's parking skills…the best and he knows it lol!*

Why was Napoli on our list of places to visit in Italia? Considering Napoli is the birthplace of Pizza it seemed like good enough reason to visit, plus there is Espresso!

*Dark, rich, density alittle thicker than Roma*

Our first stop was for quick taste of the local Napoli doughnut, small and cookie like. Imagine a combination of butter, almonds and pepper…it really worked together well. Delicious! We picked it up at “Leopoldo" and enjoyed it on the go. This was just a small part too the food tour, we will tell you more about the food later in this blog post.

Gennaro then navigated his car to a couple excellent high scenic spots overlooking the city of Napoli and the Bay of Napoli. What spectacular view! From these spots we could easily see the Island of Capri, Mt Vesuvius and the city of Pompeii off in the distance.

Napoli, Bay of Napoli and Mt Vesuvius in the distance…

*Island of Capri! “Imagine the face of a Lady who is reclining with her hair flowing behind her”…Gennaro description and it fits very well.*

Too bad we wouldn't be visiting these popular destinations this trip maybe some other time? We the drove down to the edge of the sea, the most clear beautiful water!

From the sea, we drove into the old city center to continue the main portion of the food tour that we had traveled to Napoli to experience. We managed to get the car parked once again and headed out on foot.

First up was the long awaited taste of the original Margherita Pizza. Perfecto! Bravo! So Delicious. As Gennaro pointed out true Napoli style is to fold the pizza in a wallet shape for easy eating on the go. See picture.

The Margherita is very simple, fresh Tomato sauce and super fresh Mozzarella cheese with optional fresh Basil. Gennaro told us sereval times there is Only One True Pizza, Napoli Margherita. Even Rome pizza is different.

Fresh Buffalo Mozzerella and Tomatoes. Unique to this region. Really good! ( Each Region has its own particular cheeses, meats, pasta, sauces, and wines that they make locally. Different food everywhere you go, not just the same Italian dish over and over again!)

*The shop were the Mozzarella came from.*

Our next stop the fish market (Pescheria Azzurra). Gennaro pointed out the different fish and named them. He ordered us a paper cone of fried seafood (shrimp, salmon, calamari, anchovies and a fried dough ball with seaweed). Just eat the shrimp shell it’s not bad we were told as I got my hands all dirty trying to get the shell off.

Napolitan Ragu a Sunday lunch tradition in Napoli. The mommas start cooking the meat sauce on Saturday. Beefy slow cooked tomato sauce over scialatelli pasta and topped with fresh Parmigiano. “Il Ragu Come Piace A Me”

Gelato once again! Gennaro realized that I really like it and took us to another Gelato place! Lemone Gelato for me and for Jeff's sweet it was a Neapolitan Rum Baba. ( a sponge cake soaked in a rum syrup) Quite good reminded me of the rum flavoring I use at home to make a rum butter sauce.

Then the Espresso of course! It is know here not to drink water after a espresso. Let the coffee taste linger…

Gennaro took us back to the train station. We said our good byes. ( Told Gennaro to come to Mississippi to visit! He has been to California, New York, and Florida. On business that is. He is a designer for Bridal Wear. A business that has been in the family for three generations. He was impressed that I sewed my own clothes.)

Took the train back to Roma. Back to our hotel to clean up a bit.Wondered the streets abit observing the difference between Rome and Napoli. Found a bite to eat. The place we were recommended was all booked and it was around ten. Had to search for something else that struck our fancy! After eating we walked to the Trevi Fountain after dark to take in the view. Totally worth it. Sometimes you have to put forth the effort and go even if you are weary! The chance may never come again…

Sorry for the delayed blogging we are falling behind hopefully ours days will soon allow us with more time to catch up….Arrivederci! Buone Notte!

Napoli

Firenze

Roamin Roma