After saying our goodbyes, we left Monteferrante and Abruzzo on the morning of 30 August, Tuesday, and drove to Napoli. It was a beautiful drive with only two or three re-routings for highway construction. We arrived in Napoli around 1:00 PM and went directly to our B&B at the Palazzo Satriano which is right on the bay and close to many restaurants and shops.

Once settled in our rooms, we took off looking for lunch which we found at a waterfront restaurant outside on Via Partenope overlooking the bay and Castel dell’Ovo. Had the day not been so hazy, we might have been able to see the island of Capri. As it was, we could see Mt Vesuvius but within the haze and clouds.

After a couple of hours at lunch, we walked around the area to get oriented and to burn off a few calories. We were also looking for shops at which we might pick up leather products or clothing or anything else Italian! As the day began winding down and we returned to our apartments, our “next door neighbors” at the entrance to our palazzo (palace) were open. That would be “Oscar Leonessa,” our little bar for caffè in the morning and drinks in the evening. As you can see from the photos, we enjoyed our time at this bar – and it wasn’t just the convenience. We got to know the folk working there as well as Oscar “the lioness” who is the owner.

The next day, we all jumped on the “Hop-On, Hop-Off” tour bus as Jim and I believe it is a great way to get an orientation and feel for a city in those cities that offer such a service. We began at the Castel Nuovo, the “New Castle” and one of three castles that guarded the city and harbor in the past. After completing the first of two routes, we jumped on a bus that would take us on a second route to other parts the city. After about 20 minutes, we jumped off to get lunch and found a neat little restaurant, courtesy of Chad, on via della Sanità. Can’t remember the name but the food was awesome, as you can see if not taste.

After our long lunch, we got on the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus, completed the second route and returned to our accommodations. A quick freshen up and down to Oscar’s again. We had a really nice evening for next to nothing in terms of cost and all the food you’ll see was free – as long as we continued to buy drinks! This was the night we actually met Oscar and this was also the night I had a most enjoyable drink, non-alcoholic to begin and then with a little help from my daughter and sister, small amounts of liquor as the night wore on! I don’t know what started the giggles but I was laughing until I was crying!

The next day, Jim, Simon, Connie, Michele and I took the funiculare up to Vomero which is a higher, more shaded and cooler part of the city – we girls to do a little shopping and Jim and Simon to visit Castel Sant’Elmo. Juli and Chad remained in the lower part of the city – shopping as well. Turns out, I think Juli made out better than the rest of us girls combined!

Simon, the “tour historian,” was in heaven. He studied so much of this country and its history in college but had never visited. I think he was overwhelmed at times. As I write these latest blogs, to catch up I might add, he and Michele are on the plane home but I’ll bet he never forgets this trip. We used a couple of guides for tours in Rome and he proclaimed that they knew what they were talking about when it came to the history and facts about the sites we were visiting.

After Vomero, we descended back down to the harbor where we had lunch at Antonio e Antonio, again right on the water. Connie, Jim and I had eaten at Antonio e Antonio when here in 2014 and they still live up to the reputation, as you’ll see in the photos.

The next day, Friday, 2 September, Connie flew to Scotland to visit her son and his wife, Chad and Juli spent one more day in Naples and Simon, Michele, Jim and I flew to Palermo.