Bella Napoli

I have officially fallen in love with Italy.

I was giggling very loudly as I walked on the cobblestone's back to Spence's apartment tonight...I'm sure to the Italians--that I look like a freak. I'm bundled up, holding my pink water bottle (aka: the bite & suck), have just one headphone on blasting Taylor Swift, carrying sacks full of groceries over my shoulder, and laughing alone to myself. I couldn't stop laughing though...because my life is fabulous. I'm in Italy, I'm in heaven, I don't think I could possibly be happier!

Why do you like this place?

That's what the girl at the pharmacy asked me today (she was my age and helping to translate for me).

What is it about Italy?

I told her it was everything, it's the culture here, and I couldn't possibly narrow it down...

It's the air. It's the smell of the bakeries, the fish stands, the ocean...even the second hand smoke I constantly inhale as I walk behind someone.

It's the people. It's the sassy women yelling back and forth from their opposing storefronts. It's the groups of Italian men and their vespa's on the corner. It's the owner of each cafe standing in their doorway to talk to you when they aren't serving anyone. It's seeing men wear tight pants, scarfs, and kissing their friends check all while maintaining their masculinity. It's watching men walk on the street so their woman can walk on the sidewalk. It's the kids yelling in Italian and running down the street.

It's the lifestyle. It's the fact that from 1-4 everything in this town shuts down...even though most places didn't even open until 11. The bank probably takes the shortest break--and that's an hour and a half. People go sit in their cars and read or nap. Couples take a walk along the shoreline. They enjoy themselves. Dinner is always late and the drinks are a plenty.

I realized I was in love while walking a side street in downtown Napoli yesterday. I had just spent 30 minutes on a rock bank along the ocean. I made myself go sit on a rock because I was crying and thinking about how easy it would be to just buy a plane ticket home...my emotions had been running high and they got ahold of me. That 30 minutes and the mess of the rest of my day has completely opened my eyes though, WOW! Let me tell you about yesterday's highlights! :)

Adventure in downtown Napoli:

I got kicked off a bus at Castle Nuovu after a misunderstanding with the bus driver.

I had only $15 euro to last all day (and I was lucky to even have that because it was from Spence after the atm failed) After $6 for bus tickets, $5 for the phone card, $3 at the internet cafe...I didn't even have enough for a cappuccino with my $1 left, so I bought a flower. No one accepts Visa so I didn't buy anything to eat/drink all day, thank God for the power bars in my bag!

I got lost for three hours wondering in those "scary" streets the tourist books tell you to avoid because of the high crime...and loved every second. I got to watch people buying their groceries from stores that are smaller than my bedroom. Old men hanging their laundry to dry. People pausing at the mini-sanctuary's that are somewhere on every street to pray. Old women sitting on wooden chairs in their doorways. Craftsmen churning out their furniture inside of their work shops.

I took pictures of the dogs in front of monuments and just at every opportunity possible.

Argued with a payphone.

Confirmed the following life changing realization: I don't need anyone. Granted, I did learn from the divorce that I don't need a man (and for those of you who see my dating as proof otherwise---let me assure you I just find dating extremely entertaining). But I don't need anyone to be happy or to be ok. When I had my little breakdown on the shoreline, I couldn't call my Dad. I couldn't call a girlfriend. I had no one and I had to deal....and I was just fine. In fact, it has been extremely refreshing to be even more independent in Italy than I ever have had before. I like it! :)

Napoli is not tourist friendly city. Very few people speak english. There are literally piles of trash, just about everywhere. While in Roma the cats were running wild, here it's stray dogs. People smoke everywhere and you seem to inhale it every street you walk down. Motorcycles will just about run you over, so look both ways and run. No one accepts a bank card of any type so you'd best have cash.

Despite it all..I love this area! The scenery is not just amazing, it's breathtaking. The towns outside of Napoli like Bacoli (the one I'm in) are quaint and quite. No chain stores, nothing looks the same, you even feel like you are breathing a different air, and despite the language barrier--everyone is really friendly.

Staying with Spencer has been fabulous. Spencer is an American friend who took me in for the week. Not only did he take me in but has been going way above and beyond. Spence is a government contractor for the Navy (he used to be in the Navy but got out last year and wanted to continue living in Italy) so he works mon-fri, 8-4. During the day he's either dropped me off at the airport so I can hop on a bus downtown or I've relaxed at his place. After work, Spence has been taking me out with his friends to different places or we've relaxed at his extremely gorgeous ocean view apartment where he cooks us the most amazing Italian food.

It is definitely interesting spending the week here. Spence also happens to be incrediably good looking, intelligent, successful, fun, sweet, and just about everything else...so of course, that would make any woman's mind wonder....

Well I'm off for the night, Spence and I are meeting up with a group of his friends for drinks. I can't post pictures right now, but promise too as soon as I can!

Oh ps: I'm going to Sicily on Monday and staying with a family of four in their 16 year old daughter's room. YAY!