Naples, Italy Part 1
How do I get to and from the airport? I am an inexperienced flyer and need to know how to get there and back if I don’t take a taxi or Uber/Lyft, which can be very expensive.
Today’s Destination is Naples, Italy Part 1
Today’s Misstep- I took the Subway in the wrong direction.
Travel Advice: Use Chat GPT for travel ideas, but verify the results
FAQ: I haven't flown since the pandemic. How do I get to and from the airport? Every city is different, right? I know my home airport, but the others are a mystery.
Answer: One of the best ways to get information about airports is to contact the airport directly and see what options are available.
Many cities, such as Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco, are linked by rail, so it’s easy to navigate. Dallas has a train to one of the airports, and you can take a bus from that airport to Love Field, where there is no rail.
Other cities have different ways to get to and from the city. I live in San Diego, and they have a “Flyer” bus that runs for free from the airport to a bus terminal in Old Town. It runs every 20 minutes, but don’t expect help with your baggage. The driver works for the Airport, and it’s a temporary route until they figure out how to get a light rail to the airport. Most airports have good directions and clear signage, so know what to look for when arriving and departing.
Taking an Uber/Lyft or taxi can be effective for traveling to the airport if you’re in a hurry, but you can still hit traffic jams, so be prepared.
Today’s destination: Naples, Italy Part 1
Naples, Napoli is about an hour from Rome by train.
It’s an Under-rated city. Some rough edges may exist, but give it a chance.
It’s a city not to be missed. It’s a Step 5 trip because you need to be experienced as a traveler to be here solo.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/campania/naples
My new Servas friend Rossana has lived in the Vomero neighborhood for 20 years.
Here’s some more background. The third-largest city in Italy is full of history, art, architecture, and delicious food, yet it gets a bad rap for its crime and grime. While these blemishes are a reality for residents, they're far from ubiquitous, especially where tourism concerns them. Find higher ground at places like Certosa e Museo di San Martino, and you'll be rewarded with spectacular views. Stroll the Via Caracciolo e Lungomare di Napoli as I did for a full day, or chat with friendly locals like Rossana, and you'll experience some of the magic this port city holds. And, of course, you can't forget the joy that comes from that first bite of Neapolitan pizza (in the city credited with inventing the pizza), nor that perfect gelato.
https://www.amoitaly.com/napoli/vomero.html
The Art Stations, distributed along Metro lines 1 and 6, include more than 180 pieces of art created by 90 international authors and local architects, allowing them to combine different architectural styles. I often used the Quattro Giordano metro stop. If you don’t ride the subway, you miss all of these.
Mappatella Beach is where I went swimming along the coast.
Via Chiaia (Vee-ya, Kaya heeya) district is a high-end and strolling area.
https://www.visititaly.eu/places-and-tours/district-chiaia-naples
Art Museum with Toledo.
Beautiful old and pop art.
Rossana is retired, volunteers with kids, and lives with two cats.
She has a lot of fruit and energy. She picked me up at the train station.
People are happy here.
O Solo Mio (music sfx) translated means the sun is first in front of me. https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/o-sole-mio-lyrics/
Naples has Emotional people. Soccer teams that win. They were winners in 2023, and I experienced the excitement and drama.
https://sscnapoli.it/en/league-standings/
Spaccanapoli – literally, “Naples splitter” – is the bustling narrow street that traverses Naples’ Centro Storico (historical center). Buzzing Vespas, neighbors debating politics from opposing balconies, tiny artisan workshops humming with the noise of hammers: Spaccanapoli is the vibrant heart of this irresistible city.
You will see some stunning coast views near Piazza Sannazzaro, down Posillipo’s hill..
https://www.italia.it/en/campania/naples/posillipo
I explored the coastline and found the boatyards. I wanted to go swimming, kayaking, and play tennis on clay at this Private club. I saw the wall-to-wall entire trophy case at this Country Club along the coast in Naples. However, I was asked to leave since I was not a member. It was lovely, though.
Further strolling revealed naked people sunbathing on the rocks. Three huge ships resembling buildings were in the port.
That night, for dinner, Cod and tomato sauce, squash with garlic, and a specialty Napoli drink.
One of the nicest feelings I ever had was from a simple Chinese head massage tool, so I bought two when I got home.
Today’s Misstep: I took the Subway in the wrong direction because I did not realize there were three levels instead of two. Don’t make my mistake. Ask if there’s another level before you board the wrong train. And if you are wrong, you can always go back in the other direction.
Today’s Travel Advice- Use Chat GPT for travel ideas, but verify the results
If you’re not using AI, you could miss out on some great hidden gems for your travels. I bet your tour guides use this tool to learn some secrets and factoids for their upcoming tours. So why keep yourself in the dark? Use Perplexity or whatever AI program you like best, and explore before you leave home. However, do check the responses for hallucinations.
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