Pizza in Napoli

I had prepared a trip guide using the ‘Michelin Maps’ but it was not much use as it does not have enough detail of the small roads that can lead one astray, but luckily Adam spotted some green signs that indicated the way to the Autostrada and we knew that once we got onto the Autostrada via the Grande Annulare (big ring road) we would be on the right track. Adam had to duck and dodge a bit to continue to follow the green signs as often they were placed after an intersection confirming you had made a correct choice but a bummer if you did not. With hindsight I think one should just keep going in a straight line unless something else is definitely indicated, not a guarantee, but I think it will improve your chances of success.
We found ourselves on the A12 which appeared to be a major divided road out of Rome and made us quite hopeful. By now it was about 1020 and we were surprised to see a young girl by the roadside in a very short skirt, fish net stockings and a very cropped top and plenty of make-up. “Must have had a late night out and is now trying to get a lift, very risky”, concluded Sheila. A few hundred metres along the road we saw another couple of girls also standing by the roadside and also wearing very little. “Really must have been a big night” ventured Sheila. Adam and I burst out laughing, “they are hookers” we explained; but we had to admit that it seemed out of place for the increasing number of scantily clad ‘ladies of the night’ to be plying their trade on a Saturday morning.

We had a laugh imagining the various Marios and Giuseppes telling the spouses that they had run out of petrol for the mower and were just nipping down the garage to get some fuel, a whole new spin on the Saturday morning chores.
The road signs continued to be very confusing, but as long as we kept a keen eye out for diversions to Napoli (Naples) we kept on the right track.
Upon request, from Rosalind and Sheila, Adam pulled into a Auto Grill, that is a petrol and eating place on the motorway so the ladies could get a toilet break and also some cold drinks as it was a warm day and although the car climate control was excellent everyone still got very thirsty. We made very good time often doing 180 kph which was about the standard speed of the fast lane traffic. On the way we could clearly see the Abby on top of Monte Casino, the site of a very fierce battle in World War II. It looks very imposing and another site that I would like to visit one day.
As we were making such good time and would not be able to get into the villa in Positano until after 1700 Adam suggested that we leave the motorway and head into Napoli for lunch and eat some pizza that originated from Napoli.
Formed by an immense crater, the Bay of Naples provides both shelter areas and others exposed to the elements; sheltered by the curve of hills to the east which create a natural semi-circular amphitheatre, but open to the sea. Much of the coast line was used by Homer as a setting for the Odyssey. Mt Vesuvius stands guard over a bay which owes its beauty and characteristic curves to the volcanic eruptions.

Sheila in front of the bay at Napoli with Monte Somma in the background the cone of Mount Vesuvius is in effect inside Monte (Mount) Somma.



After parking the car on the front we walked back past the Castel dell’Ovo; the oldest castle in Napoli built on the islet of Megaris. In the 5th century , a community of monks founded the San Salvatore monastery, the only remaining part of which is the church. The oldest part of the castle (‘egg ‘castle from its shape) dates from the 9th century. The present appearance is the rebuilding carried out after 1503.

Castel dell’Ovo




On the way to lunch we passed many brides posing for some of their wedding photos



Our Napoli pizzas



After lunch we walked back to the car and then kept driving around the edge of the bay. As we entered some of the more maritime industrial areas it was looking a bit grotty so we sought out the Autostrada which we followed for only a few kilometres and then took a slip road off to head for Sorrento and the Amalfi coast.