Vietri Sul Mare

I was able to cross another place off my wishlist with a couple of trips to Vietri. It's a seaside town that is known for the handmade ceramics that are made there. The Americans here often go to the beach in Vietri to walk along the sand and collect sea glass and pieces of ceramic tile. Unused ceramics are tossed into the sea, the water wears the edges smooth and they become very unique treasures for us non-natives.

The beauty of this town can be seen before you even get down the hill to the beach.

Once down the hill and on the beach you can enjoy the sights that surround you.

The boys enjoyed running from the water as well as looking for "treasure."

Some of the things we found in the sand

After we found treasure, dug in the sand, and had a picnic, we walked across the street to the "gelateria" and cooled off with some yummy gelato before making the trip home.

And though the day couldn't have gotten much better, I got to check out a hottie in a speedo!

Springtime Italian Style

Growing up in California I was able to see the changing seasons, the leaves changing colors and flowers blooming. Prior to coming here to Italy I was in Arizona for 10 years where there are really only 2 seasons, cool and hellfire hot. So I haven't been able to witness the beauty of changing seasons for a long time. Italy definitely has the beauty. All the blooming trees and vibrant colors made driving through town past all the trash piles much more bearable!

Pasqua (Easter) is big here. Tons of chocolate goodies and different types of pastries are made especially for the holiday. American chocolate eggs have nothing on the Italian version. They go big! These eggs range in price from about $20-$50 and most are filled with some kind of surprise on the inside. Puts our little Cadbury's to shame huh?

And what would Easter be without little baby chicks?? Well I guess Italians are more into chickens than the cute little fuzzy chicks we are all used to. Giant chocolate chicken anyone?

Naples' dirty NOT so little secret

The Colosseum, Vatican City, the hills of Tuscany, The Leaning tower of Pisa, the canals of Venice. Those places are some of the beauty that is Italy. But in the southern part of Italy near Naples, where we live, the side of Italy that many people never hear about is right outside my back door. It's the reason that Naples has been described as "A beautiful woman with ugly feet." I'll let you be the judge.

My house is on the other side of that fence

Down the street from the hotel we stayed in when we first moved here.

This pile is on the side of a major freeway.

Yep. Those are old discarded refrigerators on the side of the highway.

The sights on the way to the base.

The sights on my way home from the base.

Anyone need a couch???

I've heard that the trash problem here has to do with the mafia being in control of waste removal. Someone told me it's the mafia's way of showing the people of Naples who's in charge. Up north towards Rome and above they do not have this issue with trash. It appears that garbage on the roadside is unique to the Naples area alone.

Lucky us. Fortunately, we live in an area of town that actually has a garbage man that comes by the house and picks up the trash. If we didn't, then we would either have to drive our trash to a central location where it would eventually be picked up, or we would be like all those other folks throwing our trash on the side of the highway too!

So....can you appreciate a beautiful woman with ugly feet???

Parco Virgiliano and Sybil's Cave

The little guys and I took a couple of day trips recently. One trip was to Parco Virgiliano in Pozzuoli and the other to Sibyl's Cave in Cuma. Parco Virgiliano was a beautiful park with an awesome view of the sea. It also had a small area where kids could skate or ride bikes and a small playground.

The ever present Mt. Vesuvius

The ageless Cumaean Sibyl was the priestess presiding over a Greek colony located near Naples, Italy. The cave is a trapezoidal passage over 131 m long, running parallel to the side of the hill and cut out of the volcanic tuff stone and leads to an innermost chamber, where the Sibyl was thought to have prophesied. 

Going up the stairs over the top of the passageway takes you to an overlook with a great view of Lake Averno and the sea.

The Island of Ischia

Ciao! Until the next day trip................