Naaples

[me]

having read some stuff on this site, i'd planned to give Naples a pass. Just go to the Airport.

But, there's an article in NYTimes.com from 15 June that descibes Naples as an interesting plaace to visit.

Any comments?

[snorkelman]

Not too much to see in this city – maybe see the Museum of Anthropology.

[LHR02]

The only place in 4+ months that I was 'nervous'.....and in the train station at that! I had planned to stay a couple of days there, the atmosphere in the station was/felt so 'threatening' to me that I checked for another train out, waited a few hours and hit the road. Of course, it is more than likely that it was simply me being a willy nilly.....but absolutely no where else in Europe had my antennaes humming so loudly to get out of there! And I trust my inner judgement when traveling, if a place does not feel right, I find another place. Such it was with my visit to Naples.

[Kim]

I totally agree. I was not down with the dirtiness or the chaotic frenzy. We didn't hang around long either as it just wasn't our style. Headed to the Isle of Capri, which was gorgeous.

As far as the driving goes, I have never in my life seen crazier drivers or traffic. Holy crap, we rode in a taxi somwhere and it was a death wish. I actually had to close my eyes.

Kim

[Patrick]

It seems that the taxi drivers in these foreign countries know their vehicle's dimensions down to the millemetre.

I've been on a few of the rides where they decide they'll pass on a two lane road even though they're driving right into oncoming traffic... (taxi driver's head says "it's okay... we'll make it")

[karlhoh]

I think Naples is a great city. Admittedly, the great tourist sites - Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mt Vesuvio, Capri, Ischia, Procida, Sorrento and the Amalfi coast - are all outside the city centre, but Naples itself is also worth a visit. There are two castles (at least), an old town that maybe isn't the cutest you've ever seen, but in its own way very picturesque, and of course the archeological museum with some of the most amazing finds from the excavations in Pompei and Herculaneum.

But the area in and around the train station could make anyone feel a little bit nervous. Fortunately, the rest of the city is much friendlier.