Naples, Italy

Determined to work off some of the sneaky little kilos that seem to have attached themselves to us (thanks, Italy!), we trained before setting off on a three-hour walking tour around Naples. The city was buzzing with energy—noisy, chaotic, and undeniably alive. We made a few stops along the way to snap some photos of the imposing Mt. Vesuvius in the distance. It’s one of those landmarks that feels eerie and majestic all at once, especially knowing the history it holds.

Back in the heart of the city, we were given an hour of free time to explore on our own. We wandered over to Piazza del Plebiscito, which was absolutely massive. On one side stands the grand Church of San Francesco di Paola, with its neoclassical columns and sweeping facade, and on the other, the Royal Palace, lined with statues of former kings of Naples. It made for some great photo ops, but after soaking in the sights, we had only one thing on our minds—pizza.

Tasting authentic Neapolitan pizza in its birthplace has been high on our bucket list, and we weren’t about to miss the chance. We found a nearby café, ordered a couple of pizzas and two cold beers, and honestly, it hit the spot. The crust was chewy and blistered just right, the toppings simple but flavourful, and the beer perfectly chilled. Pizza in Naples? Tick.

As much as we enjoyed the food and the view of Vesuvius, I have to say—we weren’t overly impressed with the city itself. It felt gritty, chaotic, and unfortunately quite dirty in places. Many areas seemed neglected, and we were warned ahead of time not to wear any expensive jewellery or flash valuables around due to the high risk of pickpocketing. A shame, really, because there’s clearly so much history and character here beneath the rough exterior.

The highlight of the day, without a doubt, was Mt. Vesuvius. I wish we’d had time to visit Pompeii, but with our tight schedule, it just wasn’t possible this trip. Definitely something to come back for.

We ended the evening with dinner and drinks with Tracey and Pete (our Kiwi mates we've met), and, as these things often go, it turned into a much later night than we intended—especially considering the early start we had the next morning. No regrets though. Good company, good laughs, and good wine always make for the best memories.Baca lagi