June 5 – Salerno / Naples

This morning we docked in the port city of Salerno.  This is a small city and the provincial capital of the Campania province of Italy.  From here it is a short train or bus ride to Naples, Pompeii or the Amalfi coast. This was also the site where Allied forces landed in 1943 to begin the task or reclaiming Western Europe from the Axis powers.

I now have a new city that I nominate as the “Worst Place in the Entire Universe.”  Because we have been to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast before we decide to go into Naples to visit the archeological museum to view the ancient art discovered in Pompeii and other sites in Italy.

Naples can only be described as the dirtiest, noisiest and unsafe city that I have ever visited.  The stone buildings haven’t been cleaned since the beginning of the industrial revolution.  The air pollution from all the cars and motorcycles is intense unless you get off the main streets.  Attempting to walk in Naples is a suicide mission.  The drivers have no regards for rules and they've deemed that pedestrians make for good target practice. The amount of graffiti on the walls is disgusting.

It started when we got into the subway at the train station in order to go to the museum.  We were packed into the subway car like sardines.  As I boarded, I felt someone attempt to get into my back pocket.  So I swung my arm back and swatted the thief away.  When I turned around there was this middle aged lady with a smirk that suggested that it was no big thing.  I felt like slapping that silly smile right off her stupid face because I’m sure she wouldn't have wanted the police to come to her aid.  Fortunately common sense prevailed. 

The museum was a nice place to visit.  There were many statues and works of art that date back to the Roman Empire. It also included some works where Michelangelo had contributed.

Exhibits in the archeological museum of Naples

Exhibits in the archeological museum of Naples

After we left the museum, we went for a walk of the city centre.  We discovered a wonderful local market where residents were selecting fish for the dinner.   Even on this pedestrian walkway the motor bikes and scooters blasted up the street with no regard for other people’s safety.  All along the streets there were many local vendors selling goods that you would find in local flea markets.

Seafood market in Naples

Marg in the market street of Naples

We went back to the train station with plenty of time to get back to the boat before it left.  When it had not left after 15 minutes from its scheduled departure time, I started to get worried.  We then found out that someone had stolen an electric motor from the tracks and all the trains were stuck in the station.  We decided to try to find a taxi back to the ship, but when we were walking down the platform we were ushered back on board and the train left.  It was thirty minutes late.  Then about half way to Salerno the train stopped in the middle of nowhere.  Luckily it started up again in about five minutes. We did get back to the boat in plenty of time, but it was nerve wracking.

We were told that we needed to take our passports with us when we left the ship.  There were no passport controls that we encountered, so I can only speculate that the Italian authorities want to make the coronor's  job easier as he tries to identify the victims of the motor scooter target practice.