Recent Trip...Naples and Area

Flint and I caught the evening ferry to Naples a couple of weeks ago as he had some work there. Another person, car, truck, or scooter would not have fit on the Partenope. Extremely crowded with people sleeping under the stairs, on the sofas and every other empty space they could find. When we had made the reservation, a room wasn't available, but when we checked in....we were IN! Thank goodness! The rooms naturally are small, but there is a bed and bath with a shower.

The dining room food was not as we remembered. If we do this again, we'll picnic (as we did on the return.)

Our new travel companion, Stella, didn't do too well on her first outing. Not sure which stars she steered by, but, we made it where we needed to go. Before thirty minutes passed at our destination, we ran into five former Sigonellans!

Plan for my day alone:  The Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii.
I recently learned its story, and the fact that it came to be out of the good works of lay people impressed me. In my eagerness to get there, I took the crowded train to the Pompeii Scavi (ruins) rather than the one into town. However, I enjoyed my 15-20 minute walk along a wide avenue lined with huge oleanders beside the ruins to get there.

I think that the Sanctuary may be my new favorite. Very tranquil. No tour groups or if they are, they maintain silence. Everyone praying. I hesitated to take pictures and didn't until I was ready to leave. Even then, I stayed in one out of the way spot.


Along the outer corridor are votives and pictures of various situations where the intercession of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii was invoked...tree falling across a car, hemmoraging profusely during surgery, falls down stairs, boating accidents....several had full heads of hair framed with them...not sure about those situations.

Mass is offered every hour in the Chapel of Blessed Bartolo Longo, the man whose work helped bring all of this about. He lies in a glass coffin under the altar. Two couples renewed their vows during the service I attended. Beautiful music led by one man at a keyboard.

I ate at a little place across the piazza where I could enjoy the exterior of the Sanctuary. The deepest green olives as a garnish on the caprese may have been the best I've ever tasted.

Short walk to this train station and a short wait before the train back to Napoli. However, gypsies boarded this one. An older female carrying a baby asked for money, of course. I pleasantly said, "No, grazie," like I was not accepting her offer for me to hold the baby....she wasn't impressed. The man and woman who had just sat down beside me moved to the next car inviting me to join them.

For supper, 'the men' invited me to join them at a pizzeria where I tasted my first fried pizza. Delicious!!! Very pleasant group, too, with lots to talk that wasn't work related.

Exterior of Basilica of Pompeii

Detail of Basilica

Above the entrance

Even with scaffolding, there were so many details to see.

San Giovanni Rotondo...The town where Padre Pio spent the last fifty
or so years of his life.

Detail over door of the old chapel

Old church is on the left

Steps leading to Stations of the Cross

Bee getting a sip of water

On the road again...we stopped at Il Parco as we were in the land
of mozzarella di bufala. Can you imagine milking these
girls?  I can't, but we're grateful some people don't mind!
After visiting, 'the girls,' we drove on to the next place
that might serve food. Tenuta Chianchito turned out to be one of
the best meals...ever!



Following are views of Pietralcina, birthplace of Padre Pio (now Saint), and the surrounding area. The marriage announcement caught my eye....many more posters of the happy couple, but not with the distinct look of that one. The man in the picture with Flint is a relative of Padre Pio. We ate at his trattoria. After another night in the area, we caught an emptier ferry back to Catania.