[Dec. 2024] The day after visiting Ercolano (Herculaneum), an archaeological site in southern Italy, we finally visited Naples.
I say “finally” because we had always had the preconceived notion that Naples was a scary place, and for a long time, I didn’t feel like walking around there at all.
But during our 10 days stay in Sorrento, we wanted to see Naples at least once, and we had heard that places that tourists go to aren’t that dangerous.
Still, we were somewhat on guard, so when Ivan, our guide at the Ercolano ruins, volunteered to be our guide in Naples as well, we agreed straight away.
It’s much safer to walk with locals.
Maybe we looked like easy targets and good opportunity to him.
It wasn’t cheap, at €220 for the morning and afternoon tours.
By the way, the night before, my husband was doing some quick research on Ivan on the internet, and he was shocked.
Not only was he from the same hometown as my husband, which is on the outskirts of Milan, but he even lived on the same street.
That is why when we met in Ercolano, he knew a lot about the small town in Northern Italy where we live.
When my husband told about that to Ivan, who was waiting for me at the ticket gate of the Naples station, he was also shocked.
My husband and Ivan were walking around Naples, asking each other, “Do you know that one?” and “Do you know this person?”
Being a generation apart (Ivan is young), it seemed difficult to find common ground, but in the end, it seems that the only mutual acquaintance was Giuseppe, their karate teacher.
They were so close to each other, living on the same street, but that’s what makes it a city.
Ivan spent up to his high school years in Northern Italy, and then moved to Naples alone for university.
He stayed at his grandmother’s house and went to university.
Apparently, his parents are still in Northern Italy.
He said that although he was born and raised in Northern Italy, he is 100% Neapolitan at heart.
In fact, watching him, it seems he can’t help but be proud of Naples.
First, he started by boasting about the metro stations.
Apparently the stations are modern in design, and each one has decorations based on historical motifs related to the area.
It was a Saturday, and there were a lot of people.
It was so crowded that it was difficult to even buy a metro ticket, so we bought one with our credit card.
The metro cost €1.50 per ride.
