Naples, Italy

After catching the train at the Sperlonga station, I headed further south to Naples. I went to the tourist office, picked up several brochures (they were free - yippee, usually they're not) and called Giolianno. I was surprised to hear him speak English back to me. Wendy had reserved a room at his bed and breakfast for two nights and told him I would need a ride from the train station.

Giolianno picked me up and drove me to the B&B a short distance from the train station. After I was settled, Giolianno and I went on a walk down to the train station so I would know how to get there. Then he drove me to the bank (banco) so I could pay him - cash only, and then gave me a tour of the Napoli area.

Unfortunately, my stay in Naples was too short - only two nights. Each day I went out to see different sights in the neighboring areas (Capri and then Pompeii) so I was not able to see the sights right within the Naples area. The neighborhood where I stayed was decent enough and felt safe. I had been warned by all that pickpockets were rampant and that I must never carry anything valuable on me when out and about. I didn't run into any problems during my stay but I was extremely careful and always on the lookout.

The first night of my stay I went out to dinner at a restaurant just around the corner - I figured it was safer to stay closer to the B&B so I wouldn't get lost. While reading over the reading I noticed a man eating by himself and asked to sit with him. He said yes and we ended up having a nice dinner together. He spoke English quite well although I think he might have had a slight disability of some sort. He was very nice and eventually offered to pay for me - I said no but he insisted. He was nice enough but was quite awkward and became even more so when he asked if I would go sleep with him in at his house (he lived with his parents). I said no although I obviously didn't make it clear enough because he texted me the next day asking the same thing. Just my luck . . .

Giolianno was also quite a character although I didn't manage to get a photo of him. The last day of my stay he had asked that I let him know when I would be leaving for the train. Not able to call or text him with my French phone , I asked the young couple also staying at the bed and breakfast if they could call Giolianno for me and let him know I couldn't. They did and Giolianno sbut apparently Giolianno didn't understand (even though they spoke fluent Italian) so he became worried later on that night when I didn't text him back. He eventually came over to the B&B where I had already gone to bed. He pounded on the door (I had already gone to bed) and when I let him in he wanted to know why I hadn't texted him. I told him my phone was no longer working and that had been why I had the young couple call him. He said he had been confused and was worried and me (being slightly irritated having been woken up) told him I would take the morning train at 8am. He asked "why so early?" and then asked why I was already in bed - he came into my bedroom and sprawled on the bed and asked what I had done that day. I was definitely surprised at his forwardness and exclaimed I was trying to go to bed, because I was tired and I had to get up early. This message was apparently hard for him to understand because he asked several more questions (while I stood there in my pjs and mouth full of retainers - he was probably trying to hit on me and I was just shocked and slightly half-asleep). He finally realized I really was going to bed and said it had been nice to know me and that would I please tell Wendy his place was good because it was important to his business (he must have already made this request to me several times before). I said yes of course and then he insisted on a kiss goodnight before departing. Like I said quite a character.

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