Naples, Italy

The afternoon, we decided to wander into Naples and were grateful that our tour guide earlier had warned us that traffic rules are different in Naples. A red light doesnt necessarily mean stop. We noticed this after pressing a pedestrian crossing and the lights changing, first amber, then red and yet still the cars and streams of mopeds carried on driving through as though the light didnt exist.

We eventually managed to cross the road by running between traffic. It being a Sunday much of the city was closed but we walked as far as the central station and were sadened at the fact that this was a bygone city. Its buildings displayed a grandure that was no more. Buildings that were crafted with care in a once booming economy was left in pieces when there was mass emmigration to the United States in the 1940s. Today its facades were faded and worn, flakey paint clinging to the pollution stained walls.

Friends had joked that Naples was famous for its litter and I can actually say it was true. Not a street we walked was not completely covered in bottles, cans, papers. It was like noone cared. We walked past street venders with fake designer handbags and grimaced as they tried to get us to barter for their wares, eventually deciding to retreat to the ship for something to eat and drink and good shower to scrub up.

By the time we made it back to the ship the temperature was around 80 degrees and the sun was beaming strong and bright. We grabbed a bite and headed to the Lido Deck to find a spot to lounge and catch some rays.

As the ship sounded its long deep horn, a signal to any passengers that were not yet aboard that they were about to miss the ship a tannoy was announcing for a Mr Joseph Smith to please contact Passenger Services as he had not clocked back in. As the ships horn sounded a second and third time we wondered if Mr Smith were aboard, lost in Naples or actually just dozing in his cabin. We often laughed laughed that our neighbouring cabins were always maked as "Privacy Please". We swore they could be dead as we never saw them without the sign, day or night.

As the ships engines hissed into motion, something that caused the lights to dim if you were in the cabin but in regards to movement you didnt feel a thing we slowly started the sail out of naples and past mount Versauvius. Meanwhile as we stood on the deck watching the mountain, the ships port lecturer gave an all deck commentary from the Bridge of the thing we were seeing and a history thereof. Goodbye Naples & Pompei - Tomorrow Ajjacio.