This plan of starting in the middle (Rome) going down and going back north in the same day really seemed perfect in theory...I just forgot that I would be the one doing it in practice. Woke up at 4:30am from nerves not wanting to be late to validate my YOUTH pass..hehehe. Got to see a short tour of my glittery drizzly Rome one last time on the 64 to Termini. (P.S. btw Josephine if you're reading this there are lots of discount clothing stores and affordable shopping en route to termini try the 64 route ^^) Validated my ticket and waited for my train chomping down on a brioche and tiny cappachino (roma style standing up). Took train to Napoli sitting beside cute italian baby and equally cute italian parents...the father was so obviously hopelessly in love with his wee bambino that he felt the need to press rassberries to the child every (no kidding) 3 min or so. Obviously didn't get much catch up sleep, but a nun was very helpful in helping me find my seat. She seemed to approve so much of my choice of going to Napoli that I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was just going for Pompeii.
Naples (around the centrale stazione) reminds me of the worst aspects of New York. If you are going basically act like you know what you're doing regardless if that is true and don't encourage physical contact. Trying to check my bag at "left baggage" was like molested by the icky attendant guy, blech. I promised in very calm English he would lose the hand if he tried it again...don't think he understood me...I was short on sleep....
I made it to Pompeii on one piece more or less and spent like 5-6 hours there...Huge ruins...the bodies were a little more disturbing than I imagined especially in the Villa de Misteri, went in for closer look and saw the facial features were convulsed in a look of terror pain....T.T, didn't take any more pics after that...Made it to train to Florence which was very very nice, sat next to a group of adults then for the second part of trip a very cute italian guy, whom I thoroughly enjoyed oogling (discreetly) until I fell asleep like five minutes later.
Archi Rossi is an amazing hostel at first site. Super close to the station with lots of promising looking eateries and markets, and has and inner courtyard and funky art and replicas of all the famous pieces of art from all over italy on it's walls and such...It's kind of awkward in my room though. 6 females sharing 3 squeaky bunks is awkward enough but two are Korean women and the other three are American. I am the only one who has made small talk to both parties and therefore am seen as the outsider to both....hmm hoping to get away from that during vaca...oh well. Sitting in the cafeteria (aka breakfast room)by a plaster copy of the discus thrower that I think I saw in the national gallery in london and just keeping up to speed. Florence !!!
