Le Stanze del Vicere, a Napoli

Un’elegante residenza che si affaccia su uno spaccato della Napoli antica. Un’imponente scalone, realizzato nel ‘ 700 dall’Architetto Luigi Vanvitelli, conduce alla Residenza, che dispone di poche camere in stile moderno, alcune delle quali impreziosite da antichi affreschi.

There is a small guest book in a box on the table in the great lounge where we had breakfast and inside is beautiful places in Italy. This hotel is featured and the above is description. Elegant residence, in ancient district of Napoli. 17th century residence has been updated to modern rooms. Ceilings still have original fresco.

The staircase was designed by the same architect who designed the Trevi Fountain in Rome, or so I am told. Quite the history of this lovely old building!

Allora. Andiamo

Alrighty then, let’s go!

This morning as I woke to more emails about the offer on my condo, kind of not paying attention to my surroundings, I stubbed my little toe and fell hard on the marble step. When I say stubbed, I really mean that my baby toe on my left foot was at a forty five degree angle to my foot, bent way our of wack. The pain in my knee did not last as long as the throbbing as I tried to put my foot back to the way it should be. Gently coaxing the toe over to its toe companions. And the pain …..

So that commotion caused the other gals in my room to rise and it was not that early …. So everyone came to see what the matter was. Nurse Janie checked for signs of breakage and assessed a sprain, predicting toe blackening and much swelling. She went to Maxime in search for ice pack. In Italy space is always a premium. He was gone a long while to some place in the basement of this mansion, once palace, and had to chop off pieces of ice from a block. Oh my.

Returning with small hunks of ice in a bag and Aurelie wrapped in a towel, after applying reiki treatment, we applied ice and elevated the foot. I then showered and made the decision that walking the streets of Naples in the excessive heat today was not going to be pleasant with a throbbing foot and then if I had to return I would hold everyone up.

Travelling with five, we need to be considerate of our own needs and those of our companions. It is a fine balance. And it can be challenging to all participants. One of the other gals in my room, my dear friend and sometimes guest blogger, Debbie, decides she has had a rough night and wants to stay back as well.

There are worse things, for sure. The other three gals. After changing plans and outfits several times, (I love that about being a woman!), have headed off to see the museum of archeological history. We were going to do it tomorrow and yet when we checked, realized it is closed on Sundays and we all would have missed it anyway! It is so important to a few of the gals to see this museum … So important to go today.

Lessons learned: always check the hours for any activity or attraction when making plans. Especially when it really matters.

Today will be filled with mindful moments, perhaps more gluten free pizza, and Prosecco? Limoncello? Painting? Writing? And mindful presence in this place. To really experience this palace and the energy within.

I have so many thoughts about today and need and want the time to be present and enjoy these thoughts that rise and fall away, likes the waves of the sea.

Ciao ciao my friends, and family.

Ps. My toe is elevated and the housekeeper Piña has found ice cubes in the freezer and wrapped them in a towel and placed upon my injured two. She is a wise Italian woman ….. Grazie, Grazie I say to her. Prego, preto, she said in return. Ahhhhhhh

Pamella, my Italian version of my name!

Island of Ischia

Today after breakfast in the outdoor courtyard at our fabulous B and B we decided to take a taxi and go to island if Ischia. It requires a ferry boat, or as it turned out, a hydrofoil speed boat. Taxi driver was called by Maxine, our host. Off we went. Heat of the day already settling in, very warm and muggy. Sunshine and heat.

In port today were also Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas and NCL Spirit. Lots of folks checking out the city and likely heading to Capri, Pompeii and other sights around the area. The taxi driver was named Ciro. This area seems very old and not so well kept up … Today is a national holiday in Naples so many things closed today.

We caught a free shuttle and ended up deciding to take the hydrofoil over to the island, it takes about sixty minutes apparently. I sat up top and took pictures and enjoyed the sea air. I took pictures of the sea gulls and lighthouses, and the city as it disappeared from view.

When we arrived at the island, we walked along the boardwalk, very scenic and lovely dotted with restaurants and cafes. As we walked the vendors were I tested in getting our Euros. One suggested we have lunch at his place, gluten free pasta and he could arrange with an English tour guide to take us around the island. At two or three the shops all close for the afternoon, people go to the beach. And the. After five they open up till almost midnight for shopping in the cooler time of day. After consultation we agreed.

Lunch was great, sparkling water and gluten free penne with fresh tomato sauce … Yummmm. And our three hour tour with five of us in the taxi. This main town, Ischia, just celebrated 160 years of age with a big festival. The island was once a volcano and is now a crater … All natural protection in the harbour. There are 6 municipalities and we saw them all! Total population 65,000 in winter and upward of 250,000 in beach and summer season. Peppe was our driver and he said my name is pronounced Pamella, with emphasis on end.

The island is famous for the thermal healing waters and spas … And cosmetic creams made from same. Also terra cotta ceramics, and some wine! Not hearty enough for making Prosecco, I asked. However Limoncello is big here! And growing porcini mushrooms. Many piazza areas, the squares in town. Over a hundred churches. One of the towns is for the very wealthy tourists.

Miles of beaches we saw. We got out in several locations for the view. Two mountains still on the island and we drove to the top of the largest one. About thirty five km around the island and we went out to the coast many times. Winding switchbacks. Very interesting, beautiful and fun roads, with old architecture to look at. Also grapes hanging heavy on the vines, almost ready to be harvested.

One place we saw was hosting a wedding. It was a large church on the coast and is apparently open all the time. It was designed for a place for people to cry … For the losses from the seas. Mostly tourism is the main income on the island and second, about a quarter is from fishing.

Intriguing rock formations from the molten lava formed … And many buildings also made from the greenish stone. “Rocks in love “. Two huge rocks in the sea look like they are kissing. Another Elephant rock and Eagles Beak. There is a spot where the very hot natural water goes directly in to the sea and people come from all over to swim in that spot. For wellness there are lots of spas and areas to go where the water is famed to be best in the world.

We saw a lot of Greek influence, with the white washed homes, and also other nationalities over time have left their mark.

This is a place we should all visit and perhaps return there one day to partake of the healthy waters!

For now I am ready for bed. Oh, tonight I went out for a gluten free pizza at Starita, there is also one in New York! Wonderful

Ciao ciao, buona sera!

Pamella!

16 century palace, horses in the down stairs area once … So huge

At least twenty foot high ceilings. Shiny new marble floors! Spacious rooms. Balconies overlooking narrow alley type street. You could almost reach across and touch hands. The street is teeming with activity. Clothes lines …. There are buckets on e wall to be lowered to bring up groceries from street shopping? Easier than walking the plentiful old stairs! Also marble but very old. This is the most amazing place.

Iron gates at the entrance makes the place look abandoned. But inside, ah inside, it lives a vibrant life!

Today I went out on the balcony and said Bon giorno to a woman doing the same. She waved and reciprocated. Piacere!

Breakfast in the counts garden surrounded by orange trees, full grown and plentifully abundant with promise of fruit soon. Fresh made juice of carrot, orange, and lemon …. Cup of green tea. And some fresh cheese and a banana. The rest was great gluten products for the girls.

We have a plan for making decisions. Either all thumbs up, or down and if dissension, then we talk about it. Five thumbs up for island of Ischia today. Some kind of national holiday here?

Oh well,, away we go.

Piacere,

Ti amo! Andiamo!

Pamela
Xoxxo
Piña does cleaning and keeps the place

Arrival in Naples.

It is almost midnight. I am here!

Two of my dear travel buddies, as planned, met me at the airport and we brought a taxi to our bed and breakfast. I was a little traumatized by the driving of the cabbie. Seems red lights, stopping and speed limits are optional here! Open to interpretation …. He was listening to a football game on the radio. Janie had negotiated the cost of the taxi …. Wow! Garbage on streets, looks like they might be on strike?

We take for granted garbage removal where I come from. This is a very old part of Naples. Narrow alleys no wider than one car width and some garbage bags, grin.

Three of us arrive, each grab one of my bags and I think … Omg! This can’t be real…. I booked this? I am scared. They won’t tell me anything … I follow. Into an old old gate … Leading to more old inside … Like a huge high courtyard and I feel like I am in a well …. High sides all around …. Apartments? Old cement? Yucky, I think! I follow … We walk up flights of stone stairs. It is about 28 degrees and late in the evening … Muggy and hot. And now I am sweaty.

Then we step in. My breath catches in my throat …. Beautiful! This place is transformed on the inside. Marble shiny floors. An ancient painted ceiling … It is stunningly beautiful and huge and cool …. Two of the other gals are asleep. Jet lag will be with them a few days.

I am so very grateful for the two picking me up. I am not sure I could have done this without them. My heart could not have taken the stark contrast! I might not have gone in past the first door on my own! Lol

The rooms are spacious and clean. Mother table and eating / sitting area for all guests is breathtaking. I will post pics tomorrow.

I am greeted with bottled water and gluten free pizza left over. These are the best travel buddies EVER! I am so blessed. And grateful for my life.

Till the morning!

Love p

Offer on my condo.

What a day!

Piacere. I am so happy to be here.

Ti amo!

Pamela

I love airports. Listening to the sounds of foreign accents trying to be understood by English speaking servers, some of whom have strong foreign accents.

It is such a busy place and confluence of so many cultures clashing and banging in waves of motion. Mostly happy.

Wine and beer from different regions and areas of the world. Advertised, ordered, consumed probably based on local tastes from area of origin?

Outfits. American women, I guess, dressed in capris and t shirts looking like they are just going out for groceries … French speaking women in heels and dark suits as if having a business meeting of the highest import. How we dress indicates how we expect our day to turn out, perhaps?

I am sitting in a lounge area reading the destinations of flights, Turin, Marrakech, Mauritius, Lamaca, Antalya, Faro, Gran Canaria, Kos, Alicante, Arrecife, Agadir and the Isle of Man to name a few of the exotic names I see on the list departing Gatwick over the next few hours from this north terminal alone …. With either British Airways or EasyJet. How many people must travel by flight in any given day to other parts of the world?

One flight delayed for Luger six hours so far … Oh my. That would be disappointing if people have children to entertain, or connections to make, or people waiting anxiously for their arrival at the other end.

Purpose of travel? Family visits? Moving to new life in new location? Business meetings? Applying for new employment? Meeting that new special someone they met on line only, so far?

Like me? Travel to expand my understanding and explore the world and our human connection to it …. Www.womenholdinghandsaroundtheworld.com

Today? Bridging my holiday that started with Southampton a few weeks ago, fourteen nights on a Baltic cruise followed by four nights exploring and enjoying London UK. Two women from the club joined in this past few weeks and I met several more who hopefully will become travel mates in years to come.

Next is this flight to Naples where I meet with 4 other gals from Victoria BC Canada …. And to explore the area for three nights . The isle of Ischia, the city of Naples and one day trip to Rome by local train… Then joined by two more ladies in the travel club …. We will all join a GAdventures Tour to Sorrento for one week Local Living at an agritourismo, lemon farm. We will explore Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, the island of Capri and more …. Then five of us will pick up a rental car, drive south to Maretea to enjoy a week at a time share. I return home on 4 October.

I am most fortunate to be traveling with such wonderfully international women. Some are new to this form of exploration and some have been traveling the world for years and have welcomed the opportunity to travel as a group.

We will continue to develop relationships with one another and peoples of the world. Indeed I see us all linking arms, women holding hands with women around the world.

Thank you. Grazie.

Ti amo

Piacere.

Pamela

Wish you were here!

Many books are written and even more people search for a sense of community. Is it a natural drive? Probably. Is it insatiable? Not sure. Is it critical? Yes. It is critical to acknowledge and understand this human drive.

We all have it, or did, to some degree. Wanting to fit in when we found out there was more to life than our immediate family and our own toes to play with…. When we went to school or play dates…. Wanting to be accepted, even invited, to join in with others.

This early searching for belonging must have some long term impact on how it goes years later. Our sense of acceptance, inclusion and social fit-in-ness likely color show we see our belonging now.

Meetup.com is a social community designed for people to connect on line and arrange to meetup in person, usually for a common goal or stated purpose. In my case, women to travel together. Women to find a sense of community and to then make plans if possible to reach out to one another and then yes, even more so, to the rest of the world. To find ourselves belonging to a community even larger and more connected than first imagined or desired.

Womens Travel Club is not so much about just being for women as it is about the intention of women joining with other women for support and intention to understand women globally. Of course many women want to and actually do make plans to travel with their children, grandchildren, partners and friends …. Male and female alike.

I also want to find other travel bloggers and connect with those writers I feel are brilliant and possess and display a style I can relate to. I have started a meetup group for this purpose as well, a writers group.

I was picked up in a van (I had just said that I preferred a van to a bus). I always keep in mind that my thoughts become things. It was full, 6 passengers already in the back …. The driver says, I will have to sit in the front! Yeah! Feeling like I won the lottery! Comfy seat, great view and no problem with motion. Windy roads and quick driving, kind of fun really.

I had read Gatwick Airport is south of London. We cross he mighty Thames over a beautiful green and gold ornate bridge, but not in Center of town. I have never been this way before that I am aware. Names of areas are familiar posts on signs, Richmond, Kingston….

Duplexes and row housing, quite different from the densely populated area where I have been staying. More modern structures as well, looks more like home. I continue to see large signs “to let” and my mind reads ‘toilet’. Lol

Signs for ‘humps’ in the road instead of bumps. I notice the leaves are now starting very subtly to change with the season, a few gold leaves fall gently. Tree lined streets.

When in London I have been watching fashion. I love fashion. I see how I can make do with what I have and then it is how to put it all together that makes fashion. Lovely.

Now farming areas, and orchards, single dwellings and green trees lining the road. I am so grateful again for the front seat.

We enter Surrey. We head to a freeway … 8 lanes wide, four going our way. Then I see the first signage so far for Gatwick. It is still hazy out, but warm and promises to be the warmest day since our arrival. A note in the elevator for told of the weeks weather … Grin.

Heading to North terminal. I have already tipped the driver and he is very kind and attentive to me and unloading my luggage, explaining where I need to go.

I have arrived, and decide to unload my luggage and get boarding pass first… Even though I have a few hours to wait for my flight. I have been told the area after security is full of great shopping.

So off I go. Through security. Uneventful for me however challenging for some folks ahead of me that don’t understand about putting liquids in bags and only one each. They have to unpack. And sort and throw away … They clearly don’t get the instructions. However, they are out of the line now. I have done this enough to know that I need to remove my jewelry to get through smoothly. Done.

It takes me a few minutes to get put back together. And off I go in search of some food, maybe a wine and some water. I find it all at a Garfunkels up stairs. No wait. Stationed right behind the staff area so I get a view of the chaos. Ha ha.

Waves of business. No internet that I can figure out. I think there is a pay boingo spot, and I am remembering trips from my past when I tried this. Did it work then? Hmmmmmmmm.

Plans to get some Euros and spend my few British Pounds before I leave this airport later today.

Well, off to find my gate number and do some fashion watching and maybe shopping …… Then to meet the girls in Naples for an amazing Italian adventure for another few weeks.

Ciao tutti,

Ti amo

Pamela
Xox

Good morning and Bon giorno my dear blog friends,

It is time for a shift in my travels. Let me first tell you about yesterday.

I had a Royal day full of walking and mindfully exploring the historic and regal parts of London. We started with Starbucks coffee. I don’t actually drink regular coffee and this summer have discovered iced decaf coffee, sugar free vanilla with soy, easy ice. This is in keeping with my preference for Starbucks consistency and also dairy, sugar and caffeine free. A great drink anytime, even in London as it is always the same at Starbucks!

I had to get my nails polished and manicure as was experience breakage and they looked like it had been way too long since they were cared for. That was fun.

We returned to the museum of Natural History and entered the special exhibit about the last million years of Britain, including the history of peoples in this area. So interesting in learned about the ice ages and severe changes in climate and how it affected early peoples. There were studies very recently reporting new findings and discoveries about migration and DNA history. Fossil evidence of 900,000 years old. I saw the inside of a woman’s scull maybe 400,000 years old … Wow, markings from blood vessels and brain on inside. I saw mock ups of women of that day. Most of the years people did not evolve back then …. Same same same for thousands of years. In the last twenty thousand years or so, Britain has been inhabited and look at the changes! Wow. So interesting. Worth a google! I notice the display is over end of September so I am so glad to have been here at this time.

We took a walk from there to and through Hyde Park. The first major attraction was Kensington Palace and I have pictures of the grounds and signage. Then saw Albert memorial and Albert Hall …. On route to the memorial fountain for Diana. That was powerful and I loved the peacefulness of this place. It is well done and I think honours her!

Further walking through the whole park and off to Buckingham Palace … On our way we got hungry and stopped in an old English pub. I notice similarities, although this one was called, Bag O Nails ….

And a leisurely walk through the gates and grounds of the Queens residence. She is off in Balmoral Scotland this time of year. Interesting today is the vote … First time in three hundred years, for Scotland to decide if they want independence from Britain. I hope not …sigh. They vote today.

Following that we scouted out the route following more of Hyde Park, Speakers Corner, and then down Knightsbridge area toward our hotel. We went past Harrods again …. And stopped in a few designer places, no purchases.

After a wee rest we went out again to find supper and picked up a bottle of Prosecco. The gal at the front desk put it in fridge for us to chill it. We drank while we packed for our adventure home for Steve and to Naples Italy for me.

Time to go wait for the bus to take me to the airport and the next leg of my journey.

Thanks for following, stay tuned for Italiano. Piacere!

Ti amo,

Pamela
Xoxox

What does it say about a country when the beautiful old buildings, parks, museums are free admission? That it values such things and they belong to the people? I am impressed. Natural history museum today is amazing. Great displays including the
Darwin centre, Breathtaking entranceway. Sculptures and fossil of huge dinosaur.
Stained glass, life size mammal display is spectacular. Bathrooms free and clean!

After that, a trip to Harrods, the world famous luxury shop. Wow. We shopped! And got lost … Ha ha. And found some great areas. Really a fabulous store! And huge.

Then to Tower of London. Fun to walk around, being there. That is the most significant feeling I had today … I was there, walked in those places. Awesome

Then to the theatre for the musical performance of Wicked at Apollo Victoria Theatre. Wow! Just wow.

Having some issues with posting so not sure when I will get this out there. It is hot here and beautiful. I am glad I came to explore.

More tomorrow.

Wish you were here,
Love Pamela
Xoxox