Napoli, part 2

Thursday, November 26, 2013
Okay, so I left you after we returned from the spectacular Amalfi Coast.   That afternoon, we were on our way to have the third pizza recommendation, but the place was closed.  Our taxi driver suggested a restaurant called "Borgo", which is inside the Castle of the Egg.... it's a legend that there is a very special egg inside that can tell the future......   don't ask.  That was one of the BESTEST dinners ever.... (and very $$$$$$).  We started with an appetizer that was all kinds of steamed clams in white wine and garlic sauce, with lots of pieces of chunky bread all around.   There were miniature clams, small ones, medium ones, and a few large ones with some called "blade" clams because they are rectangular, white shells, and when they open, there is a strip of white clam, sort of like a thin worm.  Believe you me, we were sucking our fingers.  They were sweet, tasty, salty, and what flavor, especially those strange ones.  Then we shared a small pizza margherita, which seems to be the preferred one here... of course, out of this world.  And then, came the segundo piato (second plate, usually the meat, fish, etc....).   It was a whole grilled fish, head, eyes, tail and all.   It was like butter, we left nothing but the head and the eyes.   Even though they are considered white the delicacy, I couln't scrape it out to eat it.  Dessert was yummy and a glass of cold limoncello to top it all off.  Couln't possibly eat like that everyday, but these meals are going to definitely "groove" my brain.   It was still cold, windy, and rainy when we got back to our hotel.  
Yesterday, Wednesday, November 25, was supposed to be a sunny, dry day, so we took advantage of it and went on a beautiful outing to Anacapri and Capri, same island, about 20 miles west of Naples.  We took a hydroplane and were met over there by our guide, Pepe.Anacapri is a city that is way on top of the volcanic island and it means "on top of" Capri, o course.  So, the island has sort of two tiers.  Anacapri is small and very scenic.  I took a chairlift ride way to the top, the overview of the whole island.  Pretty spectacular views, I might say.   Took lots of pictures and the ride up and down was so peaceful and quiet, and the vegetation lush and gorgeous with the fall colors coming into view.  It took 13 minutes each way.
Paco passed on the chairlift.  We had lunch at a typical restaurant and we were joined by a couple who live in London, but he is Brazilian and she, Philipino.  They were young and happy, and fun!   Then, after lunch, we continued to the center of Capri with the famous "piazetta"  We admired the Augustus Gardens with the magnificent view of the "Faraglioni", a castle built by a Swedish doctor, now given to a foundation of sort of Italo-Swedish cooperative.  We had time to spare and visited the picturesque streets with lots of coffee bars and exclusive boutiques.   I even bought some perfume at a place called Cartusian, where Giada de Laurentis, the Food Network STAR gets her own perfume made.  Sorry, but I have to go to Capri because I'm almost out of my personal perfume......    :)  The ride back on the hydroplane was tough, because by this time, it's raining and windy again.  I thought people were going to get sick.  A lady next to me looked GREEN from motion sickness.  The driver, Pasquale, again, was waiting for us to bring us back to our hotel.  No more outings tonight.  Stayed in, made a couple of sandwiches and cookies, had some wine and went to bed!
Today, Thursday, we had a late morning, well, 8:00 am, and breakfast.  I'm taking some time to write and Paco is resting...   I have to do it, or otherwise, I forget....   We are going to walk around the center of town, the beautiful piazza and the cathedral and then we're going to get our tickets to return to Rome tomorrow.  Paco leaves for San Diego on Friday, really early in the morning, so I booked us into a hotel near the airport.  He leaves and I stay until Sunday, when I return to Florence to settle into my beautiful apartment.  I have a girlfriend in Vista, California, who has relatives who live in Spoleto, about 2 hours from Rome.  So, hopefully, we can get together and meet.  It it's not this time, we will have other opportunities.
We will do a "street lunch" today.  There are many, many stands with these fabulous-looking sandwiches...  cheese, red and yellow peppers, other veggies, and cheese wrapped up in like a sort of thinner hot dog bun.  What looks incredible is the veggies and the cheese actually ooze out from the bread.   They cost 1 euro, or about $1.30.   Time to go the other way....    Tonight, we go for a nice dinner, here at the plaza where our hotel is.  I read really good reviews about this restaurant.   Then, we will come back to the hotel for a pannacotta (my favorite dessert) and a glass of prosecco to say goodbye to Naples.  There is a terrace that has a panoramic view of Naples at night so you bet it will be beautiful.  And, tomorrow, off to Bella Roma.   We will be doing a Roma by Night tour because all the beautiful landmarks are lit beautifully and visit Piazza Navona, which we missed before.  That's all.  I plan to sleep, I hope, for about 24 hours, even if I have to take "something".....   On to Florence!    It's pretty cold, in the low 50's most everyday, but when the sun shines, everything is glorious.  And when it doesn't shine, it certainly still beautiful.
Arrivederci for now....  
Cecilia