When the moon hits your eye, it's like a big pizza pie

"Naples is a paradise; everyone lives in a state of intoxicated self-forgetfulness" 

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The spirit of Naples is a living force. It is resolute and passionate, but it is also unconscious and indifferent to reason and awareness. It can enrage or become hypnotic. The best way to experience Naples is to just go with it, don't resist it. The movement in Naples-the traffic jams, the pushy, shoving crowds, the absence of lines for anything, the endless shower of shouting falling on the ears like arrows, the simultaneous clash of opposed intentions- all combine into a thrilling assault on the senses. I could pass a lifetime just watching the show and contemplating.
All I came for was a slice of pizza, and instead I got thrown into the chaos and confusion that is Naples. It's fast and gritty and well known for aggressive thieves. Red lights are just for decoration. It has everything I'd experienced so far- traffic, noise, people, graffiti, street venders, pizza- just here everything was exaggerated. Every car I saw had either a missing headlight, dented bumper or door. No problem though, it just adds character. 

People say Italy has the best pizza in the world. Naples reportedly has the best in Italy. And Antica Pizzeria da Michele is the best in Naples. Therefore…well, you get the picture. That's right, the best pizza in the world. Though it is kinda hard to choose what is best since there are so many kinds, Da Michele makes the choice easy with just 2 kinds of pizza- margarita or marinara. Of course, with such a reputation everyone wants to go here and the wait was around the corner late into the night. No worries though, perfect time to enjoy the show that is Naples.  

We also stopped by Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Paestum on our trip to the south. Each offered a different look into the past. The sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum offer a glimpse in time captured by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Looming over the cities, when the volcano erupted in 79AD over the cities the lava and ash coated the cities, perserving streets, homes, shops, amphitheaters. All of which are now great resources to understanding the Roman culture. One memorable fact is that the Romans traditionally cremated their bodies and the bones found in these sites are one of the only sources to study Roman skeletons.     

Greek Temple of Athena in Paestum

Spoleto

I am just finishing my eighth month of living here. When I think about the time, it is a strange thing. I feel like these past months have gone by so quickly, yet at the same time I look back at each moment and the people I have gotten to know, and feel like it's been so much longer. Knowing that I don't have much time left here has motivated me even more to savor each moment. And I've been busy! 

"The past, present, and future are strange things. What a bizarre concept it is to divide time into these three categories. I've found that once something happens it isn't really part of your "past". It is contributing to your "present" and is vital to the formation of your future. There is no distinction. Once something happens it is part of you and you are a part of it. We don't really ever leave things behind. We just learn to respond to them in different ways"

When the warmer weather came, and by warmer I mean it wasn't snowing anymore,  I took a day trip to a little town called Spoleto. The sleepy town is located just about in the middle of Italy, coming to life only for the annual festival that brings together international performers of music, dance, and theatre. Our visit gave us a chance to get in touch with nature again, something we are desperately lacking in Florence. Hiking around the trails, getting lost on the windy streets, and enjoying the sun made up a great day. My favorite part was an old bridge across the deep gorge, Ponte delle Torre (Bridge of Towers), a 13-century Roman aqueduct.