Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Naples, Italy
We spent the day in Naples dodging rain drops, and speeding scooters and cars. Naples has a great archeological museum that holds many artifacts from Pompeii (we were there the day before). The King at the time of the excavation told the archeologists to “bring everything good to Naples” so there is quite a collection of frescoes, statues, pottery, and other items. The mosaics that were in the floors of the wealthy were really quite good. The pieces are 1/16” and are laid in a design that can be 2’ x 2’. The shading of the different tiles was excellent.
One of the more enjoyable lunches we have had on this trip, we had across from the museum on a busy street corner. In Rick Steve’s book, he talks about the driving in Naples, so we sat and observed and these are the driving rules in Naples:
-If you see the light turn from green to red, which means that you can keep going through the intersection. So 4-5 cars blatantly run the light every time.
-Scooter drivers are color blind. The only color on the stop light they see is green.
-Most cars have dented fenders. Most on both sides of the car. You are crazy to buy a new car and drive it in this city. You are insane if you RENT a car and drive in this city.
-As soon as the light turns green, the guy 10 cars back starts honking his horn, and then others join in. The guy at the front of the line of cars had better have one foot on the gas and the other on the brake when that light turns green.
-Turning right from the left hand lane, or left from the right hand lane….no problem.
-If you see the light turn from green to red, which means that you can keep going through the intersection. So 4-5 cars blatantly run the light every time.
-Scooter drivers are color blind. The only color on the stop light they see is green.
-Most cars have dented fenders. Most on both sides of the car. You are crazy to buy a new car and drive it in this city. You are insane if you RENT a car and drive in this city.
-As soon as the light turns green, the guy 10 cars back starts honking his horn, and then others join in. The guy at the front of the line of cars had better have one foot on the gas and the other on the brake when that light turns green.
-Turning right from the left hand lane, or left from the right hand lane….no problem.
Oh, one other thing.Pompei had 40 bakeries, 40 chariot repair shops and 30 brothels. In the brothels, there were pictures of the different services that were offered, you just point. Also, outside the stall (I mean stall), each prostitute had a rating card chisled into the wall. The patron put a chisle mark next to "bad", "good", "REALLY good". Some of the brothels even had services for the homosexual patrons. Very very weird.
