It was dark by the time Karan and I arrived in Naples.  I managed to get a power nap on the train but was still a bit tired once outside the train station.  We took a short walk from the train station to a pastry shop where Karan got a small bite and a drink.  Afterwards, we took a taxi to the hostel that he managed to book for us while we were on the train.

The following morning, we set out to explore the city after a restful sleep.  Like Rome, Naples is an old city that looks as old as it is.  It’s louder and more crowded than Rome, but it has a lot of character.  We walked around for a few hours.  I took many pictures along the way.

For lunch, Karan wanted to eat at Da Michele Pizzeria at the suggestion of the front desk attendant at the hostel.  From my understanding, Da Michele is a pizzeria that has been in business since 1870…..shortly after Italy became an independent country.  I also read that it was featured in the movie “Eat, Pray, Love” with Julia Roberts.

We took a taxi to the restaurant since we didn’t know how to get anywhere.  Once there, we realized the wait was about an hour to get a table.  Karan insisted on trying this place, so while he waited in line, I walked around and took more pictures.  While walking, I walked into a clothing store and got myself a nice pair of pants.  Karan was still waiting in line when I got back to the restaurant.

The traditional pizza is generally understood to have been born in Naples.  The margharita pizza, which I often order when I eat pizza, was named after Queen Margharita of Savoy after she visited Naples.  At Da Michele, there are only two pizza options:  1) Margharita, and 2) Marinara.  We got one of each choice.  It was good.  I’m not saying it wasn’t.  But I definitely don’t see what all the hype is about.  I’ve had pizza at many restaurants that were just as good.  In my own personal opinion, I don’t think it was worth the hour long wait.

After lunch, we made our way back to the train station for our next destination:  Amalfi Coast via Salerno.  The train ride to Salerno was a bit hard to bare because the train had no air conditioning system.  That normally wouldn’t have been such a big deal since many places in Hawaii also have no air conditioning.  But the record heatwave in Italy was still going.  Riding on the train was almost like being inside a sauna.  The heat didn’t ruin the trip, but at times, it felt a bit unbearable.  I was happy to get off the train when we arrived in Salerno.