Naples Tourist Traps

It was during mid-day one March weekday at Sorrento when we decided to eat lunch. We walked for half an hour before we found someplaceto sit and eat. One look at the menu told us it was for tourists because the pizzas were named in english and the list included none of traditional pizzas made in any decent pizzaria around naples. When our none-too-cheap pizzas eventually came, my partner gaped in disbelief- "they think im a tourist" he muttered, "are we to drink this as a soup?" - for each pizza was the size of a plate, affording us 4 bites each, and extremely wet! Instead of prosciutto slices, my pizza had little processed ham squares, instead of fresh funghi, there were canned mushrooms, all 4 halves of them!! we felt really cheated. But we more than made up or that with lots of gelato afterwards.

Naples Museum, up on a hill not far from town............................................Do take your map, and if heading to the museum as I was, but I didn't make it, I would advise a taxi or check out the busses to this destination. By the time that I took this photo (see the museum on the hill?), I was thoroughly exhausted and had run out of time to get to my destination. .

Unique Suggestions: So, do plan your day better than I planned mine here ............... and take everything that you are likely to need.

Fun Alternatives: Despite all of this, you can have quite a fun day browsing the shops, hopping in and out of all of the little laneways and stopping for coffee, everytime you see a sign or pretty statue.

in the back you may see VESUVIO, the volcano that helped preserving Pompeji.

It is possible to drive up the volcano - but drinking the local wine 'Lacrimae Christi' up there in a small restaurant is rather expensive - and as the wine is rather strong and sweet...

...at least don't drink it before you go up to look into the crater...

At Sorrento, during one of my last days in Naples, I went into a buying frenzy, having remembered that I hadn't gotten anything for my friends and family back home. I ended up buying bottles of Sorrento's famous limoncello (or leeeeeeemoncello, as my Napolitan partner emphasised) at a nice-looking store stocked to the ceiling with bottles and bottles of the yummy, sweet, lemon liquor. Later in the evening in the supermarket, I realised it sold the same brand of limoncello I'd gotten but for half the price!!!

Unique Suggestions: Go with a local!

It's not a bad thing, and okay if your hands aren't full (like mine were) with a Pompei guide book in hand, a camera (try to take pics with all this stuff), backpack and whatever else. Just pray it doesn't rain. First of all, the Audio Guide tips are rather brief, and don't go into much detail. It's not a bad deal at 6 euro, but you will get more from the Pompei book or by using a human tour guide

Unique Suggestions: Purchase two of the "Audio guies, as it's only 9 euro for two

Fun Alternatives: Pay 7,50 for a Pompei guide book, and follow the tour trail in the book. Besides, you can keep the book, but must return the Audio Guide unless you don't care about forfeiting your ID.

Better yet, discretely follow along by one of the tour groups. You didn't hear that one from me ;-)

Well I was on a tour. The bus driver made sure to stop off at a local cameo factory. Little did he realize that we were all poor highschool students and couldn't afford a thing!

Unique Suggestions: Go see the factory! It's nice to see how they are made... doesn't mean you have to buy anything.

Any of the markets can be a tourist trap. Careful on what you buy, and double check the box and/or bag to ensure what you paid for is actually inside. Trust me on this one. MY buddies and I bought some really nice beer bottle and rock filled boxes that were supposed to be Video cameras. aaagghhh! Careful especially around Piazza Girabaldi, which is where Napoli Centrale train station is.

The famous city Positano is a tourist trap. Do not try to park there - you will get penalty for sure! Use a bus to get downhill or uphill. But it is a romantic place and they know that. Ordering a coffe there will empty your wallet. But I must admit we did that and because I didnt have a bikini with bra, I also have to buy one there! Wasnt cheap at all... But life is easy, when you are rich. Or pretend to be.