Christian was up and out of Sam and Nick's at about 7am. I went back to sleep and probably got up at about 9am.
Sam made me some tea and I had some cereal. Then a shower and got ready. We ended up waiting for Nick, but apparently that's nothing new. I took my luggage with me.
We decided to walk all the way into the city, via Corso Buenos Aires, Corso Venezia, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. It wasn't that far, and meant I would see more. The neighbourhood changed from dull classical residential frontages to more commercial. And then very shiny shops and pedestrianised shopping areas. And then we were in Piazza del Duomo, with hundreds of other people. It was brilliant sunshine, and lovely and warm.
The Duomo is a glorious pink/golden colour, and looked wonderful in the sun. Getting in would have been too difficult, so we kept moving. Sam and I went into a shopping centre to use the toilet.
We then wandered past La Scala, and up Via Dante, past a lovely fountain, to the castello. We walked through the gate into the forecourt, and Sam and Nick indulged in a beer from a stand. We then wandered through Sempione Park (where there was a running race/festival being held), and out the other side.
Up Via Garibaldi, to Piazza Gae Aulenti, where we found a nice place for lunch - we all had pasta. Then to a nearby station, where Sam and Nick did a little shopping, and I bought some things to eat on the train, and got cash to pay Sam back for lunch. We then got the underground to Centrale, stepping out to admire Piazza Duca d'Aoste, and then going into the station.
We had some time to kill before my train's platform was announced, and so I got some ice cream. I said goodbye to our lovely hosts, and boarded the train with no problems.
Unfortunately, I was going backwards, despite having booked a forwards seat. The train was mostly full. I managed to jam my charger plug into the socket so I could charge my phone.
The journey wasn't anywhere near as interesting as I thought it would be. Milan's suburbs weren't that exciting, and apart from a few hills and nice looking vineyards, wasn't much to look at. And then it got dark. I couldn't see much of Florence or Rome, but in Rome at least the train turned around and I was suddenly going forwards.
We arrived in Naples more or less on time and as people were getting off, I decided I'd nip in to the toilet. Bad idea, because they shut and locked the doors while I was in there. A guard came down the carriage and spotted me, and let me out. Great start.
I was really hungry, and so went in search of food. And failed. So I went in search of linea 2, which would take me to Montesanto station. I had difficulty with that too, and went out of the station looking for it, before realising that a badly labelled escalator was what I wanted. I bought a ticket, and took the nice metro to Montesanto.
When I got there, I soon realised that the metro station was not a junction for other lines. So I went out into the inky night looking for another station in Montesanto. I found it with the help of Mr Google maps, and attempted to buy tickets from the decrepit looking machines. They wouldn't work, and the ticket window was unattended. I found a tabacchi across the road to buy tickets. I went to enter the badly signed station gates, and came to the conclusion that I'd bought the wrong tickets. So I went back and bought more. This time I at least got through the gates, and went up the stairs. But here again there was little indication which of the two platforms I needed to use.
As I ummed and aahed, a Cumana train left just as I worked out that was what I wanted. So I waited for the next one. The trains themselves were small and narrow gauge, and covered with graffiti. Inside they were comfortable enough, but had minimal seating options - most were two single plastic seats facing each other.
There was not always a sign indicating which station we were pulling into, and it was dark too, so I followed the train on Google maps again. The girl opposite me asked whether we were at a particular station. I just shrugged. She then spotted a sign that told me that we weren't at my stop yet (Arco Felice).
We both tried to get off at Arco Felice, but the door wouldn't open. We soon realised that the door opened on the other side, between the tracks. The 'platform' was very narrow, and basically on the ground. Very safe, Italy.
I found my way out of the station and up the road, and finally to the hotel, which was even a challenge to get into. Eventually, after probably the most eventful train journey I've ever had, I sat down at the dinner table with the divers.
They brought me some food (it was 10pm by now and I was starving), and I relaxed. It was good to see folks, and Christian of course.
We retired straight after eating, and went to the room. It was quite nice, with a view out to the water. The car was parked almost directly beneath the window.
Bed.
Sam made me some tea and I had some cereal. Then a shower and got ready. We ended up waiting for Nick, but apparently that's nothing new. I took my luggage with me.
We decided to walk all the way into the city, via Corso Buenos Aires, Corso Venezia, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. It wasn't that far, and meant I would see more. The neighbourhood changed from dull classical residential frontages to more commercial. And then very shiny shops and pedestrianised shopping areas. And then we were in Piazza del Duomo, with hundreds of other people. It was brilliant sunshine, and lovely and warm.
We then wandered past La Scala, and up Via Dante, past a lovely fountain, to the castello. We walked through the gate into the forecourt, and Sam and Nick indulged in a beer from a stand. We then wandered through Sempione Park (where there was a running race/festival being held), and out the other side.
Up Via Garibaldi, to Piazza Gae Aulenti, where we found a nice place for lunch - we all had pasta. Then to a nearby station, where Sam and Nick did a little shopping, and I bought some things to eat on the train, and got cash to pay Sam back for lunch. We then got the underground to Centrale, stepping out to admire Piazza Duca d'Aoste, and then going into the station.
We had some time to kill before my train's platform was announced, and so I got some ice cream. I said goodbye to our lovely hosts, and boarded the train with no problems.
The journey wasn't anywhere near as interesting as I thought it would be. Milan's suburbs weren't that exciting, and apart from a few hills and nice looking vineyards, wasn't much to look at. And then it got dark. I couldn't see much of Florence or Rome, but in Rome at least the train turned around and I was suddenly going forwards.
We arrived in Naples more or less on time and as people were getting off, I decided I'd nip in to the toilet. Bad idea, because they shut and locked the doors while I was in there. A guard came down the carriage and spotted me, and let me out. Great start.
I was really hungry, and so went in search of food. And failed. So I went in search of linea 2, which would take me to Montesanto station. I had difficulty with that too, and went out of the station looking for it, before realising that a badly labelled escalator was what I wanted. I bought a ticket, and took the nice metro to Montesanto.
When I got there, I soon realised that the metro station was not a junction for other lines. So I went out into the inky night looking for another station in Montesanto. I found it with the help of Mr Google maps, and attempted to buy tickets from the decrepit looking machines. They wouldn't work, and the ticket window was unattended. I found a tabacchi across the road to buy tickets. I went to enter the badly signed station gates, and came to the conclusion that I'd bought the wrong tickets. So I went back and bought more. This time I at least got through the gates, and went up the stairs. But here again there was little indication which of the two platforms I needed to use.
As I ummed and aahed, a Cumana train left just as I worked out that was what I wanted. So I waited for the next one. The trains themselves were small and narrow gauge, and covered with graffiti. Inside they were comfortable enough, but had minimal seating options - most were two single plastic seats facing each other.
There was not always a sign indicating which station we were pulling into, and it was dark too, so I followed the train on Google maps again. The girl opposite me asked whether we were at a particular station. I just shrugged. She then spotted a sign that told me that we weren't at my stop yet (Arco Felice).
We both tried to get off at Arco Felice, but the door wouldn't open. We soon realised that the door opened on the other side, between the tracks. The 'platform' was very narrow, and basically on the ground. Very safe, Italy.
I found my way out of the station and up the road, and finally to the hotel, which was even a challenge to get into. Eventually, after probably the most eventful train journey I've ever had, I sat down at the dinner table with the divers.
They brought me some food (it was 10pm by now and I was starving), and I relaxed. It was good to see folks, and Christian of course.
We retired straight after eating, and went to the room. It was quite nice, with a view out to the water. The car was parked almost directly beneath the window.
Bed.
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