In order to get to Ischia you have to take a ferry from Naples, so when we set our plans for Ischia, we were pretty excited to have a little time in Naples as well after having heard from many people at home, and here in Italy, how much they loved it. We, on the other hand, were pretty miserable there. It was so dirty! There was trash everywhere and although there is a fair amount of graffiti in Italy, it was the worst we've seen. The people were very rough, the streets were packed, the scooter drivers were dangerous and no one wore their helmets. Not even the little kids riding with their parents! Also, the dialect is so different and was very difficult for us to understand. They use a lot of slang and slur their words together. It was very strange and a very different experience than we've been having on the farms or in Northern Italy in general. We did do one thing that was pretty fun. A few years ago, Brian saw a show on the Food Network which said the oldest pizzeria the world was in Naples. We found it (we think) and ate some pizza which was really good, although a bit overpriced. I also loved the limon granita (had two in one day!). There are a few pics on Picasa...

Following Brian's fav below (the video of Fabri Fibra), here is some more of the music we've been hearing here. Some is, I'm sure, behind the times for you guys, but some may be new. Some are the tunes that are ridiculously overplayed and we're sick of hearing (and never liked in the first place) but still a part of the music landscape surrounding us ... Enjoy...

Artist : Song Title

Empire of the Sun : Walking on a Dream (+ music video)
Peter Bjorn and John : Nothing to Worry About (+ video)
Bob Sinclair feat. Sugarhill Gang : Lala Song (overplayed but still kind of can't help to like it)
Offlaga Disco Pax : Onomastica (+ video)
Kings of Leon : Use Somebody
Emiliana Torini : Jungle Drum
Seal : It's a Man's Man's Man's World (+ video)
Razorlight : Wire to Wire
Gary Go : Wonderful (+ video)
Friendly Fires : Skeleton Boy (+ video)
Elisa : Dancing
The Progidy : Warrior's Dance
Calvin Harris : I'm Not Alone
Oasis : Falling Down
The Rakes : 1989
Mephisto : The Beat of the Bee (+ video)

Overplayed...

Lady Gaga : Pokerface
Britney Spears : If You Seek Amy
Depeche Mode : Wrong
The Jonas Brothers : Paranoid
Beyonce : Halo and Single Ladies (anything Beyonce...all the time)

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So....we're at the train station in Napoli waiting on our train for Viareggio. We've just spent a grrreat week at the B&B, Villa Ischitana. Our hosts, Stani and Philomonea were sweet and happy, the beach was beautiful, and the food delicious. Our days started with a breakfast of croissants, nutella, coffee, yogurt, and orange juice-or the Italian equivalent of Tang. The scooter was lots of fun and allowed us to explore all parts of the island. I know you might think something could happen like Brian almost running us into a wall, accidently popping a wheelie, and landing while simulaneously honking the horn, but that never happened. We found a beach that was not crowded and had two great ristorante/pizzerias nearby. Last night, we stumbled upon a baia which are these naturally hot thermal baths right on the edge of the ocean. It was so beautiful, late at night, stars out, and tucked in a cove with cliffs all around. We wish we had found it earlier in the week....but it's hardly anything to complain about. The pictures describe Ischia better than words so I'll leave the rest to that (check them out on Picasa-click Photos above). We're looking forward to heading back to Viareggio and seeing what's in store for us there...

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