We took a bus from Roma to get to Napoli. It took about 3 hours. It was a completely different world, a different city. When we arrived at our AirBnB, we met our host, a big muscular guy named Stephano. He looked and walked like a bouncer. He showed us around the apartment, speaking in English like the guys from The Godfather. He stocked the fridge with water, juices, snacks and fruits for breakfast. This beautiful hospitality and detail-orientedness is apparent throughout the space. While talking to us, he stopped mid sentence and said, “Ah, wait, I forgot.” He left the room, went to a closet and took out a bath mat. He very gently put the mat on the bathroom floor. He stopped for a couple seconds, still thinking, then looked at us smiling, “Prego, good!” Before he left he asked if we needed anything else. “No, everything is perfect,” I said, fascinated. He grinned widely, walked to the door and said with happiness “Ah! Perfect! I am perfect.” We watch him leave with his leather jacket and motorcycle. ?
Outside, we were surrounded by city-dwellers. People walked fast and with a purpose. You can feel the hustle here. They looked tough and yet the moment you spoke to them they were kind and friendly — atleast our experience. We wandered around the city for a few hours, walking freely. Often we’ll see really long stairs with grandmothers walking on them, slowly but with the confidence of someone who has done it a lot of times. At the top of that stairs or in the corner of a street you’ll see an altar of Jesus or Mary, with fresh flowers on them. At the park are teenagers tickling each other, making out. As we walked, the smell of food permeates the air. ?
We’re not in Italy right now, all these pics are from May – June 2019, it just so happened that in my procrastination, this is the time I’m posting them. ? Sending prayers and love to all the people in Italy and to all humans all over the world — whether the biggest fear is a virus, war, famine — in the most basic of ways we’re all out here, united in our sorrow and our desire/love to live life. ?That’s an immense and intense amount of energy, let’s channel it for good. ?
