flashback: Day 1 Italy trip

Our first day we flew into Naples, grabbed a bus from the airport to the central bus/train station and had a few hours to kill before our bus arrived. We decided to explore the area a bit. yes, we'd heard to watch out for pickpockets and other assortments of mischief makers in Naples. And looking around the city it wasn't surprising it had such a reputation. The city seemed overcrowded and run down. Trash was everywhere, the buildings all looked in sad need of repair and there was just this pervasive feeling of being overcrowded. Everything stuffed into too small of a place. I guess that's what happens when an area has been settled for thousands of years.
We got off the main road and found a nice little pizzeria where we could relax and enjoy the famous Napoli pizza - Naples is the birthplace of pizza for those of you who didn't know. Supposedly there is one restaurant which makes the best pizza in the WORLD located in Naples (we did not find that restaurant, but ours was pretty dang good). We were a bit early for lunch apparently (even though it was noon) and shared the restaurant with one other customer. A lovely older gentleman who recommended a particular pizza took our photo for us after, of course he finished his starter of pasta, and main course of pizza first. He also insisted we pucker up and kiss for our photo op.
After our pizza we strolled about, was offered and refused an iphone for 100 Euros off the street, then caught our bus to Sora. We stopped in a grocery store to get some drinks and made our best find of the trip...That's right, baby, a happy hippo snack. You gotta love it. Here's a hippo with her happy hippo snack.
After a 2 1/2 hour bus ride we were there. we realized we needed to buy a phone card in order to call Italy Farmstay to let them know we were there. We whipped out our handy-dandy Rick Steve's phrase book and pieced together what we wanted to say. DH was the brave soul to attempt Italian with the sales clerk. I thought he did fabulous, she apparently didn't share that opinion. Instead she said, "SPEAK ENGLISH." So, apparently our Italian was not so good. But at least we attempted it. I kept thinking in French saying, "oui " and "merci" ridiculous. My brain thinks that if someone is not speaking English they must of course be speaking French!

So, anyways, we got our phone card, called the Farm Stay and plunked ourselves down to wait for our host to arrive. What a shock when he turned up about 10 minutes later. A run down car with a shattered windshield pulled up in front of the cafe where we were waiting, the Italian man jumped out grabbed our bags and started loading them into the car. No introductions, nothing. I settle into the back amongst the straw, the smell of goats lingering in the air. I search in vain for a working seatbelt, in jumps our Italian host and off we speed. cClinging to the back seat as we nearly loose our lives to crazy Italian drivers I silently scream in my head, "what have I gotten us into?"
Needless to say, my first impression was not so great. I was tired from traveling, I had planned the trip so I wanted it go perfect, I had a picture in my head of what it was all going to be like and things just weren't turning out exactly as I had planned.
Upon arrival at the Famr Stay our host provided us with some bread and olive oil and wine (all made right there on the farm). The wine left a bit to be desired, ok a LOT to be desired - a disapointment considering that was the wine offered for dinner. then we were shown around the farm introduced to Conchetta, the donkey, whom we could kiss "but no tongue, she do not like the tongue". Our host also taught us how to eat the figs that grew in plenty on the trees there - just pop them straight into your mouth. He had a peculiar sense of humor, but I really appreciated it. I found him quite amusing. Guess you just had to be there.
After we were shown to our room - another slight disappointment. I can't really say what it was, the lumpy pillows, the crack in the wall, the furniture not centered on the wall....I don't know. It's not like I expected anything extravagant, but I just expected a little bit more. Oh well, it all turned out well in the end.
So, we ditched our stuff in our room and explored the farm on our own till dinner time. It had rained that afternoon so the ground was a gian mud pit. Clumps of mud stuck to the bottom of our shoes as we trudged around the farm exploring what was ripe in the gardens. Here's a nice photo of me feeling quite irritated on our walk around the farm. We decided to pick some tomatoes for a little snack before dinner.
Late that night we settled down for a nice homecooked meal under the stars. We were joined by most of the other guests at the Farm Stay fro our delicious meal. IT was a lovely way to end a day that didn't quite start off as well as I had hoped for. I knew the next morning would be the beginning of a brighter day. Bouna Note