When you think Capri is a no-go during the winter you're wrong... Actually, it was december when I went there for the first time. And it was great!
My trip started in Naples where I got off the plane from Amsterdam. The ride from the airport to the port takes about 20 minutes by taxi from where it takes about 45 minutes by aliscafo (fast boat) to the island. Of course this doesn't apply to Mariah and Gwyneth, they travel by helicopter. For ordinary people like myself it's a bit of a hustle, but one way or the other you'll get there...
Anyway, being in Naples for the first time - my first time - instead of taking the boat immediately, we decided to act like tourists and went sightseeing. Everybody should do the same, especially during the holiday season. The city is a-ma-zing! Naples is so christmasy and cosy .... I just love it!
Especially the old centre, in Via San Gregorio Armeno. For Neapolitans Christmas is not complete without a visit to this area, "il cuore di Natale" as they say. It's famous for its Christmas cribs, "presepi" in neapolitan dialect. More than half a million people come to see the countless shops selling cribs in all sizes, every color and price range. Besides presepi you can find tons of homeless religious figures which are waiting to move into your crib, like Jesus, holy mary, Padre Pio and Maradona. But also thousands and thousands of accessories to pimp your crib. Like little houses, wells, waterfalls and even miniature pizza ovens... you never know, one of the 3 kings might get hungry. These tiny pieces of art are all hand-made, can you imagine the work? Santa's elfs must be working hard in downtown Napoli.
The figures that made me laugh the hardest were the miniature Berlusconi's. Imagine him under your tree, standing next to virgin mary. How ironic is that...
Buon Natale a tutti!
P.S. If you can't get enough of Christmas cribs, visit the Museo Nazionale di San Martino where you can admire an antique presepi collection including the largest one "Il Presepe Cuciniello". It consists of 162 human figures, 80 animals, angels and about 450 miniature objects.
My trip started in Naples where I got off the plane from Amsterdam. The ride from the airport to the port takes about 20 minutes by taxi from where it takes about 45 minutes by aliscafo (fast boat) to the island. Of course this doesn't apply to Mariah and Gwyneth, they travel by helicopter. For ordinary people like myself it's a bit of a hustle, but one way or the other you'll get there...
Anyway, being in Naples for the first time - my first time - instead of taking the boat immediately, we decided to act like tourists and went sightseeing. Everybody should do the same, especially during the holiday season. The city is a-ma-zing! Naples is so christmasy and cosy .... I just love it!
Especially the old centre, in Via San Gregorio Armeno. For Neapolitans Christmas is not complete without a visit to this area, "il cuore di Natale" as they say. It's famous for its Christmas cribs, "presepi" in neapolitan dialect. More than half a million people come to see the countless shops selling cribs in all sizes, every color and price range. Besides presepi you can find tons of homeless religious figures which are waiting to move into your crib, like Jesus, holy mary, Padre Pio and Maradona. But also thousands and thousands of accessories to pimp your crib. Like little houses, wells, waterfalls and even miniature pizza ovens... you never know, one of the 3 kings might get hungry. These tiny pieces of art are all hand-made, can you imagine the work? Santa's elfs must be working hard in downtown Napoli.
The figures that made me laugh the hardest were the miniature Berlusconi's. Imagine him under your tree, standing next to virgin mary. How ironic is that...
Buon Natale a tutti!
P.S. If you can't get enough of Christmas cribs, visit the Museo Nazionale di San Martino where you can admire an antique presepi collection including the largest one "Il Presepe Cuciniello". It consists of 162 human figures, 80 animals, angels and about 450 miniature objects.
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