The third day in Rome.
I woke up again when the sun’s rays began to break through the curtains. I opened my eyes and felt incredibly happy again. It was the third day in Rome and the third day next to my charming prince. I lay and admired his beautiful image, trying to capture in my memory the features dear to my heart.
In a couple of hours I need to go to the train station. I touched Nael’s curly hair, he opened his eyes and said: «Good morning, my Princess!». I pressed against his hot body, inhaling the scent of his skin.
«I’m so happy!» – I thought and said. – «Good morning, my charming Prince!».
We had breakfast in the room and Nael drove me to the train station. Seeing me off, he said: «In two days I will be waiting for you in Venice, my Princess».
«I will look forward to our meeting, my beloved fairy Prince», – I replied, hugging and kissing his sweet lips tightly. I put into his hands a small note written in the morning on a piece of paper from the notebook of the Hassler hotel and went to my train.
There were only a few lines written on the piece of paper:
«Thank you for these fabulous days in Rome. I am incredibly happy! Love you… Your stranger and the princess… your Maria».
Napoli
«Napoli… the chaotic city! Here I don’t feel I am in Europe, but rather in a third world country. Crumbling buildings, vendors everywhere, crazy traffic, obsolete roads, and lots of racketeering. But there are the grand castles, palaces, churches, majestic volcano, and the pizza… it was invented here», – Nael wrote.
Fig. 19. Napoli.
From the book «Life is meals» (James Salter & Kay Salter), which Nael recommended me to read: «The first pizza ever delivered was ordered by King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Italy in 1889. Visiting the queen’s family near Naples, they heard about a popular handheld meal sold by street vendors and at open-air pizzerias and favored by the poor. They wanted to try it but were unable to mingle with the masses at the local pizzeria. Instead, Rafaele Esposito, the owner of the most famous one, came to them. He brought the ingredients for three different combinations for the royals to try, but it was the one made with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil-the red, white, and green of the Italian flag – that most pleased the queen. Esposito named it in her honor, and it gave Naples the reputation of having invented pizza.
Its actual origins were far earlier. The Greeks and Etruscans had their versions of rough bread formed with a raised edge to hold bits of other foods on top. In the first century, the Roman statesman Cato wrote about «flat rounds of dough dressed with olive oil, herbs, and honey, baked on stones.» The essential tomato wasn’t added until fifteen hundred years later, imported from the New World, and those now grown in the volcanic soil near Vesuvius are one of the reasons that Neapolitan pizzas are still considered to set the standard».
In general, if we talk about pizza, then in each region of Italy it has its own characteristics.
Fig. 20. The Basilica of San Francesco di Paola.
Fig. 21. Diner. Napoli.
Fig. 22. Castel Nuovo.
Fig. 23. The Capuan Gate.
south Italy
«The last round of the journey to south Italy includes Reggio di Calabria on the south western tip of the the Italian peninsula, then Lecce on the south east. Both are interesting places to visit, the first has a unique location on Messina strait with a wonderful promenade the best in Italy, locals prefer to stroll in big numbers evening times. The city itself is neat and well kept, especially the main street which lays higher parallels the promenade and intercept with four elegant squares. Lecce on the other hand is different, the main attraction is the old town with it’s treasures of baroque architectures some of the best in Italy. In the daylight it is hot and the streets are empty… while in the evenings it’s fresh and hoards of people roaming it’s alleys and squares», – wrote Nael.
Fig. 24. South Italy.
Fig. 25. A bronze figure from Riache.
Fig. 26. Delicious seafood.
Fig. 27. Italy Square. Calabria.
Fig. 28. Onion and pepper.
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Fig. 29. Cathedral Square. Lecce.
SARDINIA
Nael wrote me that he had been to Sardinia. He visited Cagliari, which is the administrative center of the island of Sardinia, Olbia, one of the most popular Mediterranean resorts, Porto Cervo, which is considered a fashionable resort in the north of Sardinia, and Alegro, located on the northwestern coast of Sardinia. Nael called Sardinia «a wonderful island».
Fig. 30. Stella Maris Church. Porto Cervo.
Fig. 31. Allegro.
Fig. 32. St. Mary’s Church. Cagliari.
Among the most popular sweets of the island of Sardinia are pabassinas – diamond-shaped, decorated with colorful balls, cookies with raisins and sapa, traditionally prepared on All Saints’ Day, Christmas and Easter, although Sardinians like to cook it at home all year round to offer guests.
Fig. 33. Dessert.
SICILY
«Just finished my journey through this big lsland, the biggest in the Mediterranean.. after visiting the capital Palermo, Catania, Seracuza, Notto, Monreale, and Mondello. It is the hottest area in Italy especially in Palermo. The people for my surprise are not friendly and rather not kind. It’s not just here but all the places I have been too so far in south of the country, contrary to the impression that I used to have about Italians… what a pity», – wrote Nael.
Fig. 34. Sicily.
Fig. 35. The Pretoria Fountain. Palermo.
Fig. 36. The Pretoria Fountain. Palermo.
Fig. 37. The Cathedral of Montreal.