Greetings from Naples

[lobelia321]

I haven't travelled on my own for ages and I find it is anxious-making. In my zeal to be clever about money, I deposited banknotes all over my person and in various hiding places throughout my luggage. This morning 150 pounds were missing. Either they've been pickpocketed or they fell out of my bag or I've forgotten their hiding place. I hope the latter, fear the first, and suspect the second. *slaps self* Now I keep a list of where I stash my loot, rapidly diminishingas it is. Mercifully,Naples is *cheap*!

I'm also not looking after my bodily health. I'mrunning round like a lunatic without stopping for coffee or a sit-down but alas, I am no longer 20 (which I was last time I did this lark). Memo to self: viewing ten paintings is equivalent to needing one espresso. It is pointless to traverse rooms and rooms of art in a state of near dementia.

More memos toself: Italian museums are apt to be closed for no apparent reason. But sometimes they will miraculously be open if you insist enough.

Neapolitandriving is adventurous. The hubster would love it. There is a strange contraflow system which seems to mean that cars can drive in the middle lane at will, no matter inwhich direction they're travelling, so that my taxi appeared to be on a collision course half the time. Everyone has a smartcar or soemthing thatà's the size of a matchbox,and I approve ofthe horn-honking habit: I would love to be able to vent traffic-jam frustration by leaning onthe horn in happy orchestration with other motorists.

Spelling is randomtoday because the internet bar's keyboard is mightily sticky.

Dominic andK Karl, I amhappy to see,have stowed away in my luggage and sit on my shoulders at lunch and dinner times, dictating evermore involved fic convolutionsinto my ears. As the sun shines down, the fic isgetting less angsty and they're finding resolutions. Heh, nothinglike a change of localeto jumpstart the Mary Sue, er, Imean fic. Anyway,autobiographical catharsis is not the same as Mary Sue. I stick tothat.

OK,my internet time is runningout. Must economise what with money-loss fiasco. Am missing my little boys. Themobile does notalways connect - I feel weird not being jacked into the global communications matrix 24/7 and 52/1 (that's 52 weeks a year, Ijust coined it -here's another one: 28/12 - not all the time but almost all the time. Heh, shall I bore on some more? 12/365, etc. etc)

OK, am rambling. Must go off, eat lunch and look atmore art. Off to Rome tomorrow.



*waves to ukcalico, fellow globetrotter*

Comments

Bella Lobelia!

[viva-gloria.livejournal.com]

[See, have been practising Foreign Language]

So glad you're having a good time - and I hope you remember where you hid the missing money (have done this myself and discovered $100 bills weeks after return from US of A). And especially glad to hear that the muses are perching gymnastically on your shoulders, quibbling. Must try this travel thing again myself: mine were certainly very chatty in Colorado.

Looking forward to more updates!

[lazulus]

*waves to mad globetrotter*

Am truly sorry to hear about the money fiasco. There's soimething so disorientating about somethnig like that happening. You seem to be taking it very well - online at least!

Heopfully the mobile will behave a bit better and you won't feel so far from the boys (I take it this is the longest you've been away from them?)

Look forward to tales of derring-do on your return!

*hugs lobelia*

[bunnysquee.livejournal.com]

wow! Dominic and Karl? i would have thought loads of orcs would have stashed themselves in your luggage or backpack or whathaveyou :D

hope you find your money and have a lovely time in rome *am lime green with envy*

[ia-ne.livejournal.com]

hmm, naples, museums, espressi, honking, dominic, karl... sounds absolutely great! losing money, of course, it not so great, I hope every thing turns out to be okay.

have lots of fun in rome and every other city you'll be visiting!

Ciao Lobelia!

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're having a great time. Hopefully the money situation sorts itself out. I love travelling by myself. Answerable to no one and nothing. But yes, at least one espresso per ten paintings. To me, the whole point of travelling is to run oneself into the ground as much and as quickly as possible, then recuperate upon returning home. Do take care of yourself at least a little bit, though!