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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

Ha, yes move to Switzerland! Peace and order...then it's still easy to visit Italy.

I like how this piece is both really rich with imagery, an interesting reader-travel experience, and honest in the way you feel about the place. I find with travel there's some places I just connect with and some I don't; it often doesn't take too long to feel it. I guess it can be also where we're out, the kind of weather, experience, whatever. But I also think it's ok that some places connect with each of us more than others. That's the beauty of culture.

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Tom Fish's avatar

Thanks so much Kate! Yeah it doesn't often happen so I'm always surprised when it does. But with Naples it was a fairly swift and sudden, "no thanks!" The comment about Switzerland made me laugh a lot considering it was from the tour guide!

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Michael Jensen's avatar

Sorry Naples wasn't kinder to you....

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Tom Fish's avatar

Thanks Michael, though in fairness to Naples I'm not very kind to it here either!

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E.O. Connors's avatar

Naples is an unwashed, hairy armpit. The last time I was there, a bedraggled woman who had been asked to leave a McDonalds got so angry that she placed her naked bottom on the window in front of our table and let loose a shining waterfall of urine down it. Outside on the street, a woman held her toddler's bottom out the car window so he could defecate in the gutter. Imo, the only reason to go there is to grab a slice to bring on the train to Pompeii

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Tom Fish's avatar

Well that is quite the story! And one that I believe having been! But yes, agreed about the pizza and the base to visit Pompeii.

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Emma Sharpe's avatar

I feel like pizza is a reoccurring motif in your stories - not that I'm complaining

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Tom Fish's avatar

You're not wrong Emma! This is what happens when pizza is a reoccurring motif in your life

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Emily's avatar

I love an honest tour guide. Somehow, I still want to visit Naples after reading this haha.

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Tom Fish's avatar

Honestly I still sort of recommend it. It's an experience, that's for sure! And it genuinely is a good base for things like Pompeii and Vesuvius. Watch out for scooters, though!

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Kim Patel's avatar

Well I will cross off Naples off our travel wish list, although it does sound like you don't have to worry about finding the wc's. If the tour guide moves to Switzerland I can say she will have beautiful tours to guide. I am sat here though smelling the pizza.

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