I will end up in hell, but I want to put those two topics in one post, because those pieces of public display have the same devotion: a believe, a devotion to a subject, a person, an idea! Hundreds of years ago it was the fear of hell, it was the believe and admiration of a saint; today this saint is named Diego Maradona, it’s a political, artistic or cultural admiration. it also has a pure practical reason as well: back then, those altars were the only source of light on street corners. With those altar lights, the corners were safer, more visible, less spooky. The reason for streetart nowadays is to expose young people to art, the teach them crafts and direct them away from drugs and crime. In Monterey they have a very successful program that’s called „Guitars not Guns“ to teach children and teenagers music, so they discover a love for a hobby, keep them busy and off the streets.

Last night we were treated to a very special event: an opera at the Teatro di San Carlo, which was built in 1737 and is now considered the oldest opera house in the world! We saw Bellini‘s „I Puritani“ that was filled with lots of romantic heart- melting arias about an unfulfilled lovestory. Beautiful!

Fun Fact: It took only 10 months to build this theatre!

„He who works with his hands is a laborer, he who works with his hands and brain is a craftsman and he who works with his hands, his brain and his heart is an artist“

Napoli is full of craftsmen & women! We saw an amazing range of handwork, from breadmaker to signpainter, lithographer to mosaicmaker, and today we visited a few more unique craftsmen: a carpenter, an umbrellamaker and mandolinrestaurateur.

And of course more food and wine was served as we walked through the Spanish quarter of Napoli

I could send an extensive list of food every single day, but I’m sparing you the unavoidable envy that would arise. So here is a summary of the good, the better and the best we’ve eaten in the last 2 days. Yes, only 2 days of eating – breakfast not included!

---

But it’s not only the food that is delicious, unusual and plenty, it is the locations we go to that are even more unusual: for example we visited an organic farm that is on top of an archeological site, where a whole city is about to be excavated. We were allowed to enter the excavation areas where an archeologist team from France is digging up old Roman streets, houses, marketplaces etc. knowing that you walk on top of a whole city is quite interesting! The farm from was rented to his family many years ago under the condition that no chemicals can ever be used to preserve the treasure underneath. What is growing there is a combination of nuts, fruits, vegetables and wine. They have a few animals which makes the farm be just as perfect as can be!

Another unusual location we had lunch yesterday was on the inside of a caldera! The inside slope of this volcano has a beautiful lake that is filled with saltwater on the side closer to the sea, and freshwater, the other half further away from the sea. Saltwater and freshwater fish can be found in there which is quite unique!