S, F, Solo, 70+, public transpo and 95% of the time stay in apts. Nov 3-Dec 4, 2024. Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, Atrani, Praiano, Fuore, vietri al Mare, Cetara, Mairoi, Maratea, Tropea, Cosenza, Matera, Bari, Lecce, Ostuni, Otranto, Galatina, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Trani, Alberobello, Capua, Naples, Pompeii, Oplontis.
My observations:
-all the towns were very clean, no trash anywhere. Naples was gritty, dirty, trashy, graffiti everywhere.
-sea on both coast was crystal clear and beautiful turquoise colors.
-beaches were very different and ranged from palm sized stones to smooth white sand
-people were extremely friendly and helpful to the extent that they stopped what they were doing to take me where I wanted to go
-train schedules on paper at the station are not entirely accurate but planning for the south was fairly easy
-only one train station had no personnel or ticket machine (Maratea)
-November--majority of shops/restaurants/businesses closed
-12-4 or 1-5 siesta is alive and well in southern Italy
-train and busses were timely. Only problem I had is that bus stops for particular destinations could be at any one of a number of bus stops and to locate the right one is a challenge
-cobblestone streets are extremely difficult to manage. Pompeii horrible!
-women are not as fashionable as in Rome or the north
-one stray dog, lots of cats
-small cities had street lights everywhere whereas Naples smaller streets and definitely the alleys did not
-train strikes can play havoc with a visit. Some trains do run and sometimes there is a 6-9am schedule with the train stopping wherever it's at at 10am.
-all STOP signs were in English
-walking is precarious as everyone is on their phone, smoking, talking or eating and worst of all stopping and taking selfies
-oh those scooters and motorcycles
-small towns/cities: a symphony of church bells as some clocks are off by a minute or two and they rind every 15 minutes
-pastries are to die for
-a NYC girl so pizzas were not up to my standards
-guidebook info IMO strictly refers to high season
-used my Paris budget and southern Italy is much less expensive
-my new thing is buying antique pillowcases for a lovely lulling off to sleep reminder of a great trip
-luckily had fabulous sunny weather except for one afternoon of mist/drizzle for about an hour (no umbrella needed just a Dollar General $1 plastic disposable poncho
Remember November and my opinions.