More Italian Lessons.

Italian Lesson #4: Be Friendly.

This is probably just more of a rule for traveling (or hopefully just life in general), but don't be scared to talk to people on trains or ask locals for directions. Part of the fun in traveling is all the cool people that you meet along the way, you never know who you'll find. The Australians in the picture below with us (at the pizza place) are people that we met when our train broke down. Navigating the Italian train system is quite the bonding experience, and we became fast friends. Traveling in smaller groups is always more conducive to meeting new people, but it can happen anywhere, you just need to be open to it!

Italian Lesson #5: Visit Naples.

But really, if you are in Italy, you should go to Naples. People might try to tell you that it's dirty, and filled only with pickpockets and garbage, and that you're going to get robbed there... At least that's what everyone tried to tell me! We really wanted to go there, and ended up stopping there for an afternoon on our way to Sorrento, Capri and Pompeii. I'm so glad that we stopped in Naples. Maybe it was because I had such low expectations, but I was surprised by how much I liked this city! I wasn't ever nervous about my safety at all, although the drivers there are even crazier than Romans. Just bring a backpack lock just in case, and you'll be fine.

Make sure you try the pizza while you're there. It was unlike anything I've ever had, very different than Chicago deep dish, but so incredibly delicious.That alone was worth the trip!

Naples also has a surprising amount of cool sites you could visit as well. We also went to the National Archaeological Museum, which is where all of the real statues and relics of things found in Pompeii are. Only replicas are displayed in Pompeii since they don't want to risk anymore weather damage to priceless old artifacts.

Italian Lesson #6: When in doubt, go swimming.

I don't care if it's cold, or if you don't like salt water, or if you don't want to ruin your hair or whatever... Whenever you have a chance, go swimming in the sea. My group of friends learned this lesson the hard way off the island of Capri. When else are you going to get a chance to swim through a grotto? I'm so glad I got to go in, the water was beautiful. The people in our group who opted out of swimming are still mad at themselves, so don't miss your chance.