The Time I Bought the Wrong Ticket to Naples

My university ACU has a Rome Campus, which is a combined facility with the Catholic University of America (CUA). In early April, my CUA mates were going to Naples for the weekend. I knew much of my travel would be alone, so I didn't want to miss out on a trip that I could do with friends. They would leave Friday and get back Sunday. As I was working until Friday, I decided to leave early Saturday morning, stay with the gang, and return Sunday afternoon. The plan was good, except that with too many tabs open on my laptop to book the cheapest ticket, I bought the wrong ticket. And did not realize this until the Ticket Collector checked. Let me tell you this story before I share some rainy pictures (which by the way is another story)...

So I have a 7:25 am train. I go to the station. Already intimidated by the announcements in Italian (because I speak no Italian), I double check, triple check, that I am on the correct platform. My father had told me too many times how they have inter-country trains and you may end up in some random destination if you aren't careful. Well being careful isn't necessarily my greatest virtue, so I checked for the fourth time. Yup, correct platform. Got on to the train. A Swiss father-son duo come up and the son says that's his seat. I tell him that I have the same seat number and we compare our electronic tickets (both zoomed in to the seat number, date not in the window). We conclude that the online ticketing system stuffed up, and he said the seat wasn't spacious enough for his long legs anyways, so the father sat across me and the son found a more spacious seat nearby.

The father and myself along with two other passengers were having a good time talking about mountains and Nepal and family holidays when the Ticket Collector approaches us. Just as he is checking my conversation partners' tickets, I take out my e-ticket, zoom it out and freeze. Both tickets (going to Naples and return) are for the same date. For tomorrow's date. I booked both tickets for tomorrow. The extremes ran through my mind, they're going to get me off on the next stop, which I had no idea it was, and I'd have to find some way back to Rome. The collector asked for my ticket. I did not say a word. At first, he was confused too, not being able to locate me on his list, but his eye quickly figured out that the ticket was for the following day. He informs me of this, and I blabber about how it was an honest mistake. He probably saw the panic in my eyes, and said it was OK, and to be careful from next time onwards. Wooooooh. Sigh of relief. The gentleman in front of me gives me a talk about how one should be careful about such things. I listen, embarrassed and determined to not do this again.

Well now that that story's over, let me share some of rainy moments of Naples. It was a thing where every time I went out in Europe, especially to a different city, it rained. I was not going to let that be an excuse for not visiting these places, which are so gorgeous even when drenched, and have it on my bucket list now to see them sunny!

Took another train CircumvesuvianaI to Sorrento, because that's where all my friends were. This trip made me super home-sick as the scenarios looked like Nepal-I mean, look at those hills!

Reached Sorrento, and had a quick lunch.

Yup, my table was by the main road-pretty cool eh?

First thing, off to Capri. An island in along the bay of Italy, Capri is famed for its breathtaking landscapes, designer fashion stores and limoncello.

How cute are these lanes lined up with high-end fashion stores.

That's my attempt to look candid.

Cute decor.

Heavenly. Atop the Piazzetta.

SO Nepal-esque.

On my way back to Sorrento.

View from my hotel room <3

So on the way back, I decided to stop at Pompeii. Due to lack of sufficient time, I couldn't go in for the actual tour of this vast archaeological sight, but utilized whatever little time I had to sit at Pompeii, reading all about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and preserved life. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look up Pompeii or eruption of Mount Vesuvius, I'm sure you'll find the reading amusing.

I did not really venture out into the actual city of Naples. Stories of scary pick-pocketing incidents discouraged me, but one thing I made sure to do was have a pizza, because when in Naples, you gotta have Neapolitan pizza (and forgot to take a picture of it, meh....). Overall a splendid weekend.

Hope you had a fun time having a read-until next time, keep exploring, Anka signing off!

#AnkaTravels #travel #traintrips #europe #Naples #traveldiaries