Wander & Wonder: Short stories on the road III.

This trip continues to move forward, just as my writing journey. Thank you once again for joining me. With each passing moment, I feel more certain that this adventure marks a turning point in my life - a fork in the road. Perhaps it’s dramatic, but it perfectly sets the tone for this chapter: Napoli.

Welcome to Real Italian Chaos.

Originally, we planned to use Napoli as our base for exploring the Amalfi Coast. Instead, we chose Sorrento, which turned four planned days into just one afternoon in Napoli - and chaos ensued.

If Positano was the dreamy postcard of Italy, Napoli is its pulsating, raw, and passionate heart. Picture neighborhoods with intricate streets, colorful mountainside houses, and laundry strung from balcony to balcony. It feels alive, like the city has its own heartbeat, its own rhythm, waiting for no one. You either embrace the wave or let it overwhelm you.

For me, Napoli was one of those rare places where I thought, I could live here. Just like New York or Buenos Aires, cities with their own unique language and beats resonate with me deeply. I love the thrilling surprise of arriving somewhere and feeling that connection, that undeniable sense of belonging. It’s not the romantic escapism of the Amalfi Coast; it’s the electrifying realization of me.

The Presence of Us.

This blog is getting personal - hope you don’t mind. Napoli brought out a lot in me, and one thing stood out: my contradictions. I believe it’s okay to change your mind when there’s a strong reason to. Life is too complex and precious to let stubbornness get in the way of growth.

Napoli is a city that loves Maradona. It’s almost a shrine to him. There’s a corner devoted entirely to his memory - photos, murals, football jerseys, and music. The love Italians (especially in the south) have for him is even greater than what we Argentinians feel. Say his name, and their faces light up, their smiles grow, and language barriers vanish as they recount his impact on the city and its people.

Growing up, I wasn’t a huge fan. The challenge with icons is separating the person from the star, the character, and the human. But standing in that corner, surrounded by their adoration, I felt moved to tears. It reminded me that Maradona is a part of Argentina’s identity - its culture, history, mystique, and contradictions. And there’s nothing that moves me more than seeing my country being loved.

Napoli loves Maradona, and through him, it loves Argentina too.

Up Next: Sicilia.

The trip is nearing its end, but there’s more to come. We will be moving to Sicilia (an Italy of its own, it seems) but not before covering some extras that I believe are worth mentioning, such as a night train travel, a not-so-fun trip to Palermo and, did you know that Pompeii doesn’t have any lighting at night? Yeah, us neither.

Thanks for being here with me again. See you next week!

Ce.