Homesick

Perhaps with the recent pile of homework and exams hitting me from left and right, I have become somewhat homesick. It's funny that when we are in high school, we would always say to our parents (especially in a heated argument) that we could not wait to go to college. Now that we are here, we can't wait to see familiar faces again. The grass is always greener on the other side, right?

Well Naples was no different for me. Going into the heart of Naples didn't really seem like an occasion at the time. Usually my friends and I would focus solely on the negative aspects, like the piling mounds of trash, or the strays running to and fro. Now in State College, I miss the chaotic hustle of that old city.

TMA portal

Amid the trash, there is beauty-literally. One of my favorite places is by the port at Castel dell’Ovo. At night it is beautiful to see the lights out on the water from all the ships and yachts, and it is especially amazing to watch the lights shining down from the medieval castle that juts out into the water. Dating back to Medieval times,

According to one of the most fanciful Neapolitan legends, the name of this castle derives from the egg (“uovo, “ in Italian) that the Latin poet Virgil hid within the  dungeons. The egg was protected because it was said to hold the castle’s protection from enemies.
The entrance to this castle is free, and very often it is used for special occasions like weddings and exhibitions. The DoDea school I attended actually had their graduation ceremony there a few years ago. That is, until it was deemed dangerous due to increased protection against terrorism. How amazing would it be to say you graduated in a Medieval castle?

There are also many restaurants that surround the castle. Last time I visited home for winter break, I ate with my senior friends down by the bay. Situated right under the castle, there is a cozy pizzeria where I could non resist but to order my favorite ‘Buffalina” pizza (pizza with only fresh mozzarella and tomatoes.” Even though most tourists order seafood, being right on the water, I have decided that the water is just a little too murky to order fish. Even though Naples is full of problems, to find bits of beauty like this castle make it all worth while.