andiamotrips - campania, italy with karen phillips

Twenty years in Naples and I had never ridden a Vespa.  Sure over the years I'd admired those who weave in and out of traffic with ease, even shaken my fist at a few who had gotten too close for comfort.  But driven one myself? No. So when my eyes glanced over the latest Wine and The City program scheduled in Naples in May, my eyes hit an event that I thought was assai interesting...assai assai. Wine and the Vespa - a tour through Posillipo's vineyards.  Vineyards on a Vespa?  Too cool to pass up.  I made a reservation subito. Piazza Trieste e Trento, Saturday 18 May, 0930 am.  That was my appointment time with NapolInVespa Tour, a group of enthusiastic young Neapolitans who love their city and are ready to show off its beauty to whoever is ready and willing to hop on the back of a Vespa. That morning there were about 14 in our group.  And after donning our mandatory helmets, we were on our way.  First stop, Mergellina for a brief hist...

Italy? Campania?  Pizza?  There's practically a pizzeria on every corner, in every neighborhood.  One Friday evening I decided to visit a neighborhood not far from my own.  One that I hadn't been to in awhile.  Pozzuoli's lungomare , boardwalk. I decided to try a pizza at Ciro Coccia 's new-ish pizzeria La Dea Bendata . I arrived early, well, early for a Friday.  8 pm.  After a pleasant stroll from the public parking lot at the end of the boardwalk, I arrived to a small, comfortable, cozy neighborhood pizzeria; Corso Umberto I, 93. A quick look at the menu, a quick chat with Coccia and subito a beer and plate of his famous frittura was on the table. Classics.  Crocche', zeppole, but my favorite was the fried zucchini flower stuffed with ricotta cheese. I could of stopped there, but my curiosity and desire to taste as much as my curiosity (and waistline ) would allow, I moved on to the montanara. A montanara is a fried piz...