Destination: Naples

I spend a lot of time with guides, and when someone is born to be a guide, it’s clear: They just can’t stop teaching and marveling at what’s all around. Jump in the taxi with me and Vincenzo (from Mondo Guide) for the tour-guiding finale of our day. I spent an entire day with Vincenzo, and it was non-stop, just like you see here: exhausting, funny, fascinating, and energizing all at the same time. Imagine getting excited about an Aragonese king from 1400, and talking about his relatives like they’re yours. Incredibile.

This is Day 20 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences in Italy, Portugal, France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

A sea urchin can be sexy. With it, you put the sea in your mouth. I’m in Naples, updating my guidebook, and my friend Vincenzo is helping me check restaurants. We capped our evening at his favorite, L’Altro Coco Loco. While a little too pretentious for my guidebook, L’Altro Coco Loco offered a delightful look at Naples’ beautiful people and great food. Stay tuned for the end of the video, when Vincenzo tries to dispel some preconceptions jittery Americans have about his hometown.

Vincenzo runs Mondo Tours. They work with me to provide shared minibus tours, making the region much less expensive for thousands of travelers each year with my Rick Steves Italy guidebook.    

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This is Day 19 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences in Italy, Portugal, France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

My Best of Sicily tour is over, and I’ve said Ciao to tour guide Alfio and my fellow tour members. I’m now in Naples for a stint of guidebook research. This city is better than ever — vibrant and photogenic and filled with surprises — and feels much safer than in previous years.

Three generations on one bike for a trip to the market…why not?

Be warned: In the back lanes of Napoli, you’ll meet packs of tough little girls…trying out all sorts of gestures.

Walking the streets of Naples, you feel the community. And that includes the traditional death notices. When someone dies, the entire neighborhood is invited to the funeral. I found the way these death notices were stacked up pretty thought-provoking (as is so much of travel in south Italy).

There are many dimensions to my work, and I enjoy most of them. One of my favorite things is simply being on the streets alone (or with a local guide), revisiting the great cities of Europe, making sure the information in my Rick Steves guidebooks is up-to-date, and collecting new experiences and impressions in my notebook. I have a very strict discipline with these notes: Each evening, I decipher my handwriting and type the day’s thoughts into my laptop before hitting the sack.  

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This is Day 18 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences in Italy, Portugal, France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.