Salerno.....

The first thing I did for this vacation was to make my way to Salerno with my friends. Salerno is a city south of Napoli that is strategically located for tourists between many great tourist locations like Pompei, and its cost is much less than those cities so many people choose to stay there. I used my eurail pass for the first time and I loved it. I had a minor complications in figuring out the use of it, but it is fantastic. We arrived in Salerno in the early afternoon on Friday and spent a day wondering around the beautiful ocean side town...

this is from the promendade of Salerno. The city has a lot of spanish influence in its construction and layout. There is the obvious italian historical center, but many of the newer pieces and government buildings were built later for the spanish colonization. You can see some of them over the trees in this picture, but you can see the beautiful ocean as well.

I loved how this city had a focus on the promenade. Everyone, well what seemed like everyone came here to enjoy the weather, to run, to walk, to sit and enjoy the ocean.

Here is part of the newer historical center, still very italian influenced but you can see newer, more modern pieces as well (not in this picture but in the city in general). This piazza is opening into a piazza behind me and is looking down to the ocean. Very lovely.

here are some of the southern palm trees and the spanish constructed churches. it is more typical of the napoli area, very beautiful in its own right.

I loved this shot, because it expresses the nature of the Italian culture and idealogy of living. How work and everything is below the family's homes. It's so amazing to see these balconies and the presence of life in the city. We in america tend to think that the city is a place for work and commerce; it is difficult to find a lot of great places to live in cities unless you're in places like new york or chicago. but it's because that people live in the center of cities that all of the activity happens regularly, it is amazing to me. Even the smallest italian cities have this regular and abundant activity.

this picture was taken because of the doors. they have display cases built in that provide more reasons to enter the store and see their products, as well serve the purpose at night when noone can walk in. People walk by at night and see it..."oh wow, we should come back here tomorrow!"

my time is salerno was really just a day, but it was enough to appreciate another place in italy. But Salerno was really just a stopping point for me to get to Pompei...