flourishing

We have had a marvelous couple of weeks.  Yesterday we woke up and said, "Is it Thursday already?"  The days are flying by.

We celebrated my birthday on the 6th, with a guided walking tour of old Naples (check the organization out on TripAdvisor, it's fantastic; the tour guides are students who speak English well, and the purpose is to change negative perceptions about Naples.  https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187785-d8093647-Reviews-Napoli_That_s_Amore_free_walking_tours-Naples_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html).

Our guide, Francesco, was very friendly, engaging and funny.  He shared an old saying about Naples being like a closed flower - you have to go deep to search out its beauties.  We agree that it has a very illustrious past and is definitely worth discovering.

 This is the world's oldest pizzeria!  It says 1783 above the door.  But pizza is way older than that.  It derives from Greek times and "pita".

 Roman ruins.  Civilizations build upon the previous ones.

 The tower in the center is several hundred years old; but the white parts were "added in" as decorations, discovered from earlier Greek structures.

 You will see these white flags in Naples more often than the Italian flag.  Wiki says, "This flag was used during the rule of the House of Bourbon, first as the flag of the Kingdom of Naples and later as the flag of the Two Sicilies. Bourbon rule was briefly interrupted by other rulers..." but basically extended from 1734-1860.  It is the time Neapolitans are most proud of, I believe.

 This is classic old city.  Don't be caught here at night!  But during the day - charming!

 This is Francesco alongside Pulcinella, one of Naples' enduring symbols.  He is a folk figure that represents a lot of neapolitan characteristics:  poor but resourceful; witty; always bounces back.  If you rub his nose (which we did) you'll have good luck!

 The name of the little street fascinated me; it says, "Little street of the fig tree at Purgatory".  There was a fig tree once at this intersection, and just down the way was a gathering of some sort of organization called Purgatory.  I should probably get my facts a little clearer on this!

 This church is another example of using older structures, i.e., the Roman columns.

Via San Gregorio Armeno - "Christmas Street".  Naples is famous for its presepi/Nativity scenes.  Here you can buy any number of figurines and settings for your Neapolitan creche.

One of my favorite scenes.  This street is known fondly as "Spaccanapoli", meaning it divides Napoli in half.  If you look on a map, you can see it.  It's actually split into about three sections, all with different names - but it's the same "via."

This statue has a humorous history but suffice it to say it has its real origin in Egyptian lore.  I understood it at the time but I think some of the facts of blurred in the interim!

After our tour we ate lunch at a nearby restaurant before proceeding to our next stop, Vomero, and a trip back 43 years in time!

Vomero is a hilltop community overlooking Naples and the bay.  Blaine and I both lived in this area as missionaries.  We wanted to take the funicolare there, but it is under renovation.  When we arrived at the metro station, we didn't really recognize anything.  We followed the signs, occasionally asking some poor wet soul if we were on the right path, for Castel St. Elmo, hoping to get some kind of a view or to see something passingly familiar.  As we drew nearer, we realized we'd have to return another time, because of the rain and a previous appointment.  I noticed a familiar corner, though, and said, "I think the old cameo factory was right here..."  And there it was.  They still do cameos to order with the Angel Moroni or with a temple, for a discount!  This gentleman looks as he did 43 years ago, minus the gray hair and maybe a few wrinkles.  Wow.

We went back into Old Naples, to the Chiostro di Santa Chiara at Piazza del Gesu`, to listen to our friend Paulina, a new member of the Church, play violin as part of an ensemble hired to play for a wedding.  We "sat in" on the entire wedding.  Very interesting, and the music was lovely - the acoustics were great.

Sorry to spend so much time on my birthday!  It was really an unforgettable day.  Surrounding it are day after day of wonderful visits with wonderful people:

Three sweet sweet sisters from the Ramo di Flegrei, our local branch of the Church.  The angel in the red sweater is almost 90 years old.  Look at those clear eyes.

Saying goodbye to two of our marvelous missionaries, Elders Andersen, going to Taranto and Mercado, going to Palermo.  We wish them the best in their new efforts.

We've seen some miracles; we're continually amazed at how much the Lord loves his children - us included.  We love this place!