Jocelyn In Naples: Cuma & Bacoli!

Rather close to my apartment are the famous Cuma ruins! Cuma was an ancient Greek settlement and the first Greek colony on the mainland of Italy, thought to be founded in the 8th century B.C.. It was the seat of the famous Cumaean Sibyl. The Cumaean Sibyl was a priestess who presided over the Apollonian oracle, and she would prophesy the future by "singing the fates" and writing on oak leaves, which would be arranged in her cave.

The Arco Felice (Happy Arch) that my town is named after. It's still standing and cars have to drive through it, even though the passage is quite narrow. Good thing Italians have tiny cars!

That Cumaean Sibyl had quite a view from her cave!

Taking a break, lounging in an old broken pot!

We have a favorite pizza place in Bacoli. The guys make pizzas in the shape of crocodiles and Emily was excited to yum hers up! They even make ones for dessert that are filled with Nutella (a creamy chocolate hazelnut spread)! The saltiness of the pizza dough and the sweetness of the Nutella - molto buono!

The summertime in Italy is the best - we rent little boats and sail from the Bacoli harbor to Ischia and Procida, two of the nearby islands. We swim a bit, suntan a bit, and generally enjoy the beautiful views!

This is one cool bird! Why sit in the water and keep yourself afloat when you can sit on a boogie board and stay dry?

Ischia is known for its luxury spas and great food... this store sold VERY expensive clothing. I felt it necessary to point out this spandex leopard skin shirt/pant combo... I believe it cost more than 400 dollars! Crazy!