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Spurgeon's thoughts on Naples

Today after hearing a few C.H. Spurgeon quotes while listening to a sermon, I decided to look into his writings and maybe do a little reading. If you know anything about him, then I'm sure you know there was a ton of things to choose from. I decided to read through the letters that he wrote to his wife while he was traveling without her in Italy. I discovered that his travels took him through Naples and all that surrounds it. I also discovered that not much has changed about Naples since the time of Spurgeon. In my opinion (so very Italian of me to use this phrase), Spurgeon's description of Naples in the 1860's accurately describes Naples today; give or take a few technological advances. So I have decided to let Spurgeon share his opinion of my city with you.

"THIS MORNING, we drove through Naples for, I should think, six or seven miles or more. It is a crowded city, full of stirs, full of business, and full of pleasure. Horses seem innumerable, they are decorated profusely, and the carriages are very comfortable; but, I am sorry to say, the men drive furiously, and make me very nervous. Old women are numerous and hideous, beggars pestiferous, and dealers intensely persevering. But what a bay! What a sea and climate! No one ought to be ill here."

"Our hotel here is vast and empty; we have excellent rooms, and are thoroughly comfortable. There is music continually, and very fair music, too, though not so sweet as silence. Everybody makes all the noise possible, and quiet dwells beyond the sea. Rome is a sepulcher, this city teems with life. You are not out of the door a moment before you are entreated to have a carriage, buy fruit, fish, pictures, papers, or something. The side-streets swarm with people, who appear to live in them; there they eat, cook, work, catch fleas;, hunt over each other's heads like so many monkeys, etc., etc. It is like living in a museum; but as to the beauty and gracefulness of which we read so much, I cannot detect it, though really looking for it. Persons over forty look worn out, and females at that age are haggard; over that period, they are. ghastly and mummified. Macaroni hangs out, in some quarters, before the doors on lines to dry; and the flies, which are numerous upon it, give it anything but an attractive appearance."

And there you have it. For those of you who dwell in this city... need we say anymore?

It's B-A-C-K.........

Yes.

My camera is home.

This is what the children think of it...

Emma

I'm happy cause you're happy

Lily

Oh great, not another one

Micah

Good! Now you can take pictures of me

Thoughts of children: narrated by me

Treats from really nice American friends...

A while back I blogged about why I like volunteer teams. Among one of the many reasons I like them, is the American treats they bring us. Well, sometimes we can find American things here. But when we do, they cost a lot, and it isn't worth paying for them.

On occasion, wonderful people, specially named Tiffany (who happens to be quite a cool person) treat us to nice American treats found in Italy. This blog tells my story....

enough said.

and yes I did put pieces of white chocolate in the middle of the muffins.

YUM

World Cup 2010

I like soccer. Going to Brazil a few times has increased my liking for it. For the last World Cup, I was working at Ruby Tuesday's and had nothing to do but work and watch watch soccer. So I watched practically every game. It was fun for me, but really... who in America really watches the World Cup? There were few people who shared my interest.

BUT, now I live in Italy. Let me remind you who won the World Cup in 2006....... Italy. Being that Italy is a soccer nation and the defending world champions, the World Cup tends to be a big deal here. I didn't watch every game, because there are a ton, but I did watch most of them. I watched every USA game and every Italy game. Of course I was pulling for Italy, but well everyone here knows that the team is too old to do much. But still, we watched. It was fun getting to experience the World Cup in a passionate soccer country.

As you may or may not know, Italy didn't make it through the first round. So I fell to my first love, Brazil. Now, Spain was favored to win this cup, but I still was rooting for Brazil. Until it dawned on me that I would be in Spain for the final game. After discussing with Paul, we decided we wanted Spain to win so that we could be there for the celebration. Well folks.... watch and see...

International World Changers

This past week the International World Changers team was here in Naples working with us. It was a fun time, as I always enjoy having teams here. We were able to build some good relationships in the piazza and were able to better some relationships built from a previous team. Here are a couple iPhone pics from our time in the piazza.

Of course soccer is always on the top of the list...

I don't remember where the ninja game came from, but it seems to be a big hit

This little old lady was so thankful that we gave her a bible small enough for her to carry around. She asked for Michelle's address in America so she could send her thank you notes.

Some of the sweetest memories from this week came from watching Micah have a heart to see the people believe in Jesus. She put her artistic skills to work to help open up some relationships.

There was another missions team from Ireland in our piazza this week. We worked with them as they brought their style to the piazza.... a little Irish dancing.

One of our volunteers, Penny, sharing her testimony in the piazza as one of the Irish guys translated.

I like working with the big volunteer teams because I get to have my "own" group for a week. I love getting to know them and walking alongside of them during their time here. Plus I make great new friends and get to have new wisdom poured into my life. I also think it's funny to watch them try to adjust to our culture!

Jared here is just loving all the pizza and pasta he ate. This is my team enjoying their sit down lunch for the week.

Jared was even nice enough to play games with Jenae.....

And that is my IWC blog. Maybe I'll write more later, except I'm going to Spain tomorrow and have way too much to do.

i don't like sand, but this place is real pretty

So I dislike (I choose this word over "hate" because I just taught Alessia how to say it, not good) sand very much. In fact, I dislike it very, very, very much. It bothers me. I never went to the beach growing up, and maybe the second time I ever went to the beach, I stayed for a whole summer. Sand is one of my enemies. But, Italians like the beach. And since I need to be Italian, I decided I needed to take some sun at the beach and change my skin color a little.

I took a beach day on Monday. I took the train out to Sorrento and just had a day to myself on the beach. It was relaxing. I read a book and changed colors a little. Yes, the sand bothered me.

Then on Tuesday night, a friend asked to go to the beach on Wednesday. So I headed out to visit my sand enemy yet again. I changed colors again, and this time I took a few pictures. The beach here is not the big, white Florida beaches. Instead they look like this...

The best part is getting in the water and looking up at the surroundings. It's pretty sweet. I normally don't feel like I live in the Italy that America thinks of, just because Naples is Naples. But when I go out to the little surround cities and the Almafi Coast, I remember I live in Italy.

We walked up and around the town after our morning on the beach and this is the view down to the beach...

Marta and I decided maybe we could live there...

I guess my new skin color makes up for my dislike of the SABBIA(sand)!!!!