The universe can toss you a curve ball when you least expect it. Certainly, riding a “hop on hop off” bus would be one of those places where you would least expect it. Least expect to fall in love. Least expect to find me. I’ve always striven to be the non-tourist and even thinking about riding the hop on hop off bus would give me hives. My hip friends, Mike and Lori, insisted that I would truly enjoy it – no matter what city I was in. Well, I didn’t know if I would enjoy it but Jack and I had four hours to kill in Naples.
Who knew the hop on hop off bus would have such an impact on my life. Maybe it was the Neapolitan songs. Maybe it was the sun shining over the bay of Naples. Maybe it was the 30 children on the upper level of the bus who were excited to be going to an art museum. Maybe it was the architecture or the feelings that the people of Naples sling at your soul. Who can ever really tell you why you fall in love with someone or something. Love is a strange emotion. It pieces your heart, turns your brain into mush and forces you to do things you never thought you would. Today, I fell in love with the turbulent, bad boy city called Naples.
Historically, I have found Naples crowded, a driving nightmare and the train station full of obnoxious faux cab drivers. My eyes have been opened to the incredible parks, interesting neighborhoods and wealth of theaters and museums. Tomorrow, we are going to Teatro San Carlo to see Verdi’s Il Trovatore. Sigh…my love may deepen.
Nonna's Mulberry Tree 
I’ve learned, while traveling with my husband to conferences, that if the city DOESN’T have a hop on hop off bus I shouldn’t go. It’s an inexpensive way to get around the city to most places you would want to go, you get a history of the place, and discounts on all the museums if you book through them (which you can do right on the bus). Those discount tickets also include a “skip the line” feature where you get to walk right in.
It also helps if you are the type of person who gets lost on busses and subways because you can’t read the language.
I used to think it was a bit déclassé, now I’ve come to rely on it.
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I agree with George! I love Hop on, Hop Offs! Sometimes they are great “Scouting” expeditions!! In Dublin…they were just a HOOT!!
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I had been going to Manhattan for work and pleasure for most of my life. Just a few years ago we took the hop-on hop-off bus there and discovered a city we hardly knew. We lived only and hour from Philadelphia as well and never knew anything about the city. We took the tour bus there too and saved a lifetime of walking around and wondering on our way to discovering a very nice city. The best part, when visiting a strange city is that you get to see and hear about the highlights and decide which ones you want to go back to during the rest of your stay. They also give very helpful information such as what areas to steer clear of, how simple things like money, transportation, dining work and even how to find restrooms!
You can call it touristy – but I prefer to think of it as an executive overview.
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Brava Midge! Nice piece on Naples. It’s an underrated city in many ways.
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