The merging of Norman and Arabic cultures in Sicily’s past gave a surreal experience of societal limbo. At times, I could almost forget I was in another country. Despite being abroad, I felt as though I belonged. This contrasted greatly to my previous trips to Russia and Eastern Asia where cultural lapses are few and far between; I was constantly reminded I was halfway around the world. 

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My initial observations of Naples were the mountains of rubbish and plastering of graffiti lining the streets . Some people I spoke to were put off by this, others were sympathetic to the lack of public funding. However, looking past this, Naples is a beautiful labyrinth of thin, cobbled, hilly residential streets, filled with foliage and vibrant evidence of life. Becoming intentionally lost was easy; finding courtyard gardens and beautiful viewpoints was just as hard. Having filled the two days with trips to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, most of the good light disappeared by the time we got home. Without any high ISO film, and no ability to push process when I got home, I didn’t get to photograph much of this beautiful city.  A tripod would have been really useful!  The day trips to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii ended in shrouded fog and torrential rain respectively. And perhaps one or two prematurely opened cameras resulting in some serious light leaks.