Breakfast fun and the great beach escape

Last week it seemed as if the rain would never stop. Well it has! Naples is finally becoming the summer inferno that all the locals have been warning me about, and it’s only going to get hotter!

The room I sleep in (the breakfast room) is equipped with air conditioning. Unfortunately, that air conditioning will not be functioning for the whole of the summer due to construction work being done on the building. The dorms and private rooms, however, will not be affected by this problem and will maintain their air conditioning systems.

Yesterday, a young man staying in one of the dorms complained that the AC in his room wasn’t cold enough, and he wanted to know if I could fix it. This was after I spent a night sweating away in my room (I can’t leave the windows open because of the mosquitoes), so I couldn’t help but point out to him that I didn’t know how to work the controller since I didn’t have one myself. I don’t know ? was that passive aggressive of me?

Sometimes my patience is really tried here. The other morning at breakfast, two girls (I later learned that they are both studying to be doctors) at different times pointed at the glass pitcher of milk and asked, “What’s that?”

Hmm, it’s wet like milk, it’s white like milk, it’s next to the giant bowl of cereal. I’m going to make a wild guess and say it’s milk! Of course, I did have the advantage of seeing the word “latte” printed on the carton I poured the mysterious liquid from, but they say you shouldn’t believe everything you read.

I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe that what they really wanted to know was weather it was regular milk or soy, but, with all the Mensa candidates I’ve come across here, I’m not really inclined.

Milk seems to be a confusing drink to many. Every morning I set out a cold pitcher of milk next to a thermos of milk. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me what the difference is! Of course, the milk really isn’t to blame.

Trying to fill her bottle, one guest pushed the sink’s tap handle all the way to the left only to get scalding hot water. She then turned to me and asked, “Which direction is for cold?” Deduction, sweetheart, deduction.

OK, one more story, and then I promise I’m done venting! Last week was the Polish invasion.

This week is the Swedish invasion. A group of about 20 Swedish architecture students are staying at the hostel right now. Some arrived a day before their classmates so they could enjoy the city a bit on their own.

One man arrived in the evening, and I helped him get settled in and learn a little about the do’s and please don’ts of the hostel. He also witnessed me helping other guests. In the morning, I served breakfast as usual. Only when I politely took his flatware from him at the end of his meal and told him not to worry, I would do the washing, did he ask, “Oh, do you work here?” No, I’m just a control freak ? there isn’t enough medication in the world to stop me.

All right, venting complete.

This week, as with every week, I got one night and one day free to escape the Mensa meetings at the hostel, so Renato took me to a beautiful little beach in Serapo, north of Naples. It wasn’t a public beach, which means we had to rent an umbrella for a whopping 15 euros in order to sit down.

This turned out to be quite the enjoyable expense, though. Included in the rental were two lounge chairs that kept us off the sizzling sand. The beach was lined with blocks of umbrellas, each block a different color to signify the different rental spots, giving it a charming resort-like feel. The water was actually contained in a little gulf, so it was calm, not crystal clear, but certainly good for swimming, and fairly warm for this early in the season ? though I still shivered.

I was a bit spoiled by the umbrella. Normally, after a day at the beach, I return home a deeper shade of fried, but this day I was able to lounge for nearly eight hours.

Renato and I swam, ate sandwiches we had made earlier and slept away a peaceful day at the beach. We pretty much closed the place out ? in fact it closed while we were still there!

Since it isn’t a public beach, the only way we could get in was through a rental company and, it would seem, the only way we could get back out was through a rental agency as well. After showering (at the cost of half a euro for hot water, cold water was a quarter euro), Renato and I made our way to the parking lot. There were still a few people lingering on the beach and, only a few minutes before, we had seen an employee organizing chairs and closing umbrellas, so we were quite surprised to find the rental office dark and locked. The gates on the side were also locked. I can imagine being barred from entering a beach, but not barred from leaving one!

Perhaps there was a main exit further down the way, but we ended up climbing over two gates and sneaking out like thieves. We certainly got our 15 euros’ worth! After a full day away, I’m back at the hostel, facing yet another humid night and an even more interesting morning (each breakfast is better than the last), but I’m still thrilled to be here, mosquitoes, beguiling guests and all!

So until next time, ciao raggazzi!