The Perfect Slice of Pizza
My first encounter with the love of my life was at the age of eight in UAE. It was at a pizza chain that I had my first slice and I knew this commitment was for life. Margherita has always been my flavour of choice. Despite being just bread, tomato sauce and cheese, this is a tough combination to get right and can be easily ruined. At some point between tasting “Good” pizzas and “Beggars can’t be choosers” pizzas, I finally came to a realization. This can’t be it! I can’t die eating mediocre pizza! I had to go to the place where pizza was conceived and taste the perfect slice; I had to go to NAPLES (Ta Da Daaaaa).
Turns out, exactly 100 years before I was born (well 13 days before my birthday), in the year 1889 on the 11th of June, Raffaele Esposito made the first Pizza Drum Roll the “Pizza Margherita.” This couldnt simply be a coincidence, all signs led to Italy!!. But, being born in an Indian family meant a trip to motherland was more important than a trip to dreamland. So finally at the age of 28 after crossing the hurdles of education, marriage (the two must Do’s for an Indian Girl) and job (an optional Do), I was able to save just enough for a trip to Rome and Naples. And thus the planning for an epic solo dream trip began.
I decided to spend about four days in Rome and two days in Naples. When in Italy, it is best to walk around than take public transport; you never know where you will come across a building or site with some historic value. Getting lost is the best thing to do if you have the time. I booked free walking tours on all four days at Rome in order to explore the historical sites within the city as well as the Vatican. I was lucky enough to find a hostel right at the centre of the city which made travelling to meeting points easy. On the fifth morning, I was to catch a train to Naples and from there visit the historical site of Pompeii, a city buried under ash after a catastrophic volcanic eruption. An entire day would go there, and so I left the best for last. The oldest and most famous pizzeria in Naples is L’Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba. The Margheritas here are made by the best pizza makers, in wood fire ovens lined with lava rocks of Mount Vesuvius (can you imagine!!). From here, satisfied I would head back to India. I could almost taste the cheesy goodness at this point!
The funny thing about applying a visa to Europe is that you need to book your flights, stay etc. before actually getting a visa. Being my first experience at this, I booked cheap non-refundable tickets five months before the trip (what an Idiot - this is what over confidence does)along with rooms that had a one week cancellation period.
Less than a week before my travel, my visa got rejected, the reason for rejection “motive for travel not justified”. I applied for a tourist visa for crying out loud!! What more motive do you people need!! I lost a huge chuck of money by the way. The one I worked 15 hours a day to earn with two jobs, and not to mention the broken and shattered into hundred pieces Heart, which cannot be valued with money. As I sat devastated, crying and chewing on rubbery pizza, I decide this trip will happen, if not today then someday before I die. So until then “Hail Indian Margherita! The rubbery goodness”.