Boys on Trains. – Photos on an Italian train from Sorrento to Pompeii.

I took pictures on an interesting train ride from Sorrento to Pompeii, Italy. We both wrote while we were on the train and figured we would include both entries in this post.

Beth:

The train has gray, plastic seats and big windows. There is a 13 year old boy (I think) coming by who is playing a small, red accordion. His 8 year old bother is collecting donations. They both look extremely sad. Randy gives them some change and I nod and show my camera. They agree to the picture and never crack a smile, which secretly I am happy about because I want them to look as they do to me right now in this moment. Inside though, I want to cry – these kids look like pawns in a game that reminds me of Guatemala & Mexico.

It’s Wednesday why aren’t they in school?

The accordion boy’s hands look older than he is and reflect a lifetime of manual labor. I want to know their story and help them but in an instant they are gone and I am left thinking about them. Their faces and attitudes etched into my brain.

The train stops and I am at the next stop – ‘Piano’.

The scene changes instantly.

About 50 high school boys rush the train hooting and hollering. The bus is so full they sit on each others laps and I snap another picture. I wonder silently if the accordi0n boy and his brother are on a school lunch break but I seriously doubt it.

The school boys spot the camera and turn into instant hams, blabbering to me in Italian. I am so mad I don’t speak Italian. They want to take a few photos and at the worst possible time the train heads into a dark tunnel and I scramble to adjust my camera settings so I can capture this elaborate display of popularity.

They want a copy of the photos.

Marco (who appears to be the self-pronounced leader of this gang) hijacks my notebook and scribbles his name and the names of his buddies in it. It is concluded that I will look them up on Facebook, friend them and send them the photos. I give him my name on a piece of paper so he can find me online. He stands up and declares ‘Bethany Salvon’ to the train multiple times, which is a little bit embarrassing. He says something else and then interestingly enough Marco is slapped across the face by one of his comrades.

I should be lost in translation because apparently I missed out on something big (and probably much more embarrassing) but it seems that bitch slapping and Facebook transcend all language barriers.

Randy:

“Bethany Salvon” rings out from the slick school boy donning a cardigan and a popped collar, white button-down shirt; the announcement came seconds after she passed a note to him.

Minutes earlier, the wild-eyed teen and his mates got worked into a fantastic frenzy about getting their pictures taken on the bustling Sorrento to Pompeii train and then having the photos sent to them via Facebook.

We now have eight new friends.

Beth: I love Italy and don’t want to leave.

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*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Getting Married? We also shoot weddings in any location! If you want more information or want to inquire about having your wedding photographed by Nariko’s Nest please contact me at Beth@NarikosNest.com. BeersandBeans readers get 20% off!! To see more photos please visit NarikosNest.com.



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****************Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.**************** Bethany Salvon is a full time Travel/Wedding photographer, travel blogger, world adventurer & the founder of BeersAndBeans.com. She has a thing for blueberries and vintage photographs.

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26 comments

  2. This is an rare view of italian life you never get to see. Interesting next time you should take a recorder with you, some somewhere along the way you can get someone to translate what they were trying to tell you. The picutures are great insight to what daily life is like. Keep up the great work and comments, love to read it and see it through your eyes. Learn a language!!!

    1. Sonya, Thank you so much for your lovely comment and also for including us on your list! I am very flattered!! I love your blog as well. 🙂 @Sonya,

  4. Haha such a fun bunch of Italian boys! Love the photos 🙂 🙂 I also love that bitchslapping and facebook are universal haha

    1. Hi Andi,
      Thanks so much for your comment – I’m so glad you liked the post! I have found a couple of them on FB! @Andi,

      1. Hi Andi,
        Wanted to let you know I found one of the boys from my blog post “Boys on Trains”. He left a comment below. @Bethany,

  7. We took that same train from Sorrento to Pompeii last June. Saw similar ‘sad’ kids with an accordian. Thought it was a bit of a tourist trap but I gave a few coins too 🙂 Funny that they are still there which makes it a little suspect….
    Now I am just waiting for your post on Pompeii. It blew us all away!

  8. great story!! did you add them on facebook in the end? i love taking trains, something always seems to be happening. great photos too by the way. cheers, jamie

  9. What a cool story, Bethany. The spontaneous things like this that happen while traveling are just the best. Great story and as always, fantastic pictures.

  10. hello I am one of those guys photos. I am very pleased that Bethany has created this blog. we did not know who would do the blog. I can now say that famous “we talked about me in America” hahah. bye bye

    1. Hi Marco,

      Thanks for leaving your comment. Yes, now you are famous in the travel blog world. 🙂 @Marco,

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  13. Isn’t it always the “kids” that make the most special travel memories? (I know the boys weren’t kids, per se, but when you are more than double their age, they are all “kids”.)

    I guess that is exactly the spontaneity and joy of life that I am searching for in my travels….

    Happy Travels!

    Kevin
    trabbatical.com

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  15. Great shot of the boys on the train. It’s always sad seeing kids during school hours begging or selling trinkets on the street– most likely they are being exploited.

  16. You described the look on the first two boys faces so well. I could almost feel their pain through their eyes. I personally find Italian men really annoying, they are so obnoxious and often rude. Rarely have I met an Italian man that has something bad to say about himself. Far too much bravado for my liking.

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