I'm interested in learning more about Napoli Sottoterranea, ma parlo solo un po di Italiano Anyone out there who can share their experiences in English, possibly suggest some places for a newcomer to explore?

Matt,

This is Larry Ray, translator for Napoliunderground.org and I, like you, used to be stationed in Naples and that is where my love for the mysterious underground and the Italian language began … back in 1959-62! I am a retired TV and print journalist living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and have returned to Naples every year for a long time until the past few years. The daily contact with Fulvio and other Speleo friends on the internet and Skype is a delight for me.

Fulvio Salvi, the speleologist who started Napoliunderground.org is a truly neat and wonderful fellow. He was delighted to hear of your interest and would be eager to help you in any way by taking you down for a look around in the sottosuolo. He wants to know your level of cave exploring experience, if any. That way he can adjust your visit to your capabilities in use of climbing ropes, rappelling, and general climbing skills with ropes and associated equipment.

His daughter, Selene, does quite well with English and Fulvio suggests that we use the forum where you posted your message as a way to communicate, in English with him and others who might be interested in joining you.

So, I will be leaving this email message in duplicate on the NUg (Napoliunderground.org) forum site. So, let us know your experience level and we will see what scheduling and other arrangements might be mutually convenient.

Best regards, Larry Ray AKA Lore'

Buon Giorno Larry, and thanks for writing. I would love to meet some folks who can give me an intro to the depths beneath Napoli. My formal caving experience is nil, though I have poked around in them throughout my life. I have done some rapelling but very little technical climbing (only on indoor climbing walls). But in general I'm strong and in good shape, able to hike, climb, crawl, and even worm on my belly if needed. The only difficulty is I'm 6'4" (1.9M), so I sometimes have to watch my head!

Looking forward to hearing from you, Fulvio, Selene or anyone else. Il mio Italiano non e' buono, ma posso fare e capire semplici conversazioni.

Hi Duston...benvenuto tra noi.
Io sono Fulvio, il mio inglese non è buono e scriverò in italiano.
Noi andiamo in grotta domenica e ci fa piacere se vieni con noi.
Selene parla un poco inglese e ti scriverà.
Ciao da tutti.

Ciao Duston...nice to meet you!
Well, on Sunday we'll ascend on Mount Barbaro (do you know? Into its crater there is the Carney Park...). We'll try to find new caves to explore... (about the argoument you can see this discussion: www.napoliunderground.org/en/forum.html?...p;id=726&limit=6).
I hope you're gonna join us! Otherwise there will be other occasions...
Let we know (you can post your reply here: www.napoliunderground.org/it/forum.html?...&start=6#856)...

Ciao Fulvio e Selene. Grazie per mi scrivanno. No posso andare questa fin di settimana, per che la mia famiglia degli Stati Uniti visita, per una settimana. Ma la prossima Domenica o dopo e' possibile per un excursione?

I look forward to meeting you.
Matt