For anyone that has been stationed in Naples, how was it?

Your biggest PIA is going to be dealing with USANATO and the AFSOUTH BN. Out side of that you are going to have a blast. If I could go back, I would still live on post. But, we didn't just stay on post...we got out a lot. It is one of the few places that the family and I would go back to at the drop of a hat.
Naples is unique. It is completely different than the rest of Italy. There is crime...a lot in some areas. It is dirty. But once you learn the people, the place seems so much more enjoyable. Get out, go to the markets, go to the local store (fresh fruit and vegis are cheap there!), go to the local restaurants during the Italian times..not the American times. Accept that you are not in America, you are supported by the navy, and life is a little different. If you take a big family car, remember the streets get very narrow. I could write you about five or six pages of the things we enjoyed and learned there. If you want, hit me up on global and I will field any questions you have.

It's a great place to spend your long weekends away from. In a tour, you'll exhaust the local stuff, especially if they're in one of their usual garbage strikes and the town just stinks. Lots of mob activity there too. But it's easy to visit everywhere else in Europe and MWR has lots of tours, etc. So, like most places, it's what you make of it. If you don't want to get out, you'll hate it. However, great food, cheap great wine, stay away from some areas, and you'll be good to go.

The ones that complained usually isolated themselves inside the American confines like a prison. I learned some Italian and they were pleased to meet me half way. Ditto on the driving. You have to fight for an inch between cars and don't look them in the eye or you've just yielded to the other the right of way. Streets are dirty but it's also very sandy and hard to maintain yards like we do here. Inside their homes it is nice. If standing at the coffee bar, you don't have to tip but if you sit down you do. MWR has some nice trips. Must to to Capri and Iscia.