After a few minutes Molly said, in a somewhat disappointed voice, "Why, this street looks like the streets in our city at home. I thought it would look different in Italy."
"Look up that side street," said her father. "Did you ever see a street like that in America?"
"That is not a street, father," said Molly. "That is a long flight of stairs. But why do they build stairs out of doors?"
"Yes, that is a street, and a very popular one, too," said her father. "Naples is built on the side of a hill, you know, and many of the streets that go up the hill are flights of steps like this one."
"O father, may we get out and walk a little way up the street?" asked Molly. "I want to see what all those people are doing."
"And I want to take some pictures with my camera," said May.
They lifted the long, white strips of macaroni high above their heads
So they quickly got out of the carriage and began climbing the long flight of steps. It was about noon, and some of the people seemed to be eating their midday meal.
One poor old man was sitting on a step eating some hard bread and olives. Near him were two barefooted boys who had just bought a plate heaping full of macaroni. A man stood in an open doorway cooking the macaroni over a queer little stove and selling it to the people.