Pompeii Italy

Sun Oct 16 - tour day -#9

Today we headed out early from the Amalfi Coast and went to Pompeii.  In 79AD, Mt Vesuvius (which is approximately 5.6 miles from Pompeii) erupted.  The lava flow did not reach Pompeii, but the city was covered in 20 feet of stone and ash.  The perfectly preserved ruined city was rediscovered in 1748 when an engineer was surveying the area. The systematic archeological dig didn’t start until at least 100 years later 

Current day, 700,000 people live in the red zone of Vesuvius, which is still considered a dangerous volcano.  It sounds a little scary to me that it could blow and wipe things out again.  The area does have an advantage,   because of the volcanic ash the soil is very rich and they grow world class fruit and tomatoes.   

Hopefully the pictures can tell the tale.  It was very crowded, but we had a great guide and he got us away from the crowds.  He painted a picture of a large modern city, with toilets in every house and free baths each week for everyone.  He said that some of Italy has just gotten back to that level of living in the last 50-100yrs. (Remember the city of Matera?) The roads were paved and they had sidewalks and crosswalks.  There were wine bars and casinos and all sorts of trade.  It was a large prosperous city.  It is odd to think how advanced the Romans were 2000 years ago.  Other than the structures, it appears empty of things, but the statues and pottery and glassware etc, have almost completely been removed to museums for safekeeping and research.  

After Pompeii we headed to our next hotel in Sorrento.  We went to a gelato making demonstration, we got to make our own and he gave us a recipe!  That was fun - and good! 

Finally, I wasn’t hungry, so while everyone went and ate, I did what it seems like people in Italian towns do - “la passeggiata”.  Between approx 5pm-8pm, people, young and old all come out and promenade up and down the street.  Most dress up in what I call, Sunday best.  I took some covert pictures to show you- they are great and are at the end of the Pompeii pictures.  I walked right along with them!   

Tomorrow, we are going to the Island of Capri if the seas are not rough, and then explore Sorrento.  

Me watching to Mt Vesuvius…… just in case  

Look at how advanced.  Paved streets, sidewalks on either side and raised stones for crosswalks.  And the raised stones evenly spaced so things with wheels could get through 

Check out the tiles!!! Eagle, globe, wheat!  I’ve seen that somewhere else before.

View of Pompeii from the outer edges.  There is a lot more to  excavate.  

Stone frescos 

Selfie ….. again

Patterned stone flooring 

Tiling on walls 

Painted walls in a middle class home.  Unfortunately, since these have been excavated, they have been fading.  

The water/port side entrance to Pompeii.  That is a bath and massage house in the foreground 

Middle class house 

The archeologists recreated the garden by determining what the dead roots were and in what pattern they appeared to be - pretty ingenious 

Whenever archeologists felt soft ground, they assumed that organic matter had decayed and they would inject the area with plaster hoping to find what had been in that area. Unfortunately, in this case, it was a family of 4, the skulls can be seen at the edge of the plaster. 

Older gentleman strolling along 

These women reminded me of Aunt Joanne and Grandma Vaughan if they had lived in Italy- out strolling with friends. 

Grandpa and little girl - the kids were all dressed up 

And the young couples!