POMPEII

What can I say!?  POMPEII – It was a privilege to be able to visit this amazing archeological site.  The presence of Mount Vesuvius right there in the background stands in eerie silence. 

Visiting Pompeii was nothing like I thought it would be – we paid for our audio machines and ticket to get in and then for the most part were allowed to wander around the whole city, with the exception of renovation sites.  The audio gave us specific information on what life would have been like, how buildings were laid out and graphic recreation of the period around earthquakes and subsequent eruption.

The outstanding buildings, some like the public baths, still with color and more or less as complete structures are impressive.  Others as ruins still told a striking story 

A closed off building contained row upon row of the artifacts found, everyday items as well as the plaster casts of several bodies, including a dog in a contorted position, said to be straining on his lead to get away from the impending danger, the pregnant woman lying on her front, protecting her unborn child, the figure of a man crouched shielding his eyes from the ash:  at this point I felt like an intruder, looking at the final moments in the lives of these individuals who had no chance of survival. 

Outside the enormous arena in excellent condition and alongside the amphitheatre we sat in the shade and had some fruit and drink, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the fact that there weren’t many people about so photos were able to be taken of the abandon streets and points of interest without dodging the crowds.

The crypts lining the street to the main entrance were particularly  interesting and the stories around individual families.  The vineyards and gardens added life and color throughout the city.  Before we knew it hours had passed and the crowds had poured in, so we made our way back to Sorrento for our last evening in Italy in awe.