Pompeii

The road into town from the sea gate.

Today we went off to Pompeii. A rattly old train ride around the mountain, the volcano towering above all the villages and buildings, ready to rain down fire anytime. The last time was 1944. I suppose it wasn't as bad as the various earthquakes and then the allied bombing. You get off the train, wander past the ticket booth, then up a hill and into the Sea Gate. It's a arch in a wall, with a stony path through it. Each side of the path vees up about 30cm, in a way that no street does now. It's clear this is the real thing from a good 2000 years ago. The city has lots of Greek bits in it from a long time before that.

An altar for animal sacrifices. Not enough!

The ref sends them off

Sadly an earthquake had knocked down a lot of the city. Although the things we see today are well preserved from 2000 years ago, lots of rooves and structures are half there. All the wood has been burned out by the hot volcanic ash and stones, including people. Where they fell down, they blocked a space. Then their flesh decayed away, leaving a body shaped space and a skeleton. The clever diggers filled the space with plaster, dug around, and hey presto, there's a body forever frozen in their final resting place.

The kids play in the streets.

There's a home restored to original condition, a open gymnasium/field that's huge and an amphitheatre, like the Colliseum, but in amazing condition, as if parts were build recently. This place is a highlight of this trip and our whole time here, just amazing. Thanks to Angelo, the father in law of Yumiko, grandfather of Ricky and Allen, who went to school with Ollie, Louis, Rubina and Leonie.

Countertop in a shop. Holes are for vases full of goods.

On the last day we went to the archeology museum. Most of the frescoes, mosaics, and day to day objects from Pompeii were moved here to get it out of the weather.


The people of Pompeii had homes we can only dream of today. The frescoes are really beautiful. Imagine having enough artists to do paintings all over your walls. The mosaics are intricate and very realistic. Even the ceilings were lavishly patterned, as were the ceramics and metal plates (for food I suppose). The most amazing thing is to see the glass cups, for drinking. They really had every comfort except for good lighting, TV and internet. Now we need to see the film!

Down the Gladiators entrance into the amphitheatre

Typical home with a private courtyard in the middle

In the afternoon, we visited the underground tunnels of Naples. 1km of the whole 170km network is opoen for viewing. Slaves in Greek times cut the Tufa, which is porous and easy to get out. Then they used them to supply water to the city. Then there was a cholera outbreak. Finally they were used again for an air-raid shelter.








Today's the first day back at work. Sigh.

Red roof, fresco walls, white marble floor.