3 July

3 July

Pompeii has to be seen to be believed.  I'm sure you know the story--Vesuvius erupted, covering the city of Pompeii in ash in 79 AD. Because the eruption happened so quickly, people died where they stood, and the city was essentially entombed and well preserved, then excavated much later.  We wandered Pompei Scavi (the ruins of Pompeii) for four hours, and I have never felt so much of a connection with history.  These were regular people's homes (and rich people's homes), places of business, of entertainment (the Teatro Grande was my favorite--stone and brick sets on the stage, "backstage" areas for actors to change cleverly part of the set, stadium seating).  And, well, it was a whole city, so it's HUGE.  There is an amphitheater there that could seat 20,000 (only about a third the size of the Colosseum, but still quite impressive).  Wandering the streets and alleys, imagining what it was like, seeing the layout of the streets, where the baths were...  I just can't get it out of my head. It was mesmerizing and haunting.

Almost as amazing was the fact that the entire place was so clean and graffiti-free.  People wandering around, quietly observing and talking, but everyone using trash receptacles, and (strangely to an American), nobody walking around eating and drinking.  It had a very different feel to it.  I am starting to understand why people say travel broadens your horizons.

We thought of climbing Vesuvius the same day, but were too tired and hot after Pompeii, so Finn would like to come back tomorrow to do that.  It's about half an hour from Pompeii (in itself, that is amazing) and then we can  hike up and look in the crater.