Pompeii

If history interests you in the slightest I encourage you to research this place. It is incredible. Stepping back into what the town would have looked like and how they worked. Frozen in time by Vesuvius in 79 AD. That fact alone is hard to grasp. It was until the 1700 an emperor of king or whoever was their main man, decided to try to excavate Pompeii. Because of his initial success the city continued to be excavated.

What does that really mean? Well it's hard to say. We saw some archaelogists still at work digging and seeing what they could find. And much is still being found there. Even as minimal as pots and jugs to bigger items of much importance. 

My words are few today as there isn't a lot to saw about it. Or at least not what can be typed here. We got a map and info pamphlet with admission which was awesome, I love info books, and started on our way. We saw many things. Main market square, houses, brothel, fast food places, taverns and many many streets. We saw their bath houses, and the small and large amphitheatres, as well as the arena.

They were also smart people. In the pavement. Sometimes you would see what they say cat eye of two white stones, this was so the moonlight would reflect off them making some illumination and you could tell where you were going. Even back then, they were continue of people needing water and having access to it when they need it.

 

Their streets were also very neat as the have chariots, so you can sometimes see where the rocks were more worn due to that. Left side middle picture above. The way they crossed the street though was also interesting. They have stepping stones indicating a crosswalk, but far enough up art and small enough the carriages could still go overtop. This was due to horse poop on the roads, water, and other things on streets they didn't want to step on. There were also certain rock formations indicating one way streets.

All these things they thought of so long ago and made do with what they had to work with. It was so very interesting and we really enjoyed the many hours spent walking around there. 

One of coolest parts was seeing the people. Luke could better explain the process but when they were excavating and came across bones, they figured a way to insert goop to make a cast of exactly how the body was when they died. This was crazy. They didn't know mount Vesuvius was an active volcanoe because it hadn't erupted for a long time before it wiped out Pompeii. They didn't know the signs or anything except for a few people. The process of what happens when a volcanoe erupts is nasty. And you die of asphyxiation due to inhaling the ash. Not a great way to go. There is also a dog.

 

 

At the on the way out there was a video that played beside a model of the city. And would talked about different parts and show you what the city looked like in its time. That was very awesome to see. Just past that was another room showing you what it's like when it erupted. On the walls were projections of the city market, then the darkness and winds comes, and eventually that leads to rocks falling from the sky, things being set on fire due to how hot the air is, and fire falling from the sky. Then you look up the street, if your lucky, and a massive cloud of dirt is coming towards except it's an ash cloud, with so much force the collapses the buildings in its path.

The whole thing is unfathomable, but so interesting to hear about. And walking through this place, on streets and stone that date back to 79AD, is a hard thought to take in. The whole city is excavated and still in the process of further excavation and its awing. The frescos on the walls that still remain, the mosaics on the floor, the pots and the taverns and all that they are finding is so cool.

Alright now you shall be bombarded with pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then many pictures of and with Mount Vesuvius.

 

We made it to our hostel in a little town next to Sorrento called Sant'agnelo or something. Where we shall stay a few night and explore the beautiful Sorrento that I love. We got cleaned up and got the dirt off us just in time to run up and catch the beautiful sunset, with the lion king moon. We had dinner and relaxed before heading to bed as we are exhausted, so I leave you with a sunset for the books.

 

And so the adventure continues...