Naples and Pompei

Before I get started on the recap of our Italy trip, I just wanted to mention what was going on currently...

First, the weather here has been divine!!!  Today especially - sunny skies, only a light breeze, very comfortable temperatures - it was so good in fact that our horse-riding class was able to go on the riding trail with the horses for almost an hour today - a beautiful walk through wooded areas with terrific views of the fjords along the way!  I tell you in absolute truth - I was wearing a tank, a long sleeve shirt over it, and my denim jacket and that was all I needed!  In saying that, it is also (by law) the time to change your tires over to the winter set.  We broke down and did that tonight.  One was flat, so Spencer aired it up and we are hoping it holds!!!

I also have to say, despite that fact that I have been here for almost a year and a half, I am still finding out about cool places, scenic walks, and things to do...it pays to have friends, ask around, and listen when people are chatting!  My friend, Sabrina showed me a trail yesterday and a couple really great areas to play and catch a great view!

We are also trying to finalize our plans for December.  Spencer's mom is hanging in there and seems to be doing pretty well and we promised we would see them in December, so it is time to book our tickets.  We will see how it all plays out...Spencer is low on vacation days and will have to 'borrow' from next year and there are a few logistics to work out.  It won't be a long or leisurely stay for sure!

Okay...back to Rome...Day 5!

So this was our day trip to Naples and Pompei! We boarded a bus early that morning and set off with a large group of tourists.  Along the way, the guide pointed out various places and talked a bit about some of the history of the surrounding areas.  We made a pit stop for a bathroom and snack break about an hour and half in and then set off for Naples.  We arrived in Naples and met up with our local guide who then took over the narration and guiding.  Our first main stop was a scenic view of the Mediterranean and the city of Naples. The sun was bright and the view was beautiful.  As we drove through the city, I will say, it seemed a bit more run down, but when you saw it from a distance it was just gorgeous!

We continued to drive through a few areas of the city and along the port and shipping areas.  We also saw some beautiful buildings and a castle too!

After our drive through Naples, we stopped off at a cameo maker and we saw a brief demonstration of how cameos are made and had the opportunity to shop in the store.  They were quite beautiful - not necessarily my style of jewelry, but really interesting and unique!

After these stops, it was time for lunch and then...then, the main attraction - POMPEI!  Lunch was part of our tour package and it was really nice and very efficient.  A 3-course meal served to probably 60 people in about an hour.  Then it was time for our tour.  We had 2 hours in the ruins of Pompei with Mount Vesuvius ever-present in the background.  It is still an active volcano and its last eruption was in 1944.  The tour was incredible and the ruins absolutely fascinating.  The streets and some of the buildings, the amphitheater area, the marketplace, temples, private residences, and...the brothel, complete with paintings on the walls of the 'options' and the stone 'beds'!!! Yes, totally serious!  But really, a truly once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience to see all this!  I took tons of pictures, but here are just a few.

Mount Vesuvius is behind those trees!

One of the many 'streets' through Pompei - each area and street have been given names by the archeaologists as they discover more and more areas.

One of several of the plaster-preserved remains.  On one of these, you could actually see the skeletal bones of the feet.

Couldn't resist including this one...Kyla being Kyla - pretending to be in a glass box...

This painting was in one of best preserved private residences of the city.  My photo doesn't show how bright the color actually still shows.

In the "museum" section of Pompei, they had several large storage rooms of various urns and clay jars, etc. that have been uncovered.

This is one of the temples within the city.  

I have to say, this tour was so interesting and the kids ended up really enjoying it despite the long bus ride.  We again had a pit stop on the way back to Rome and arrived back in town around 7 PM.  We had a late dinner and then turned in for the night.  Our last full day in Rome was upon us and we had a list of places to either visit or re-visit before we left!