Pompeii: The Buried City

After my whirlwind tour of Italy a few weeks ago, I was left with a craving for more, so set off to Naples/Napoli for the weekend. I had Pompeii still on my bucket list and was  eager to cross it off. So I booked flights, accommodation, and a tour, sussed out the transport from the airport to the hotel and felt ready to go. That is, at least until I received a voice mail the day before the tour to say it had been cancelled.

  There are many advantages to travelling off peak, things are cheaper, easier to book, often times the temperatures are more agreeable, and places aren't as busy. The only problem is that, on occasion, things lack in people to the point where they're cancelled, usually fairly last minute, and usually after I've spent hours finding the perfect fit for me. It's happened a couple of times, and nearly happened a couple more. All of that to say I was now left to sort my own activities, and feeling a little apprehensive with my all of five Italian words - hello, thanks, goodbye, excuse me, and toilet.  

 Anyway, off I trotted on my adventure, and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get around, with streamlined transport and well sign-posted directions to everywhere I needed to go.

Rocking up to Pompeii, I was given a map, and decided to get an audio guide as there weren't enough people to make up a tour. It is probably the most fascinating place I have ever been, and I spent four hours wandering between markets, temples, houses, halls, theaters, vineyards. Hearing the story behind who lived where, how important they were, so much of it perfectly preserved by the eruption in AD 79, even the pictures painted on the walls and the marble floors, the utensils and stoves, how the baths were heated. So much effort has gone into  preserving everything exactly as it was, unaffected by the last 2000 years of history and culture. I could have spent hours more there but my little leggies were tired and I was eager to get back with plenty of sunlight to spare.



The ride back to Napoli on the train was a little depressing. The view out the right window was beautiful, majestic coastline, in start comparison to the graffiti covered slums to the left. I found myself shifting to the right side of the train - as if somehow by not looking at the poverty surrounding me it would disappear, at least in my mind anyway.
Back at the hotel, I ordered about the most awkward dish to eat, whole prawns with spaghetti. But it was yum, even if I ended up with half of it on my face! I was very proud of myself for getting around independently and making it back to the airport without getting lost - if I can do it, anyone can!

So if you're in Italy and find old and dead things interesting like me, Pompeii definitely should be on your list. Italians definitely have their whole own thing going on but my encounters have always been sweet, genuine, and good-natured, people who are somehow both passionate and incredibly laid back.