Pompeii

Today I visited Pompeii. I was warned by my lovely friend to wear sunscreen, to wear a hat, and "are you sure you want to go today?". I did of course. And wow that heat is killer, but I just had to see the famed city frozen in time. Armed with a sketchbook, my purse, and a skimpy tank top and short shorts I was already dripping sweat by the time I got to the Garabaldi station. From there I took the circumvisuviana train to Pompeii Scavi. The train was incredibly packed and I was glad to have my water with me. Arriving a half hour later at Pompeii I was excited. I passed a myriad of people selling tours from 12-150 euros. These tours do not include the entrance fee. Of course me being me and thinking well I've studied this quite a lot - I should be fine - decided no tour - just get in, wander, figure it out. After entering the park I was sooo lost, the only drawbacks of Pompeii the site is that there is only one cafeteria selling food and water, line ups are an hour long, and that the signage within the site is the poorest I've ever witnessed. So I followed the tour groups which low and behold led me out of the site only to have to explain to security that I'd been in the site for only 10 minutes and after taking pity on this "stupid" girl - they let me back in. So finally I am within Pompeii walls and I begin to wander - the site is massive - a full city, it goes on for winding stretches, thankfully there are water fountains about and I keep having to refill my bottle. As I weave in and out of streets and buildings I am even more fascinated and lost. It's a completely different society frozen in time - even children and pets have been frozen in time in otherworldly casts. The disturbing natural casts show people in their final moments - there is a man in prayer, a child laying down looking helpless, also a dog. There are bits of murals and colours decorating certain walls within some buildings, and mosaics on the floor. With mountains surrounding Pompeii,as well as the volcano, one begins to understand how the people must have just thought the Vesuvius was an angry god or mountain and carried on with their lives while smoke rose out the top of the volcano. What is fascinating is that Vesuvius is still active, in fact it's closed today because of fires on its sides. And that considered one would think that there would be no one now living close to the volcano but many small towns and cities have popped up along its base, and like long ago, people go about their daily lives. As archeologists continue to excavate the site they find even more ancient ruins under the city frozen in time. They begin to learn even more about the peoples of long ago in Italy. An amazing place to visit, take heed for the heat which is very strong, but enjoy and make a day of it. At the end of my day I am exhausted but happy, feet filled with blisters and skin sore, but also filled with a new understanding and a new wonder of this incredible place.