Perhaps it has something to do with some of the ruins we’ve visited on this odyssey we have been on, but visiting Pompeii I imagined a few buildings we could explore. Wrong. Pompeii, the bedlam of prostitution up to 79 AD is massive, and at that only partly unearthed. Our journey began at the port of Naples where our guide Carmine had his van waiting. We had a free washroom stop in the guise of a presentation about cameos. We are used to this sort of thing on tours… Uncle Rick and I were going to review washrooms after our perilous washroom visits in China but we had nothing bad to say. Before we watched a movie on the ruins a few months back I had thought Pompeii was covered in the lava of Mount Vesuvius but this is not the case. In fact it was pelted with pumice stones that unleashed toxic gases. Not so lucky for inhabitants I admit, but a bonus for us folks who want a glimpse into their lives since, well, it would be a tad bit more difficult to excavate lava. Just saying… Once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city, this vast archaeological site is a fascinating view on life in Pompeii before all hell broke loose. And while we saw the usual parts of a city—stores, houses, bakeries, etc., the focus of this place is the oldest occupation on earth. And they were very open in showing the way to the brothels. In fact there were 35 of them in Pompeii, or one brother for every 71 people in the city. There is extensive artwork inside the brothels, a kind of order screen of the past. Since many could not read, customers can say I’ll take that one, with a side of that one, supersized please. Oh the things I could say here but I will restrain myself. Our trip also included a Naples-style pizza and beer and a tour of the museum that included artifacts of both Pompeii and Herculaneum. It was a great visit and we had the final view of Mount Vesuvius, the sleeping giant. It is amazing that so many houses and businesses have built on the mountain side. To those folks I say good luck. You may need it one day. In the interim you might want to invest in a gas mask.
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James Morrissey
MEDITTERANEAN BLOG Hi all. There is a quote on my homepage that says, "I haven't been everywhere but it's on my list." My words to live by. I want to see it all. On this trip we will see Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and Albania. All places I have not been. So time to take a few off my list! Archives
May 2016
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