VESUVIUS! part 1

WAT HAV U DUN!?

I’ll tell you. Mount Vesuvius, with one violent eruption has perfectly preserved two amazing ancient cities for me to explore. Visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum was the most spectacular experience of my life. I hope I never have children, because they will never live up to my experience at these archaeological sites. That’s right B-dollah jr. you’ll always be second best.

Starting with Pompeii, I’m going to dump a bunch of images and do a second post for Herculaneum. I think everyone is familiar with Pompeii but just in case here is a link with some info!

Near the entrance/exit looking over the modern town of Pompei. Yes, people still live next to this very active volcano. I really enjoyed the modern sculptures displayed throughout the ancient city, like this one.

There was a music video being filmed in the main forum.

(click here for the panorama if the embedded one doesn’t work, or to see it full screen)

Ancient LEGO pieces.

We downloaded a Pompeii visitor app. It was really cool. It included a map of the city with different routes you could take around the city plus information you listen to about each area. Totes recommend.

Beautiful bright poppies were scattered through the ruins. I thought they were stunning and an appropriate natural homage to the tragic fate of Pompeii.

The roads were really cool to walk on. Most of them were very worn down from old carts. The middle section was used as a sewer while people walked along the sides crossing the streets at these large rocks.

John, casually crushing heads in the ancient theatre.

The gladiator barracks.

The Amphitheatre. Where them gladiators fought.

(click here for the panorama if the embedded one doesn’t work, or to see it full screen)

Some of the remains of Pompeii city folk.

The frescoes are incredibly well preserved. I can only imagine how bright they would’ve been in their day.

A look back over Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the distance.

I just can’t get over the scale of Pompeii. It is a full city. It has bars, shops, courtyards, baths, and many many homes. I also can’t believe that they let us tourist folk walk all over it! With a couple exceptions of particularly spectacular mosaic floors that they have fenced off, my feet were all over these ancient floors. I mostly walked in the ancient sewers, but still! Incredible.

Next time: Herculaneum!

~B~