Naples/Vesuvius/Pompeii
Thursday (7-2)
While in Naples, we took a tour that climbed Mount Vesuvius and then toured Pompeii. This was way cool because I'd seen many of the sight in National Geographic when I was a teenager.
But the adventure started off with this huge bus going up a road so skinny, I wouldn't want to ride a motorcycle up it. He fit it up there, somehow or another. I know I wouldn't have put my hand between the bus and the cars that we met.
This is the outter rim of the mountain. What they call Vesuvius is just what has grown in the last 2,000 years. What you can see in this pic is where the original mountain was. When this blew, it took out Pompeii and the other communities, back in 79 a.d.
The mighty explorers.
It sounded like a good idea to walk up this thing. Doing it was another matter. Having indulged in Grandma's Medicine the night before didn't help things.
My wife is in such good shape that it disgusts me. She didn't even break a sweat.
Patty's thoughts: "What on earth possessed me to want to come up here"
Jen's thoughts: "wouldn't it be great if I pushed my brother and sister into the crater?"
At the rim. and Jen thinking "Maybe I could push Uncle Pat into the volcano, also.:
Self shot at the rim.
The kids in a small lava cave kinda thing.
Jakes thoughts: "I made it up here without my sister pushing me over the side"
Kinda Spooky
There was one place with a little steam coming out of it. Then the volcano started to rumble. Before we know it, we were shot out of the top and flew a thousand feet into the air.
I think Pat was thinking about pushing Jen in.
Patty and Gerry at Pompeii
I remember seeing pictures of this in magazines back in the 70's.
Little does Kevin know that Mount Vesuvius, behind him, is erupting.
The street's had gutters to channel the water down the middle of the streets and the elevated stones are for walking across. It help curb "J" walking. The wagon wheels fit between the elevated stones.
Pompeii living quarters, usually found behind their shop.
This was a kitchen. Some of the pots were heated with fire under them and some were cooled with water under them.
Another resident and pottery that has been excavated.
I think this dog was licking his balls when the blast hit.