Pompeii/Herculaneum

Weather forecasts in Italy are never accurate. For example... right now my forecast says that it is raining in Cortona. Last I checked it was sunny. Other days it will say the temperature high will be +8, but it will actually be +16. Both of these examples are positive discrepancies, and I really can not complain. In other cases, the forecast will be for sun, and it will pour.

Darn rain...

Such is the case in Pompeii this past weekend. I wondered if maybe it would rain, so I packed my umbrella. But then when we arrived, it was sunny! So I left my umbrella in my backpack... on the bus. Of course it would rain. It is rather difficult to use your fancy camera in the rain. BUT! I still managed to capture much of the excavated city.

Pompeii and Herculaneum are cities "frozen in time" from the classical world. In 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompeii in lava and Herculaneum in boiling mud flow. The only survivors were those who fled the cities days in advance. A few centuries ago, these cities were partially excavated. This provides us with a snapshot of what life was like back then. Compared to the ruins in Rome, these provide us with a much better idea of Roman cities.

We wandered through the Triangular Forum - basically the entertainment center of Pompeii, the Roman Forum - the political center of Pompeii, the House of the Faun, the Forum Baths, and the Villa of Mysteries. A key thing about Pompeii is that it wasn't originally Roman. First it was an indigenous city of Samnites, then it became a Roman colony and much of the architecture was "Romanized" to show this.

Theatre in the Triangular Forum

Stepping stones to cross streets - to avoid getting your feet dirty!

The Capitoleum and Mt. Vesuvius

Almond Blossoms in the Forum

Wall Painting inside the Villa of Mysteries

One of my favourite things about Pompeii/Herculaneum? The Kyra-sized doors. I didn't have to duck when everyone else did! Haha!

Our hotel for the night had an amazing view of the sea, and the supper was amazing also. We got roasted potatoes! Oh YUM! Highlights: "I want to feed the fish! How do I say that? Manga pesca?" "No Erin, I think that means you want to eat the fish."

Mt. Vesuvius over the Tyrrenhian Sea

Herculaneum ended up having gorgeous weather. Of course this would be the day I put my umbrella in my purse. *Shakes head* Some of the major differences between Pompeii and Herculaneum (besides the weather): Pompeii was a working class town, Herculaneum was a vacation spot. Pompeii's forum has been excavated, Herculaneum's has not. Pompeii was covered in lava flow (meaning much greater damage to the city), Herculaneum was covered by mud flow (meaning some rooftops and wooden staircases have been preserved). In both cases the seafront was pushed back a km or two.

Here we saw more baths, the House of the Stag, some incredible wall paintings and floor mosaics.... and enjoyed an afternoon of SUNSHINE!

Enjoying the wall paintings in the House of the Stag

House of the Stag - View through the garden to where the sea used to be

Another Kyra sized door...

Herculaneum

Field Trip!!

Do you remember field trips in public school? Trips to the park to pick leaves for an art project... trips to the museum... band trips to the art barn... trips to the career fair at the agricom in Edmonton.

I always loved field trips. It meant a break from regular classes, and a chance to get out and do something different!! But those field trips cannot compare to what I am about to experience. Other courses have done trips to Rome, Spoleto, Perugia, Assisi... oh the list goes on! This will be the first field trip I get to partake in! A two day trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum!!

Let me explain why we are going... my courses are about the ancient classical world of Greece and Rome, and part of that looks at the structure (and resulting purpose) of the ancient Roman city. Believe it or not, Rome is NOT the prime example of this. Cities like Spoleto, on the other hand, are. Pompeii and Herculaneum are unique, because they are a snapshot in time. Remarkably preserved beneath a blanket of hardened mud and lava, due to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Over the years these sites have been excavated, supplying us with a rich quarry of knowledge and antiquities.

Another part I admit I'm looking forward to... staying in a hotel on the coast. Not a hostel... a hotel. My standards jump a mile high with that slight name change. Beauty of it being part of the costs of school here... my stay in a hotel is already paid for. Yesssss!

So here goes, bright and early tomorrow morning. I'll be back Saturday evening with a camera full of pictures, and plenty of stories to share! Yay field trips!