8/5 -- Pompei/Rome

We got to sleep in a bit this morning, as our train wasn’t until 10:20.  Packed up to move hotels for the last time this trip, grabbed a croissant for breakfast, and then headed to the train station to go to Pompei for a few hours on the way to Rome.  I think Pompei was the thing the boys were most excited to see going into this trip, other than The Colosseum for Russell.

And it lived up to expectations.  The city is so well-preserved, it is hard to believe the structures were built 2000+ years ago.  Of course being buried under ash for 1600 years was helpful for preservation, but when it seems like very little is created anymore with the intent it will last more than just a few years, so to see so many old, well-built things, WOW.

We retrieved our luggage and took the train to Rome, our last train ride of the trip.  Jourdan hasn’t loved the trains (at least not the ones in small towns) but I think it’s such a great way to get places.  We arrived late (after 9 pm) so we had arranged for a car to pick us up from the train station.  The driver was standing there holding a sign with Jourdan’s name on it and we felt very fancy.  We got to our apartment — owned by a hotel across a super cute plaza (Campo de Fiori) from the hotel, and learned it was a walk up; I had thought we were done with those!  We dropped off our stuff then went back to the hotel to visit the rooftop terrace which was supposed to have an amazing view.  It did.  Then we all needed to shower and then bed (it was nearly midnight by this time) for a full day tomorrow.

I don’t think I’ve ever had so many days in a row of being sweaty, stinky and dirty all day as I have this trip, but it is worth it.


Owen is often hard at work on his rubix cube when we're on the train


Mount Vesuvius overlooking Pompei's city center



City Center


A "fast food" joint


"HAVE" translates to "Be well" in ancient Roman and was in mosaics at many of the entry ways


There were so many incredible tile mosaics


A bath house


Art on the walls of an ancient brothel


Holding areas for gladiators 


The theater


Another "fast food" joint


Another view of Mount Vesuvius



The Amphitheater


There were holes in the ash where people were and then their bodies disintegrated, so they were able to pour stone into the holes to recreate the bodies


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