Yesterday could seriously be called a totally MASSIVE day. That my little legs kept pumping remains a miracle, I thought my feet would completely seize up but no…I’m a living credit to my surgeon.
So… we set off on the train to Herculaneum. walked down a massive hill to the site and spent the next 2-3 hours there. It was amazing. Some real treasures in terms of frescoes and mosaics and a really lovely and preserved site. I was a bit frustrated because I wanted to spend some more time there but we had to move on if we were to also take in Pompeii. For me it was tempting to stay and go back to Pompeii the next day but Tull was anxious that time was running out (and it is!!) so onward and upward. We got ourselves back on the train and moved on to Pompeii. At the gate of Pompeii we did what turned out to be a very sensible thing. We joined 2 American couples and took a guide. It actually saved the day because it was efficient and informative and we saw the main sights. Pompeii didn’t have the same preserved treasures as Herculaneum and is a very spread out site, with a number of the houses closed for renovation which was disappointing. Notwithstanding, it was amazing. Just the whole story of it is mind-blowing. There are better archeological sites (Ephesus) but none with the extraordinary story that belongs to Pompeii. The calcified bodies and the horror of what they experienced is absorbing.
So, back on the train and collapse. We then had to walk from the train to the hotel. Not far but when your feet are screaming at you, something of a trial. A couple of hours with the feet up and then the decision that is a perennial one about whether to get your feet going again to satisfy your stomach. Guess which one wins…my stomach will always get me going!! There was an obscure restaurant that Chris had given us the name of that we set out to find through the winding back streets of the edgy Napoli. Anyway, we found it and were rewarded with a lovely little family run Trattoria. The ‘old man’ waiter insisted that we start with the fresh Buffalo Mozzarella they had just got in. We did and truly ‘to die for’.
So…we fell into bed!! Today we set off for the Archeological Museum to see all the treasures that had been removed from Pompeii. Indeed, all was revealed. It was amazing and it totally explained the lack of treasures in Pompeii. It is all in the Museum!! My God it was extraordinary. Magnificent frescoes all on display in the museum. Then I got to the Mosaic rooms and it blew my mind….magnificent, extraordinary mosaics that defy the imagination. When you put it all together it all makes sense and you can get an idea of how Pompeii once was. All in all there is no doubt about the amazing skills in all areas of the arts, architecture and engineering of the ancient Romans.
From the Museum we decided to try out the public transport system and get ourselves down to the waterfront. This was achieved with variable efficiency and we had a nice walk along the waterfront and a late lunch. I’m desperate for seafood so went for the Calamari again but it was tough and disappointing. Tull likes a Pizza down here and is rarely disappointed.
The weather held out for us for most of the day but rain is predicted and we got a bit at the end of the day. We keep thinking that ‘tomorrow’ will bring the bad weather. It is predicted but we are lucky to have dodged it to date.
That’s it…more museums on the agenda for tomorrow!!