Pompeii

An important stop we were really excited to make was the city of Pompeii! It was quite an experience and definitely a reminder of how weak and insignificant man is when things like volcano eruptions happen. The weather was gorgeous and we had such a blast!

Typical of Roman cities in this age was the local colosseum for sport and performance.

The city was covered in beautiful groves. They told us that at its peak, every house had a garden.

The volcano in the background. They are continually excavating, so parts of the city are often closed.

Typical of the Romans, the city was beautifully built. We were amazed at the columns inside.

More of the gorgeous fields, grape vines, and architecture.

Strange that these statues lost only their heads...

This was a kitchen. The really cool part about this is the red wall you can see through the doorway. A lot of times we forget about the bright paints and colors that ancient buildings had. That wall was preserved and gives a glimpse of what the city looked like!

Here is the main square and the famous volcano in the background. It's crazy to imagine the explosion and horror that Vesuvius would have reigned down on the city. The columns you see are the remains of the main temple.

One of the most incredible and erie parts of Pompeii: Because the volcanic ash fell so fast on those that remained in the city, they didn't have any opportunity to flee. The ash covered the inhabitants and hardened. As their bodies decayed over time, deposits were left that perfectly shaped the person who had died there. Pouring mold inside gives us the insight into the final moments of those who lived in Pompeii.

And we left! Here's a couple shots on the train. It was a gorgeous day and we had so much fun! Next stop, to La Spezia and Chinque Terre!