Wednesday, April 26, 2023 - Naples, Italy

For anyone posting comments on the blog, they come to us as “anonymous”. Please add at least your name and maybe email, and I may be able to respond. THANKS! 

 

Wednesday, April 26 – Naples, Italy 

It was a short sail from Messina, Sicily to Naples. Early in the morning, we sailed by Capri and into the harbor at Naples in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.

Capri

Vesuvius

 

 

Mount Vesuvius certainly stands out.

From the Aquavit Terrace. The sun rising over Mt. Vesuvius

We are taking an optional excursion named “Pizza and Pompei”. We’ll get to see a little bit of Naples and experience their famous pizza as well as explore the archeological site of Pompei. The tour is considered “demanding” and we hope we are up to the challenge. After boarding our bus, we head immediately to Pompei. It is only about 30 minutes from the port to Pompei. We walk a short distance to the shopping area/entrance and are given a few minutes for a bathroom break before heading into the site. As we walk along, our guide is doing a great job of explaining things to us. The site is huge, and we will only see a small portion of it. We will be seeing an area that was discovered early on so is about as complete as any of the areas. Gradually, the archeologists are expanding the area of the dig. 

It is rather amazing; when Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, the mountain was double the size that it is now. ½ of the mountain disappeared in that eruption. Lava from the eruption flowed from the northwestern side of the mountain and buried the town of Herculaneum. Ash and pumice settled on Pompeii, burying it under 13 to 20 feet of ash. It simply disappeared. 

There is one house that is fairly complete that we walked through. Mosaic floors, frescoed walls, servants’ quarters, a stable. They have reconstructed a chariot based on the iron pieces that survived. Anything organic (wood, fabric, animals & people) rotted away, but left a hole. The archeologists fill those holes with plaster and have a representation of what was there. In the case of people, it tells the story of a horrible death as they simply suffocated.

It is definitely spring. Everything in bloom. This was over the patio where we stopped before heading into the excavation.

This is acanthus. The leaves of the acanthus are the inspiration for the capitals on columns.

The theater in the background. This would have been like the lobby.

The red brick is a reconstruction by the archeologists. The other stone is original

The theater 

Steps look a little worn. Must have been a popular spot.

Again, red brick is archeologists. Other stone was original. However there was a major earthquake several years prior that caused damage and you see the repairs done by the Pompeians.
 

Streets were paved.

These holes in ceilings would funnel rain water into a pool below that funneded to a cistern.

Reconstructed chariot.

Iron rims and axel pieces.

Ruts in streets tell us how wide the vehicle was.

Fresco. Our guide told us that 10-15 years ago, the frescos were much clearer.

Another hole in the roof to capture rain. You can see holes in the pool below to pipe the water to cisterns

Dining room. When the floor mosaics have a design in the center, it is a dining room.

Frescoes

Equivalent of a fast food restaurant

Streets are essentially sewers. The high stones were steppingstones so pedestrians could cross without getting their sandals dirty.

Graffiti - very common, but it was scratched into the surface of the plaster, not painted.

The Forum

The forum with Mt. Vesuvius in the background.

Public well

Lots of poppies. We are used to California poppies that are yellow to orange. The poppies here are all RED.

This is the home of the people who owned the land prior to the discovery of the ruins. 

It has been left alone, to demonstrate the depth of the ash.

At the end of our walk, we toured the small museum that houses some examples of frescoes, tools and other things, and some of the plaster casts made. It was very well done and helped complete the tour.

Frescoe

Tools found in kitchens

Pieces of jewelry

A horse

This person appears to being to try to cover their mouth.

 

Back on the bus and we headed for “pizza”. We will be going to a pizzeria owned by a World Champion pizza maker. He was named World Champion in 2017. He greeted us, then his son gave us a demonstration of making a pizza in the Neapolitan Way. We were then served a small pizza fresh out of their oven. Russ and I shared one as they were plenty large. Tiramisu was served after and a tasting of limoncello.

This is not in a tourist zone. this is for locals. 

Basic ingredients.

The dough was very soft.

The end result. Lots of bread, but it was very light and airy.

Not much sauce, but made from locally grown ripe tomatoes. Really flavorful. Also local mozzarella. Local basil.

Our host

 

 

 

After lunch we were supposed to have a drive around of the old city of Naples, but our bus driver had checked in with other drivers and learned that the downtown area was a real zoo today. So instead of that, we went a slightly different direction and saw some great views of the surrounding countryside and the islands off the coast.

When the president visits, this is his residence.

Interesting fountain near a popular beach.

 

Our bus was due back at the port at 5:00 p.m.as we were to sail around 6:00 p.m. It was close to 5:30 p.m. when we got back to the ship. But we weren’t the last ones and we still sailed pretty close to the desired time. 

It was a great day. One of the better ones.