Sunday, May 13, 2001

2001/05/13

Got up at 7:30 and took a train to Pompei. WOW!! This is quite something. For those not in the know, Pompei was a city of 10,000 that got buried in 25 feet of ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. It is now a huge excavation site. It's essentially an ancient city frozen in time, with frescoes (paintings) still visible on and in the buildings, preserved for years by the ash. Very impressive. The city even had a brothel. Got lots of good pictures.

Erotica and sex is a predmoninant factor in Pompei and the lives of the people who lived there.

Finished Pompei about 3:00 and got the train back to Naples.

The train to Pompei is privately run, a round trip ticket cost us 3200 lira, about $2.30.

I walked a few blocks in search of an automated teller and a store that could sell me a phone card. I found the automated teller, but all the stores are closed on Sunday. Continued walking down to the wharf. The wharf is crystal clear. Lots of pleasure boats docked. Lots of activity around the wharf.

I don't understand the sun here. I should be burned to a crisp by now, but I'm not. The sun isn't nearly as "deadly" on the skin here as it is in Saskatchewan.

Naples is crawling with stray dogs and cats. They are everywhere, train stations, sidewalks, Pompei (!). The hostel seems to have "adopted" quite a few stray cats.

We walked for dinner down by the wharf, and found a phone card on the way. If you ask at the hostel if they have phone cards, they will deny it. If you tell them you want one, they will sell you one!! Go figure.

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