We opted to do things a little differently for Pompeii, resting in the morning and leaving at lunch time. I'm not sure how much that worked out. We were all exhausted by the end of the day, but I think it was more to do with the heat than the timing. It was HOT. Pompeii was just out in the blazing sun with no shade and very little vegetation. I made use of the public water fountains still running around the ruins of the city. We wandered sometimes together, sometimes apart. I had hooked Judy and Joanne up with audio tours, and Lisa and Ed sort of stayed with us as we wandered. We saw homes, gardens, and went all the way down to the stadium.Yes, there were bodies too. I have mixed feelings about bodies being on display. On the one hand, I truly appreciate the learning that comes from studying remains, especially those who are preserved in unique ways like Lindow Man in England or the casts frozen in time here. On the other hand, I feel like if I died in some terrible, awful painful way, the last thing I'd want is some tourist taking pictures of my body a thousand years later. So I observe, sort of give thanks that from this death comes knowledge of their time, and then move on without photographing anything. But they were there and were gruesome.
After Pompeii we went to Herculaneum, which was at the bottom of a very big hill. I was doubtful that I'd make it back up, I was so tired! But once there, it was pretty. It's no where near as excavated, and we didn't get down into the settlement, but it was cool to see the difference between that city and Pompeii.
Now, Capri. The ride was much smoother than the last time I was here (I got pretty sea-sick feeling on the boat last time). There were also a LOT more people. We got into the dock and bought tickets for the Blue Grotto, then boarded another boat to ride around the island. It was hazy- there were sirocco winds blowing from North Africa that made everything a little fuzzy. When we got to the Grotto, we had to change to ANOTHER boat, this one a row boat. Anne almost went it! We got in and had to lay down to squeeze through the opening into the Grotto, but once there-- wow! It was like something from an animated movie- real life water doesn't glow that color does it? My pictures are a little fuzzy because of the movement and lighting, but trust me, it was amazing. When we got out, we had to get back into the big boat and the had a tour around the island.
The afternoon we spent at the top of the island, having lunch is a wonderful pizza place with beautiful views and then shopping, eating gelato, and visiting the gardens with the beautiful views. It was hot but gorgeous.
I definitely preferred Capri in April, but it was still an amazing day.
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