Middle Aged Mama

Blogging about my Midlife Adventures

Snapshots from Pompeii

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When we found out that our cruise ship was to dock in Salerno, less than an hour’s drive from Pompeii, we just had to book an excursion to the ancient Roman city.

Pompeii

I’ve long been fascinated by the story of Pompeii. Ancient History was one of my favourite subjects in high school, and I still remember going to see an exhibition of some of the treasures found in Pompeii, including plaster casts of human remains.

To be honest, I didn’t feel that the real Pompeii lived up to the one of my imagination. Perhaps it was the heat, or the swarms of tourists. It could have been the fact that we had only a couple of hours to spend in the famous ruins – I’ve heard that you need three days to really see it properly. Or maybe it was because some parts have been “restored” – so you couldn’t tell what was original and what was re-built. These days too, I think we are so spoiled with the wealth of images and information available on the net, that seeing the “real thing” doesn’t quite have the same impact!

first glimpse of Pompeii
My first glimpse of Pompeii
walking into Pompeii
Excited to finally visit Pompeii
walls of Pompeii
The ancient walls of Pompeii, covered in gorse bushes
quadrangle in Pompeii
First stop on our tour was the quadrangle
in the quadrangle
Columns in the quadrangle. Unfortunately I can’t tell you which parts are original, and which have been re-built
amphitheatre Pompeii
The grand theatre – can’t you just see the tiered seating covered with people lounging around on furs and cushions?!
paintings in Pompeii
It is amazing just how many of the frescoes still remain intact
interior wall Pompeii
Interior wall of a wealthy resident’s house
courtyard in Pompeii
Courtyard in the same home
outside Pompeii
It would have been a bustling city once …
only original roof remaining
I think I remember the tour guide saying that this is the only original roof remaining Pompeii – at the public thermal bath complex
Pompeii was very hot
Exploring the ruins on a very hot day sure takes it out of you!
Pompeii street
Walking on paved streets that were covered in volcanic ash and debris nearly two thousand years ago …
farmhouse above Pompeii
To give you some idea of how deeply Pompeii had been buried – it was when they were building the farmhouse at the back (on top of the hill), that the ruins were discovered.
ruins of Pompeii
Ruins in Pompeii
columns in Pompeii
The slopes of Vesuvius in the background
lemons
Southern Italy is famous for its big, sweet, lemons – and their liquer, Limoncello which I might add is very potent!

Nevertheless, looking through my snapshots from Pompeii, I’m really glad we went and still have to pinch myself that I actually got to go there!

Is Pompeii on your bucket list – and have you ever tasted limoncello?!

Linking up with My Little Drummer Boys for Aussie Wordless Wednesday.

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Comments

  1. It is hard when you find what you have imagined or seen pictures of full of other people doing the same thing! What an amazing place though…

    • I know – how rude right?! Couldn’t they all just go away and let us enjoy it in peace? 😉

  2. Yes Pompeii is one of the places I am dying to see as I’ve heard really great things about it. The photos you took are excellent and I can see that it was a very hot day – you poor things! As for Limoncello – no I haven’t tasted it but I would be willing to try!

    • It’s very strong – I had just one sip of it and was pleasantly fuzzy for quite a while afterwards. But then again, I am a bit of a lightweight when it comes to alcohol! On our cruise ship they made an amazing Limoncello sponge cake that was to die for!

  4. I have been to one of the towns that were immortalised by volcanic ash near rome, but can’t for the life of me remember where it was. I have tried limoncello, I think that it’s abit of an acquired taste really.

    • It’s funny how there’s actually quite a few of them, I think there was one on the Greek islands too when we were on our cruise. Yet the only one you hear about is Pompeii!

  5. I went to Pompeii in 1979 when my then husband and I and two close friends did the Kombi tour of Europe in two green Kombis. We loved Pompeii. The history. The stories. I would love to go back one day soon.

    • Oh my goodness Pinky, yes, that’s the one. I think it was in Brisbane City Hall from memory? I couldn’t remember what year it was though. Unfortunately none of the plaster casts were in Pompeii when we were there, they’d been taken away the week before for an exhibition in London I think. I was a bit disappointed not to see them again 🙁 .

    • Leanne, we bought a new camera just before our trip and of course it had to be a “selfie” camera – one where the screen flips up so you can see the pic you’re taking of yourself! It was great for selfies, but it was a bit slow in other ways which was a bit disappointing. Sometimes we missed great shots because it took so long to “wake up” or change a setting or whatever.

  9. I think Pompeii would be so interesting to visit (can’t help think of the movie Night at Museum scene)
    Thnaks for sharing your visit.
    Thank you for linking up.

  11. I felt exactly the same….was a bit of a let down for me. It was also sooooo hot and the tour guide went on and on and all we wanted to do was go back down to the shade and get away from all the tourists!