Rest Day Pompeii

How I wish you were here...........

A line from a well known band played here in 1971 in the Amphitheatre to no audience. Steve O'Rourke thought it would be a good reaction to films such as Woodstock & Gimme Shelter. A film & documentary of the show can be seen if you are interested. They played here also last year, this time with an audience.

Pompeii Amphitheatre

I know that face .....DG

For those interested the music was from Meddle, Ummagumma period.

Entrance to site

We were camped right beside the outside wall of the ancient city,
 which was under Roman domination since 4th century BC. Along with Herculaneum was destroyed in 79 AD, with the eruption of Mt Vesuvius and buried under 18 mtrs of ash and pumice. It was only rediscovered in 1748.

It is a fantastic site to visit, today 2.5 million people visit it a year.
The site is extensive and currently there is a moratorium imposed on further excavations. Less than a third of the buildings are open to the general public, but there is still so much to see.

We're all Blockheads too..........

 Some visited Pompeii whilst others visited Mt Vesuvius. Joan rode up on her bike, great effort Joan. Martin and a few others who have been on previous trips decided to catch a train to Sorrento.

After a big day in the heat visiting the ruins, the lads decided to clean their bikes. The end of the Giro d'Italia was on so I looked for a pub/ ristorante, or anything that was showing it. After a fair bit of walking I saw a large TV in a petrol station which served coffee etc. The 24 hr news channel was on so I asked in my best puppy dog sad eyes in Italian if I could switch the channel. Thumbs up great stuff Tom Domoullen is in the Maglia Rosa Jersey which is keeping the Dutch Crew in high spirits.

 After the race we walk through the town, pick a Sim card and Data card for Ross and myself from TIM mobile.

Stay around have a drink, something to eat then a Gelati. Tired but a wonderful day. German Group have arrived next to our camp. A large bus towing a large hotel type trailer where they all sleep each night, amazing!

Visit the local church, a mass in progress, wonderful singing, people all around in the local piazza. Ristorante overflowing with people, the Italians sure come out at night.

  

Zeus Webster

A bath house complete with storage for sandals & clothes

 3 million people today live around Vesuvius on the Bay of Naples and is one of the most dangerous active volcanoes. Roads are generally in poor condition, and the visible effects of constant ground movements is for all to see with cracks in roads, walls & footpaths etc.

Fantastic mosaics and wall paintings

Alongside the Gymnasium /training facility

Equivalent to a modern day take-away

Left is the Temple of Jupiter with Vesuvius in the background.
It is estimated that about 20,000 people were living in Pompeii at the time of the eruption. There was a major earthquake which occurred 15 years prior to the eruption which caused extensive damage, and not all of it had been restored before it's destruction.

Entrance to the Amphitheatre

Entrance to the Pompeii Site Euro 13, can purchase headset for E 6.50
Pironi Bierra E1.50
Gelati E 2.50
Sim Card 1 x 10 GB with voice calls, plus 1 x 4 GB data card E 30. Good value
Temperature 31 deg C