Day Three: 79AD

Today started out very early for us as we had to wake up around 6:15am in order to meet our tour guide at 7:00am. We were picked up at our hotel and promptly bussed away down the Highway of the Sun. After travelling south for 3 hours we arrived in the Italian port city of Naples (Napoli). After briefly sightseeing throughout the city it was time to head to our true destination for the day, Pompeii.

Pompeii is the city that was famously lost in the first eruption of the Volcano Vesuvius in the year 79AD. Once we arrived in Pompeii we were shown around the current modern city where we briefly visited a Vatican owned Basilica and had lunch in the city center. After lunch we were transported back nearly 2000 years ago to a city lost suddenly and tragically.

On our tour of the Pompeii archeaological site we saw ancient basilicas, ancient temples to various Gods, ancient homes (some still completely intact), an ancient brothel that still has the original wall frescos in it, and people mummified by the volcanic ash that rained down on the city after the 3 day long Volcanic eruption. The day was extremely informative and truly awe inspiring, it was as if we were transported back to 79AD and those fateful days where a city was lost forever.

Tomorrow we go to, "where does the Pope live?" ...and no it's not the woods (That is a TV show FRIENDS reference for those who aren't hip to our ways)... Vatican City!!!

The Italian Port City of Naples. (Napoli)

The Volcano "Mount Vesuvius."

Pompeii ruins with Vesuvius in the background.

 Pompeii victim mummified by the ash that rained down upon the city.

 2000 year old Fresco that was hung in the Pompeii brothel (You didn't pick by woman, you picked by position).

 Us in the "Teatro Grande" of Pompeii.