Friday, February 27, 2009

Pompeii Excavated

I always forget to post pictures and show you souvenirs that I buy from places we visit so I think I will show it to you first. Here they are...a little jar and a pot.
The week went by so quickly. Time sure flies when we are having fun, isn't it? Well, it is Saturday again and whether we are tired or not from all activities such as displaying our blues, pinks or reds, showing befores and afters, showing our possessions of 3's or more, sharing what we have hanging on our walls, going outside to take our outdoor pictures, creating tablescapes and cooking for Gollum's potluck, we have to go on a trip! So put on your traveling comfy shoes and let's go! We will be walking on uneven streets and pavement, so be prepared for that. Today we will excavate Pompeii, a buried ancient Roman empire, which is only a 30 min. drive from modern Naples in Italy.

Oh look, there is my family and travel companions! My 5 month old pregnant daughter, Tina sure looks a lot happier here, doesn't she? Praying to our Blessed Virgin Mary when we visited her home in Turkey last week really did some wonders.
Just like any other modern city, Naples is congested. Who would think that there is an ancient city nearby?
And right outside walls of Pompeii are these vendors trying to make their living from selling souvenirs to tourists. And I am one of those suckers, LOL!

Isn't AJ so cute? She was so excited when she heard we were going to Pompeii. It just so happened that they were just studying about it in school. She said she couldn't wait to tell her teacher about her visit. Do you see why we take her with us on these trips? I think the education she picks up from them is priceless.
Ok, let's go in and explore! Here's a little history. Pompeii, a city in Campania on the Bay of Naples, was buried with its sister city, Herculaneum, by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. It was a long catastrophic eruption that lasted for 2 days. Pompeii is 5 miles away from the active volcano. It was buried for over 1600 years. The volcano is very active and had numerous smaller eruptions after that but it was not until the volcano had another major eruption killing around 4000 people that Pompeii was discovered by the people who were working on the restoration. It took another 300 years for the excavations to reveal their story.

Before it was buried, it was a very active place. It had a basilica, an amphitheater, a central swimming pool, an aqueduct providing water for more than 25 street fountains, at least four public baths, and a large number of private houses and businesses.

This is the Basilica, at least, it used to be.
Just an example of ancient streets of Pompeii.
What do you think this is, an oven or maybe a fireplace? I was so busy taking pictures that I wasn't paying attention to the tour guide. I am hoping some of you were and you can tell me.
It wasn't exactly a poor town. Just look at these ornate marble found in excavated buildings. It was known to be erotic too as evidenced by mosaic art found on walls but sorry, I won't go deeper into that.
Poor Pompeians below are buried in ash and pumice. Can you imagine the struggle, fear and pain they must have experienced before finally resting in peace?
How would you like your body to be stored on a shelf?
more display of anguish and fear below

My granddaughter was really fascinated by what we were seeing.
ancient walls of Pompeii
and right outside is a very modern city
I hope you enjoyed our trip for this week as I did. I'll see you again next week, I hope. Thank you for coming along!

















30 comments:

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh Christine, your travels are so extensive and so interesting. I just watched a documentary about Pompei and this was so timely. AJ is just getting a priceless history by you taking her along on all your trips. I really look forward to them. Hugs, Marty

Blondie's Journal said...

Christine,

I really spent a long tome looking at your pictures. I remember very little of the facts I learned about Pompeii so long ago in history class. I think it is so much better to see your photographs and read your personal narrative. If I were there my jaw would be dropped the whole time! It is just so facinating!!

I can't wait to see where you are taking us next week! :-)

xoxo
Janie

SmilingSally said...

This is one place I haven't been to see. It always sounded so interesting to me. Thanks for sharing.

Jill said...

I Loved looking at these pics. I was dreaming it was me in the pictures! I would love to go there some day.

imjacobsmom said...

Christine, this fascinating! I would be so interested in actually walking around on those hollowed grounds. Can you imagine being buried under all of that ash? We had the exhibit come through our museum a few years back. ~ Robyn

Glenda said...

I so enjoyed this adventure to a place I had studied and read about, but had never seen up close and personal. My research for my senior essay said they even found bread in the ovens of the bakeries during the excavations. There wasn't enough time for very many to escape before being buried underneath the lava and ash that buried the cities.

People were quite literally frozen in time and place. They were able to excavate the perfect molds of people and even the animals that had turned the wheels that ground the grains of the period.

Thank you so much for showing these pictures. I now can see what it looks like today instead of the way it did in the books that I used for my research in the sixties.

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

This is facinating...history coming to life right before your eyes! You might want to add your link next Friday to Julias Hooked on Friday's post. You can just list down (travel) by your name...since you are "Hooked on Travel." Check out her blog and you'll see what I mean. These travel post are too good to not share! :-) Susan

lvroftiques said...

Christine I LOVE going traveling with you! And that AJ is the luckiest kiddo in the world! What wonderful experiences for her! I have always wanted to visit Pompei and this was definitely the next best thing. Those people frozen in time are both macabre and fascinating. Love Vanna

KBeau said...

Thanks for the trip to Pompeii. We were there a little over a year ago, and it was a fascinating as you described. I think you are correct that they picture you have is of an oven, but there was so much to see that I'm not certain. I feel like we only scratched the surface of what has been excavated.

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Yep, I think that would be fine. I linked up an old post and I think several other folks did, too. I did go in and create a new post though (in addition) so I could mention her blog site. I always feel like I need to do that for the person hosting...but my actual link on her blog was to an older post. Hope that makes sense. :-) Susan

Kat said...

Wow Christine, you always take us to the most fascinating places. This looks like an amazing trip, and how lucky for AJ that she is able to see all of this history first hand! Thanks for being such a great tour guide. Kathy

MichelleMarie said...

Like AJ, my daughter studied Pompeii in school when she was younger and it totally fascinater her. Now, at age 16 she is going on a summer missions trip to Italy after dreaming of it since 3rd grade - all because of learning about Pompeii!! I will show your pictures to her. I know she will love it!

Justine said...

Wow, what an amazing place to visit! Those aren't REAL bodies there on the shelves, right? Right?

Justine :o )

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Christine,
I really enjoyed the trip, how fascinating! You certainly have had some wonderful travel adventures! Now, you also have me major jealous with the raking leaves in a tank top (lucky you), and the blossoms blooming. Maybe you'll be jealous in the summer when were in the low 80's and not the upper 90's, LOL! Have a Great Week-end, Cindy

Suesue said...

Hi there Christine (X)!!! Queenie told me about your new travel blog and here I am exploring it all ... and what an exploration it is! The only times I "travel" is when my husband and I watch the History channel! LOL We love that too but this is much better and more personal! You and your family are so beautiful and blessed to travel the globe. Take care my friend and I'll be back.
Sue

Cindy J. said...

Christine your AJ is so beautiful and I can't imagine a luckier kid. What a trip this was, so fascinating I've always loved history and isn't that the best part of travel... getting to experience and live a bit of history. Thank-you for sharing these wonderful trips with us. Love, Cindy

Nicole ~ said...

AJ is very cute!! I think it is so wonderful that she is able to have the traveling experience, and it is great that she is learning so much about other areas. What a lucky little girl! Your daughter & son-in-law look so sweet.

Thank you for the tour of Pompeii, I really enjoyed the visit. I love to hear about the history of different places. It is fascinating to think about what once took place there, and that someone actually carved that ornate marble by hand.

xinex said...

I hope you come back to read this, Suesue. Thanks for coming! How are you? I wish I'd see you more often cause I really miss you...Christine

Lisa (aka) French said...

Thanks for the tour Christine;) I love travelling via pictures;) Isn't fabric addicting??? Oh my Kelly has turned me into a monster with it (lol) Hugs French xoxox

Bo said...

Hi Christine...Just think...little did you know when taking these fabulous pictures, you'd have a blog to share them with all of us! I am so happy you started blogging...I've already seen & learned wonderful things through you! Thanks...;-) Bo

Four Paws and Co said...

Christine, Your posts are so fascinating! I'm not a traveler, but thoroughly enjoy hearing of trips that others have taken. Thank you for sharing with us! ♥ Diane

Tracy said...

Hi Christine! What a fascinating trip, and a wonderful opportunity for your granddaughter. I enjoyed seeing your photos, thanks for sharing this.

Chandy said...

Oh, wow!Lucky granddaughter! I'd love to take a trip and see all of that! Thanks for being a great photographer.:-D

Chandy said...

Oh, wow!Lucky granddaughter! I'd love to take a trip and see all of that! Thanks for being a great photographer.:-D

Susan @ The Good Life! said...

Thank you for letting me visit Pompeii! Beautiful city! Have you ever seen an English program called Up Pompeii? or Dr. Who when he visited Pompeii? My husband is English.

Anonymous said...

Sent here via a Roman history group.

Wonderful pictures. We hear all about these things in history class, but the words are so dry and distant.... you made it come alive.

Thanks!
Vestinia

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Christine, I'm late getting here, but thank you so much for letting me travel with you anyway! You are really teaching me a lot of World history with these trips. A.J. is just a doll, and how wonderful that she is learning so much because ya'll are generous enough to take her on these trips. BTW, I'm surprised you were able to get close enough to take pix of the "bodies"! LOL!laurie

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Mornin' Girlfriend...

Ohhh my...I'm tyring to play "catch-up" once again! hehe!!! What an interesting trip!!! Pompeii and it's history has always intriqed me! I guess it's a bit macrabre...but nevertheless intriquing! To think that the bodies of the people were entombed and preserved in the ash! The city of Naples is so beautiful and you're right, it seems a bit strange to have such history just outside it's gate! Loved all of the photos...thank you so much for sharing!!!

Hope that you're having a marvelous Monday!
Love ya,
Chari

Tomarie said...

Wow! What a trip!! This has always been such a fascinating and sad story to me. But the little city sure looks beautiful even now. I think we all learned about this in grade school...nice to see some "real life" pics to go with it! What a great education AJ is getting through all your travels! L~

Queenie's Vintage Finds said...

Hey Christine!
Thanks for taking me along with you...what a beautiful place to see! Ohh....Your little grandboy and daughter are precious...I enjoyed seeing your family photos...especially of the little fellow sitting in the water....cute cute! Love that Fireplace Fender too...you are a lucky lady, you know that! Have a beautiful day!
Big Hug,
Queenie~

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