Pompeii. There are really no words to describe the feeling of walking through the streets of this ruined city. No emotions to describe the feeling of walking into a house, a hut, that housed a family thousands of years ago. No words can describe how i felt walking through a city that was destroyed in an instant by mother nature. As you all know, Pompeii, in 79 AD was destroyed by a volcanic eruption by Mt. Vesuvius. The whole city was covered in ash and thousands of people, unsuspecting people were buried under pounds and pounds of volcanic ash. The city, because of that catastrophic event, was amazingly preserved. Whole structures still stand, houses, foundations, fountains, fields, marketplaces, villas, and much more. There is even a sign that says "cave Canem" Beware of Dog, that was preserved. When i first entered the city, i was speechless. Knowing about all of the history and actually being here, and imagining all the people and families that once called this their home. Knowing about the tragic fate of all of them and walking the same paths that they would of walked. When we first walked in we saw a huge courtyard that had an amazing view of the deadly mountain. It was incredible. We then went to the theater area, where seats were still there with inscriptions and drawings on the stage from thousands of years ago. After the theater we walked down the main road of the city. All the foundations of houses were still there, some houses even had roofs. You could walk in and feel like you were in a home. There were kitchens with hearths, rooms, holes for fire pits, baths, fountains and everything, all preserved! It was unlike anything i could ever imagine! It honestly felt like a dream. Also, the views from the city were incredible. Mountains all around, greenery, and clouds and the sea, it honestly was unreal. We then walked through a reconstructed garden, and really felt like we were in a quiet part of a real living city. The further on you go you see marketplaces, go into actual shops, see vases that were used back then, even the numbers of the houses and shops were maintained. There is also a place that was were they would of held festivals and games, it was just a giant field area with all these courts and pillars and everything. We were walking along and then we came to a outdoor museum of sorts. Inside they had the models of actual people and how they died. Since the ash covered all these unsuspecting people and buried them alive, their bodies left indents, when you fill the area with clay, you get a perfect reconstruction of the exact position that the man or woman was in the moment they died. It was one of the most humbling moments of my life. It really puts things in perspective when you think how quickly these men, women and children's lives were ended, without any warning. After we walked around a little more, we went back to the station and got back on the train to Milano. Pompeii was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It's so hard to describe the feelings i felt walking through that city, knowing so much about it and what happened. It's also amazing how well preserved everything is. It was one of my dreams come true, this was close to the top of the list of places i needed to see, and i was able to see it. I feel so lucky to be able to do all these things, and it's so great that i have such great people in my life to enable me to do these incredible things. I love you guys so much and thank you for everything, and miss you. Southern Italy was amazing, it was such a great weekend. Next entry, Venice!! Ciao!
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