W3 of Y2

Napoli/Pompeii

Here we go to another swim meet!!  

This time it was just me with Connor and Whitney.  Jeremy stayed back with Aiden.

Early morning flight out of Venice

Some teams travel by bus....  we travel by plane over here!  Such a great group of kids!!

Finally made it to our hotel!  This is exactly how we all felt!!

We got a couple large vans to take a bunch of of to Pompeii.  Someone had the genius idea to put all the kids in one van and all the adults in the other.  Not sure who had more fun!!

Our driver....  his hands were off the wheel more than they were on it! lol!!  He was very entertaining.  At one point he actually had a book out and was pointing out pictures to us.  

Our tour guide at Pompeii.  She was actually the same guide that gave Rick Steves a tour as well from his show.  

Where gladiators used to train

This was one place I think Connor was even more interested in than me!!  I'm so glad that my kids are old enough now to appreciate some of the places we go see. 

The kids getting a lesson on acoustics

The streets were incredible!  Connor is standing on one of the many "crosswalks".

These were the grooves from their chariots

The 'hood!

Pizza ovens

These holes were outside each of the houses so they could tie their horse up

Graffiti

Apparently this guy was a popular comedian at the time

Bones from treasure hunters.
People knew Pompeii had a lot of riches and treasures and that it was buried by volcanic ash.
Unfortunately for them it was difficult to get to. 

So much of Pompeii has yet to be discovered and continues to be excavated today

The entry way to the nice homes had this pit to catch rain water from the open ceiling above

These mosaics were done by children around 5 years old because they were the only ones small enough to bend down so low to get all the detail in there!

This was the community water fountain

So....  what I didn't know is that Pompeii was a popular location for Sailors to dock and spend a night or two.  The town was filled with pubs, brothels, etc...  Several building had erected genitals sticking out of them like the one above.

This is just wrong...  we are in one of the brothels and the kids are playing on the bed.  They were clueless what it was for.

Thank goodness the kids paid no attention to the pornography on the walls.

Town square

This design was very popular of its time and is also found in the White House

Poor puppy!

The man appears to be trying to cover his mouth/nose from the ash

Baby died in his sleep

They embedded these white stones to make it look like jewels

Our crazy group!!

Back in the vans.  Oh this poor driver!!!

Next stop was at a restaurant in Naples on the beach

The kids played until the sun went down while the adults ate and ate and ate.....

Apparently Pizza Margherita was invented in Napoli

Enjoying their house specialty... Melancello

Taking selfies!! 

The sun is setting... time to get back home and rest up for our early morning swim meet!

Here we go!!  Warming up.

Excited for her first event

Whitney found her friend from Naples who she met in Sicily! :)

Lunch break after a busy morning

Whitney's relay team

The relays were INTENSE!!!  It was so much fun!!

Team dinner after a loooong day!!!  Connor beat all of his times today and was really proud of himself!

Whitney...... well, she had fun. lol!

After dinner we went to see Spectre

One more meal before getting on the plane to go home

Hanging out at the airport

We can finally see Vesuvius!  The fog was so thick the day we drove right past it that we couldn't even see it.  Maybe next time we're here we will hike up it!!

Good bye Napoli!  Until next time!