Pompeii and Herculaneum
We said before that our hotel in Rome is near the Spanish
Steps. Most everyone has heard of the Spanish Steps, but we learned that they
are really French. The story goes that the French built a Catholic church at
the top of a hill and had problems attracting worshipers because of the steep
climb. So, the French built steps from the piazza below which was where Spain
had their embassy. Romans decided to call them Spanish Steps because the
embassy was there first.
Today’s adventure took us on a 2-hour train ride from Rome south
past Naples to Pompeii. We had arranged a private guide to show us both Pompeii
and Herculaneum, cities buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Pompeii is
the more completely excavated, but Herculaneum is better preserved because it
was buried under lava rather than ash. The frescos were preserved so well that
it made the cities seem almost modern.
Our guide was a little over the top. Loud and rushing us
through. It was an exhausting day because of the travel, the heat and our
rapid-fire guide. We will sleep well.
Our guide, Giuseppe, at Pompeii
Herculaneum with Vesuvius in the background
