Pompeii a city ruined

We left Positano for the short drive to Pompeii, around a spectacular coast on better or at least wider road than on the way in from Salerno. The drive was beautiful and then we came into Pompeii. Dirty, seedy and no soul, surely Vesuvius could not have done all this.

 

We drove around and around looking for ancient Pompeii, a sign pointing us in the right direction would be helpful. Then we changed tack and started looking for some accommodation, although the books we'd read said not to bother staying here.

We literally stumbled upon villa rota, and what a pleasant surprise, this is a paradise in the middle of a sewer.

 

But still we don't get this place......it is used for weddings and conferences. Clearly, it's on 6 hectares of immaculately groomed grounds, the buildings are in an ancient pompeii theme, our room has an enormous jacuzzi in the middle of it, clearly set up for romantic interludes. Canopied tables adorn the grounds and tables clothed in cream and orange make the setting idyllic for a wedding. Sensational! But, you knew it was coming didn't you. In this place that is so hot and dry they put the sprinklers on over night, all night, so we find ourselves sitting at a rather damp table eating a breakfast of freshly brewed black tea, fresh coffee and just this minute out of the oven croissants. Oh and meringues (wtf). On six hectares, we are the only two here? ...... Apart from the six gardeners, the receptionist, a butler and 3 chefs?

 

 

So we climbed mount Vesuvius, easy as....... That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Fantastic view from up there and quite an experience. Photo 4 above has Vesuvius in the background, now 1300m then 3000 m.

Yes we got taken some of the way by bus/truck we still had a 30 min climb on foot pretty much straight up.

 

Last night we were served dinner outside on a beautifully laid table next to a pond. A dinner of antipasti, carpaccio of pork, ravioli, fish and beef, dessert of fruit and chocolate and not chocolate mousse. Prosecco and red wine and the obligatory lemoncello. Water? With or without gas? Red wine? With or without gas?

 

 

 

After a mixed nights sleep, all windows and doors open so the mozzies came to visit, we had breakfast as discussed earlier, you know the one with the meringues. We set off on our second attempt at seeing ancient Pompeii. We were successful in locating the right spot this time. ( Greg actually asked for directions)

After a full mornings viewing of things so much older than us, we had lunch while listening to the 3rd state of origin game on 2gb. Then attempted to get back. Stupidly, Greg asked for directions again, unfortunately he was not specific enough. We ended up at the top of the other peak of mount Vesuvius, and had to find our way back to our paradise through the shithole of new Pompeii.

A sun dial

A pedestrian crossing.

Our very funny guide.

A real body encased in plaster.

The famous sitting man holding his nose to protect himself from the sulphurous gas.

The bread oven, that still had bread in it when excavated.

the half man half goat, you cannot fulfill life unless you are on the vino or having sex...or both?

Look closely

 

After the mozzie episode of the previous night and the obvious language barrier, we decided to take things into our own hands and buy some bug spray. We found a little corner store and proceeded to purchase some beers, water and some bug spray. Well, we got the beer and water ok, but trying to find, then explain insect spray or,repellant. They wanted to sell us body moisturizer and deodorant. How do these things equate to us making buzz buzz sounds and hand signals that to us were obviously mosquitoes.? We finally got across mozzie spray only reverting to calling it aerogard, once. However, once back in the car, we discovered it was a bug bomb not spray, so back to the shop I go. Trying to explain that we bought the wrong one and could I change it was a challenge in itself? They looked at the price of the bomb and the price of the correct can of spray and finally agreed. I received some change and went to put the second can back, I got yelled at non, non! In broken English they told me I must take 2. Ok, looking a bit bewildered I returned to the car only to see Greg, in stitches when he saw 2 cans in my hand.

 

 

We came "home" to our paradise for another jacuzzi then dinner out in the garden at our special table.

Found this in our foyer Donna, Beam me up.......

 

Tonight's menu consisted of moneybags filled with ricotta, mushrooms and ham. A BBQ marinated beef. A bottle of prosecco and another bottle of red. Lemoncello, espresso and a sambucca type(not for Greg) liqueur.mwe did ask for only 2 courses.

 

So tomorrow we are off to Rome's fumicino airport for the first leg of the trip home. Sei la ve. (sic)

 

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