Atop Vesuvius

Exodus really do a grand job of these holidays. Today we had an exceedingly interesting volcanologist, Stefano, as our guide and consequently we were allowed to walk the entire rim of Vesuvius, learning much along the way.  The very first section was a little steep and tricky underfoot, but after a couple of hundred metres we were walking on ash and, taking Stefano’s advice to walk in footprints, soon acquired the pace and technique.  There were pauses to look at fumaroles and the various minerals to be found on the rim: Green olivine with mica chips; haematite; tephrite and pyroxenes are some I recall. We stopped near the summit to put our hands in a hole to feel the temperature of the earth and to enjoy the 360 degree views of Napoli, the Monte Tre Celli range we climbed on Sunday, across to the Sorrento peninsula before descending to the end of the regular path for our lunch.

Returning to our bus we were off to Pompeii and another Stefano who guided us around  some of the ‘best bits’. It was obvious from our detailed maps that you would need a week to do it justice, nevertheless Stefano #2 gave us an informative tour and I came away with the picture of Pompeii as a town pretty much like our modern day towns.  I felt uneasy about photographing the plaster cast ‘bodies’ as apparently they still contain the skeletons of the people so chose not to.  We have seen many documentaries about the ruins, but to be there was special.

What a week! We will leave with tired knees and lots of good memories made.  Tonight it is our final dinner and our presentation to our excellent guide for the week, Paolo.  Tomorrow we visit Herculaneum and from there to the airport.

My blip had to be the one I took of Tony on the summit of Vesuvius.