La Vita Romana

Today is our last day ... sniff!!!!

We've spent a couple of days roaming like Romans - through Pompeii and Herculaneum. Simply beyond description. It was such an eye-opener to see the level of cultural, social and aesthetic development this culture had reached.

This first picture is the area around the forum and Jupiter's Temple. This was right next to the market place - and our first encounter with the absolutely astounding frescoes - and our first Pompeii victims. Seeing them makes you so much more aware of the human side of this tragic event - an event that allows us to now enter into the every day lives of these people who lived 2000 years ago!

To be able to walk the streets so intact that the walking stones are still in place (that way the Romans didn't get horse dung on their sandals); to be able to touch the frescoes; to 'read' the graffitti on the walls (my favourite is: I wonder, O wall, that you have not fallen in ruins from supporting the stupidities of so many scribblers) - it was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives! Since coming home, we have immersed ourselves completely in 'doing as the Romans do'! We've watched the film 'Gladiator', watched loads of chapters of the TV series 'Rome' and watched a documentary on Pompeii ...

At Herculaneum (Ercolano), Joel was given a 'private tour' of the 'Skeleton' room. Herculaneum was a sea port - the hypothesis is that the residents were expecting boats to rescue them, which unfortunately did not come - they became victims of the extremely hot gases from the volcano, hiding within the portals of the city which served as the boat houses. This area was closed off because of archeological work but, as I said, Joel got a private show of the area, accompanied by a young archeological student! His description of what he saw: piles of bones and skulls - it was kinda creepy!

The link to the photo album will be operable soon. Patience please!