Pompeii ...

We have both visited Pompeii in our younger years, but needed to refresh our memories of this amazing site. The sheer size of the city, and the pathos of its extinction struck, us anew.  Despite this being the low season, the train to Pompeii was standing room only - however, because of the size of the site, it did not feel crowded - but what must it be like in high summer?

The town with its nemesis brooding in the distance as it broods today

We were struck by the great number of food shops - just like Naples today in fact.  The holes in the counter are the mouths of large jars containing olives and other goodies - and in one case, apparently - small change!

A poignant carbonised loaf of bread. (Was it burnt by the ash - or just by being left too long in the oven by a baker who never came back ...)

Remains of a villa and courtyard - and Vesuvius

Street view

The famous "Beware of the Dog" mosaic which I, for one, remember from my Latin schoolbook ...

Parting of the ways - a rare Y-junction gives relief from the rigid grid pattern of most of the city.  The grooves in the paving are testament to many years (centuries?) of cartwheels ...

The many frescoes in the Villa of the Mysteries are beautifully preserved - the villa was only discovered and excavated in 1909 - much later than most of the city

Back in Naples, we were pretty battle-weary after our tramp round Pompeii, and were glad to sit at a roadside bar and people-watch over a beer ...

Followed by Frutta di Mare and home-made pasta.  Good - but I have to say seafood from Orkney waters is unbeatable!