Naples & Pompeii

This trip was a “marathon” trip; as Brock and I like to call it. Six places in five days; we had our work cut out for us. We tried to cram more locations, sights, and time for relaxation than was possible… but we did it and we enjoyed every second of it.

Our first stop was Naples. Being from Naples, Florida, I just had to say I was in Naples, Italy. We hadn’t been in Southern Italy and it was on our “list” since that is the region where my family is from. As soon as we got off the train in Naples, we knew we would be experiencing a different type of “Italy” than we had before.

Our hotel was literally a hidden gem within the crowded, dirty, unwelcoming, city of Naples. People had warned us about this city; “it’s dirty” and “not safe,” but we stayed for two reasons. Reason one, my desire to say I was “in Naples” and reason two, we already booked a great deal and it was a central point for travelling to Pompeii, Positano, Sorrento, Capri, and Rome.

After feeling overwhelmed and “anxious” to escape the streets of Naples, we did what any tourists would do. We had an authentic Italian Ice, enjoyed a true Italian Pizza (Naples is the birth place of pizza), suggested by Rick Steves’ Italy book and we boarded a local train and headed to the ancient city of Pompeii.

Pompeii was very interesting and it was amazing to see the remnants of structures that were left after the tragic Volcano, Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. As we entered the town, my husband made me laugh. “I can’t believe I’m actually in Pompeii!” I thought, WOW! How sweet, my husband is seeing something that he is truly interested in; the history and ruins must have been something he has always wanted to see. “My brother and I always went of this ride called Escape from Pompeii at this Amusement Park when we were little and we loved it! Clint would think this is so cool!”

Pompeii was founded in 600 B.C and became a booming Roman trading city. The morning of August 24, 79 A.D, the people, having no idea they were living below an active Volcano, Mount Vesuvius blew, sending ash, dust, cinders, and rocks twelve miles into the air. It erupted for 18 hours straight. The white grey ash settled like snow in Pompeii and it collapsed roofs and floors but it left the walls intact. 2,000 of the town’s 20,000 residents were entombed under 8 feet of fine powder. The next morning the Volcano's upper portion collapsed, picking up speed as it fell to the Earth and the red hot avalanche sped down the mountain at nearly 100 miles an hour. It buried Pompeii in over 60 feet of hot mud and as it cooled into stone it froze the moment into time.

We travelled with the Rick Steve’s Italy book and we did his walking tour of Pompeii. As we walked the town of ruins we were able to picture what once stood as “whole” structures that were now represented by pieces of brick, columns, and boulders. We stood where the people of Pompeii lived, used public restrooms, took public baths, ate at ancient “fast food” restaurants, and baked at one of the first original bakeries.


Our first day started with a setback in Naples due to expectations being far too high. To be honest, I think I pictured being in the Naples I call home all the way in Italy. Pompeii saved the day and it ended our first day with a high. We couldn’t wait to head back to our hotel, take a nice hot shower, and enjoy another sunny day on the beaches of Positano.