CK Goes to Italy – Pompeii (Pompei)

Pompeii is one of the most visited places in Italy by the sea, and I couldn't have missed it. Therefore, on 7^th of June, 2006, I decided to visit this astonishing old city buried by a disastrous volcanic eruption of Vesuvio (Mt. Vesuvius) in 79 A.D. which lasted for 3 days!

The common way of getting to Pompeii from Naples is by taking the Circumvesuviana, an LRT-like transportation. I should be boarding the train heading to Sorrento at Napoli Centrale station, but in a hurry, I jumped on a wrong train to Sorro instead. So, I quickly jumped off the train after one stop and returned to Napoli Centrale station to take the right train again. The train arrived at the Pompei Scavi Villa dei Misteri station at around 11:30 a.m.

This is the Basilica, but didn't function as a basilica as we know of today. It was the house of justice.

Well, I need to put myself there as a scale for you to imagine the size of the Basilica's column.

All judgements of rights and wrongs were all done beyond this entrance.

This is the forum of the ancient time, where people socialised. Vesuvio at the background was the culprit that destroyed its glory.

I wonder how many people have come and gone through these arches.

There are new lives on old ruins. There must be hope.

These are the remaining columns of an ancient temple.

And these are the remaining columns and capitals of an old government office.

All the artifacts excavated are displayed in the temporary warehouses, including a fossilised human figure.

The streets of Pompeii are still as busy as they once were.

This is an elaborately decorated fountain in one of the houses.

And this is the mosaic floor of a house with the figure that represent the sign of 'Beware of Dogs' today.

On one of the streets in Pompeii, I bumped into 袁勇 from China, a conference delegate I met at the 2^nd fib Congress. Then we met another Japanese lady, 岸由美子, who's resided in Florence for many years following her Italian husband. So, that made us three in a company for exploring Pompeii further.

We first visited a bakery with conical stone grinders. An oven which is still intake can be seen at the back.

Then we admired some walls using rocks of different colours to form patterns.

We walked further west to Villa dei Misteri (the House of Mysteries), one of the best preserved houses after the volcano eruption; to look at some well-preserved wall paintings.

We went our separate ways as I wanted to explore further up hill but the two of them decided to walk through some other streets.

After circling round the old city walls, I finally made my way to the theatre, where some of the Japanese tourists were singing 'Sakura' to entertain us.

I rested on the theatre seat for a while, before I made my way out of Pompeii.

At a café along the way to the Circumvesuviana station of Pompei Scavi Villa dei Misteri, I bumped into 袁勇 and 岸由美子 again while they were sipping up their orange juice. I ordered a cappuccino and sat down with them to chit-chat about Asia, as 岸由美子 hasn't been back to her hometown for more than 10 years. We walked to the Circumvesuviana station together to take the train back to Naples and we had another round of great conversation on the train. I found out that all of us paid different prices for the return train tickets, mine being the most expensive! 岸由美子 even invited us to Florence but I don't know when I'm going to make it there again.

If you would like to read my other posts on Italy, these are the links:

• CK Goes to Italy – Rome (Roma)
• CK Goes to Italy – Vatican City (Citta del Vaticano)
• CK Goes to Italy – Florence (Firenze)
• CK Goes to Italy – Fiesole
• CK Goes to Italy – Pisa
• CK Goes to Italy – Siena
• CK Goes to Italy – Milan (Milano)
• CK Goes to Italy – Verona
• CK Goes to Italy – Genoa (Genova)
• CK Goes to Italy – Cremona
• CK Goes to Italy – Como (Lago di Como)
• CK Goes to Italy – Venice (Venezia)
• CK Goes to Italy – Naples (Napoli)
• CK Goes to Italy – Pompeii (Pompei)
• CK Goes to Italy – Sorrento
• CK Goes to Italy – Capri
• CK Goes to Italy – Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana)
• CK Goes to Italy – Amalfi
• The Return of CK from Italy

CK Goes to Italy – Naples (Napoli)

My main purpose of going to this stunning city by the sea at the southern region of Italy was to attend the 2^nd fib Congress, an engineering conference discussing the matters on structural concrete. I stayed in Naples from 4^th to 11^th of June, 2006, using it as a base for me to explore the other splendid towns and an island called Capri in the southern region of Italy, apart from the more serious business.

I went to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale on the very first afternoon right after I've settled myself down at the hotel booked through the conference organiser. Why was I in such a hurry? Because this museum is considered as the most important archaeological museum in Europe.

This is part of a mosaic floor in Pompeii showing Alexander the Great in a battle with a Persian troop.

This is the Persian King that Alexander was battling at. I can't remember the name of the Persian King, you can watch the movie to find out, hehe!

The figures of the horses were very precisely laid-out in the mosaics.

There are a lot more artifacts to look at in this museum, but I can't show all to you. Oh,ya! Did I mention that the gal ticket attendance stopped me at the entrance, not because of the ticket matter, but just to tell me that I'm cute! Haha!

After visiting the museum, I've got some serious business to attend to, i.e., attending the 2^nd fib Congress at the Mostra d'Oltremare convention centre.

Near the convention centre stands a very unique weather station.

There is also a fountain, Fontana di Esedra, at the Mostra d'Oltremare.

At night, Fontana di Esedra was turned into a show of water, light and music, specifically for the conference delegates to sooth the tiredness from a whole day discussion of engineering matters.

Yet, more show of the water, light and music.

On one evening, I strolled along the waterfront to feel the atmosphere at dusk. I had the chance to look at the beauty of Vesuvio (Mt. Vesuvius) then.

There is an arch along the shore.

Along the waterfront, there's this Castel dell'Ovo built on rocks by the Spanish.

A long driveway leads the way into Castel dell'Ovo.

On another sunny day, I went roaming around Naples and spotted this very interesting castle called Castel Nuovo.

The castle pieces in chess were probably modelled through this.

This is a building near Piazza del Plebiscito which houses a shopping gallery.

The shopping gallery, Galleria Umberto, is covered with glass roof to allow naturally-lit shopping splendor.

Right in front of Piazza del Plebiscito is this splendid church called Chiesa di San Francesco di Paolo.

I took a closer look at the church to appreciate the architecture of a domed structure.

At night, Piazza del Plebiscito will be lit by these neo-classical street lights.

When I walked further down the street from Piazza del Plebiscito, the statue of Neptune of the Fontana di Nettuno is guarding a small square.

The lion on Fontana di Nettuno was spitting at me.

I boarded a very crowded bus to go to Corso Umberto I, and that's when I got pick-pocketed. I was already very cautious that I pressed my wallet in my front pocket against my thigh, but the gypsy lady was still able to pull all the banknotes out without me knowing it! Their skills are really beyond our imagination.

OK, unpleasant experience aside, I continued on my journey along Via Duomo to visit this Cattedrale.

After that, I took another bus to Cavour station to follow the metro train to the Amedeo station just to take Funicolare di Chiaia (funicular train) up the hill.

There is spectacular view of Naples up the viewing point of the hills.

Old and new buildings are sprawling throughout this city by the Mediterranean Sea.

I zoomed in to an old building, before I took the funicular train again downhill.

If you would like to read my other posts on Italy, these are the links:

• CK Goes to Italy – Rome (Roma)
• CK Goes to Italy – Vatican City (Citta del Vaticano)
• CK Goes to Italy – Florence (Firenze)
• CK Goes to Italy – Fiesole
• CK Goes to Italy – Pisa
• CK Goes to Italy – Siena
• CK Goes to Italy – Milan (Milano)
• CK Goes to Italy – Verona
• CK Goes to Italy – Genoa (Genova)
• CK Goes to Italy – Cremona
• CK Goes to Italy – Como (Lago di Como)
• CK Goes to Italy – Venice (Venezia)
• CK Goes to Italy – Naples (Napoli)
• CK Goes to Italy – Pompeii (Pompei)
• CK Goes to Italy – Sorrento
• CK Goes to Italy – Capri
• CK Goes to Italy – Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana)
• CK Goes to Italy – Amalfi
• The Return of CK from Italy