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Rome is great. Loud, lively and invigorating. In fact its so invigorating I might go somewhere quieter for the New Year’s to have a bit of a rest.

A Roman Christmas

Nickjenkins
2003-11-20 11:12:08

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across a tourist couple sitting by the side of the road, reading their guide books in the dusky light, almost convinces you that you have come across some long lost inhabitants of the city. You can feel Pompeii as a living city rather than an empty ruin.

The most emotive display however remains those of the preserved bodies of those who perished in the disaster. The plaster casts of these twisted, tortured figures semaphore Pompeii's dying moments more accurately than any historical account. Some of the figures have intact skeletons and some are so detailed you can see the folds of their clothes. All have a terrifying contorted aspect that needs no explanation to demonstrate their mortal agony.

In their lives, the Pompeiians were a hedonistic people who enjoyed all the pleasures of life. The major features of the city include the baths, the vintners and, most famously, the brothel. This building is the hilight for many of the tours and features an impressive mural of the twin endowed Priapus, patron saint of the brothel’s customers.

In death the Pompeiians have left us their city as a legacy that gives us a vivid insight into the lives they lived some two-thousand years ago.

We spent three or four hours in Pompeii, left at dusk and climbed aboard a very crowded train for Florence. The train emptied out somewhat after Rome and we reached Florence about 10.30 that night.

Only three blocks from the train station we found the very colourful "Ostello Archi Rossi" on the Via Faenza. The Ostello is modern and clean and decorated with murals done by the residents.

The main feature of Florence is the cathedral, the Duomo. Built by Bruneschelli out of pink, green and white marble it dominates the center of the city with its highly detailed facade. A climb up the 364 steps to the top of the dome also offers an excellent view of the ...