And so we leave Rome. Another early start and we head off first to Montecassino. This is a working Monastery and Abbey and as such you are requested to be relatively quiet during the visit. Not that we would see any monks as they are safely tucked away. It sits atop a hill high above a valley and was destroyed several times over the past centuries the last time in 1944 during the great battle of Montecassino. It was founded in 529 and was the home of the Benedictines.
Couldn't resist this photo opportunity
I have mentioned previously that I have been experiencing moments that just take your breath away and you can be emotionally overcome. I had another of those in the church here in Montecassino. Such was the power this time that tears came and I felt compelled to sit for awhile before leaving. As I left the church and the courtyard, I felt as if a weight had come off my shoulders. Not that I felt like I had anything bothering me but it really was quite an experience. I can't really explain this either not believing myself to be particularly spiritual.
From there we continued our journey south to Pompeii. Colin had studied this at Primary School so was really looking forward to this. I don't remember learning about this so if you are like me it seemed like all new information. Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and completely destroyed this village. To go into it today was mind blowing to see the remains of this village that have thus far been excavated. I was expecting something that you would need to use your imagination to really get an idea of what it would have looked like, but really so much of it has been dug up and the history can be told from all the relics and remains of the buildings.
A particularly creepy part for me was when we were viewing plaster cast molds of bodies. These were so realistic looking. When these bodies were found, their actual body had decomposed away to nothing but the impression that was left behind showed exactly how they were lying and if they were male or female. Clearly one was female as you could see she was pregnant. So when one of these are found, they would take a mould using plaster of paris and recreate the "body". Very thought provoking seeing this. You could visualize their fear as they were struck down so suddenly.
This city had a brothel which seemed to be of particular interest to the men. There were depictions of penis's on the walls and roadway leading to the supposed "red light district". When you went into the brothel there were pictures of different positions on the wall with a number below. The guide was telling us there were many visitors through the port and this helped with communicating which service they wanted even though they couldn't speak the local language.
We were taken out of this area and stood waiting for the slower ones to join us. I said to the crowd, "wouldn't it be funny if the men were last out and that they would all be calling numbers out to the wives tonight". It was at that point I realized Colin wasn't with me and he was last out. The crowd all roared with laughter at that point. He was taking a few photos he said.
The day was very hot and at some points during our tour we had no shade so we all got very hot. I had taken the precaution of carrying my umbrella for just this so it was very welcome indeed to be able to get a bit of shade even if I did look like a dumbass. I was cooler than the rest and didn't get burnt.
The last part of our day was spent getting to Sorrento. The drivers here are just as mad and bad as Rome. This town sits atop a hill and has very narrow streets that in New Zealand would be the size of a one way street, but here it is still two way.
We have spent tonight doing laundry and in an Internet cafe uploading photos, which hopefully you have all seen. We had dinner at an English Pub as Colin had a fancy for Fish and Chips of all things and I had Spaghetti Bolognaise.
Back to the room now for some well deserved shut eye. Here for 2 nights and off to the Isle of Capri tomorrow.
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