Far-Far Away Flusches: Hooray for Pompeii

Day 2: July 3rd, 2010

Pompeii Day! The day started out with The Flusche gang driving out to the support site base to participate in the Firecracker 4th of July fun run. We all did it but some had more fun than others, Tanner thought the Navy was experimenting with new forms of torture. The weather was beautiful and in the low 80's, after spending the summer in Bahrain I almost needed a sweatshirt (laugh). After a quick lunch and shower it was off to the once ash-burried city of Pompeii.

It confounds me that the whole community of Pompeii is still so intact and erect. Destroyed on Aug 24, 79AD by the volcanic ash of Mount Vesuvius, the town became buried. Covered in 30 feet of ash the town was forgotten until it was rediscovered in the 1600s. Excavations began in 1748.

Tanner loved seeing the "old rooms" and I'm still in awe over the elaborate community that once lived there as well as how preserved some of the ruins are.

Welcome To Pompeii! We entered at Porta Marina

Prior to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius the port was at the bottom of the hill.

The gang "strolling" up the main entrance, it's quite a hill. All the roads in Pompeii are the original stone streets.

Paul, Tanner and Gavin standing in the Forum with the Temple of Jupiter (The Supreme God) in the background.

Tanner in the Forum

Welcome to Via Abbondanza ("Main Street" Pompeii!)

Jann crossing the stepping stones on Via Abbondanza. It was common practice to flood the streets to wash them. The stepping stones were used like crosswalks so as not to wet or soil their sandals.

Jann at the Temple of Isis.

Gavin walking around above the Theater

A fountain at The Baths of the Forum

Tanner declaring that enough is enough... this is when Mommy and Daddy pull the "Gelato is right at the exit" card. Needless to say he found the strength to carry on (laugh)

Statue of the Dancing Faun which is located in the largest house in Pompeii. The house is called The House of Faun, it boasts 40 rooms and is a little over 27,000 square feet!

The House of Faun

Jann, Tanner and Gavin in The House of Faun

The House of Faun

The arches in The House of Faun

Fresco

Tanner with Frescos

Ahhh, can you see it? The gelato shop! At this point Tanner is jumping with glee!

Now, THAT'S a happy kid!

Following our big Pompeii excursion we decided to find the best pizza in Naples. With maps in hand we set out to find the highly acclaimed L' Antica Pizzeria da Michele. Rick Steves (who wrote our travel guide) describes the Margherita Pizza as for pizza purists. He was spot on, it did not disappoint. The pizzeria has been around since 1870 obviously it's a favorite of the locals. They only make two varieties of pizza: 1) Margherita and 2) Marinara (which has no cheese). Simple menu - delicious pizza!