Pompeii

I didn't really plan on spending much time in Naples despite the fact that I was staying there. The city only further confirmed this for me when I arrived. The hostel had not one but two locked doors through which the receptionist had to buzz me everytime I came back from somewhere. I was twice stopped and offered what I have to assume was a stolen digital camera (I was really tempted... they were better than my camera). Needless to say, I arrived, checked into the hostel, and immediately went on a day trip elsewhere...

I had no idea just how big the ancient city of Pompeii and its 2000 inhabitants was. While spending a few hours amidst the ruins, I definitely got felt a sort of calm and simplicity that I hope was part of life in the city. Still the grooves worn into the street stones revealed the busy chariots that beat the path down.

The SITA bus company in the area did not impress me. Not only do they offer little to no information about their buses and trains, but they dropped me off in Pompeii by the side of the road with nothing but a pole and a sign marking the stop. Once I was done with Pompeii, I had no idea where the stop was to bring me back to Naples, and I certainly didn't know what time the bus would be there. Consequently, I found myself sitting under the pole on the opposite side of the street on which I was dropped off.... for over an hour with no bus. I also told that the ticket would get me on the train as well, and I figured that someone back near Pompeii would know a enough English to point me in the direction of what I hoped was a more substantial station. But of course, Pompeii closed at 6:30pm, which prompted all the little stand owners to pack up their stuff and leave for the evening....hmmph. I walked down the street looking for anything that might help until I reached another entrance to Pompeii and found a police station there. Now there are stories about the police in Italy, but I figured I was just asking for information... low risk. Fortunately, it pointed me in the direction of the station, and it wasn't too far away. So everything worked out... you can breathe now, mom...