the last bit about naples

just to finish up. must go in order and cover everything!
after the amalfi coast, we went to Pompeii.
wow. that was very cool. it was a beautiful city... in the looming shadow of a huge volcano!
it was so exciting to see it. it really was like getting a glimpse into the past. our guide showed us how to tell if we were looking a store or a home. the stores had a groove on the threshold that held a sliding door.
the volcano buried Pompeii under many meters of ash and pumice on August 24, 79 (that's right. the year 79!!), and it was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1748. It had been a thriving city and a great example of life in the height of the Roman Empire.
there were a lot of stray dogs in Pompeii. i wish i had taken pictures of them - at first i thought someone had just brought their dog with them or something. after seeing a bunch of them, i was curious! turns out it is kind of a thing. the dogs of pompeii. so, if you ever visit, you can bring them some food.
i really loved this port. all of it. i will be coming back to drive the amalfi coast again and will have to visit the ruins of Pompeii again, too!