CRUISING
From Rome, we went by car to Civitavecchia to board our cruise ship. It’s about an hour’s drive from the center of town through the countryside to a rather plain, but functional, cruise terminal. Here, after being given a card for Boarding Group 1, we sat in one of the many rows of folding chairs until it was time for check-in. They opened the counter about 20 minutes early and thus, we were boarding the ship and in the dining room before noon.
As is the custom, you board, staff take your picture and then give you an ID/key card for your room, and then direct you to the dining room for lunch. As you approach, wait staff are standing by to offer you a glass of champagne. We were escorted to a lovely table by the window. I had the Cobb salad which was done chopped style and excellent, while the Chief Penguin indulged in a hamburger, a rare treat. After lunch, we sat and read until our stateroom was ready.
ANCHORED OFF SORRENTO
We cruised overnight to Sorrento which is on the west coast of Italy and situated near the Amalfi coast. We had scheduled an early morning (8:00 A.M.) tour to Pompeii with our travel companions, Ellen and Bob. Consequently, we were up early and waiting to get the 7:30 tender to town. The tender departures were delayed so it was slightly after 8 when we arrived at the dock in Sorrento. Tour guide Clelia and driver Michael were waiting for us. Sorrento is built on a cliff above the sea with very narrow streets and many switchbacks up and around to get out of town. Add in lots of traffic and Michael’s skill and fortitude were much appreciated! It took about an hour and a quarter to get to the Pompeii ruins.
Modern Pompei is located in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, a volcano that is still active today. The ancient city of Pompeii at its base was buried under 13 to 20 feet of ash and pumice by an eruption of the volcano in 79 A. D. It is the ruins of this town that can be toured today. Over the years, Pompeii was settled and inhabited by Italians, Greeks, Etruscans, and later Romans. It was a rich city and in the ruins, one can see evidence of art and sometimes elaborate decoration.
Spaces where human remains were found were injected with plaster to recreate the shape of the body. Examples can be seen preserved in glass cases along with rows and rows of urns and jugs of varying shapes and sizes. I’ve visited other ruins in Italy (Roman Forum), in Mexico City, and elsewhere, and found Pompeii to be one of the most interesting, both because of what was preserved and because of the mosaics and other art. Without Clelia, this would not have been as informative or as enjoyable an experience.
Note: Text and photos ©JWFarrington.
