Seeing Pompeii was unreal. I was always fascinated with it in school, especially in Latin class, and being there in person was an out of body feeling. We saw an outdoor theater, the bathhouse (with the frigidarium), a brothel and the main square with Mt. Vesuvius looming in the distance. It was amazing to walk those streets where people walked thousands of years ago and then were buried under ground for so many years. Seeing the plaster casts of the buried bodies made me a little uneasy. You can see the pain and emotions on their faces so clearly. It actually gave me goosebumps, but I am so glad that I was able to see it. Too bad I don't remember any more Latin or I would have fit in there better. But veni, vidi, vici!
In Venice, I was able to go into Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. My mom always talked about Venice and how much she loved it, so being there and seeing everything she saw is a great feeling. I love all of the little canals in Venice. We went to the Venice Jazz Club last Tuesday night and got to take a water taxi there and back through these tiny canals. I felt like I was in 'The Italian Job' (if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it!).
(Courtyard of Doge's Palace)
(Outside of St. Mark's Basilica with the bronze horses)
The last amazing day to report on was Florence & Pisa. I definitely want to go back to Florence for shopping, more sight seeing, etc. But this time I was able to see the replica of the David statue. It is a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be.
