Pompei, What Happened? Oh Yeah, Vesuvius

At the end of the Amalfi Coast adventure, we went to Pompeii, which was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. In the 1700's it was accidentally discovered and now serves as a historical site.

Gina and I in Pompeii.

This is a plaster mold of what an actual person looked like. When the ruins were being discovered, because people were covered with feet of ash, the molds of bodies were still in tact. They took plaster, filled the molds and now have plaster molds on site depicting what people looked like in the final moments before they died, due to the lava and weight of ash/pumice.

The postcard picture of Pompeii. It may be hard to see but after the third column from the left there is a small white head, which is the head of Jupiter.

Standing in an old cathedral/basilica. Because the amount of ash was so extreme, all of the roofs in ancient Pompeii collapsed and now, if roofs exist, they are only to mirror what roofs would have looked like before 79AD.

Yes, this is probably what you think it is. There were 31 brothels in Pompeii and these images were on the walls, as a display of what the woman had to "offer". 

More Capri

The famous limoncello, which uses the lemons grown in Capri.

A residential side of Capri, most others are cliffs and uninhabited. 

A statue symbolizing the watchmen of Capri in earlier times during war. Now it is looked at as welcoming.

Another residential side of Capri, away from the tourist attractions.

Leaving Capri and heading back to Maiori.

Don't Drink the Water, it's Salty

Capri

The White Grotto

The Green Gratto

The postcard picture of Capri

Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay

I'm on a Boat, to Capri

Last weekend I went to the Amalfi Coast and it was the most relaxing trip I've had so far. We started in Naples (Napoli), went to Capri for a day, and then Pompeii the next. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the sights, well, I'll let you decide on them.

Waiting in Naples to leave to go to Maiori, the coastal city we stayed before going to Capri.

Leaving Maiori for Capri.

Going to Capri at 8 in the morning.

On the way to Capri

Mount Vesuvius - in 79 AD it erupted and destroyed the entire city of Pompeii. The cities surrounding the mountain have rebuilt themselves, but because the mountain is still active, the cities suffer the risk of being completely demolished again. 

Do you know, the Duomo?

The Spaniards came April 17-19th and we went up to the Duomo in the center of Florence. It is one the most (if not the most) attractive and historical buildings in Florence. Inside the cathedral itself there is a moral in the dome depicting the levels from hell to heaven. I'll let the pictures do the talking. 

The depiction of hell within the dome.

Vasari's finished fresco with the three main levels: hell, life on earth, and heaven.

The view after climbing up 463 stairs, and no there is not an elevator.

View from the top of the Duomo.

Climbing up the stairs. Luckily the woman behind me survived. I haven't heard someone breathe that hard in a long time.

Touring Through Florence

Wow, I feel behind on my blog so here the last few weeks go. Easter weekend, there was a large Festival outside the Duomo. Around 10 in the morning, there was a celebration with medieval costumes, trumpets and also a large cart/tower. At 10am sharp, the bells blared and the cart started to explode. The cart was pulled in front of the Duomo by white oxen but the crowd was too intense I wasn't able to get a good picture. Enjoy!

The cart itself after the damage was done.

All excited for Easter Sunday at the Duomo.

The Cart exploding with fireworks - a mini fourth of July celebration.

More explosions and smoke. 

The Cart before the damage, explosions.

Valencia, Spain

Last weekend I went to Spain and visited my friend Rachel from school back home. I absolutely loved Valencia - it had such a homelike feeling, almost Chicago but in Florida. We went to the Oceanography and saw a dolphin show, a million fish, sharks and penguins. I went to a discotech and the nightlife is so much different in Spain - they don't start going out until 1 or 2am and don't head in until 6 or 7 in the morning. Needless to say, I didn't make it past 5 and then had to crash. I was impressed by how clean everything was in Valencia and how modern the architecture was. I hope you enjoy the pictures! The next big trip is to Capri and Pompeii in two weeks.

In the gardens - by far my favorite place in Valencia.

A picture of  a governmental building at night.

Architecture outside the Oceanography

Inside the Oceanography tunnels - tropical fish area.

My first 40, sorry mom. It was only 1,20 euros.