Salerno

Salerno May 29th 2013 Today, we pulled into the industrial port of Salerno. Plans are underway to build a cruise dock facility, but I'm guessing that will be a long time coming. This port is one of the areas which support Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Our shore excursion started with Herculaneum. Most people are aware of the city of Pompei which was covered in ash following the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD. Herculaneum was also destroyed by the same eruption but was located much closer to the volcano and was covered, instead, by a pyroclastic flow of mud was less and, being totally buried, the homes are very well preserved (more so than Pompei) The homes have some amazing fresco walls & ceilings and mosiac floors that are just wonderful to see. I had never heard of this town, but now you should not visit this area without seeing the city. It gets less than 10% of the visitors than Pompei but we all consider this the more interesting city. We then went to the source of the problem - Vesuvius. You can drive about 3/4 of the way up and then can walk to the top. It was very cloudy, so we did not get the views of the area, but we did get to see the crater. And we conquered ! After the climb, we were starving so we hit a little restaurant and got a Napoli pizza. Different. We all liked it and the crust was wonderful. (the bread on the table was also great) Then on to Pompei. Much larger ruins and a more commercial city. LOTS of people. The streets themselves were of interest to me. Basalt blocks and raised blocks in the corners so one does not have to step in water when it its raining. Probably the "creapiest" (says Shar) are the bodies that were entoumbed in ash concrete, preserving even facial expressions on some. Death came fast.