Pompeii

What to say about Pompeii, I'm in two minds reflecting on our visit today. On one hand it was a tragic disaster with many people dying in a horrible and terrifying manner. The plaster casts that have been made as the site has been excavated are a testament to this fact. These are now made using resin but by the same process, a void is left in the lava by people or animal's remains decomposing. A cast is taken by filling the void with plaster or resin and they reveal quite a bit of detail.

On the other hand Pompeii is a remarkably well preserved ancient city as it was in Roman times, including much of its pre-Roman history. The noble and middle class houses are fascinating, and the decoration and art is amazing, many mosaics and frescoes. Being able to walk the streets as they were and experience the scale and variety of the buildings at Pompeii was very different to Ephesus. Having been frozen at a point in time rather than abandoned and destroyed by earthquakes much more of the building details are intact and many construction methods are more apparent.

Unfortunately like a lot of places we have experienced in Italy the site has suffered much neglect over time and over a third of buildings that used to be accessible are now closed. Italy is a strange place, they seem to be proud people but so neglectful of their environment and surroundings. Littering is so common, the levels of smoking and disregard for the impact of this on others, including their own children, is shameful. We are often seeing cars driving down the street with un-restrained kids standing on the front seats. It would take such little braking effort to cause a child serious head injuries. Of course there is the maniacal driving and complete disregard of road signs and rules.

Maybe a sociologist would have some theories about all these attitudes and behaviours but it's a shame that a country with so many treasures and beautiful locations is mired in such dirt and rubbish.

Sorrento - Pompeii