We thought we had planned everything out carefully.  We wanted to visit the Synagogue and the Jewish section of Rome but thought that excursion would be better on Sunday rather than Saturday.  So for Saturday we planned a day trip to Pompeii and the Amalfi coast.  First stop was Pompeii.  We had never been to Pompeii and hadn't realized how large and well preserved the ruins were.  Our driver, Andrea, is not a registered guide so we arranged for a private guide for our tour of the ruins.  She was excellent.  We went at OUR pace which is VERY slowly.  We saw only a VERY SMALL portion of the ruins.  It is a lot of "climbing" and cobblestones so the going was a bit difficult at times but it was well worth it.

I think the story of Pompeii is well known but just as a refresher here are a couple of reminders.  The city of Pompeii was probably founded about the 6th or 7th century BC.  It is not too far from Naples or the volcano - Mount Vesuvius.  When Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the wind was blowing in the wrong direction for Pompeii and it was buried under tons of ash.  The population was suffocated.  The city was lost for about 1500 years and was only "rediscovered" in 1599. 
Mount Vesuvius looming behind Pompeii
The ancient amphitheater in amazingly good condition.  Can you imagine that people actually sat here over 2,000 years ago watching some performance?
This is one of the palestrae where gladiators lived and took part in various "games". 
Remains of a "thermopolium" which is a shop where hot food is sold.
On both sides of the "road" there were remains of buildings.  The road itself is interesting.  There were grooves to guide the chariots and there were stepping stones so people could cross the road without stepping into the roadway.
One of the many squares.
At the entrance and inside the public baths.
The wall decorations and carvings are amazingly well preserved.
Another of the squares with Vesuvius in the background.
Notice the mosaic floor.
Every city needs a brothel.  And you have to have a sgn pointing the way. 
This brothel has a pictorial "menu" to facilitate selection of the desired service.
Just outside the walls it is lush and green.
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