Enlightening Pompeii

From Rome, I ventured off to see the infamous city covered in rock and solidified ash and lava... Pompeii. One can walk through the streets of the old city and marvel at the immensity of it all. Pots, statues and pillars line the streets and the semi-remaining dilapidated buildings tell a horrific and interesting story. The ampi-theather and stadium give you a sense of a bygone era and the solidified bodies in foetal or sleeping positions tell of how suddenly the fiery Vesuvius erupted. The old city is incredible and definitely worth the visit. I spent a good few hours moseying around it, marvelling at both the beauty and sadness of it all... getting “lost” in the maze of streets and houses.

The “new” city boasts wonderful restaurants and friendly people... perhaps over friendly at times. If you look foreign, and in particular a girl, you may begin to feel slightly pestered and slightly overwhelmed with the attention you may receive from the opposite sex. The new city is lively and yet still seems old school, with plenty of shops and restaurants, lining busy streets, just next to the old city.

I spent only a day and night there before heading off to the wonderful Capri, so unfortunately I was only able to visit the old and new city, but had I had more time I would have loved to have climbed to the top of Mount Vesuvius, as one of the friends I made in Pompeii did. I met two lovely girls in Pompeii and we spent the evening learning about each other over the most divine food and slow strolls through the lovely Pompeii.

Pompeii definitely makes it onto my list of favourite places and I highly recommend it, whether you are a history lover, avid photographer or simply an adventurous soul.

 

When in Rome...

After leaving Paris, I headed for wonderful Italia. I took a train to Stuttgart, Germany to drop off some of my stuff at the dorm I would be staying in during my study programme. I then hopped on a train to Munich from where I took an overnight train to Rome.

Rome was amazing, and Italy in general was my favourite country (although Ireland is an extremely close second).  The food, the weather, the people, the sites... all just incredible. If I thought Paris felt like I was walking through a museum, then Rome must be the greatest museum of all time. Whether you are visiting the Colosseum or the Vatican City, or for that matter the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Capitoline Hill or the infamous Trevi Fountain, the history is both beautiful and interesting. I opted for a hop-on-hop-off bus to get around Rome, but later in my stay decided to walk, and just “get lost” in the city. This was actually, when I saw the most and experienced the real Rome, and thus I recommend doing this at least once when visiting Rome. You will discover places that you may not have, had you just stuck to tour groups or hop-on-hop-offs, not to mention the amazing family-run restaurants down random side streets, serving the most delicious food I have ever tried. More than that, it is also cheaper than that found just outside the main sites.

I spent two days in beautiful Roma. On my first day there, I visited the Colosseum, which was breathtaking, and a real education. I felt as though I had been taken back in time and half-expected gladiators to begin a fight at any time. I also ventured to the Roman Forum and Palatino Hill, passing the Arco di Constantine on route. I enjoyed the most delicious Gelato on the edge of the Trevi Fountain and threw my three coins in... this hopefully means my speedy return to the beautiful city. While on the Hop-on-Hop-off, I also saw the incredible Capitoline Hill.

On day two, I headed off to see the Vatican City. This is one of the smallest cities in the world and is where the Pope (leader of the Catholic Church) stays. Unfortunately, I was not willing to wait the 4 to 5 hours to get inside, so I settled for the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel instead. They were breathtakingly beautiful, and the Sistine Chapel was all that I pictured it to be, with Michelangelo’s incredible artwork donning the ceiling. Strangely enough, I actually preferred the paintings and statues in the rest of the museum to the main attraction (the Sistine Chapel). I also visited the Pantheon and the Spanish Steps, before getting lost in the city (deliberately) to see sites that were not necessarily on the usual tourist map. I met the most amazing people in Rome and loved sharing meals with them and venturing off to see the Colosseum at night. They truly made my stay wonderful and I was reminded of how beneficial staying in Youth Hostels can be.

Some tips to keep in mind when visiting Rome (Italy in general):

• Take a hat, or buy one as soon as you get there.
• Carry water or juice with you, as drinks can be quite pricey outside places such as the Colosseum. Rather buy from a supermarket and then freeze one bottle so that it will be cold later in the day.
• Also, carry a re-usable bottle so that you can fill up at the ample water fountains around Rome.
• Eat at restaurants a little further from the main attractions. They will be cheaper and give you a better idea of the real Rome.
• When eating out, it is important to be aware that if bread is placed on your table you will be expected to pay for it. So if you do not want that, ask them to remove it when you sit down. Also, be aware that you will pay for water. When asking for tap water you will probably be met with a “we don’t have”, so you may as well order a cold drink.
• Be prepared for the heat. It is crazy hot in Italy in summer, and somehow there seems to be no shade... so remember sun block.
• When visiting the Vatican City/Museum you need to cover up as a sign of respect. This means no shorts, strappy or revealing shirts and no short dresses. Ladies, I recommend taking a scarf/shawl, made from light material, that you can just put over your shoulders.
• Ladies, be aware of getting lifts from random people (although you should always be aware of this) as doing so has certain connotations associated with it. Also, be prepared for whistles, hooting and many Italian men trying to flirt with you... particularly if you look foreign, as I do.

I loved Rome and all the people that I met there. The food was the best I have ever eaten and the Gelato phenomenal.

Peace, love and happiness.