Pompeii

Pompeii was a city built on the south face of mt vesuvius, at the time right on the waters edge. It was buried in 79 AD, and destroyed so quickly that many of its in habitants were buried alive in ash and pyroclastic flow. It was really interesting to walk down the streets of this city and see the buildings and roadways. Much of it has been reconstructed to look similar to what it might have been before the destruction. One of the prettiest I think is the villa of octavius gauis. He was some sort of noble man who owned a vila in the south of the city of pompeii. The fountains and gardens, are beautiful and the frescos on the wall are stunning. I am really excited to share all I have learned about frescos and such with everyone. It is going to be boring for most of you but I find it facinating, not only how quickly the styles and times change, but the extent to which they are different. I am most interested it tell everyone about the villa of mysteries, There were many frescos from a couple of different time periods found on the walls of this villa and there were also a few skeletons found in the building. I cant wait to go back there with my mom and get a close look at the skeletons at this villa because I was not able to see them yesterday.
Anyways, hope everyone is doing well. I am so ready to move along and see something different. Honestly Naples and the surrounding area is getting a little boring. Next time I write I will probably be leaving Naples and begining the last two weeks leg of my journey around western Europe. Laters!
Love,
World Traveller
AKA, Megs

Sorrento

Sorrento is a beach on the south part of the bay of Naples. It is really beautiful and it is a tourist town for americans and british speakers so many people speak english there. If you can go and visit the beaches. It is so beautiful and warm, and just lovely. And then get some gelato after a day at the beach to cool yourself down. I really enjoyed it this past weekend... though I couldn't find the beach I was looking for until about 4 so that was a little bit of a downer but it was really fun. Ok, well, sorry this is short but I am really tired and I dont want to miss my train bye!

Water, sweet water...

I will never again take water for granted. Last year I had water but it was not cold. This year there is no more water! Ok...I exagurate just a little. There was a water main burst or problem in the town we are staying in so we have had no water for the past two days, and that means you guessed it, no toilets! Well to make a long story short, the water wont come back on for another day or so...so we are staying in this really nice hostel called, fabric. It is really comfortable, and convienient, and I do believe that it is pretty inexpensive. Its really nice to have real showers and running water. For anyone who is interested, it is in a little town called portichi near naples, and the barra stop on the circumvesuviana. I highly recomend it if you are traveling through naples any time soon. Anyways, I will hopefully be back in our original housing by friday but you might get another post from me talking about my adventures with no water, day three!
Love to all,
World Traveller,
AKA Megs

Ah ROMA!

Rome was amazing! I went on saturday with some of my group and it was so much fun!!!! I can believe I got to do that. I waited to go inside the colliseum with you mom, because I wanted to experiance it the first time together but I did take a bunch of pictures outside of it. It is so surreal to actually see it in real life! Anyways so we went onto the foro romano, or roman forum, and got to see the temple of saturn and jupiter and vespa as well as the various forum buildings. It was cool. The venders outside these two places are so funny, they will bargain with you on almost anything. I had a guy go down to one euro for a fan but, I didn't want to lug it around with me all day. I will wait to get that kind of stuff til my mom comes with me! I also got the most amazing Gelato! Well I actually got two amazing gelatos but the first was really spectacular to look at and then this old guy who works there wanted to be in the picture with me as I was holding it up. Afterward he called Bella Donna! and gave me a kiss on the cheek. It was so funny! and kind of weird because he did it again before we left the ice-cream shoppe and called me his love! Yeah really funny but kind of scary. I didn't get a picture of the kiss though. I should have, but I would have had to stand there for a long time with his lips on my cheek and I didn't really know where that would go afterward so I just left. We also got some more gelato at giolottis, the most famous gelateria in Rome. It was amazing! Well, at least I think it was. My sense of smell and taste is still off. Sorry Guys dont kill me for not getting it taken care of before hand. It helps out in keeping the stench of naples away from my senses.
We got to see the trevi fountain where I made a wish. Sorry cant tell you what it is, and then went to get a picture taken on the spanish steps which was kind of a let down... it really was interesting to look at all the people around them but I dont really know the significance. If anyone out there does please let me know!
AND I got to ride on my first train!!!!!!! I was so happy and excited. It was actually pretty funny because I got what I like to call and Italian experiance on the first leg of the ride. I got on the train with two other girls, and two of us had reserved seats and one of us had not reserved a seat. There were two nuns that got on the train at the same time, and we came to find out that they also did not have reservations. Next these three LOUD italian women got on the train and preceded to kick one of the nuns out of her chair! I was blown away. Well the other girl with no reservation that we were with gave up her seat for the nun, but at the next stop three more people got on and she was booted out of her seat, along with my friend who gave up her seat for the other nun. Well needless to say, I was not going to let a nun stand for a two hour train ride into Rome bumping all along the way. So I got up and gave her my seat. Thanks mom for teaching me right! Well I sat on the floor in the back of the train for the next hour or 45 min I am not really sure how long it was, and It was awesome! Really I know that sounds so unfair but I was just so happy to be on the train that in the end it didn't really matter!
I bought a really cute bag that I cant wait to show everyone! I am so glad I have it also because if I didn't I would have to carry around my backpack everywhere and that is annoying especially in crowded places because you have to hold your hand on the zippers so no one steals anything out of it.
Well that was my big adventure for the week
A settimana!
Love,
World Traveler

Gelato

AHH, Gelato, It is AMAZING!!!! I have found my Italian Lover. Sorry to all my girls, I know I was told to find a man but Gelato is SOOO good. It makes me happy and it cools me down after a hard day of excavation. I am doing really good so far. I am really excited about the work we are doing. The site is really interesting but last week on wednesday I was sent into exile. Instead of working under the lovely cool awning I have been working in the hot sun for three whole days. I have only a little burn because I put on my sunscreen but it is still really hot. All in all I enjoy it thouroughly though. Its a little hot but for some reason it is really enjoyable to me. I must have become a sun person after last year in St. George, it is nice to be doing other aspects of excavation also. I was able to draw the new site and measure many of the features. Right now we are excavating a colapsed wall trying to find the floor. And as soon as I can get the blessed photographs online I will be sure to show them to everyone. I am really happy though, and a little bit dirty. Dont worry mom, when you see me, the excavation will be over and I will be showered and clean so you dont have to walk around naples with a dirty archaeologist in training.
Happy Birthday to Kaitlyn my sister and Jeffery my brother. I am sorry I missed both of yours. Let me know what you would like from Italy so I can make it up to you.
Well I have to figure some other stuff out about putting up pictures and such so I will write later.
Love you all,
World Traveller
AKA Megan