I've returned from Italia (pic and vid heavy)!

[Miss Z]

Moving on to my favourite part of the whole trip, Pompeii. It was truly amazing to see so much of this once great city in ruins, but still standing. The cart tracks on the roads made it seem like it had been deserted only yesterday and it wasn't hard to imagine the streets bustling all those years ago. This was a cast of a person trying to get away when the pyroclastic flow of AD 79 hit Pompeii, and his/her dying pose was immortalised.



Pompeii's amphitheatre, far older than the colloseum and pozzuoli ones!



This 'graffitti' is an election campaign, preserved to this day.



Climbing to the top of the theatre, I couldn't resist taking this pic of the top of the Pompeiian buildings, with Vesuvius admiring its handiwork in the distance.



The view of the theatre itself.



This has to be my favourite pic of all, it sums up the feeling of Pompeii entirely. The forum is still a huge area, but nothing measures up to the scale of Vesuvius, whose eruption was so violent that the top third of the volcano itself was blown off. If you draw lines from each side of the volcano until they roughly meet, you can see how massive it must have been.



Probably the most famous cast in Pompeii is this person crouched with head in hands.

More still coming...

[Miss Z]

The excavation goes on, here some more pillars were being discovered just outside the city walls. There is most definitely so much left to uncover, who knows what still lies beneath the ground.



Moving on to the trip to the island of Capri. It rained and was quite overcast on this day, so we missed the opportunity to sunbathe on the beach, but at least it meant we got free time in Capri town to browse the designer shops with accessories worth more than my school fees!



Don't you just love the Med?



More of the rugged coastline.



Capri is the richest area in the bay of Naples, and I couldn't resist taking this photo of a map of Capri painted on the sun roof of an extravagant villa!



This video cracks me up every time I watch it. I think I overdosed on lemon slushie so my voice was kinda high and hyper, but this is basically a video of us having a short sit on a pebble beach we found whilst the boat came in. This is one of my friends 'Fenton', really called Adam but always known as Fenton nearly falling over in the sea!



And a little pic of me in my fave outfit, lol.

Still some more (bored yet)?!

[Miss Z]

Our visit to Herculaneum was brief and it seemed rather insignificant compared to the likes of Pompeii, but it was interesting all the same. I think this is a wall painting of the most important Roman god and goddess, Jupiter and Juno.



We visited the largest villa of Herculaneum, known as the house of the deer. The original sculptures from which it got its name have been taken to Naples Museum, so this is only a replica.



Another little vid, this time the trek up Vesuvius. Not easy! Underfoot is dusty with volcanic ash and the wind wasn't kind either. I sound horribly out of breath so once again that's not my normal voice, but those who have heard me on 'let's hear you' threads know what I sound like anyway



When we did get to the top, at first you could barely see a few metres ahead as the whole peak was engulfed by a cloud. Then, without warning, it cleared for literally minutes, so I snapped lots of very quick photos. This is the view over pretty much everything coastal that rests in Vesuvius's shadow.



This is part of the crater, although it may not look like it. When the next Plinian eruption occurs, the sediment plugging the crater will go up like a champagne cork, not a comforting thought!



And finally, Victoria and I just about managing to stand up with the wind pelting us at the highest point of Vesuvius (and Fenton somehow got in the shot too )

I hope you all enjoyed my pics, I certainly enjoyed taking them!

[Alysser]

Finally your done..

OK, first off, thank you for bringing back memories of Italy. I went in 2004 and I miss the place like crazy. I loved each and every one of your pictures, Zara! This trip looked fantastic and fun-filled with a bit of the educational experience of course...I love the Pompeii pictures, that city would be so amazing to visit, it's so weird though how everything seems frozen in time. I remember the Vatican, it was beautiful. Did you guys get to see the graves of the popes? Rome is such a cool city to go too, I loved that most of all throughout my trip. Did you go in the Colleseum? Did you visit Piza? If so, did you climb the leaning tower of piza? Now that is a killer!!

Sorry for so many questions, but one more lol...

Did you try the pizza in Italy?? It's so good it's indescripable.

[Miss Z]

Thanks everyone!

Did you guys get to see the graves of the popes? Rome is such a cool city to go too, I loved that most of all throughout my trip. Did you go in the Colleseum? Did you visit Piza? If so, did you climb the leaning tower of piza? Now that is a killer!!

Sorry for so many questions, but one more lol...

Did you try the pizza in Italy?? It's so good it's indescripable.

Hey Alyssa! I think we did pass what looked like tombs of the Popes, although most of our time in the Vatican was spent in St Peters, so that was the time that my camera was out . I posted a few colosseum pics, it was cool to be able to see it. We didn't visit Piza but its somewhere that I would love to go in the future. Guess I'll have to get fit to climb up it lol, although I hope it would be easier that Notre Dame, that hurt a LOT

Yep, I had a lot of pizza and yes it is very good. Being vegetarian I was lucky and got to eat a lot more pizza than anyone else, lol!

You are beautiful, I wish I could wear skirts like that! You should definently look into modeling!

Aw, thanks Beth! I live for mini skirts, lol. It surprised quite a few people on the trip that I actually wear them, as at school I'm generally quite reserved, so it was funny seeing their faces. The only drawback is that the Italian guys follow you everywhere, even stopping their cars to talk to you. The waiters are a nightmare! (throwing the Vs helps, though, when they start to REALLY get on your nerves )

[Killearn Kitties]

Lovely pictures. I am so glad that you enjoyed your trip. It really is the most gorgeous area!

[I_luv_rusty]

That picture is my favorite, I love the flowers on the side,the beautiful green land, and the beach of course

I also adore the Colloseum pictures, and that pretty fountain.

Beautiful pictures Zara! Welcome back, and glad you had a great time

[kittycats_delight]

phenomenal pics Zara...so sorry you didn't get to go shoe shopping. You will have to come back and we can go together. We have some friends in Naples so we will be safe with them and we can hit the open air markets (mercato) for some great deals. Also maybe we can hit Milano and get to all the designers main shops. Prada, Valentino, Cavalli, Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi and the list goes on and on.

Can't wait for the rest of the pics. I guess seeing I am here I should probably start posting some pics huh. I have been so neglectful about that. I think I have tons and Guido has vacation in a couple of weeks so I will be sure to get some from this part of Italy.

[Miss Z]

phenomenal pics Zara...so sorry you didn't get to go shoe shopping. You will have to come back and we can go together. We have some friends in Naples so we will be safe with them and we can hit the open air markets (mercato) for some great deals. Also maybe we can hit Milano and get to all the designers main shops. Prada, Valentino, Cavalli, Versace, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi and the list goes on and on.

Hee hee, that sounds great! I did make a few purchases, mostly on Capri, which included perfume, a trinket box, lemon chocolate (mmmmmmm) and a choker from the Swarovski crystal shop in Capri town But then the lack of shoes does mean I will have to go back at some point and fulfil that part of the trip!

Zara,

Your pictures certainly brought back wonderful memories for me. Now, I'm SURE you also went to the Spanish Steps and the Fountain of Treve(sp?), correct?

Thank you for such a beautiful walk down memory lane. I also went with my best friend, Susie, my Mom and a whole class full of people. Susie and have been the best of friends for over 40 years!!

Did you happen to see the cats? How about the Catacombs??

Hi Donna! Yes, we did go past the Spanish steps but we went past a little too quickly for me to take a pic. We unfortunately missed the Trevi Fountain as I think the teachers we once again worried about pickpockets. I'm sure one day I'll go back and see it for myself!

Yes, I saw quite a few cats, and have a funny little snippet about a particular cat. Just before we left Solfatara we had a little relax time by a small cafe. I was sat outside with Victoria, Fenton and his friend (known as 'Bambi', don't ask ) and a little black cat came along and sat near our table. We were told strictly not to touch any stray animals, so I improvised by talking to them, lol. She looked at me for a while, so I randomly mimicked a 'meow', to which the cat promptly meowed back, seemed to smile, and then went on her way. It was as if we had just exchanged good afternoons. Fenton fell about laughing that I could communicate with cats and I was 'catwoman' for a while, hee hee.

Yes, we visited the catacombs too, they were very interesting, but quite chilly!

Thanks to all who have replied so far too

[DrKym]

Welcome back sweetie! The pics are amazing, and I am so glad you got a chance to see so many amazing and wonderful sights.!!

[Catsnclay]

Well that's it, we must someday soon get over there! I just loved the "armchair traveling".


You take great pictures, and make us feel like we were there with you!

We really need to start traveling!!!!

[Kalei]

Wow, those pictures were all so amazing! I"m so glad you showed us them. I never get to go anywheres, so seeing pictures of such a far away place is thrilling! And some of your videos were funny

I bet you had such an amazing time! And I would be so scared to be near a volcano lol.

[Toby's my baby]

Beautiful photos! It looks amazing there! I wish I got to do stuff like that! You are beautiful, I wish I could wear skirts like that! You should definently look into modeling!

[Roxyluvsme13]

Zara, you're back! I'm sorry you almost died climbing up Mt. Vesuvius , that would have been terrible. *clings to Zara*

The pictures are awesome. You're really making me want to go to Italy!

[Zippy]

WOW what beautiful pictures. Looks like you and everone on the trip had the time of your lifes. My favorite pictures were the Pompeii ones.