Pompei, Rugby, and Rain
Oh what a hectic day, that whimsical Saturday October 6th. It kicked off with an all too early flight from London to Naples during which I dozed off, head slumped onto the tablet in front of me, trying to avoid drooling. The plane was full of retired elderly people anyway. They probably wouldn't pay attention to yet another drooler.
My first few minutes a few yards outside the main terminal at Naples Int'l Airport were sunny, slightly cloudly yet and most importantly heavy & steamy. Somewhat familiar to south-eastern US climate. A nice day somehow.
By the time Ivan landed, got his gear, collected the rental car and drove us both off to the Vesuvio, the clouds have welded back together to cast the Sun outside the picture. It was gonna be a grey climbing trek up one of the world's most famous volcanoes.
The long and winding road took us a few hundred meters shy of the actual crater. We finished the rest off by foot. A steep starting path made way for an easier stroll round the rim. Ivan shot a couple pics, we awed at Pompei in the distance and gazed down the clammed & quiet crater. Seemingly quiet that is - the only apparent sign of activity was a few puffs of smoke here and there.
The cherry on top of the cake that day was our trip to Pompei in spite of an ominous weather (which eventually caught up with us). By the time dusk had wrapped us around an eerie shroud of darkness, a harsh rain was pattering down on us and we were desperately trying to find our way out of this 2 millenia old maze.
In the distance, a bobbing torch (a ghost?) neared us, scolded us in Italian for still being on the premises and showed us the shortest way to the exit.
My first few minutes a few yards outside the main terminal at Naples Int'l Airport were sunny, slightly cloudly yet and most importantly heavy & steamy. Somewhat familiar to south-eastern US climate. A nice day somehow.
By the time Ivan landed, got his gear, collected the rental car and drove us both off to the Vesuvio, the clouds have welded back together to cast the Sun outside the picture. It was gonna be a grey climbing trek up one of the world's most famous volcanoes.
The long and winding road took us a few hundred meters shy of the actual crater. We finished the rest off by foot. A steep starting path made way for an easier stroll round the rim. Ivan shot a couple pics, we awed at Pompei in the distance and gazed down the clammed & quiet crater. Seemingly quiet that is - the only apparent sign of activity was a few puffs of smoke here and there.
The cherry on top of the cake that day was our trip to Pompei in spite of an ominous weather (which eventually caught up with us). By the time dusk had wrapped us around an eerie shroud of darkness, a harsh rain was pattering down on us and we were desperately trying to find our way out of this 2 millenia old maze.
In the distance, a bobbing torch (a ghost?) neared us, scolded us in Italian for still being on the premises and showed us the shortest way to the exit.
