Second Weekend with the Mediterranean

So, this past weekend, we took a class trip to the Naples Archeological Museum, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, and Naples. Here are my photos from that trip!

Inside the Naples Archeological Museum 

Hercules - from Baths of Carcalla

Hercules pointing down to the Flusche

Another close up of Hercules 

The story behind this statue is a bit complicated. But the two men on the left & the right of the horse are trying to kill the lady in front of the horse. She's wronged their mom, who is below. This was another statue from the Baths of Carcalla

Theres the mom...

Reconstruction of skeletons from Herculaneum, the lesser known city that was destroyed by a mudslide during the eruption of Vesuvius - this city was located on the water and everyone ran to the boathouses to escape; however, the mud increased the shoreline and no one got away.

The beginning of fun artifacts from Pompeii - gladiator hats

Side shot of the gladiator helmet

Check out that fierce hat

Pitchers etc found from Pompeii

More pitchers...

A glass bowl found in Pompeii - I love this color combination

A glass pitcher - the glass managed to stay pretty intact, which is impressive!

A miniature statue found in Pompeii

The Alexander Mosaic - one of the most famous and detailed mosaics in antiquity - keep a lookout for the pictures further down from the House of the Faun, where I'll show you a recreation in its original location.

Not sure what this is, but I thought it would make a nice picture...

The original Faun statue, again, keep an eye out for the House of the Faun and its original location. This was the reason the House of the Faun was named the House of the Faun.

Outside of the Naples Archeological Museum.

Pompeii - excavations

A street view of Pompeii

A crosswalk - Bea is demonstrating how to use it. Due to sewage in the streets (no where else to throw your trash) you would use these to cross to avoid destroying your shoes.

Another street view

Antique Pompeii water tower

As you might have noticed from my earlier pictures, there are many wild cats in Rome; however, once you get to the south of Italy, there are many wild dogs. This was one of many.

Interesting face carved into the fountain; water would come through the mouth.

More of Pompeii streets

View of the Roman Forum in Pompeii with Vesuvius in the background.

An archeologist working hard on excavations - there are probably multiple layers of cities below that of Pompeii

A view into one of the houses of Pompeii

Typical Pompeiian backyard

Entrance into the House of the Faun

Notice the detailed entranceway - this is the house of the wealthiest family in Pompeii

The original location of the Faun with a copy - look above for more pictures.

Backyard of the House of the Faun

The original location of the Alexander Mosaic - in the House of the Faun's backyard

View through the triumphal arch into the Roman Forum

More of the Roman Forum

The gathering place of the Pompeiians

This helps demonstrate the beauteous weather we had!

Temple of Jupiter in the Roman Forum

Part of the original two layer walkway around the outside of the Roman Forum

Another shot of the Temple of Jupiter

Triumphal Arch with Vesuvius rising up in the background.

Another shot of the Roman Forum

Roman Forum

Another of the sun setting over the Roman Forum

Capri (and a bit of Sorrento)

many of these shots are a bit the same so I'll give titles to those that require them, otherwise, its just scenery of Capri

The view from our hotel room in Sorrento

Inside the blue lagoon

More of the blue lagoon

We took a chair lift to the top of the island

Martine on the chairlift

Napoli

Original entrance to the city

There are a couple of these in my photos - they are dedicated to saints and are now permanent structures made of marble/stone but they used to be made out of paper mache and would be carried around the streets during festivals many a huge group of men who were all really drunk to avoid the pain of the weight. 

Facade of the duomo

Ceiling of the cathedral with paintings all along it

A side chapel in the cathedral

Original gothic ceiling in the cathedral

Organ pipes - marble inlaid with mosaic - beautiful!

Another one of those column type structures

Stained glass windows in Naples

The strangest building material I've ever seen...

The best pizza I've ever had in my whole life. Ever.

Translation: I am beautiful, I am young, I am black. This is supposed to be Obama!

One of the handmade nativity scenes for which Naples is famous. Don't worry, I got you all one of these as your souvenirs!

Martine inside one of the stores of figurines for the nativity scenes.

A house where Degas used to hang out.

Thats it for now, I'll be on Spring Break - Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, Prague, Howth, Enniskerry, Oslo, and London - for the next two weeks & will post everything when I get back.