Let's start with the arrival at Pompeii train station.
The modern city of Pompeii may be a nice one (in an Italian way of beauty) but it was barely visible behind tourist shops, fast food restaurants and tourist coaches. Just the tall church was worth a photo.
But even the church is encircled with vending booths selling every kind of souvenirs, every booth the very same assortment.
Entering the ancient Roman city was only a change in the style of the houses...the endless stream of tourists (like us) was in no way different to the outside. The ubiquitous groups of Italian pupils, making noise like a Boeing 747 at takeoff, came virtually around every corner and forced the smaller groups to switch to sign language because audible communication was impossible. After a first shock we realized the giant size of the area (it is indeed a whole city) and discovered places of refuge on the outer skirts. Nevertheless it took a while to mentally blind out the groups of tourists and to imagine Roman life. But then it became awesome...
