A day in Pompei

Over the weekend one group left for the long-anticipated trip to Pompei! We met early Saturday morning, boarded our bus, and headed south to finally see the most famous archaeological site in history. Our tour guide met us at the entrance to the site, and started to reveal stories peppered with humorous asides as she brought us to the most important places in the buried city.

We learned how this central groove in the stone indicates a storefront, because of the type of door it accommodated.

There are also worn down depressions on either side of the fountain spout, as thirsty city-dwellers leaned on the fountain edge while craning around to drink directly from the spout.

We enjoyed these unique stories, which afforded us a look into the daily life and activity of those who once called the ancient city home. One of our students, Samarah, recounts some of the highlights of the trip:

I really enjoyed Pompei, it was the first time since arriving in Italy where I truly enjoyed everything I had to eat. The pizza and pasta were delicious and it was truly astounding to see and learn about Pompeii’s history on our CIEE tour.

There were many occasions where me and my friends found interest in our surroundings and the people around us. We spent our time around the fountain and during meals giving me and my friends the opportunity to have the most enjoyable amount of laughs and conversations. And, of course petting sweet local animals.