Italy (& Rep. San Marino & Vatican) - 2021/22

Camping near Parco Nazionale D'Abruzzo. Weather improving, restrictions easing, time to explore further afield.

Corn and skewers over coals. Not roughing it too much.

We knew not what to expect. There was a sign at a fork pointing to the Grotta Delle Fate, and the distance seemed to fit in with how much time we wanted to spend on the trail. Having an endpoint to aim for adds a small extra incentive to completing a set amount of activity, so we thought a cave sounded like a perfect target to get to. The last sign we saw pointed off the main trail, down an embankment to a river, where we stood on the bank for a few minutes enjoying the serenity but questioning the existence of any cave in the area. A little evidence of scrambling along the river bank encouraged us to head upstream a hundred metres, and there was the cave – with the river coming out of it. A perfect fresh water spring oasis in the forest.

I was less comfortable with the headroom inside. The river source was not far inside, a perfect fresh water spring.

I love how the artist has captured the drunkenness so well. Hercules, apparently, was a notorious piss-pot, and was frequently portrayed in Roman times relieving himself.

The medallions hanging between the pillars were meant to ward off evil.

Remains of scores of people were found in the boat houses. These buildings, which would have once been on the shoreline, appear to be where people headed and waited in the hope they would get rescued by sea.

A typical street, Pompeii.

The Amphitheatre of Pompeii is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre. Seating over 20,000, nearly the size of the Pompeii population of the time. The amphitheatre was, apparently, not just the site of gladiatorial clashes, but sports and entertainment of various forms. It was infamous in its day after a deadly riot in the crowd between the residents of Pompeii and another town, leading to a ten year ban on events at the venue.

A cast of a victim found in Orto dei Fuggiaschi, Garden of the Fugitives.

In the vestibule of the House of Paquius Proculus, Pompeii.

A section of saucy paintings found on the walls of Pompeii's suburban baths.