Day 31 (Tuesday) Rome - Pompeii

We learnt a fair bit today. For a start the most stunning building in Rome is, for our money at least, the Pantheon. Second, Naples (Napoli) train station challenges Brussells as our worst train station in Europe!

The day started well. Sorted out the Roma bus system (easy when you sort the logic) and took the bus to the nearest stop to the Pantheon as this was one building that wasn't on the "hop-on" route. So glad we decided to give this a go as this is (in our opinion at least) the most stunning building in Rome. It is the oldest building in the world still in use - now as a church, but built by Augustus in about 50B.C. and later re-built by Hadrian after a fire (when it was built it was out of Rome in the country) Just incredible to visit a building over 2000 years old still in use and the dome is just amazing - beautifully proportioned. Massive columns in the portico.

Stopped on the way back to base to visit "St Paul's within the walls" - the first non-Catholic church built in Rome (Anglican) - a real sanctuary in the bustle of Rome with beautiful mosaics.

We then re-visited the church of  S.Maria degle Angeli which was just near our hotel but services were in progress on Sunday when we first visited. It is an incredible building - built by Michaelangelo in the ruins of ancient Roman baths so from the outside is quite confusing but inside is magnificent. It also contains an astrological time -line constructed in 1702 and shows accurate measurement of the equinoxes through a hole in the top corner.

First lesson of day - watch out for women who pretend to help at Rome railway station by directing you to the right platform and then demand Euro10 EACH for doing so. didn't get it.Caught the fast train to Naples in the afternoon and that is when things got a bit frustrating. Briefly - arrived-told by tourist information that the Pompei train left downstairs-went downstairs- told our ticket was for the train that left upstairs-lugged ports back upstairs (literally)-no train on the departures board-went to "customer service" - took a number to wait for service-waited ONE HOUR (while Elizabeth watched the pick-pockets stalking people)  in line before number called-told train wasn't "Pompei" but could be called Salerno or Sapri or Cosenza!! - still no such train on departures board- went and had coffee!!!! - found said train on board, leaving in 40 minutes. Left station at 5.45 and finally arrived in Pompei at about 6.15.  Our poor opinion of Naples Station thus explained.

Pompei is  a lovely little place - nice change of pace from the insanity of Rome crowds. We are doing Pompei archeological site tomorrow, the Amalfi Coast/Capri on Thursday and (wish us luck) going up Mt Vesuvius on Friday. Best fish meal ever tonight but now feeling a little weary after such a "fun" day. Cheers all.

Trivia: As well as being the oldest building in active use, the Pantheon has the largest non-reinforced concrete dome ever built - it was when built and has never been surpassed!

Pictures:
*The Pantheon dome
*The Pantheon exterior
*monitor on the Rome-Naples train - we didn't quite crack 300kph!