The ruins of Pompeii are located near the modern suburban town of Pompei (nowadays written with one 'i'). Hence, we can say we travel to Pompei to see Pompeii.

Pompeii was an ancient Roman city destroyed and buried under 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 feet) of volcanic ash and pumice after Mount Vesuvius (can be seen in photo 18, 27 & 37) erupted in 79 AD. In 1748 Pompeii was rediscovered, almost intact after 1700 years due to the lack of air and moisture. After more than two centuries the excavation and restoration of Pompeii still goes on.

No rain when we reached Pompeii in the late afternoon. The setting sun seemed to be emphasizing the golden past of this once-glamorous Roman city, as well as reminding us of the cruel natural catastrophe in which so many residents were buried alive.

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