4-24-2010 Pompeii

Today was a learning day - cameo, Pompeii, and wood inlay. My brain is full! Oh, if only we had the ability to download our memories to a memory stick/computer like we can our digital photos. We started the morning with a visit to a cameo factory where they still make cameos by hand in the same way they have for centuries. We were even able to see someone carving away the second layer of a small circle of shell to create the profile on the background of the inner shell.

Pompeii. How can I describe Pompeii? Even the small portion of the ancient city that has been excavated is the size of a large neighborhood. Luckily many of the streets are laid in a fairly predictable pattern centered around the main forum, so you can at least find your way around without too much trouble if you had to. We had our own local guide, though, and she knew so much about the construction of the buildings and their uses. The span of her knowledge was really quite impressive.

The Romans had curbs, pretty tall ones in places. They even use different materials for their streets and sidewalks - the first being made of basalt and the second of marble. Then there were the stepping stones one could use to cross the street without getting your shoes dirty and mucky when it rained. Smart guys, these Romans.

They even had a solution for a mostly illiterate, population (or foreigners who didn't read Latin). They used pictures. I know it seems an obvious solution, but they used it in a unique way. They used little symbols as street signs on the corners of the street intersections. In combination with the different fountains around the city, you would give directions like "turn left at the goat street by the bat fountain". In combination with the grid layout of the streets, you could actually navigate the city fairly easily.

And then you have the menus - the pictoral menus in the multiple bordellos in the city. Because this blog is PG, I won't say any more, but leave the details to your imagination. Instead, let's talk about one of the things Pompeii has left as a legacy that you still find in the modern world today. You ready to be amazed? Fish sauce. Yes, I said fish sauce. A recipe for garum has been found on a papyrus and it seems a version of it is still used in Yemen. Stinky!

After a too-short exploration of Pompeii, we went to Sorrento to learn about inlay woodworking. Another trade that relies on the skills of workers to create handmade individual pieces of furniture that are also pieces of art. I spoke with our guide, and it takes 5 years of school followed by 2-3 years of apprenticeship to learn the craft. Sorrento is a charming town tucked into the coastal hills overlooking the Bay of Naples. After a relaxing stroll through the picturesque streets and contemplation of the Bay from a garden terrace, we ended our planned activities for the day and returned to Vietri for a great dinner.