We set off from the train station – by bus as it was a Sunday and of course there was engineering works on the line- we think! You get to see some of the back country away from the salubrious resorts and quite a lot of old run down housing and lots of washing. No problem getting it dry – its 90 degrees on the bus.
Because of the slow journey we arrive at Herculeneum in the midday heat.Its a bit of a walk from the station again through some dodgy streets at which point Louise says “It looks like the Bronx”. Cue picture.
Its surprising that there isn’t more infrastucture around the site. No signposts for example and few facilities.
Armed with our audioguides we descend into the ghostly village and are met with a series of sea side houses filled with skeletons of the unfortunates who failed to escape Vesuvious’s deadly eruption. Its a very difficult sight to forget and the remainder of the tour concentrates of the lifestyles of the people who lived and died in this place.
Feeling near death ourselves because of the heat we decide enough is enough and head back to the boat.
