Diary of Peter and Lorna Prewett

PLACES VISITED

Date: Place: Naples

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as the coach sped past the dreadful slums. Derelict ruins shacks and bomb sites, all inhabited, (with washing hung from every projection), spread for some distance until we were well out of the town. The washing rather amused us - it was not only hung right across the narrow streets and from every balcony but also lines went to street signs on the main road and washing was also being done right in the road occasionally, where the people lived in rough shacks built on the pavements.

But with the sun shining brightly we were not long depressed by such sights and soon we

PLACES VISITED

Date: Place: Naples

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were in the country beneath Vesuvious where Spring and Summer seemed to be all mixed up. Peach trees were just coming into blossom and there were many freshly ploughed fields but also there were ['also' deleted] orange and lemon groves with the fruit hanging in brilliant ripe clusters against the dark green foliage. The cultivation system makes use of every inch of ground, and the rich volcanic ash soil enables root crops, grape vines and fruit trees all to be grown in the same field. The effect of this is rather fascinating, and as the fields are all shapes and sizes divided only by quaint little footpaths the countryside looks

PLACES VISITED

Date Place Naples

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very different from Englands patchwork of squares and hedges.

Unfortunately Vesuvious was shrouded in cloud and during the whole day [part word crossed out] we only saw a vague outline which gave no impression of the volcano's size.

However Pompeii we saw at its best and although there was not nearly time enough to appreciate much of the vast town our guide did show us all the really important places. It is in such a wonderfully preserved state that is most difficult to realise the hundreds of years which have passed since the Romans lived there. Temples, the Forum, the baths, wealthy citizens villas, are all no

PLACES VISITED

Date Place Naples

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worse than if Pompeii had suffered a bombing raid during the war.

Even the murals on the walls and minute friezes in relief are still as colourful and clear as if they had been done only a few years ago. The streets are interesting too with cart wheel ruts clearly visible and stepping stones from pavement to pavement to save pedestrians walking in the filth in the roads - Pompeii had no adequate drainage or sewers!

Eventually, after walking for about 2 hours we neared the end of the tour, and were shown the graves of the Romans set on either side of a broad avenue. Some of the tombs were tremendous mausoleums and were

PLACES VISITED

Date Place Naples

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beautifully embellished with paintings, statuary and ornate archways. Once past these we were outside the town boundary and our coach arrived to pick us up and return us to Naples.

On the return journey we stopped at a cameo factory and saw the intricate work which goes into making the brooches and earrings set in gold and silver. Also there were combs and similar toilet articles made of [deleted and amended] tortoiseshell, and more jewellry carved from coral. It was all lovely but very expensive. After looking at everything we decided to buy something as a souvenir and I chose a pair of earrings carved in the same way as the normal cameo