What better fantasy prompts does a writer need than to walk around ancient Roman ruins, where emperors, gladiators, and poor slaves once tread and lost their lives? Yet, today, the violent history of this place is overshadowed by the grandeur of the buildings from a long lost era.

Hubby and I flew into Rome, of course, and walked around the city on our way to some of the more famous sites. What I loved most about Rome, is that just about anyplace we walked, we saw ruins of one era or another. The current city is built on older versions, and the more archaeologists dig, the more history they find. I didn’t expect to stroll by Julius Caesar’s murder spot. It’s not much more than the remains of an arena now and not very impressive compared to sites like the Coliseum or the Forum, but you certainly won’t find anything like it here in the states. If I remember correctly, it also serves as a cat sanctuary today.

And we couldn’t visit Rome without touring the Coliseum and the Forum. They are both as spectacular as the books say. More even, because we got to walk on the same grounds and around the same buildings as those who lived in the Great Roman Empire. The place is also a reminder that no matter how great an empire, it will eventually come to an end and another will take it’s place.

After seeing everything we wanted to in Rome, we took the train to Naples and spent the day in the museum. As a writer, I love museums and the hands-on history. Way better than just reading a textbook. From there we continued on to Paestum, where some of the most well-preserved Greek ruins stand today. Yes, I said Greek. A little taste before our trip to Greece, which I’ll talk about in another blog. Then it was on to a place I had been wanting to visit since I was a child - Pompeii. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Ancient Pompeii is everything and more than I learned about in books and from history shows. In this amazing city that was buried in 79 AD by the Vesuvius volcano - yes, I have a thing for volcanoes - I could imagine the original people walking and trading and living just like they did almost 2000 years ago. Hubby and I spent the entire day here walking among the ghosts. And who would have thought that 2000 year old paint could survive the ages, yet it has. We saw some of the most amazing artwork and reliefs here. The casts of those trapped beneath the ash add to the realization of just how dangerous it is living in the shadow of an active or dormant volcano.

I would love to walk around Pompeii alone, but even with other tourists milling around, the place is truly amazing. Pompeii is a must-see in my book and I may even go back someday.

Happy reading!

Pompeii, Italy with Vesuvius in background. That benign looking volcano completely buried this city in 79 AD.

Inside the Coliseum in Rome.

Paestum with Greek ruins.