Mt. Vesuvio

I realize that my methodology of visiting a place and then researching it after is a little unorthodox, but today's adventure it just another reason as to why my method is so fabulous. I mean, who would knowing and willing go to a place with the following descriptions:

• The only volcano on main land Europe to erupt in the last 100 years
• Over 50 eruptions within its 17,000 (or 18,500) years in existence
• The culprit of erasing 2 ancient cities off the map
• Regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes since over 3M live nearby
• Last eruption- 1994 when several cities were destroyed
• It's not just one volcano, but one within another

And here I was just thinking that I was getting some cross training in when I agreed to go to Monte Vesuvio con la famiglia di Lucy. Or was it the fact that I really didn't want to get that housework done...at any rate we headed towards the mountain, winding closer and closer to the parking lot before we continued the rest of way a piedi and walking sticks.

The higher we traveled, the more languages we were exposed to: English, German, French, Italian. The shoe choices also got more entertaining, although I still don't think I saw any heels which is shocking considering this is Italy. The view of the bay and city below also grew and even on a cloudy day (in addition to the normal Naples haze) the city below was beautiful.

Can I just say that at 4,000 odd feet up there- the slope is no joke? No wonder all that lava flows downward covering the towns at the base of the hill. Even with the trail, the ashy and pebble path surely turns over after any major rain storm. It was so pretty though. I mean, in terms of soil and all things earth science. (And yes, I sort of want to starting singing the plate tectonics song now...)

While were on the top (or as far up as this trail took us) the clouds surrounded the enormous crater and hide the sun- talk about creepy! You know you're way up on this mountain but you can't see anything on the outter slope past a few feet from the rope rails. On the other side, you see the opening of a dormant volcano. Seriously, queue the creepy music OR just go track down coffee because nothing makes things right with the world again than a cappuccino with friends- even if you are on one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Hey, this is Italy after all- and you can find a coffee bar anywhere!