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Elsie Kinghorn Carolan
Aunt Elsie's Journal
















Oct 12, 1927.

Left Florence for Naples at 2:40.  Changed train at Rome at 7:05.  Country hot and dusty but beautiful.  Mountains are in the distance.  Then a lake or river, then many grape vineyards with here and there a native dwelling built out of stone and whitewashed.  When nearing Naples, we could see Mt. Vesuvius very clearly -- always a column of smoke pouring from the crater, with a flash of flame now and then.  

Arrived at Naples 12:10 and drove across the city, up a very long hill to a large hotel overlooking the city -- Parker Hotel.  Very nice room opening on to balcony.  Hot and cold running water.  There are beautiful flowers and palms here.  Climate like California.  Do not miss my fur coat 'cause it is wonderfully warm.  

Naples, Italy. Oct 13, 1927.

This has been the most wonderful day of all.  Left hotel in Fiat limousines and went through new and old town.  Had wonderful view of Vesuvius all the way.  Passed many places where they were drying macaroni and spaghetti on lines in the sun.  Streets extremely narrow.  Shops are small -- natives live in the back and keep wares in the front.  

Drove to Pompeii which was built in the year 600 BC.  The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD covered it entirely in ashes and pumice -- about 35 feet.  The city was not found for 1700 years.  One day a man was digging a well and unearthed a ruin.  Hence the discovery of Pompeii.

We saw bodies that looked like statuary -- one with scarf over mouth -- others in running position.  They were killed by gas fumes from ashes.  

Went through the streets of the ruined city.  Saw the ruins of the Temple of Venus and public baths during the time of Tiberius Caesar.  

Visited old House of Vetti built 2600 years ago, with many paintings still on the walls.  

This being kept up to show what the homes in Pompeii really were like.


 
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