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The Pre trip to Rome and Pompeii

Yes, we’ve finally done it! We’ve been to Rome and Pompeii and climbed Mount Vesuvius!!

And so it all began.

After months of phone calls, sending out fliers, apologizing for the clash with the walking wheeze, filling in forms, filling in more forms, meeting parents, arguing with Italian Airlines (que?) and filling in even more forms, we were finally ready. Well, everyone, that is, apart from Daniel who was still operating on Siberian time and confusing night and day.

We duly met in the Avenue at a time which few of us still knew existed and played the 'don't-lose-your-ID-card–put–this–on–your–luggage’ game, before waving goodbye to bleary-eyed parents and venturing forth.

The journey to Heathrow went far too well and we ended up checking in before even the staff did, so decamped to the coffee bar and watched Flo’s sunglasses display and Cameron’s endless card games, while trying to stay vaguely awake. At some point in this time, one of the Year 8 girls apparently did stop talking long enough to draw breath. Everybody in the vicinity was stunned.

Check in went well – apart, that is, from Daniel who was still operating on Siberian principles and didn’t realise that there is a subtle difference between a visa for the UK and a visa for Italy. Try explaining that to an Italian at 4 in the morning... – and the flight at last allowed us to catch up on some sleep.

Rome, when it finally arrived, was gorgeous. Bathed in soft sunshine, with a delightfully refreshing breeze. We arrived at the hotel early so most managed to get some sleep and the Leader summoned forth the unworthy from Italia Incoming and spoke to them as though from the burning bush. And it was done.

We all then caught a bus up to the Vatican and, having had our packed lunches and queued for a surprisingly short time, made our way into the dark and somewhat forbidding (yes, those guns were real!) church of St Peter’s. Sadly, we didn’t have time to see the Sistine Chapel – or rather, we did, but the Philistines prevailed and chose to go Shopping instead!! We were going to go to the Spanish Steps, but chanced upon a really good street market instead and decided that 10 Euros ‘bargains’ were a better bet than a 1,000 Euro Versace. Gina then showed her aptitude for haggling, while one or two others did not, and everybody emerged with bangles and shawls and a variety of knick knacks. James F. enjoyed it so much that he nearly chose to stay on a semi-permanent basis.

On the way back, we made the fatal mistake of congratulating ourselves at how well we had mastered the Rome transport system and duly found ourselves heading off towards Milan. ‘Mrs E, haven’t we been here before?’ became a common refrain, before we decided to cut our losses and catch the Metro.

After that, the meal. Italian fare in three courses at Ristorante Dell’Amore. The more sophisticated amongst us dug in with relish; Jasper demanded pizza! The adults drank much needed wi... coloured water and Ianthe and Shannon decided to try and copy Roman style hair dos – with hilarious effect. We were all very, very, very tired by now, so bed came very soon afterwards.

The following day, we had recovered our bounce and, with Luke leading the way, marched out towards the Colosseum, stopping on the way at a truly delightful church called Santa Maria Maggiore, while the Leader and his Apostle searched high and low for a supermarket where they could get provisions for lunch. Having finally found one in the catacombs, struggled with Italian, carried huge weights across half the city, they were told that ‘next time, the women had better do it instead’. Plus ca change...

The Colosseum was wondrous, in its own slightly brutal and morbid way. The thought of the half a million gladiators who had been killed there for the gratification of others certainly got one’s attention and it was a somewhat thoughtful group who eventually made its way out into the sunshine – and seized the opportunity to give large sums of money to Roman charity (in the form of ice cream shops charging 5 pounds for an ice cream!). Having sat and watched the mock Praetorians mock the tourists and wondered at the sights around, we then managed to get into the Palatine complex – thanks in part to the Leader’s charm and blarney – and looked at the site of the Romulus tale, the origin of the first palaces (yes, the word simply means ‘a house on the Palatine’) and the glorious ruins that could be found in the forum beyond (and no, that does not mean the teachers!).

As we did so, the faith of ‘Siddalitis’ was invented, its High Priest Kieran installed (with a whole range of other posts, not to mention the city, the rule book, the rites, etc) and then disestablished. All in the space of an hour. Sic transit gloria, eh?

The weather was still very good and the sights around us were really impressive, so, apart from having to listen to the Leader babbling on about this and that and a few blisters (bravely borne by Ben), a good time was had by all. However, we were all beginning to flag by the time we got back to the hotel, so decided not to visit the Trevi fountains after all and simply contented ourselves with another excellent Italian meal – still no pizza for Jasper, though! – and a journal session and Quiz back at the Hotel Giglio.

The next day was transit day. Off to Sorrento with a driver who had less English than we had Italian. This made explaining that we needed to find a supermarket in order to buy provisions somewhat tricky, until Phoebe took up the challenge and bailed us all out. Sadly, although he did eventually find us something, it was more of a corner store and meant us blocking off the traffic for about quarter of an hour – unwise in Bristol, in southern Italy...I leave it to your imagination.

Heraclaneum, where we ate the lunches we had finally managed to obtain, was outstanding. The fact that it is still mostly under lava really captured the full extent of the disaster and leant a poignancy to the occasion. The Leader spoke and the tribes dispersed, to experience the scene in their own way. Which meant, in the case of Polly, Ruby and Lily, finding the nearest abandoned shop! When we all reconvened an hour or so later, it is fair to say that we had all been very moved by stunning frescoes, fascinating buildings, the quayside where many had died, but most of all the atmosphere that pervades the place.

After that, we travelled on past the looming hulk of Vesuvius, down to Vico Equense, which is just outside Sorrento. The coach driver got his own back for the supermarket adventure by getting lost and then reversing two hundred metres back up a dusty – and busy – road. That certainly did wonders for the more aged teachers’ heart conditions!

The Hotel Oriente was, when we arrived, magnificent. All white marble and on a cliff side looking out across the bay. Slightly unable to believe our luck, we dived into the cool splendour and then, having washed and brushed, made our way down to the beach, where Katie made a fatal mistake of smiling encouragingly at a group of Italians sunbathing on the rocks. Once we had managed to prize our way out of the tricky situation that ensued... we went back up and had a meal in what was a delightful dining room, surrounded by a group of Australians. G’day, mate.

Once again, the day had been full, so we decided not to try and venture into Sorrento, preferring instead to retell the story of Herculaneum Pre-style, with groups narrating and miming different parts of the tale. Sounds boring, I know, but it was actually great fun, as the photos show. And yes, Theo and Aidan, I will get even!!

Friday was the BIG DAY OUT, first to Pompeii and then Vesuvius. The Italians at both sites showed why their fellow countrymen tend to despair of their own bureaucracy, and there was a point when we had to threaten to do unmentionable things if they persisted in stopping us going to the loo (not a pretty thought!), but the sites themselves were predictably breath-taking. Highlights? Finally seeing Caecilius’ house (he of CLC Book 1), the house of the Faun (with the famous Alexander mosaic), the temple of Isis, the forum (with samples of those famous plaster cast forms of the dead) and the Forum baths. And of course the sights from Vesuvius, which included the smoking crater, the plains below with Pompeii and Herculaneum directly in line - and the Leader braving it to the very top, with a bit of TLC from the likes of Kosi and Ed.

The evening saw another fine meal and an excellent Talent show, in which the Year 8 girls (with their Smartie routine), Theo and Gareth’s group and Keiran were the stars. All played their part in the end, though.

The next day, it was, sadly, time to return. By now, the group had bonded really well and were enjoying themselves but all good things have to come to an end and, after a delightful shopping expedition on the train to an excellent street of shops in Sorrento, this did. The journey back, which at one stage appeared a bit intimidating, was actually pretty good. Especially Milan airport with its top of the range stores and facilities. The Leader – inevitably! – spoke one last time and, in consultation with his fine team of Apostles (Mr G, Mrs E and Miss T), selected Polly (the best of the many great sketchers), Jordan, Anna and Jack as the top heroes from the trip.

Yes, it was good to get back, but it was also sad to see the group scatter, albeit armed with many good memories – and many intriguing souvenirs (not least James H’s samurai sword which the Leader had somehow managed to get through customs!).

4 May 2009

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