The Year Was 79 AD - Vesuvius & Pompeii, Italy, 30th Dec 2006

Signs like these were put up at every turn on the route up Vesuvius, lest the zealous narcissist trigger a massive landslide. The interesting thing was that here, where we were nearer to the crater, there are only three dots on the sign. There are five on the ones further down the slope. I wouldn't have thought of a simpler way to illustrate how a landslide works.

On the lip of the crater, at the very top of Vesuvius. I approached the above position with much trepidation, having dislodged quite a bit of loose sand and rock getting there. And that wasn't a smile, by the way. It was a grimace.

I never doubted one moment that showering in hot pumice would be a most excruciating experience. That must have really hurt.

This is a replica of the original, made by pouring plaster into the cavity in the rocks where the flesh and bones would have been, having decomposed and vanished a long time ago.

I wonder if any remains were discovered in the brothel when the volcano erupted. It isn't all that surprising at all to find a brothel in Pompeii actually, considering that prostitution is held by many to be the oldest trade alive. They scrimped on space, and cost, in those days: the stone bed you see in the picture, plus an additional four feet worth of walking space, is all there is to a single cell.

They had bars then too! What would they have talked about in the evenings before the 24th of August?

Now, when do you think she'll blow?

Abandoned vineyards in the shadow of Vesuvius. That's Evelyn on the right, and me on the left with a risible attempt at youthful exuberance.

To be fair, I should claim half the culpability since I assented to it in the first place. But I should make it absolutely clear that it wasn't my idea!

The climb that gave me a stigmata on my right wrist. Unfortunately it didn't even come close to making me a fifth of a saint.