Back in March we had a really nice time on a day trip to Pompeii and a climb up Mount Vesuvius. It was worth it taking the kids out of school but the trek there and back was 3 hours each way. Next time we will take the high speed train and the subway. The pic below is a painting on one of the walls of the many ruins. And the second are actually the cooking cauldrons where soup and other foods were sold. 

 A rare moment where Lucia lets Penelope give her a hug.

 Mount Vesuvius and its ever emerging steam. Lucia had thought (and ok maybe I did too) that we would see a gaping hole and be able to look down into the crater. That wasn't the case. Its a crater topped off with a lot of earth and plenty of plants growing along the edges. Some fun facts: the last time Mt. Vesuvius erupted was 1944. There is apparently so much magma under it that potentially the next eruption would wipe out all living around it (again) and also perhaps Naples with it. Its amazing people would still want to live so close to it! Some think it is overdue for an eruption and I'm sure glad it didn't happen when we were there! 

 Charlotte and Erika with the girls on the hike. Penelope was lucky enough to get a piggy back ride.