Orange and lemon trees grew in the backyard of the hotel. We could feel the breezes from the sea. A walk downtown after dinner taught us a few things about Italy. The Italians do not have strict leash laws for their dogs-we met quite a pack of them. They prize old buildings and the history behind them.
Land is at a premium and every inch gets used, carefully.
And the climate is awfully inviting. The houses bore red tile roofs and were whitewashed to protect from the strong sun. After something of aU-turn, we made our way toward the foot of Mount Vesuvius for a tour of Pompeii, the Roman city destroyed in 70 A.D. by a volcano which has been excavated for the last 200 years. Pompeii, because it was so well preserved under the ash, gives us moderns a pretty clear picture of how Romans lived and built cities. The day ended late, back in Rome, where we could plan to stay for three nights.