Page 27 of Ciao Bella
He pointed to several prone skeletons still encased in their ash-covered graves. Wilson took a step closer, then stopped, realizing he couldn’t touch them.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said, shaking his head.
“What is truly incredible is to see these men, women, and children in their last moments of life,” said the young man. “They have their faces covered, their hands in prayer, or they chose to simply lie down and wait. After the eruption, nothing here was touched until the late 16thcentury, and then excavations did not begin until the mid-18thcentury. We have made great progress with the new methods of archaeology.
“You may know that Pompeii is aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site. It is among the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, with approximately 2.5million visitors annually. Although, that is not always a good thing. Some visitors are not always kind to the park, touching things they should not. We worry that the visitors are doing more harm than good, but unfortunately, the fees to enter the park are what help us to discover more.”
“I understand that,” said Ro. “Preserving history, art, anything takes time and money, and it’s definitely a double-edged sword.”
Their young guide continued the tour, showing them the places where the gladiators would have lived and trained, the homes and businesses, and so much more. It was truly the most awe-inspiring place they’d ever been.
“I wanted to show you this one thing. Just a few short years ago, archaeologists discovered the remains of harnessed horses. It is remarkable to see, don’t you think?” They were so in awe by what they were looking at it was difficult to do anything but breathe. Nodding at him, he smiled and continued on. After three hours, he finally stopped where they had started the day.
“This is where I leave you,” he smiled. “I hope that I have helped you to understand what happened here at this site.”
“Giovanni, you have been unbelievably knowledgeable,” said Kari, hugging the young man. He laughed, hugging her in return.
“I should hope so. I am working on my PhD in history and writing a book about all of this. I’m close to completion but need to earn a little extra money to complete my research. It’s why I do this. For love, and like many things for money,” he laughed.
Gaspar and Nine looked at one another, then pulled out an envelope, counting out several thousand Euro. He shook his head in utter shock.
“Sir, I cannot,” he said, waving his hands.
“You can. In America, we tip for great service, and this tour was by far the best thing I’ve ever done in my life beyond marrying that woman over there,” smirked Nine. “This should help you finish your research. You were made to do this.”
As they all hugged their guide and waved goodbye, he cried with joy. He’d given them a recommendation for a seaside restaurant, and they were off for a late lunch.
“I’m still speechless over the whole thing,” said Ivan. “I remember being here as a kid with my aunt and uncle, but I guess I didn’t pay much attention.”
“We don’t have that kind of history in America,” said Angel. “Think about it. We’re technically not even three hundred years old as a nation. Yes, there are indigenous drawings, even the cave dwellings that still exist, but to find cities, that’s beyond our imagination.”
“He knew so much,” said Tory. “I almost couldn’t keep up with him. He knew so much about the history and the archaeological finds.”
“I hope he gets that PhD and lets us know when his book is published,” said Ghost.
“Welcome,” said the waiter, smiling at the table. “Giovanni called ahead for us to prepare. You are such a large group, we have prepared a number of dishes for you, all with seafood. I hope that is okay?”
“Perfect,” smiled Ian. “Today, everything is perfect.”
He could not have said anything more accurately. As platters of seafood and pasta were brought out, they indulged as if they hadn’t eaten all day. The appetizers, breads, antipasto, shellfish, fish, and so much more. It was simply spectacular.
“I feel like you need to roll me home,” said Erin. Nine laughed.
“Baby, you look amazing, and we still have some towns to visit on the way back to the villa. Take a nap on the bus, and I’ll wake you,” he said, kissing his wife.
“Alright,” she said, standing up, “but I’m going to need to buy stretchy pants if this continues.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The seaside towns they visited did not disappoint. The historic buildings, ancient homes, and cobblestone streets were romantic and, thankfully, unbelievably quiet. When they finally headed back to the villa, where Enzo and the team were already preparing a late-night meal.
“Welcome back,” he smiled, greeting them at the door. “Did Giovanni show you the wonders of Pompeii?”
“He was amazing, Enzo,” said Lauren, kissing the young man’s cheek. “I will never be able to remember everything he said, but it was an experience I won’t forget.”
“Yes, it’s a truly remarkable place. My mother would take me as a little boy. She wanted me to understand our history, to remember it, and pass it along. It’s why I do this. I love to cook. I love to help others entertain and enjoy the ancient villa.”
“Wait,” frowned Wilson, “is this your home?”