Pre-Conference Day (20/07/08)

Visited Pompeii
My colleague & me signed up for a 3-hour tour to Pompeii, which was a 20 min drive from Naples. The guide was really amazing! She knew so many languages including Mandarin & Japanese!
Bustling under the Roman empire rule (it used to be a port), the whole city is now in ruins, thanks to the eruption of Mt Vesuvius back in 79 A.D. which covered the city with ash that suffocated those who didn't escape. The guide showed us "highlights" - places like a bakery, brothel, the forum, residences. There were still some wall murals, mosaic & decorations still visible.

Of course, going to Pompeii means going to look at the corpses. There were only 2 we saw on display, and contrary to what I had perceived previously, they were in a "whole" form not because the ashes had hardened on them (what was I thinking!), but because archaelogists, in an attempt to safely remove the skeletons in 1 piece, injected a special liquid plaster to fix the form. And thus, we see the form of the last moments of the dead persons' lives. Most died of asphyxiation due to the ashes.

I found out too from the guide that the "caves" of refugees with bodies huddled together were actually not at Pompeii but at Herculaneum. Good thing we're visiting there in the post-conference tour.

Well, at least 1 of my "must-see" places in the world is now fulfilled.

After the tour, we went for lunch at a place recommended by the bus guide. It was supposed to be good for buffalo meat. However, my colleague doesn't eat beef and Italian food's not her cup of tea, not to mention I couldn't read the menu & the staff wasn't well-versed in English. But she did try when I ordered a pizza which was huge! It's like our medium-large pizza but for 1 person! Some more only Euro 4.50.

Opening ceremony & registration for conference
It was held at a cathedral, Chiesa San Pietro a Maiella, Naples. An introduction of the conference was given and mainly emphasized the importance of holding the conference in Naples.