On the way to climb it, a rare opportunity to see the volcano smoke. It was blocked up by lava after the last eruption in 1944.
From the leaflet, showing the road up to base camp, then above the tree line, the path to the top, which circulates around the cone, making a long walk up. Would be great to ride a tin tray back down, but you'd kill someone!
Another view of the cone, showing the path and the various cafes positioned around the route.
What an elaborate entry ticket. If you want to go on the crater, you have to buy this, and go through a gate.
From a postcard, another view of where we walked...
Now, my photos. This is the lava flow from the 1944 eruption, which ruined one village, but nobody was hurt. This lava has a sort of fur on it, which will become moss, then vegetation in time.
View back down to Naples from about halfway up...
View inside the crater from the rim. You can climb down there if you have the proper equipment and are daft enough...
More of the crater...
Janette's "I did it" photo...
Centre: the volcano lets off steam, known as a fumarole. This steam smelt of sulphur, not nice.
Another fumarole. Didn't even say pardon...
Here's our "we did it" photo for the best-travelled straw bear in Whittlesey.
My pet rock: a piece of basalt recovered from the site.
Good website about Vesuvius, leads to others also. Click here, and don't forget to come back afterwards!