1. Heather Sighting. I was sitting at breakfast in the hotel in Naples, discussing work stuff 
with a principal, when in walks my good friend from Japan, Heather, whom I haven't seen in two years! I was floored!!! Of all the places to just sort of run into someone you know. Heather was in Naples for a music conference and on Saturday night we were all treated to a jam session by the music teachers at that conference - some instruments were brought in, the piano player at the pub was given the night off, and one of the teachers sang, as well. They were good!
with a principal, when in walks my good friend from Japan, Heather, whom I haven't seen in two years! I was floored!!! Of all the places to just sort of run into someone you know. Heather was in Naples for a music conference and on Saturday night we were all treated to a jam session by the music teachers at that conference - some instruments were brought in, the piano player at the pub was given the night off, and one of the teachers sang, as well. They were good!2. Pompeii.. On Saturday three of us went to Pompeii... perhaps with more confidence than we 
should have had, we programed "Pompeii" into the GPS and set off. TomTom led us on a really scenic route - through lots of little towns and scenic countryside. Eventually we wound up in the town of Pompeii but couldn't find the ruins. We asked and were pointed to Vesuvius and then thought perhaps we needed to head out of town. Eventually, though, we realized the volcano had come to Pompeii and so the ruins must be there and about that time we found the site.
should have had, we programed "Pompeii" into the GPS and set off. TomTom led us on a really scenic route - through lots of little towns and scenic countryside. Eventually we wound up in the town of Pompeii but couldn't find the ruins. We asked and were pointed to Vesuvius and then thought perhaps we needed to head out of town. Eventually, though, we realized the volcano had come to Pompeii and so the ruins must be there and about that time we found the site. Pompei itself was just incredible. It's always amazing to walk through a place and think of the history that has occured there, but this is a place where so much destruction and fire rained down upon a city of families, inventors, artists, and more. Especially thought provoking were the casts of people who were overcome by the smoke or gases or fires- where their bodies were "frozen" in the lava and later disintegrated, scientists poured a type of plaster in and made a casting of their position at death. One display was of a group of youngsters with just one or two young adults.
3. International Bazaar - One evening while in Naples, we decided to drive to a base to see the international bazaar (charity sale) there. It was unlike other bazaars I've been to; this one was mostly small booths, each representing a country or region, with free wine/booze samples. We barely made it from the Italy booth (Limoncello) to the Germany booth (sweet wines), when the Greek booth (ouzo) did us in. Eventually we finished the evening at the tent, reminiscent of New Braunfels, Texas' Wurstfest - a giant tent with a stage for music and shows, surrounded by picnic tables which were ringed by food booths. We made friends with some young military men, and the wife of one of them; when we asked them if the sangria was any good, they offered us their glasses and said "Have some!"... Nice folks!
4. Beautiful sunrises at the hotel...
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