Lincoln A.: Pompeii

We were woken up at 6:30 this morning, for our three-hour bus ride to Pompeii. After three hours and a much needed rest stop, we made it there by 11:00 a.m. There we were split into two groups each of which had their own tour guide who were from the Jewish community in Naples. We walked through old towns that were destroyed by the volcano of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Roofs caved in under the pressure, and doors were ripped off their hinges. We saw old houses, courts where judges sat, and we saw a restaurant where there was a Jewish woman who was a waiter. We learned that they thought that because after you eat you have to go to the bathroom, they should have a toilet in the kitchen. Pompeii also has a whole sewer system and running water, however, for laundry they had to use camel urine. We then went to a little museum where we saw people who were mummified but with hardened mud and we saw children and parents right before they died. It was a huge place that had four walls on the outside and an entrance way, it went on for as long as the eye could see. You were able to see the volcano that erupted and how far the ash would have to come to hit the town of Pompeii. We then boarded the bus after a two-hour tour to go to the heart of Naples.

Chloe M: Naples & Comparative shopping

We arrived in Naples, the pizza capital of the world, after a morning in Pompeii. We were given the opportunity to eat authentic pizza in Un Posto al Sale, where the group indulged in some delicious margherita pizza.

After lunch we got to join our teachers and explore the streets of Naples. We had about an hour to shop around, with many different store options. Some people bought shoes and clothes in independent stores, while others walked to an ancient shopping center called Prince of Naples Gallery.

Yesterday before our tour of The Vatican, we were given another opportunity to walk around and shop in Rome. Most groups chose to explore the street market that was taking place just outside the ghetto where there were many spices, oils, and salts being sold as well as cute dresses and clothes. We were also free to browse in the surrounding stores, many souvenir shops, jewelers, and higher quality clothes. Also in Rome many students bought items from Jewish-run stores inside the ghetto such as wallets, jewelry, Judaica, leather bags or wallets, and of course gelato. A few days ago in Venice we shopped on the Venetian islands of Murano and Burano. Murano is an island famous for extensive glass blowing, where many students bought glass jewels and trinkets. Burano is iconic for all of its colorful pastel buildings, there were many jewelers there and many boutiques.

In Florence we shopped in Piazza Santa Croce where students could buy leather items, jewelry, snacks, souvenirs, and don’t forget some smashing gelato! Everyone has been very happy with their purchases and we are all very excited to show off the cool items when we arrive back in Chicago.

Gus G. (with insights from Ms. B): The Jews of Naples

We visited the only synagogue in Naples which was founded and paid for by Rothschild. There we learned from the tour guide about the Jews of Naples. There were 1,000 Jews at the time of the Holocaust, and the mayor of Naples saved them all. Now there are only 50, most of them older, and our guide was one of them.

The synagogue seemed to be orthodox. The tour guide told us that it was mostly funded by schools that go on trips to Naples. He also said that he was surprised by the amount of people that thought Jesus was Christian when Christianity was founded 200 years after his death. We also learned that there is a rabbi that comes from Rome to do a Shabbat service for them, that there are almost no bar mitzvahs, and that they have an occasional destination wedding.

Afterward, we went to see a few other things including the place where the first ever margherita pizza was made. We also visited a coffee shop where people could buy a “suspended coffee” and anyone could come by and see if there was a suspended coffee, and if there was one, take it.