BTW: 2 hours weren't enough, but since we took a guide for 10EU ea inside the gate, he made it so interesting that everyone was happy to wander around for another 2 hours. Totally amazing. Really rounded out our visits to the other places, as well as to Rome.

Here in Rome, there are probably ruins underneath your bed!

Tiny dancer, thanks for the report on your visit. Will be helpful when we go there in October. I was hoping to do a 2 hour visit with a guide, but can see I should schedule at least half a day, if not more.

tinydancer; My April post was an historic joke to bradshawgirl about her apartment's location in a neighborhood (Subura) which was very dangerous 2000yrs ago but not today:-).
I just copied it to give you the same info.

"Here in Rome, there are probably ruins underneath your bed!"

Only a model but it will give you an idea of what might have been under there in the 2ndC AD:-).

Go to www.maquettes-historiques.net/P39.html
See near the top-left of center the are 4 bluish courtyard-like areas going at a 45deg angle //.

The bottom square one is the Forum of Peace, next is the narrow rectangular Forum of Nerva with a temple which you likely saw (i.e. that Forum) everyday as it is completely excavated, the next one with the semi-circular structure attached (next to that temple) is the Forum of Augustus and you can see the high firewall that was directly in front of your hotel :-).
The last is the Forum of Trajan.
Regards, Walter

So, tinydancer, you definitely found it worthwhile to go to Pompeii, even having seen many other ruins? Have you been to Ostia Antica?

First, I want to apologize to you all for not replying sooner. I actually did reply, but the internet connection must have dropped out and it didn't go through.

YES! sundridepachino & Mimar: Pompeii is MOST DEFINITELY worth it! I was just thinking the other day that of 6 weeks in France & Italy, for me Pompeii was the highlight. Call me crazy, but I'm just SO happy we went, and actually, so were the other people I was with. They were really glad also.

Our next visit to Italy will again include Pompeii because we now know how much it has to offer. If you can get/buy/borrow a map of the excavation site, try to formulate a plan before you go. It's very big, but only really difficult in the heat. If it's cool, it will be a pleasure. If you can do a day's walking though NYC or Paris, it's probably less walking than either of those. There are 5 WC's and one cafe (the environment is awful, but the food not bad, especially the salads).

There are many, many things in Pompeii that are well worth visiting. I have to say that I think the people who don't enjoy it are probably those on big group bus tours or don't stay long enough.

Some of the houses are always open, but many can be closed on the day you visit for some type of work. At the entrance, before you go in, there is an information window. Ask which houses are opened that day, and she has a list and will mark it for you so you can see and plan your visit.

In the parking lot where we parked, I happened to buy a book "POMPEII guide to the archaeological excavations."

It's a narrow glossy book. It was THE BEST thing! Although I didn't actively use it on the day because of the heat, since I've been back I've looked through it repeatedly and am so glad I got it. I can't believe my luck in picking this one up. For example, it has great photos and stories about the graffiti, and also information such as there is a vineyard in Pompeii that has been planted with roots found to have originated in the same vineyard, so they actually today still harvest grapes and make and sell wine in Pompeii from the original, ancestral vines! Amazing!

If I had it to do over and plan again, I'd have also included one day to visit the museum in Naples, because apparently that's where most of the great art has been moved to. Maybe go there by ferry from Sorrento for the day? We did Pompeii on our way from Sorrento-Rome, and Oplontis & Herculaneum on our way from Tuscany to Sorrento. I think I'd stick to that, maybe either allowing an entire day at Pompeii, or overnight in Pompei the town and 2 days for the site. I think you can also get a combined ticket, but not sure how many days it's good for and being stuck going three consectutive days might not be what you'd enjoy. But worth considering anyway. The road between Naples/Pompeii & Sorrento is subject to extreme and very long delays, and so I don't recommend driving r/t for a day to the sites.

A_Brit_In_Ischia: Thank you for those links, they helped me to convince my party to go to Pompeii after all, and they were happy that we did.

ParadiseLost: I kind of felt that's what it was, but wasn't sure. We really liked that area and next time we go, we'll stay in the same hotel.

Again, I'm really so sorry that my earlier reply didn't make it. Sometimes we had patchy internet, and it probably dropped out before finishing.

PS: Also wanted to add this for anyone thinking of driving: http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/140832582