Death by mozzarella

Hello everyone!
We are home from our adventures at the water buffalo farm!

Fun tidbits...
water buffalo mozzarella is a big deal near Naples. The cheese has a very rubbery feel, and when you cut it open, milk comes out. It's usually in balls or braided. It's super rich, full of protein and pretty fantastic. They served us way too many types of mozzarella at the ranch! I have been feeling pretty sick sense last night (I couldn't find my lactose-intolerance pills) unfortunately.
We got to visit the buffalos and see how they make the cheese. The babies were so cute!

Pompeii was pretty fun, but it felt strange and saddening to be looking people in their moment of death. Apparently the heat/ash/lava killed them instantly, but their bodies left holes in the ground, and by filling it in with concrete a pretty accurate replica was made. I was also surprised by how huge the city was.
The area was beautiful though. Mt. Vesuvius is still active, and it looms in the midst of other mountains and the sea. (We spent also an afternoon at the beach as well and loved it! I successfully avoided a sun burn this time.)

We also went to Paestum, the best preserved Greek temples outside of Greece.

Lastly, today we went to a museum in Naples that has Pompeii artifacts and more Roman statues. We got an appointment to visit the 'secret room' for "mature audiences," that held all the Pompeii's various sexual artwork and the like. I didn't want to see glorified ancient porn, so I passed, but let's Pompeii has a reputation all its own.

Naples itself certainly felt like its own country! I awoke from my snooze on the bus to see a couple expressing some "amore" on the street bench, an old man watching them from behind the whole time. A boy squirted water at an old woman sleeping on a park bench. It did not feel like Rome, having skyscrapers, more dirt, scarier mopeds, and people just lurking around. Ladies, hug your purses, and gentlemen, watch your wallets. Also, bring hand sanitizer for those perilous bathrooms!

I'll end with some humor from the trip:

 Don't worry, you won't end up like those unfortunate Pompeii-ians. Promise.

 The first Leggo! Those Pompeii-ians were so ahead of their time :)

 A mosaic entrance to a home in Pompeii that says "Beware dog!" The first of these signs.

Who knew our ranch started Starbucks? :) This is their symbol (above one of the entrances).

The worst of my bathroom experiences today. Do not travel without hand sanitizer or toilet paper. Ever.