Over half-term the Classics department took 43 students from Fourth and Fifth Form to Sorrento and Rome to explore the wonders of the ancient world. An early start and a long drive to the airport on Friday morning didn't dampen our spirits, nor did the torrential rain that greeted us as we descended through the clouds into Naples.
What was supposed to be a brief shower turned into 2 days of solid rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, the likes of which we have never seen.
However, like stalwart Peterites, we remained positive and resilient in the face of Neptune's anger and forged ahead with our plans taking in the wonders and horrors of Herculaneum and Pompeii.
After numerous ice creams and soggy walks, we transferred to Rome and finally into the Italian sunlight. It was glorious. Like Russell Crowe, we conquered the Colosseum.
After saying a fond goodbye to the ghosts that still lived there, we hiked up to the Vatican Museum where we were blown away by the artefacts of antiquity that were on display there.
The Sistine Chapel was a wonder to behold, as was the vaulted ceiling of the Pantheon, which we visited on the final day before leaving for the airport via the ancient port city of Ostia.
After a few tense exchanges with our Italian coach driver, we finally arrived at the airport in good time for our nostos back to blighty. Like Odysseus, we returned victorious with wonderful memories of our trip and bags full of cheap tourist nick-nacks.
A job well done!
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