It's Europe - without the cost, without the politics, and without the other thousands of tourists! Amid the hardened ash and pumice of a two-thousand year old disaster lies a city so perfectly preserved, it sparks the imagination of even the most indifferent visitor. Pompeii has become more of a living museum than an excavation site since its
discovery in the 1700s. Millions flock to the ancient Italian city to explore this pristine time capsule that has taken over 250 years to be slowly and delicately uncovered. It takes at least one full day to be able to truly take in all of Pompeii's many intricate discoveries. Walk the stone streets where only the wind and birds now reside, wondering how much more of the town's secrets await resurrection. Take in the magnificent beauty of elaborate mosaics and colorful frescoes that have weathered such utter circumstances. Marvel at the citizens' names that will live on forever in the clinging paint on their homes. Imagine the marble splendor of the mighty Temple of Apollo and the other religious icons of the day. Ponder what it would have been like to live in this flourishing city that was at its zenith when Vesuvius began to grumble its ominous warning. The excavation of Pompeii has been nothing short of astonishing. Such care has been taken since the beginning of its unearthing that we are able to see a clear snapshot of the city on its last fateful day in AD 79.
Simple terra tile containers for the oil and wine giant stones, iron agricultural tools, as well as decorative columns were reserved for 2000 years in a heavy blanket of ash and serve as witnesses in everyday life. The most shocking is the existence of Vesuvius' victims. Began digging Because, writhing agony during the suffocating death, horror on their faces, even the way their hair in the style of that day forever frozen in the casting. Some of them were empty cavities were found between layers of volcanic debris. Archaeologists soon realized that everyone was actually cancelled when the body has long been decomposed. Gypsum has been poured into the empty space to create shape of the organs, which chillingly detailed - their found to flee for their lives, while others were found curled on the floors and beds with hands covering their faces. filed One depicts a thief with his hand in the purse of a wealthy man who did not seem to know about the looting, trying to avoid a catastrophe. another filed by a frightened dog struggle unsuccessfully with the chain, which he spent in captivity . each plaster mould projects such intense emotions that visitors are sometimes moved to tears at the death of Pompeii deep that the exhibits. Despite constant reminders of death and destruction, Pompeii proves that life is continuing to overcome obstacles, such as grapes, and the blossoms flourish among silence ruins. Sleeps A Vesuvius remains as a visual memory of that life is precious, and the unexpected can happen at any time.

By Vicki Landes

Princess Juliana International Airport serves Saint Maarten, the Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin. It is the second busiest airport in the Eastern Caribbean. The airport is famous for its short landing strip — only 2,180 metres/7,152 ft, which is barely enough for heavy jets. Because of this, the planes approach the island flying extremely low, right over Maho Beach. Countless photos of large jets flying at 10-20 m/30-60 ft over relaxing tourists at the beach have been dismissed as fakes many times, but are nevertheless real. For this reason as well it has become a favorite for plane spotters. Despite the difficulties in approach, there has been no records of major aviation incidents at the airport.