Much of the town’s food supplies come from these farms that creep up the sides of the mountain, taking advantage of the rich soil. Vesuvius is only five miles from the town and we leave the mules to graze at the base while we hike on foot.
We follow human and animal tracks leading to the summit. When we stop for lunch, Will tells me how Spartacus and his rebel slaves camped on this mountain nearly one and a half centuries ago. I glance nervously over my shoulder, but no gladiators appear.
My legs ache by the time we reach the peak of the mountain. I stop to catch my breath and look out over the countryside to our little town below. Several roads lead from it to other exotic locations. To the south of the town lies the ocean. I turn around and look at the top of the mountain Vesuvius.
If
