On the way I was given a lift to Pompeii so I went to see if there was anything I could see through the fence. I did get a few ruins but it would be better if I could have gone in. In the evening I went into the Catholic church but they were having mass so I quietly went to the side and viewed the ceilings, which were full of art. I then happened to see an old homeless man carrying to big bags. He would pick them up, walk about 3 meters (10 feet) then put them down and rest then pick them up and down again and again. I went up to him and asked to help but he declined. The next time he put them down I grabbed one side of one of the bags and it was very heavy. I was surprised because it was reminiscent of carrying my backpack and that was only one bag and with him carrying the other side. He still had to stop because the other bag was just as heavy and only had string handles do it was cutting into his hand. The next time he put it down I grabbed it to carry it for him. He had to go about 200 yards to reach the train station. On the way there was a red bell pepper on the ground and he stopped to pick it up. That was a rather sad situation for me but I was also moved by his humility. Even if I would pick up food off the ground, I wouldn’t do it when someone was watching me.
A man gave me a lift from Pompeii to the docks in Naples so all in all it was a good trip. He did not speak English but tried very hard to teach me Italian so I could understand what he wanted to say to me. He has four children, the oldest of which was 12. He works transporting fish for a company so he has a rather humble existence and though he knew nothing about me or my pilgrimage, he insisted I take 10 Euros. This truly amazes me because, although I would pick up a hitchhiker, I wouldn’t think to give him money; I would expect that he has his own money. Another small blessing to be assured.
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