Pompeii: a project: 2º Bachillerato: Letters from Pompeii

The Links that helped us write the letters or stories:

1) Alba Garcia (2º Bto. - A)

My dear friend,

I don’t know if you have been informed about the last Vesuvius’ eruption. I have survived, but, the rest of my family is dead as well as almost all of the people of the city.
When I was buying some food in the market, I saw a huge white cloud in the sky, over the volcano. I felt so terrified that I threw the food and I started to run to the shore. While I was running, I heard a strong noise, and many stones started to drop from the sky –that nearly killed me–. After that, I arrived to the shore and I saw that all the boats were damaged, so, I started to search a useful one. Many minutes later, I found a boat that was able to sail, so I caught it. Because of the high waves that boat was a dangerous transport, but lava and gases were coming to me. For five days I have been alone in the sea until I luckily found land.
I have been in a town since yesterday. I have written this letter because I felt that I had to tell this event because it’s possible that there aren’t any more survivors,

Alba

2) Aida Trujillo (2º Bto. - B)

This was Lucas’ last day in Pompeii, a boy of 13 years old:

He got up and prepared to go to school like every day. First, heaccompanied his mother to do some errands: buy bread, food and other things. That day Lucas got up with a hunch, he felt that something was going to happen, but ,well, he continued with his things the rest of the day.

He went to the market, and later, at school, he studied, he did his homework, he played with his friends, he had fun and learned a lot. Then, he went to have lunch, and afterwards, he did his chores quickly and went to play with his friends, again. They jumped, they ran like every evening, but that evening was totally different. They started to hear noises, the land began to shake, but it seemed that it was just that. Lucas and his friends continued to play and the other people continued doing their stuff too.

Just before Lucas went home for dinner, the land began to shake again and the noise was heard again, but this time much stronger, they noticed the smoke and this was what Lucas feared, his bad hunch was true, the volcano erupted and lava began to fall everywhere.

Everyone started running scared, they were screaming. Lucas went looking for his mother, when he found her, they fled to the sea to catch a boat, lava was killing people, Lucas and his mother didn’t stop running, but finally the lava reached them and they died side by side.

3) Lorena Verdejo (2º Bto. - A)

Naples, 9 September 79

My dear friend Micus,

You know that I live near the Mount Vesuvius and that this volcano erupted on the 24th August in 79. After this eruption, the volcano has erupted more times.

Pompeii was destroyed and also some cities nearby, as Herculaneum. Before

the volcano, there had been a great earthquake. I fortunately was in Miseno, but I saw a dense and very big cloud. Later, I felt a movement of the earth.

In Pompeii many people died and also in Herculaneum. Many people died in the buildings by the fall of roofs and others suffocated by inhaling ash. But

Herculaneum was buried by a pyroclastic flow.

Pompeii and Herculaneum were not reconstructed, my house was destroyed.

Thankfully, my family and I were in Miseno because, otherwise, we would have died.

Your friend,

Lorena.

4) Yulia Khomyk (2º Bto. A)

My last day in Pompeii
It was early in the morning. When I woke up, I had my breakfast and did all my housework, then, as always, I went to the river. I spent a lot of time in the river, fishing or bathing. But that morning was a little different, there was something in the air that smelled like ash and when I looked up to the volcano I had a bad feeling, and I was right: a few minutes later, I saw a black cloud over the volcano, and then a big explosion came from there.

I was afraid so I started to run to my house; fortunately my parents were in there. We did not know what was going on, but, suddenly, our neighbor appeared and warned us that it was dangerous to stay in the house and told us that we had better leave the city as soon as possible.

In that moment, I ran out of the house to get my horse. When I was outside, there were people shouting and running around, it was a chaos. I ran to the barn, caught my horse and ran to meet my parents.

My father decided to go to the nearest city. When we were away from the town, we saw that the volcano had erupted and how the magma was consuming our town.

One year later I returned to see what had happened to Pompeii, but all that I could see was ash, and naked floor, there was nothing, the whole town was destroyed by the volcano.

Yulia Khomyk

5) Ana Avellán (2º Bto. - A)

My dear friend:

It’s been some days since I am in the city of Sorrento, recovering of the vision of Pompeii being engulfed by the darkness.

It was 24th of August and I arrived to Pompeii in my small boat. When I was descending with the merchandise that I was going to sell in the market, I felt a little tremor and a column of smoke from the Vesuvius, but I didn't give it any importance, because this has been happening for some years.

At noon, I had sold almost everything of my merchandise and, satisfied, I began to collect my things. Then, I saw how my stand was covered of a thin layer of ash and scared I hurried up to return to my boat. Some people also realized that this day the Vesuvius was not so calm and they embarked to other cities. I went to Sorrento, where I am now.

I hope that this letter comes soon to you and that you and your family have not suffered misadventures due to this terrible event.

Ana Avellán

6) Sandra Pantoja (2º Bto. - A)

All started the 20th of August 79 A.D. Rick, a small worker, was rebuilding the city of Pompeii after the earthquake of 62 A.D. , when, suddenly, he again felt those continuous and violent tremors that had occurred 17 years ago. Rick ran for cover and watched as these destroyed again what he had just built. Despite this, on 23th, everyone returned to his normal life.

But, on 24th , the morning dawned with terrifying silence, the birds were not singing and the cattle were restless. Rick was working when he heard a noise, a thousand times louder than a thunder, coming from Vesuvius. Then, columns of fire and rain of volcanic ash and rocks fell on the inhabitants.

Rick tried to flee pursued by boiling water, ash and rocks but the city became dark as if in a closed room. They had turned off the light. Rick could only hear screams of men and women and children crying and they all looked at each other, trying to recognize by the sound of their voices. Rick managed to flee in the right direction and soon he saw a light in all this darkness, he ran and escaped from the terrible disaster.

Many people died that day. Some were trapped in their homes and died of asphyxia or, simply, buried alive.

7) Natalia Ziuko (2º Bto. - B)

Caesar woke up as every morning, he put his clothes on and went to have breakfast with his family.

Later, he went to the market to buy vegetables and milk. It was crowded, like every day. People were talking while walking. He met his friend Julius, who, as always, went there to buy food. They talked a bit and then left.

Suddenly, some loud noises could be heard from every part in the city, but nobody cared much about the noises. Then, when lava was running into the city, everyone ran, screamed, but nobody expected what was about to happen.

Caesar was feeling the heat closer, he stood, remembered about his family and started to cry, he could do nothing either to save their lives or his own life. He sat and suddenly all he could see was darkness and emptiness.

8) Alberto Cruz (2º Bto. - B)

On 23rd August 79 A.D., in an inn of Pompeii, Max was watering plants, when he felt a little earthquake. Nobody was interested in it, but Max started to investigate. He discovered that the Vesuvius was connected to the little earthquake, although he did not know how.

The next day, Max went to the Vesuvius and he discovered big crevices in the top of the volcano , an increase of temperature and ash in the air. Max thought that something was going to happen.

Suddenly, the Vesuvius erupted. Max saw the huge, dark cloud, resembling a pine, and flames left out the vocano. Max ran to the shore quickly and he could save the people in the harbour, but Max couldn’t save the people of Pompeii.

9) Adrián Cordón (2º Bto. - A)

ESCAPING FROM POMPEII.

Dear brother,

I’m fine.The mountain of fire couldn’t kill me. This is my story of how I could flee from the disaster.

It was a normal day in the morning, and I had gone to the market of Pompeii to start work, when the earthquake moved the ground.

Days ago the earthquakes had shaken the ground, but, this time, it was stronger. Maybe the gods were hungry one more time…

While I was in the shop, I heard a big explosion and all the people looked up to the mountain, when black smoke and fire were launched through the top of it.

In that moment, I knew that I needed to leave Pompeii. Quickly I went to the gate in the wall to exit the city and take a ship in the port, I thought then that it was safer to escape in a ship than on a horse. I had to take the ship and escape, and , two hours later from an island opposite Pompeii, I could see rocks, smoke and magma destroying the city, and I could also hear the screams of the people dying.

This is the story of the Pompeii’s destruction. Now I’m coming bak to our parents' house, I hope to see you soon, brother.

Adrian

10) Leticia García (2º Bto. - A)

My dear Sylvia,

I'm writing to you because I have survived the Vesuvius eruption. It has been a horrible experience and I'm the only survivor of all my family. I'm sure that you will be really sad hearing these news from me.

All happened very fast, in nine seconds. My family were at home and I was walking in the countryside. Suddenly, I heard a defeaning noise, and l felt a hot wave. Quickly, l turned around and l saw that the lava was stretching all over the village. l realised that l was in danger and l began to run as fast as l could.

Finally, l was able to run away far from town. When l reached the first mountain, l looked behind and l saw a terrible image, the lava was burning Pompeii. lt has been very difficult for me to get over this experience. Today l'm still going to the doctor to look for help.

l'm happy because l have survived but, sometimes, when l remember all the suffering of my family, it's really hard for me and l feel very sad. l have never dared to visit Pompeii again, it would be a dramatic experience for me.

l hope to hear from you soon , take care.

Leticia García

11) Lucía Expósito (2º Bto. -B)

I am glad to write you this letter because it means that I am alive. Everything has been so terrible and I can’t forget it. Everything went very fast and I do not remember all the details in spite of the fact that I want to try. I think you know what I am talking about, I guess you must have received news of what has happened.

That huge volcano has finished with this beautiful city and also with its population. Many people who lived in Pompeii do not have a family any more. I am very fortunate to be able to tell you this. I can not think of any solution. Now, all Pompeii needs your help. I have the hope that we will go on, but only with everyone's help.

Tell everyone that I am well and I have not suffered any damage.

Lucía

12) Lisbeth Uszczuk (2º Bto. - B)

I woke up one morning and I went to the market to buy some fruit, when, suddenly, there was a small tremor, I was afraid and I went quickly back home. All of us were amazed, the volcano was erupting! I did not know what I had to do.

I searched for my mum and my dad but they were in the market, so I ran to the market. I couldn’t find them and I was desperate , so I went home and I put all my things in a sack to escape the lava from the volcano.

When I went to the outskirt of the city, I started to notice a lot of powder in the air because I couldn't breathe and slowly felt how my lungs stopped breathing and my heart stopped.

Finally, I died on the floor covered by a layer of dust. All the city was buried under an ash layer.

13) Alejandro Makendengue (2º Bto. - A)

A person in Pompeii's last day

It was about 6 a.m. when Edo, a Pompeii baker, got up. He dressed up and went to the city's mill to get the flour he needed for his bread. It was a sunny day of August, a bit warmer that usual. The sky was blue with some soft clouds surrounding the tip of the Vesuvius. Although it was only 6 a.m. almost all Pompeii villagers were in the street doing their daily tasks.

When Edo got to the mill, the miller had already prepared him his bag of flour, as always. When Edo paid for the flour and went to his house to make the bread of the day, an earthquake stroke the city. After that, the volcano started pumping toxic gases and tons of ash. Edo knew instantly what was happening. He had seen that before in his hometown decades ago.

The lava soon started flowing from the Vesuvius. Edo started looking for his family to save them but it was too late. The mixture of smoke and ashes created a smog that covered the city. Edo and his family died due to the smoke. Minutes later, a thick layer of lava covered them and the rest of the town.

14) Belén García (2º Bto-A)

Hi Jacobus:

I am going to tell you what happened that morning on 24 August 79 AD. It was a normal morning as every day, the baker opened his shop, the beggar was in the same place; nobody knew what was going to happen.

A few hours later, a cloud of dust and ash covered our city, people became alarmed and began to enter their homes, but I grabbed some clothes and food and I ran to another village and so I could survive.

A few days later, I returned to Pompeii to see what had happened, but I saw nothing, only a destroyed village and people dead in the Streets. I had lost my friends, my home and my family. I was the only one alive.

I say good bye to you, I hope to see you soon.

Belén.

Vistas de página en total

2º Bachillerato: Letters from Pompeii