Claudia goes to Pompeii

A Day in Pompeii exhibition brings the ancient Roman world to life, on show at Melbourne Museum, until 25 October.

Saturday 24 October come n your toga! All day activities, strolling players and heaps more tours. Open from 6.30 am to 10.00 pm. Sunday hours extended for the last day too. You have no excuse to miss it!

No one told me I had to queue! The exhibition had been running for six weeks before I finally ventured to see it - I waited till the first rush died off but the queues were just as long as in the first week.

We arrived about 2.00 pm and stood in the queue for twenty mintues only to be told we couldn't get in until 4.00 pm. If I had been alone I would have come back another day, the Museum shuts at 5.00 pm on Sundays, but an hour is plenty of time for a small girl to stare at ancient amphorae.

I should have been smarter and arranged tickets beforehand, but you can. Get your Tickets online

The Museum is just on the northern edge of the central city. Trams go past in Nicholson Street and buses go by the other side, along Rathdowne Street.

Claudia chose the tram ride, a little more exciting than the bus. I prefer the bus myself, a faster option, but for anyone wishing to get a feel for Melbourne, a tram ride is obligatory. Claudia likes the hustle and bustle of the tram, lots of people frequently getting on and off and, of course, the interminable dinging bells.

The fares for us both came to less than $8 for the two all-day tickets. Rack that cost up against the price of a few hours parking and the stress of driving into the city along 19th century roads (especially with a young passenger).

There's a long and glorious mural along the side of the Museum.

On closer inspection it reveals itself to be made up of huge stickers. What will they think of next?

I was happily clicking away at the incredibly beautiful murals (I Love Roman walls) until some kindly Museum Guide directed my attention to the large sign stating No Photography Allowed. Oops.

I very quickly put my phone away muttering apologetically and slipping with ease into my impersonation of a dithery old chook (it's been getting lots easier lately). This persona has been known to move authority to pity. Anything is better than a fine.

The graffiti is a joy. Without it, how could any of us have known about Celadus, the Gladiator from Thrace?

Suspirium puellarum Celadus thraex
"Celadus the Thracian makes all the girls sigh"

There's more to marvel over too but, like so much graffiti throughout the ages, not at all suitable for publishing on a family-orientated web page. I noticed that a translation wasn't given for Arphocras hic cum Drauca bene futuit denario (scribbled on the walls of a brothel). It gives us an idea of monetary value, Arphocras paid a denarius to Drauca for her services.

The 2,000-year-old bronze helmet is just one of 270 + items in the exhibition

The helmet would have been worn by a Murmillo, a gladiator who took his name from a type of saltwater fish. His helmet, with the high crest and broad rim, is definitely fish shaped.

As we had to wait a couple of hours before we could get into the exhibition, we spent it mainly with the dinosaurs but children need constant refuelling and I need my coffee. Off to the cafe for the last half hour of waiting.

There's a childrens' lunch box available. It's the best choice, at $8, than the hot food section. Claudia had a cheese and vegemite sandiwch, packet of sultanas, chocolate frog and a fruit based drink in a plastic squeeze bottle. The cardboard packaging of the lunch box caught her eye.

A word of advice if you take children to the Museum, fill them up with food first! The prices in the cafe are pretty steep.

We experienced the dramatic eruption of Vesuvius in a specially created immersive 3D theatre. Let me tell you, I found it awesome!

Claudia enjoyed it more than I did but she's never heard that rumble of the earth moving under your feet in real life. Once you've heard, and felt, the earth shake, you never forget it. Exactly 45 seconds into the video I was on my feet, granddaughter in my arms, aiming for the exit.

"It's alright Nanna, it isn't real", but I wasn't the only one who had that mad moment of utter panic. There were plenty of other wild-eyed people on their feet too.

These two women were among thousands who died when the powerful volcano blew up, trapping so many beneath layers of ash and rock. Scorching, moist ash encased the corpses and then hardened, leaving perfect moulds of the volcano's victims after their remains decomposed.

I had not intended to take Claudia through the room which displays the plaster casts of the bodies but, typically, I blundered in there by mistake. I don't recommend that you take smaller children to see these - especially as the dreadful fires we experienced in Victoria earlier this year are so close to everyone's memory.

Claudia was horrified to see the dog. Then again, I was too.