The Motopompa and 4th of July

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Greetings all!

Big week at Scavi! We've had serious rain problems nearly the entire time we've been here, and all the trenches in the main excavation area have been absolutely flooded, as in 60 cm of standing water. Bucket brigades have helped, but it's been taking way too much time, only to be thwarted the next day by more rain.

In comes the motopompa.

Our architect went to an interesting (read: scary) industrial supply store and conducted a transaction without much Italian on his part and no English on the store's part. He purchased a gas-powered siphon, we tested it in our storerooms (resulting in horrible gas fumes and a bit of a flood), took it up on site, and the damn thing worked. AND we didn't break it yet! I didn't get pictures of the motopompa in action, but it was breathtaking.

Our staff 4th of July barbeque last night was epic. We did veggie skewers, chicken kababs, burgers, sausage, potato salad, baked mac and cheese, beer a-plenty, and we had real barbeque sauce that one staff member brought up from Rome. Best. Meal. Ever.

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Photos

Vescovado Morning
Day of epic fog made for good photo ops.

Motopompa
Sweet, sweet industrial products.

My Workspace
It's a bunker, so in case of nuclear fallout, I will be just fine. So will the artifacts.

The Spread
Pre-grilling glory.

Grillin'
like villains.