First Stop Naples

Our first stop in the cruise, was Naples, Italy.  We have been here before. In fact I have been here three times before. We felt like we had seen most of the important sights, and Naples being a tiny bit sketchy, didn't feel like venturing out on our own.

The only thing we hadn't seen was the Excavated ruins of Herculaneum.  This seaside town was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. We had visited Pompei, that was also destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius. It was a favorite thing we had done, and I had this sinking feeling that Herculaneum wouldn't compare.

I was wrong, the tour at Herculaneum was different, but very interesting, and had some unique aspects to the town. We were touring the remains of the homes, considered the Beverly Hills of the area in it's time. Some strange thing happened during the eruption, and the town was encased in gas, and somehow the wooden things were charred, but not burned to bits, so many second stories are still standing, steps, beams, etc. were all in place. Black, but in place.

Warning, this is a photo heavy post. I just couldn't decide.
The new town Of Herculaneum was built after WWII, I found it to be very charming as well. You can see it behind the lower original town. There is no way to unearth the remainder of the ancient city as they would have to displace people, and that won't happen.

Our guide was an archeologist, and had done digs at both this location and Pompei. Her enthusiasm was so delightful. Now on to the photos.

As you can see, the frescos are still bright and beautiful. The table that is still intact is amazing to me, and the mosaic floors are in great shape considering they are thousands of years old!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

This week's hunt is brought to you from Rome, Italy
Perspective, bloom, golden,local

and dark. Probably won't have much wifi for the next twelve days, So I've been trying to get some photos up.

Here goes the hunt...

                                                                           GOLDEN

The oldest church in Rome, and that's saying something. I mean OLD!!

                                                              PERSPECTIVE

                                                                              DARK

                                                                               LOCAL

Local girls out for a little gelato

                                                                           BLOOM

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Borgehse Gallery

What a wonderful morning we had! Two hours looking and learning about some of the most precious and exquisite art in all of the world. Sculptures that you can't imagine the detail of. Painting from Masters that are so unique and amazing.

We met our guide Joseph at 8:30 for our 9:00 tour. You are only allowed in the gallery for two hours. This is good and it's bad. Good is, it doesn't get overly crowded, bad part is you could easily spend a day inside looking in awe at the rooms filled to the brim with art.

This house of Borgehse they called their "small house" You would laugh as it's quite a spacious villa with large rooms and three stories high.  They were avid collectors and had incredible pieces on display. Now the state owns the home, the art, and the land, which is a park.

We had to check our bags and cameras before entering so I only have photos of the outside of the home and the garden in the back.

The sculptures were so incredible, like nothing I've ever seen.  I'm including a link, but I'm not sure the photos can do them justice.  My favorite one was Apollo and Daphne when she turned into a tree. The leaves were so delicate, and the stone had the slightest sparkle to it. The bark on the tree had amazing detail, and the expressions on their faces with the hair blowing nearly blew my mind!

http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/edefault.htm

The aviary that is next door to the "little house"

A church that was closed but had forgotten to close the door. We were having lunch across the street

After lunch we traveled over the bridge and visited a part of Rome that we had never visited before. The area is called Trastevere

Of course there was a square, and a church and we went inside. It was amazing! So many areas, and such beauty inside. We later learned that this was the first church built in Rome in the 4th century. Two popes and several cardinals are buried here. Hard to believe how much history has passed through here!

These are mosiaics

walking and finding charming alleys is one of our favorite things to do.

So glad we visited here. Not as much hustle and bustle as the city of Rome, very charming.

Vatican part II

Today we went to the Borghese Gallery. Overload of wonderfulness. I'll try to tell more about it later. Here are the rest of the photos from our Vatican tour.

The balcony where the Pope comes out to greet the people

One of my favorite pieces of art. Michael Angelo sculpted this marble statue at age 23. Mary holding Jesus in her lap. The only piece he ever signed.

Swiss Guards keeping careful watch.

Leaving Vatican City

Trevi Fountain. So beautiful

Spanish steps. Susie and I power walked them then went on to meet the boys six large blocks away to catch the shuttle

Everybody is tired and waiting for the shuttle to take us back to the hotel. Didn't take long and we were walking to dinner.

The vatican

When I was a little girl, my best friend was Catholic. I wanted to be Catholic. I was curious about all the robes, the wine, the language that I didn't understand, and the biggie:  She got to leave school to go to caticism classes. It all seemed so wonderful as a child.

Now as an adult, I have no desire to be Catholic, I'm comfortable in my Christianity faith, but was always curious about the Vatican and the history of the Catholic church.

Four of us arranged a private tour and met our guide Jon, and englishman who came to Rome ten years ago because of a woman. That woman is now his wife, and they have added two children to her one. He had connections in Portland, OR and we quickly bantered with one another and found a comfortable rhythm to walking and talking.

Jon's history knowledge was awe inspiring. He was such a fantastic guide and going into the Vatican City an hour before it opens to the public was one of the best decisions we made. No crowds, walking hallways just the five of us, listening and looking many times jaw dropping art sitting before us.

The Sistine Chapel was all that I had hoped for. We sat in silence for twenty plus minutes taking in the magnificent fresco's that Michael Angelo had worked four years on. The stories of Jesus and Moses laid out before us. All those years ago, and here it was for us to view.

I learned that fresco's were painted on wet plaster and when the plaster dried, the pigment would have seeped to the very depths of the plaster to remain for years and years. If you made a mistake the only do over you would have was to remove the plaster and start again. Painstaking work, and the genius Michael Angelo did it like no other.

There is so much more, and I took a couple of hundred photos. We were so tired last night I couldn't keep my eyes open to finish much. There will be more, once we settle in. For now, here are a few photos from Vatican City.

St Peters Basilica

This is the home of the old Pope. It has been refurbished for him, while the new Pope refuses to live in the Palace. He says it's much to fine of a place for him. No doubt, this is why the people love their new pope, he is a very simple and humble man.

Our guide Jon enriching us with so much.

We filled our water bottles from this fountain. The joke was we were drinking holy water.

The royal steps used by the Pope and some of his cardinals being guarded by a swiss guard. My friend Susie almost had to hang onto my pants as I leaned over to get this shot.  :-)

Italy!

Well we made it. Long plane ride from Portland to Amsterdam, then a change to Rome. All was going well until I needed to use the restroom and the other couple we were traveling with did also. Hubs said he would meet us up ahead. As we traveled up the concourse to get to our next gate, we couldn't find him.  I decided to wait at the passport station as he had to come this way. It was now 9:00 and boarding was in ten minutes. I left my bag with our friends and went to an information station to have his name announced. Then I realized I had his passport, as well as my own. Geesh! Rule number one, "carry your own stuff!"
I found him, we got a good aerobic workout in running to the gate which was a ways away, and we boarded sweating like we'd been to the gym.
We arrived in Rome, found our luggage easily and went out to find our ride. Nobody there. We waited and waited, finally I went up to another driver a woman and asked her if she knew of this tour company that we had hired to drive us. She very sweetly called him, and said he was at another terminal. He came quickly and after a five minute walk, we were at the van which took us on a white knuckle drive through Rome.
Our hotel is lovely. The artwork is out of this world, the grounds are lovely and all I want to do is go to bed. Two hours of sleep on the plane just isn't cutting it! We are going to meet for a bite to eat at 5:00 and hope I don't do a face plant in my meal.

Here are some views of the hotel, and around it. Tomorrow Vatican City.