Unconditional Surrender | Civitavvechia, Rome

Unconditional Surrender

Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy

I caught sight of a lady on her own watching the The Kiss of the nurse and the unknown soldier;  Hm, wonder what she was thinking.  I hope that she is with someone and her wait will soon be over.  The first time I got curious about The Kiss is when I watched a movie called Letters to Juliet; such a romantic movie that was.  I've always wanted to see Times Square since...  and Italy, of course! So, when I saw this statue in Rome, I was very surprised, a little confused... and excited to photobomb the couple. They were strangers, I heard, yet the nurse allowed the kiss without reservations.  Thus dubbed, the Unconditional Surrender.

Hubby and I tried to mimic the kiss, all our photographs came out funny, real comedic.  Nothing more can be expected from a bunch of goofballs, I guess, ha ha!  I was furious that hubby and I can't get a romantic shot like they have.  Hubby said: "C'mon darling, they weren't married yet."  Was his teasing reply followed by a wink and a gentle squeeze of the hand.  Now, I realize, it's more fun to look at goofy pictures than those reserved, shy-to-smile-and-pose photos... can't help but laugh when I look at them.

Norwegian Jade
Civitavvechia Rome Port

Civitavecchia, Rome is our first Port for our Mediterranean cruise.  This is where we get on board and alight after.  On our way to the ship, this place (where the Unconditional Surrender is stationed) was busy with tourists and photographers offering to take photos for them, at a price of course.  Coming from the ship, at the end of the cruise, this place was empty.  I saw opportunities to take photos in both occasions. 

The above photo shows our ship on dock.  This is how most Ports of Call looks like, not too touristy yet.  A shuttle bus or a ship's tender would take us to the next city where we could begin our sight-seeing; or from there, take the train to other major tourist sites.  In Civitavecchia, a double-decker red tourist bus is already waiting to take interested tourist for a tour of Rome, therefore saving some money taking the train.

***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts on this awesome Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

Post linked with:  Skywatch Friday  |  Our World Tuesday

Where's the Marble? | Pompeii, Italy

Amphitheater
Pompeii, Italy

Imagine what grandeur this amphitheater would have had if marble covered the entire thing?  Some of the marble were replaced to show what it might have been.  "If everything were perfectly preserved because the destruction was sudden, then where are all the marbles?"  I asked the tour guide.  He answered with a shrug and these words:   "You probably seen the beautiful marble decorations in San Pietro?"  I get it...  If, in digging a well to find some water, I find beautifully preserved marble, why!  I would definitely take them home too and decorate my abode with it :-)  Won't you?

Up Next:  Sailing Back In Time  |  Adventures in the Mediterranean

CLICK IMAGE to see
all Pompeii articles.

 ***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts
on this awesome Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

A Rich Man's Home | Pompeii Italy

A Rich Man's House
Pompeii, Naples Italy

We visited a rich man's private home in Pompeii :-)  Our tour guide must have mentioned an idea as to who or what kind of person owed this house but I can't remember.  {I should have been taking notes, eh?}

This home is representative of the tendency towards sumptuousness in the Imperial Age. Some reconstructions have been done in order to show what the original structure and design might have been.   Walls were intricately painted, the richer the brighter.  Homes did not have rugs, they have however, mosaics.  Again, the richer, the more detailed and bigger these mosaics are.  Each home have their own altar reserved for sacred service to their gods.  Genius and Lares were the household gods that are believed to observe and protect, as well as influence the happenings of the household.

In this home were found carefully packed belongings, ready for transport - silver and gold utensils - together with human remains.  It is inferred that these people were busy packing the rich man's possessions while the wrath of Vesuvius were suffocating their city.  No wonder so many died!  Sadly, it is not a thing of the past.  Many humans today exhibit the same in the face of calamity and  at the expense of their lives.  Makes us evaluate our priorities, eh?

I guess they succeeded:  The treasured possessions are in perfect shape and very valuable indeed.  They are well preserved in the Naples National Archaeological Museum for our amazement.  (If there is ever a next time, I would want to visit this museum.)  But what about their lives?  I guess they too, unfortunately, are on display as objects of astonishment.  Morbid, don't you think?

Even plant roots made well preserved cavities that made it possible to recreate the manicured gardens.  These indoor gardens are truly delightful and refreshing.  Oh! the life of the rich...

Next:  Where are all the marbles?  |  Pompeii Amphitheater

CLICK IMAGE to see
all Pompeii articles.

 ***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts
on this awesome Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

Spa in an Ancient City | Pompeii, Italy

The Baths
Pompeii, Naples Italy

During our visit to Pompeii, we were only shown a small sampling of the baths.  The day was filled with exciting places to see and things to do, Pompeii was actually our last destination of the day and it's getting late.  We had to make sure the cruise ship does not leave us.  Many times we feel like contestants in the Amazing Race, not against each other but with adventure, thrill and time.  Time!  And of course, the tour company wants to leave some time for us to shop around and help with the economy. :-D  I got myself a few magnets and a book :-)

The little piece of the baths that we saw were impressive.  Complete with hot and cold rooms and a separate room for male and female, the old baths of Pompeii makes me imagine of 5 star spa these days. (Not that I've been to any of them... Would love to, though...  And you know, imagination is limitless, right?)  What makes it even more impressive is that there weren't any fancy technology at that time.  Yet, the Pompeians managed to create the temperature controlled rooms.  Floors were elevated.  Underneath were aqueducts where hot water runs through and releases heat.  I probably need to consult history books for more accurate information on that...  I remember one snippet of the tour guide's words:  "Fever is a sign that the body is fighting something.  Therefore, they've created artificial heat to help the body fight its ailments."  That's why they think baths can do miracles! (*wink*).

Next:  A Visit to a Rich Man's House | Pompeii

CLICK IMAGE to see
all  POMPEII  articles.

 ***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts
on Mediterranean Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

Post linked with:  Through My Lens  |  Our World Tuesday  | 

Click. Breathe. Imagine. Repeat | Pompeii, Italy

Corinthian Columns
Pompeii, Naples Italy

The first sight we see as soon as we enter the walls of Pompeii are these Corinthian Columns.  I cannot hide my excitement, we are visiting an ancient world to relive its glory.  It was nice to set aside self consciousness for a while and just go right in the middle of the field, raise your arm and slowly turn 360 degrees,  look at the things around and breathe it all in.  Right away we were impressed at the fine engineering of the ancient Romans. Who knew history could be so interesting?  I'm in a different world...

Click, click, click.  Pictures on every angle.  Breathe.  Look around, imagine.  Breathe again... Walk to the next site... Repeat.  My mind took the best 'shots' during those times when I stopped a while to take time and appreciate where I am and what surrounds me.  Those were also the best moments I could recall and talk about vividly.  The same moments that lets me appreciate all the photos I have right now.  Breathe.


Our tour guide told us much about many things.  It was fueling my imagination at that time, my mind was creating my own movie-clips, like I was watching it all happen.  Frankly, I know I won't remember much of what's said (height, width, depth, names... dates... oh my!).  So at the end of the tour, I bought one of those Souvenir books.  So glad I did.  At the end of the day, we browsed the book and proudly say: "Oh I've seen that..."  "and that..."  and sometimes "how come you did not show me that?"  (*hint. hint.* :-D )

Another hint:  Am I ever glad I wore comfortable shoes. {That is a prerequisite to visiting Europe, I think... We did alooooooot of walking.  Add in some power bars too and a handy bottle of water.}

Next:  Baths

CLICK IMAGE to see
all Pompeii articles.

 ***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts
on this awesome Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

Italian Pine Trees | Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii, Naples Italy
Guided Group Tour

The Pine trees in Italy caught my attention. The trees, because of their shape, are called Umbrella Pine, Italian Stone Pine or Parasol Pine. I've been seeing these trees all over, so I was curious.  The tour guide explained: "They do not grow like these on there own.  Look closer and you'll see where branches were cut as the tree grows.  Maintaining the shape of the trees like this had been a tradition since the Renaissance period."  Frankly, I think they are gorgeous this way.  I wonder if the pine-trees in my native home, Baguio City (Philippines), could also be pruned like this?  There's an abundance of these trees in the Mediterranean and is quite popular because of it's delicious pine nuts.  I was not introduced to pine nuts until I came to New Brunswick and lived with a family of Macedonian descent.  So, the pine tree we have in the Philippines is probably of a different kind?

Excited crowds were moving along the narrow cobbled pathway in Pompeii.  Like everyone else, I was eagerly taking pictures.  Hubby felt something fall on his head... bird poof?  We were alarmed.  He touched it and it was sticky like super glue - pine tree sap!  I teased, "you can keep it, smells so good."  I was not lying.  But he was too uncomfortable to admire it - "Hubby got sapped," was the joke of the day :)

CLICK IMAGE to see all Pompeii articles.

 ***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts on this awesome Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

"To go, please." | Pompeii, Italy

Previous article: Frozen in Time

"Think fast food is a modern day invention?"  our tour guide asks.  "Think again..." he continued after a suspenseful pause, pointing to stalls with 'refurbished' counters of marble with round brick holes.  I thought that it was: 'Fast food' is a modern day invention created to cater busy lives.  Well, wrong.

The streets and passage ways of Pompeii were made out of huge hewn rocks.  One of the many feats of ancient engineering that boggles the mind.  These streets were busy, bustling with people.  Horse drawn carriages are frequent on these streets, so frequent that indents are observable on the solid rocks.  Streets are believed to be cleaned daily with gushing water.  People burdened with goods cross the streets often,  elevated rocks were used as stepping-stones to keep their feet dry.  The tour guide pointed to two interesting things on the hewn rocks: a deep hole and what seems to be a religious symbol (deity Talmud?)  The deep hole holds a pole in place, somewhere to tie up the horses. 

And the religious symbol?   "To parents with their kids with them,"  the tour guide says, "I leave it to your discretion if you and your kids want to continue on this part of the tour.  If not, you can wait outside." Turns out, it is 'something else' that is shaped as an arrow.  It points to the direction of the brothel.  "How do you know it's a brother?" a father asked.  The answer: "Oh, it's not hard to see."  He's right, the camera is tucked away :-)  A historical tour can motivate time to reflect on the origins of our beliefs, eh?

Tradesmen, gladiators, people of all  ranks thrive in this city; sailors come for some respite... and they're hungry!

Bread was discovered on the unearthed oven, one of the most excellently preserved finds of Pompeii.
The holes you see on counters are filled with hot rocks; designed to keep hot a pot containing food or beverage.  Money was discovered on a jar placed on one of the holes and an image of Prosperity and of Commerce deities were found closest to it.  I could imagine one of the hungry gladiators, or a cute little child order some food; the seller asks: "To stay or to go?"  That could might as well be the case.  Grab some food and they're on their way in the streets of Pompeii...

Next article:  Italian Pine Trees

CLICK IMAGE to see
all Pompeii articles.

 ***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts
on this awesome Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

Post linked with:  |  Skywatch  |

Pompeii's Warning | Naples, Italy

Staring at these human forms seemed to be disrespectful, made me feel quite uneasy.  So I snapped a photo and left... Waah!!! I'm staring at them right now! :( They used to live a life like we do.  Now they are on display as objects of astonishment.  The lessons are powerful though.  I wonder, many centuries from now, would the 'post modern' world excavate our remains and study them?  What would we teach them? hmh?
 
Studies concluded that the people of Pompeii died from asphyxiation and heat caused by the gases from the erupting volcano.  Fine ash fell like fluffy snow on the bodies, too light to make any change on the flesh nor the clothing.  The ash dried up before the bodies could decompose.  In time, cavities were formed. When plaster is injected into the cavity, the result is a perfectly preserved human shape.

Stories can be inferred as to how a certain person died based on their positions.  What hurts is this:  Some must have already escaped the fatal fate of the city but because of their love for their possessions, they came back to retrieve some.  But there were no second chances. A body was found on the street with his money bag, another with coin scattered all about him...

In the face of disaster, instead of concerning themselves on how they can save their lives and the lives of others, people try to salvage their belongings and looters take advantage to try and enrich themselves.  The city was obviously being buried by ash at this point when thieves tried to make an opening on the wall.  For how could they miss the door only two feet away?  How much time and effort would it have taken to make this hole on a feet-thick wall?  Could they have ran away alive instead?

Clearly, one's life does not result from the things he possesses.

Mount Vesuvius is a live volcano.  It may in the future erupt again... what would the inhabitants do when they receive a warning?  We face many disasters all over the world today... If we get a warning, will we heed it?

Next:  "To go, please!" |  Pompeian Fast Food and Streets

CLICK IMAGE to see
all Pompeii articles.

 ***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts
on this awesome Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

Frozen In Time | Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii was a great example of Roman life - neither rich nor poor - it was a booming trading city. 79 AD marked its cataclysmic end.

Of all the archaeological sites and museums we were visiting in our Mediterranean adventure, I looked forward to this the most.  How were the remains of the people preserved like that?  What was life like back then?  How does it look like in person?  The internet is overflowing with Pompeii pictures. I even found an  intriguing documentary on You.Tube; and of course, the movie that dramatically portrayed a love story that made its inhabitants so real.  I want to be there.  I want to see it for myself.

The wind was nippy, the day cloudy.  Once in a while the sun peeps through the clouds and we'd see some blue sky and nice sunshine. There were many tourists, everyone excited, most people snapping pictures just like me.  Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and humorous.  I think that played a lot in my enjoyment of the experience.  Without consciousness of the past - the story behind, the meaning of a certain ruin or a remain - I think it would have been just pile of stones.  What an eerie perspective turned out to be the most enjoyable part of my tour.

Next: Pompeii's Warning

CLICK IMAGE to see all Pompeii articles.

 ***

CLICK IMAGE for More Posts on this awesome Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

Post linked with |  Scenic Weekends  | Through My Lens  | 

Stairs | St. Peter's, Rome

St Peter's Basilica, Rome

For the sake of a great view in Rome, we tackled 320 steps in the very narrow staircase of the St Peters Basilica.  The steps were so narrow that once you start on the path, there is no going back, literally! There's just no space to allow for two way traffic.  It's a real test of endurance.  [Warning:  It's not for those afraid of enclosed spaces.  Is claustrophobic the word?]  Oh, those shell shaped stair cases are fun...  and dizzying, I can't tell the end of it.  Hubby at times needed to dock or bend his head on one side so that he can pass through.  He has a really funny photo going through the shell stairs but he doesn't want me to post it :p  Thankfully, somewhere along the straight narrow staircase, there are windows with a little landing where tiny me could fit and recollect some strength.  Hubby has to block the way for a bit, but the others behind didn't mind.  I guess they are also glad to breathe a little without being blamed for stopping traffic.  You know you've come to the top when finally, the stairs widen out.  If you made it on top, going down is a walk in the park :-)

It was hard, my knees were really trembling after (oooh, need some exercise, they're screaming "not fit!, not fit!")  But I think that it's really worth it in the end.  The view was spectacular. {Yes, even on a cloudy, rainy day.}  You know that surreal feeling when you say: "I can't believe I'm here?"  That's me! each breath at that lovely height.

***

Sail along with me: Click for more on Mediterranean Cruise

Bloglovin'  |  Instagram | Facebook |   Etsy |  YouTube |  Pinterest

I am joining these lovely blog parties:
This post was inspired by Our Beautiful Word - Theme: Stairs

Our World Tuesday | Mosaic Monday |  Through My Lens  | Monday Escapes  |  
 Roses of Inspiration  | A Southern Daydreamer  |