Amazing May

Amazing May

Our trip to Italy and Greece was amazing.  We are so glad we went.  Now I will try to send along a few pictures  to show you some of the sights we saw.

 

Here we are with the McCaslines, happy at last to be in Rome,  ready, and on the bus to begin seeing all the sights. We arrived in Rome 8 hours late, our plane in New York was delayed because of the Icelandic Volcano.  

Although most of the day was gone, our guide hurried us around to see many of the important places of Ancient Rome.

“Speed” a good name for out tour.  We are speeding by an ancient race way used by the Romans to race their chariots.  The race way is off to the left.

 

The coliseum at last. 

They say that the Romans were overcome by the Barbarians, but after hearing the tales of the events carried out here, I wonder who the barbarians were.  Can you imagine the noise created by a crowd of 250,000 here.

The Romans were master builders.  This is the remains of an aqueduct.

The Roman Forum.  This was the seat of the Roman government, the place where the laws were made.

Paul the apostle was put in this Jail . It is close by the Forum.

A Roman solder.

Monday we drove south to Pompey.  These are the walls of the old city.  The walls kept out the local enemies but not the rain of ash and fire from Vesuvius

Pompey had its own arena, where the citizens watched wild animals die, slaves and criminals fight to the death, and finally they cheered on the Gladiators as they fought to the death.

We walked along the streets paved with stones, and lined with shops.  This shop had a pot where hot soup was sold.

The Pompeian's had lovely homes with tiled flours and fresco paintings on the walls. In another part of town they had spa’s, a place to bathe and be pampered.

 

The cloud of ash and toxic fumes caught this poor man by surprise.  This is what was found when the archeologists dug up the city.

I found the temple site very interesting.  Here is the altar.

This is a better view of the streets.  I was amazed at how large the city is and they have only uncovered a small portion of the city.

 

This wash basin was just out side of the temple entrance.

This is perhaps one of their Gods they came to worship.

Finally a view from the city wall of  what is left of mount Vesuvius.

Now we are driving along the famous  Amalfi Coast on our way to visit Sorrento.  This little jewel is across the bay of Naples from Naples.  What a beautiful spot.  I wanted to jump off the bus and settle right there.

Doesn’t this look like a good place to spend some time. This resort was a popular place for European princes, English aristocrats and American writers in days gone by.  It is very expensive place and popular with those who have money. 

Doesn't this look like a pleasant place to rest in the shade?

 

If you use your imagination you can see the Island of Capri way off in the distance.

We arrived back in Rome late that evening, ready for rest, and the next days adventure. 

 

Our tour of the Vatican begins.  The city state is surrounded by a huge wall.  We began our tour in the Vatican museum. The tour was sort of like seeing the Smithsonian in one afternoon.  Our tour guide marched us along the halls filled with sculptures and paintings.  The best part was the Sistine chapel.   We spent a half hour here craning our necks to see all the paintings on the ceiling.  They were magnificent.  I couldn’t help but feel awed by Michael Angelo’s view of the creation of man and all the other scenes he painted.  We were not allowed to take pictures.

 

In the next hall we could take pictures.  The first sculpture is of the Goddess Diana or Artemis.

I need some advice on taking pictures of paintings.

 

AT last we are out of the museum and gazing up at the Dome of Saint Peters Basilica.  This huge church is supposed to be built on the tomb of the apostle Peter.   Peter came to Rome to preach the gospel to the people here.

 

This is the large square in front of the Basilica where thousands gather to listen to the Pope, this is the platform he stands on.

 

Inside the Basilica, every where you look , floors, walls, pillars, windows there is something beautiful to look at.

Do you recognize the Altar?  Maybe if you watched “Angels and Demons”.

These colorful guards are from Switzerland.  They guard the Vatican

Look at the windows on the third floor.  The second window on the right is the Pope’s bedroom window.  Sometimes the Pope will wave to the Catholic people down on the square from his window.

Our tour continued through the streets of Rome.  At the Trevi fountain we watched the young people throw coins over their shoulders into the fountain, all hoping to return to Rome.  I should have thrown one in too.  So much to see and so little time.

  

Grandpa trudges on. We had to move quickly to keep up with our guide.

The Pantheon, one of Rome’s impressive and best –preserved ancient monuments.  It was built by the emperor Hadrian back in AD 120 on the sight of an ancient temple.

 

The dome of the temple is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built.  The height of the dome is equal to the diameter of the circular interior.  The “eye of heaven” or hole in the dome, is open to the skies, and lights up the dome interior.  Originally, the dome was covered in bronze plates that would have reflected beams of sunlight.  Most of the bronze has been plundered by emperors and popes.  Most of it was used to create a huge altar that is now in Saint Peters Basilica.   The Pantheon was eventually used by the Catholics for a cathedral.

 

Free time, Dad and Tony are taking a break, while Arlene and I speed around the square to see all the fountains

and sculptures.

We were always surrounded by crowds, and people ready to entertain us with music, mime, and comic routines.

The bus returned us to our hotel, after a quick bite, we climbed back on the bus for a night tour of Rome.

Do you recognize this structure?

Saint Peter’s

Home to bed, no trouble falling to sleep this night.

This ends our tour of Rome and points south. My first blog ends here.   I’ll send a new installment soon.

Dad and I are off to the beach to meet with another contractor.  You will hear from us soon.

Love Mom and Dad