NAPLES, ITALY

NAPLES, ITALY

   Famous for its history, architecture, and pizza, Naples has continually allured visitors for years with lots to see, eat, and experience. With evidence of habitation as early as 9^th century BC, Naples is one of oldest cities in the world.  In 1861 Italy went under unification and only had one king. It was in June 2, 1946 that they became a republic.

   On tour we went out of town for about a half an hour drive and we spent the day in the ruins of Pompeii.  Mt Vesuvius is a volcano of about four thousand feet high. It suddenly erupted on the 24^th August of 79 AD to bury Pompeii under ash and rock. Pompeii was rediscovered in the 16^th century, but exploration did not begin until 1748 under the King of Naples Charles III of Bourbon, and continued systematically into the nineteenth century, until the most recent works of excavation, restoration and enhancement of the ancient city and its extraordinary wealth of architecture, sculptures, paintings, and mosaics. 

   Well, this is the next to our last port-of-call.  In the morning we will dock in Rome, Italy and we will disembark and go straight to the airport to fly to the States. This has been a wonderful cruise.  We have learned so much about ancient history and we have now seen the rise and fall of civilizations and it gives us a different perspective on life. We’ve made some great new friends that we hope to meet again. We hope you have enjoyed coming along on this journey with us.

City gate to Pompeii

Mt Vesuvius as seen from Pompeii

Man caught in the ash of Mt Vesuvius

A bakery where wheat was ground and bread was baked for sale

 

 

 

TAORMINA, SICILY, ITALY

TAORMINA, SICILY, ITALY

Located on the east coast of the island of Sicily, midway between Messina and Catania, Taormina is spectacularly situated on a natural terrace in the shadow of rocky terrace in the shadow of rocky Mont Tauro. Historic relics confirm the site has been inhabited for at least three millennia; its first documented settlement was the Greek colony of Tauromenion, founded in 403 BC by refugees from the nearby Greek city of Naxox. Desired for its strategic position overlooking the sea and valley, it was seized by the Romans, and later fell into Byzantine hands, becoming the capital of Byzantine Sicily in the 9^th Century.  The Arabs, on their arrival in the 10^th century, enriched the surrounding countryside, building an efficient irrigation system for crops, ensuring Taormina’s desirability. An enchanting town, reminiscent of Capri or an Amalfi Coast resort, Taormina has been a popular tourist destination since the 19^th century, seducing writers and artists, aristocrats and royalty alike. With its extraordinary eyrie-like setting on the side of a mountain, the town offers stunning views of the coast and Mount Etna volcano.  Throughout the hill-town, there are remnants of the Greeks and Romans, a charming medieval quarter and castle ruins.

                                               Another Formal Night on board the ship

Tom in front of Mount Etna

Restaurant Menu

Taormina taken from above

 

 

 

 

                                         

ITEA (DELPHI) GREECE

ITEA (DELPHI) GREECE

In Greek mythology, Delphi was the place where the world started, and therefore one of the most spiritual places in Greece.  Perched on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, it was the location of the famed oracle and the Sanctuary of Apollo.  Excavations of the site in the nineteenth century uncovered the area’s theater and stadium among other ruins.  Shortly after, a town cropped up nearby to accommodate tourists coming to see the area’s archeological wonders.  Delphi’s archeological site is a peaceful place, unlike the many sites in Athens. The ‘agora’ (meeting place) is at its center with the treasury, temple of Apollo, and other sites within walking distance.  The museum near the site holds artifacts from Delphi.

Sphinx of the Naxians 560 BC

Charioteer holding reins 6C BC

Tom on mountain top at Temple of Apollo 4th C BC

Sandy at Temple of Apollo

 

 

 

 

 

KERKIRA (CORFU), GREECE

KERKIRA (CORFU), GREECE

The second largest Greek island in the Ionian Sea, Corfu lies northwest of mainland Greece and serves as a major tourist destination and producer of olive oil and local wines.  Castles abound on this small island.  In fact, the Greek government has dubbed Corfu “castle city” because of its two prominent castles that border the town.  In the old town you see colorful narrow cobblestone streets. You’ll also find aged houses from the Venetian era and the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Cave, Saint Spyridon church, where the body of the patron saint of the island lies. Today, the restored fortress is used for concerts and other cultural events, and the Byzantine-style architecture may be viewed anytime.

   On tour we took a small, winding road to the top of Mount Pantokrator for a bird’s-eye view of the island.

   The island is small. There are 120,000 people living on the island and 35,000 live in the town.  In the 8^th C BC Corinth colonized the island.

View of the sea from the mountain top

Newer fortress built by Venetians in 1577

Sandy eating Baklava

Old buildings from the Venetian era

 

 

 

 

 

 

KATAKOLON (OLYMPIA), GREECE

KATAKOLON (OLYMPIA), GREECE

This popular port in the northwest portion of the Peloponnese serves not only as the current harbor for the capital city of Pyrgo, but also provides the gateway to Olympia, birthplace of the modern Olympic Games in 776 BC.  However, many of the structures that can still be seen today date back as far as the 9^th century BC. The Olympic games were integral in the society of ancient Greece.  Every four years men from every city state would travel to Olympia to compete and to honor the king of the gods, Zeus.  Due to natural disasters and the destruction of the site by Theodosius, Ancient Olympia is mostly comprised of foundations, columns, and steps.  However, its sheer size symbolizes the importance of the archaeological site, built as a shrine to the gods.  Also impressive is the Temple of Zeus which was built around 470 BC and was one of the greatest temples in all of Ancient Greece.  The stadium itself had a capacity of 40,000 spectators and was the largest of its kind.  The Archaeological Museum of Olympia is one of the most important museums in Greece.

Archaeological digs still in progress

Tom in the Gymnasium 2C BC

Temple of Hera, wife of Zeus, 7th C BC

Zeus abducting Ganymedes 475 BC

Hermes of Praxiteles (340-330 BC) Marble

Stadium, 600 ft, 40,000 people sat on the grass, 3d C BC

 

 

 

 

PIRAEUS, ATHENS, GREECE

PIRAEUS, ATHENS, GREECE

   Commonly known as the birthplace of democracy, Athens serves as Greece’s capital city and is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back 7,000 years. The city is steeped in rich political history and impressive architectural feats including the Acropolis of Athens. The Parthenon was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena who saved the Athenians from the Persians.  It was built and ornamented at the order of the leader of Athens, Pericles. The artists were Pheidias, Iktinos, and Kallikratis.  It was completed in 438 BC.

   On tour we also saw the Panathinaiko Stadium, where the first ever Olympic Games were held in 1896. The original structure was rebuilt and is now the only major stadium made entirely of white marble. We also saw the National Archaeological Museum, where the largest collection of ancient Greek antiquities in the world is housed.  Many statues and other treasures from ship wrecks around the Greek coast were taken by the English in 1816 and they now reside in the British Museum.

   Athens is a city of 11 million people and there are 20 million in all of Greece. There are many refugees coming in from Syria now. In 1821 Greece became a Republic and 95% of the people are of the Greek Orthodox religion.

                                           Gold finds from Mycenae grave 16C BC

Bronze dagger with inlaid decoration depicting a lion hunt. From grave 16 C BC

Bronze statue of Poseidon 460 C BC

Tom at the Acropolis

Tom and Sandy at the Parthenon

 

 

 

 

SANTORINI, GREECE

SANTORINI, GREECE

   Certainly the most ruggedly beautiful of the Aegean islands, Santorini boasts pitch-black beaches, white washed cliffs and sensational sunsets.  Also known as Thira, this island owes it dramatic landscape to one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. In approximately 1600 BC the volcano that made up this island erupted in a catastrophic explosion known as the Minoan eruption. What was once the island of Thira sank to the bottom of the caldera and the sea rushed into the abyss to create the great bay. The bay, once the high center of the island, is 1,300 in some places, so deep that when boats dock in the small port of Athinios, they do not drop anchor. Our ship could not drop anchor so it just tried to stay in one spot the day we were in port. We were tendered from the ship to the port which is always an experience but it went very smoothly.

   The lagoon-like caldera that was created in this eruption measures 32 square miles and it is 300 to 400 meters deep. Along the caldera are cliffs rising 1,100 feet, with the white clusters of the towns of Fira and Oia perched along the top.

    On tour we were driven to the top to visit the ruins preserved in the ancient city of Akrotiri, dubbed the Minoan Pompeii.  Life came to an abrupt halt in the flourishing Prehistoric city of Akrotiri during the final quarter of the 17^th C. BC when its inhabitants abandoned it due to powerful earthquakes and the enormous volcanic eruption that followed.  The volcanic material that covered the city and the entire island has provided excellent protection for buildings and their contents down to the present.  The settlement’s large area, its sophisticated city planning, (to include toilets in the houses), multi-story buildings adorned by superb frescos, rich furnishings and house hold effects, all testify to its high level of development.

White houses built on the hilltop

1600 BC Frecos of flowers with borders

1600 BC Frecos of two teen nude boys boxing

Our ship on the left. Big island is also a volcano but dormant for now.