Pisa

Caught the leaning tower of Pisa today before the rain started. If you get right up next to the tower so the base completely fills your view it’s quite disconcerting.


Curiously the tower is actually banana shaped. They built the first three floors and when it started to sink work stopped. After many years a second architect decided to finish the tower and built the next 4 floors perfectly vertical on the angled floor. With the additional weight, the whole thing sank some more making it even more goofy looking.

Curbside Service

At each of the last three ports the captain has pulled the boat up along side the city. What a spectacular view. (The captain was from Venice, so he took the boat for a joy ride around the outskirts first.) Most of the buildings in the actual cities have only been about 4 stories, so can see everything from our 7th floor balcony in the morning as we eat breakfast.

In Dubrovnik we he had a cool bridge.

In Venice we were a five minute walk from St. Mark’s Place

And in Messina we had a spectacular view of the city.

Naples

Climbed Mt Vesuvius yesterday morning, the walls of the crater are vertical and over 150 feet deep. With each earthquake a little more rock falls down, so the bottom looks like a huge gravel pit. We did see one steam vent which made the air smell like sulfur but no lava. The mountain itself is around 4000 feet tall, with very little vegetation at the top, so we had a perfect view of the storm that rolled in. Over 30 lightning bolts (once 5 at a time) hit Naples before we decided to scurry back down.

Pompeii was pretty interesting too. The Roman houses were built with a central garden and rooms all around. Every floor was covered in beautiful marble mosaics and the walls with fresco paintings. The house we toured was probably 40 by 100, no windows but still quite nice. Yeah, they were all rich.

The Eagle has landed

Hello All,

Well we finally got to sleep and we’re just enjoying room service as the captain tries to park the boat. I was able to sleep about 3 or 4 hours on the plane, but I think Heather ended up watching the movies.

Yesterday we landed at 2:00 am EST and started touring the Vatican at 4:00 am our time. I’m not sure I can really begin to convey what it is like to be in the Vatican without using too many superlatives. Everything is marble and big. We toured the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. (yes Christian I regain my ability to spell after sleep) Overall, we were both most impressed by St. Peter’s. They place is over 500 feet long and has two working alters in the wings. The Pope is apparently quite proud of the sheer size because inside there are bronze markers on the floor which show how famous Cathedrals from around the World would fit inside St. Peter’s. Notre Dame for example is only about 1/3 the length. Even then you lose perspective as to how large everything is, the marble statues that all sit at ground level and are all around 30 feet tall and do not even begin to reach the ceiling. They have such intricate detail that you almost have to touch to appreciate. The walls and ceiling are adorned with what looks like huge paintings but are actually all Mosaics (and meant we could take all the pictures we wanted). We did get to tour some of the crypts, (basically just the basement level) where past popes have been laid to rest including John Paul II.

Our state room in enormous as far as rooms on a ship measure up. Just the bathroom is larger than ours at home, jacuzzi tub, dually sinks and all. Powder room, computer desk, bar, several closets, sitting area, bed, and of course, balcony, I believe we’ll have breakfast out there every morning.

Now we’re docking in Naples and are off to see Pompeii.

Arrivederci, Heather and Adrian