VIVA ITALIA!!

Italy

Viva Italia!!!! Greetings friends! I apologize for my long absence off of blogspot, it’s been a whirlwind since arriving to Italy and really hasn’t stopped. So thank you for your patience and I now present my recap of my time in Naples, Rome and Capri, Italy.

We arrived in Italy last Tuesday, July 22nd. The views coming into Naples were pretty spectacular, as we were able to see the islands of Capri, Sorrento and Mount Vesuvius. Very impressive indeed. Now before I get really started on the blog, let me fill you in a little bit on our friends, the Italians.

Italians really and truly have a zest for living the good life. Even though the economy is not doing so hot right now, Italians take pleasure in simple things such as family, friends, and good food and wine (sign me up!). Most Italian families are small these days, usually only one child per family and because of the expenses of living on your own, it’s not uncommon for many Italians to live with their parents through their late 30s. While wine, espresso and cappuccino are savored here, I was introduced to a delightful liquor called limoncello, which is a lemon-infused alcohol that is just delicious. Be careful to only drink one or two or you’ll end up forgetting most of the evening. A few days before arriving in Naples, we were told to beware that a garbage strike had seized the city and talks had broken down between unionized workers and the city. Luckily, two days before we arrived, the situation was resolved! Hooray!

With no real plans in mind on the first day, my ever-reliable traveling buddy, Megan (MJ) and I decided that with the gorgeous weather, it was a day to enjoy at the beach. Following the advice of our boss, Sally, we packed a towel and our sunglasses, grabbed our friend John, and headed off the ship to find the hydrofoil to the island of Capri. As luck would have it, the hydrofoil dock was literally a 100 yard walk from the ship. We purchased our tickets and hopped on the 10:35 boat to Capri. The trip was magnificent, spectacular views all the way there. We again saw Mt. Vesuvius and Sorrento…we even had an Italian woman helping us with our Italian. It was nothing but clear blue skies, sunshine, and the Tyrrhenian Sea. When we started to make our arrival to the island, I was just awestruck. I had never seen anything like it. Capri is built into a mountain, basically, and is surrounded by palm trees, pastel-hued buildings and fruit stands every few feet. There is not a bad view on the island, anywhere. After doing some investigating, we took the furnicular (remember that from Norway?) up to the top of the island, and were met with spectacular views of the Mediterranean…..truly paradise!!

We walked around the island for a bit, soaking in the weather, the people and all of the cute stores that dotted sun-drenched streets. Stores selling limoncello to hand-made Italian sandals (the shoes were to-die-for) to Prada and every huge name in fashion all lined the streets.

We walked around for a little bit and decided it was time to get some authentic Italian pizza. It is believed that pizza was founded in Naples, as well as the invention of the margharita pizza, made with mozzarella, tomato and basil. The pizza is named after Queen Margharita, who visited Naples and loved the pizza so much, the inventor named it after her. The pizza also represents the three colors on the Italian flag.

John, MJ and I decided on a hidden pizzeria, recommended by some locals, tucked away on the edge of a cliff. Even the restaurant was incredible. The restaurant sits on a cliff and has no windows, so it was just unobstructed views of the Tyrrhenian Sea spread out before us. After savoring our pizza and a bottle of wine, it was time to hit the beach. To get to the beaches, we had to go down again, but we were told that there were man-made pathways winding down the hills that would lead to the beach. Well, you wouldn’t think it would be so hard, right? Yeah, well, wrong. Several of the paths that we took were dead ends, so we would hike back up and start all over again. Finally we saw a cute little coffee bar tucked away inside a hill and stopped for directions and a shot of espresso. Once we got directions, we were on our way. A half an hour later, we ended up at a private beach, Faraglioni, on the most western point on the island. The beaches on Capri are very rocky, but so incredible. We ordered some drinks from the beach bar and it was time to soak up the sun. The beach was located in a cove and was just incredible. There was an isolated spot to jump into the water and during our time, we saw several boats pull up about 200 yards from the beach, drop anchor and swim up to the land. MJ, John and I had a blast and all the while swimming in the Tyrrhenian, I kept thinking to myself, “who am I? and how the hell did I get to be here?” I can’t really describe how wonderful it was….all I needed was Brian and it would have been a perfect afternoon. I asked him to look up some prices to go to Capri for our honeymoon, but it’s a bit steep. We will definitely get there someday, though.

When it reached 5 PM, we realized that we needed to start heading back, as we were on the complete opposite side of the island from where the hydrofoil was. And the last one left at 7:10 PM. We were able to get a boat that took us from the beach, around the island to the north side. I took some great shots, there were yachts just hanging out in the water and these HUGE lava rocks that rise out of the sea. Once we got off the boat, we took a bus across the island, then the furnicular back down to the port. We got there in just enough time to enjoy a gorgeous ride back to Naples and were able to see the sunset sinking just behind the city.

If that wasn’t enough stimulation, I had my 2-day trip to Rome the following morning. The trip left at 9:30 AM, when we boarded our bus at the pier and headed to Rome. Rome is about a 3 hour drive from Naples, 4 hours if traffic is congested. Our tour guide, Poala, was awesome! The landscape from Naples to Rome is pretty countryside and I was able to have some delightful chats with students on the way there. When we arrived at the outskirts of Rome, we stopped at a wonderful restaurant for lunch. Now with 90 of us, it was a big group, but we were accommodated so well and treated to a three course lunch which included pasta, heaps of bread, baked chicken with peas and fingerling potatoes, and tiramisu for dessert. Everything was absolutely delicious and while I have never been a huge tiramisu fan, to get the real deal and not something frozen was just great. After our huge meal and our bellies full, we headed into the heart of Rome, which took about 20 minutes. I was so excited to see everything, as you see Rome in movies or read about it in books, but to be there, really there, for me was just humbling and exciting simultaneously.

Our first stop was Palatine Hill, which are the ruins from the palaces of ancient Roman rulers and is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and one of the most ancient parts of the city. It is believed that there were people living on the hill since 1000 BC, and is the site of where Romulus and Remus (the founders of Rome) were found and cared for by the she-wolf. We did not get out of the bus to visit it more extensively, but I was able to capture some great pictures.

Rome is a very interesting city in that it celebrates its ancient roots while embracing more modern architecture. To see some of the more classical European architecture juxtaposed against the Colosseum or the Pantheon in the heart of the city is pretty wild. Our next stop was the Colosseum and let me tell you, it’s worth the hype, it’s worth the incredulity, it’s something to behold. Just the shear size of it and to recognize that it was built in 72 AD, almost 2000 years old, is awe-inspiring. When I first saw it from the bus, I was really speechless, and then to see it up close and to actually go inside it, where gladiators fought for their lives for 500 years; where they would flood the Colosseum for shows involving ship battles, and to think that Emporers and Senators and the people of ancient Rome all gathered in this one spot for entertainment just makes you feel like you are a part of history, that you walked where they walked, and that the remnants of such a highly sophisticated and world-dominant empire still exist today. Fascinating! The Colosseum itself is largely made of limestone.

After the Colosseum, we headed to our hotel, which was centrally located near Piazza Novanna. We all headed out to dinner shortly thereafter, at an adorable Italian restaurant. Tucked away on the left bank of the Tiber River, the place filled everyone’s romanticized version of Italy—the outdoor tables with red and white checkered tablecloths, gas-lit lanterns, the restaurant itself covered in ivy vines. A 5-piece band playing guitars, harmonicas, and accordians, serenading us with Italian love songs and operettas under a clear black sky. It was pretty much one of the most romantic places I have ever been….by myself (another Miss Brian Moment). Dinner was delicious…more bread, more pasta (cannelloni stuffed with meat and another stuffed with mushrooms), housemade red wine and some gelato for dessert. I would say that Italians lay supremacy in the realm of ice cream. It’s amazing….eat your heart out, Coldstone and Dairy Queen. I dare say it’s even better than Culver’s frozen custard.

After dinner, we boarded the bus again and headed to Trevi Fountain, Rome’s largest and most famous fountain, built in 1629. While on the bus, Poala informed us of the legend of Trevi Fountain. If you want to make a wish, face away from the fountain, put the coins in your right hand and throw them over your left shoulder and make a wish. If you throw one coin, it means that you will one day return to Rome. If you throw two coins, you will fall in love with an Italian. If you throw three coins you want a divorce. Clearly, the obvious choice for me was 1 coin, and I did make a wish to return to Rome one day….with my little love bug J I heard that over 3000 Euros are thrown into the fountain each day….which would be about $5,000 USD. There is great picture on Facebook of me throwing the coin—check it out. Trevi itself is a sight to behold. It’s very unassuming because you are walking along these cobblestone streets with cute little shops and gelato stands every two feet, and then all of a sudden, the street widens to a piazza, and there it is. It is absolutely gorgeous at night, as the fountain is lit up. Neptune is the formidable figure in the fountain and it’s just plain cool. There were a few hundred tourists milling about, kissing in front of the fountain, elderly couples sitting on benches near the fountain, families with kids eating gelato enjoying a Roman night. Bellisima!!!!

After our walk to Trevi, we walked to the Pantheon, which is the oldest intact structure from Ancient Rome and the best preserved building in the world for its time. The Pantheon was originally built as a temple to all of the Gods in Ancient Rome. We were unable to go inside of it, but the walk by it was lovely.

After making our way to another piazza, we had some free time to shop at the outdoor vendors selling paintings, drawing, caricatures and just souvenier junk. I found myself a gelato stand and enjoyed a delicious pistachio treat. Yum!

Exhausted, we boarded the bus back to the hotel to get ready for our big day at the Vatican.

For me, and I know for Brian, one of the most exciting highlights of the entire voyage was going to the Vatican. I think it goes beyond the fact that it is the spiritual epicenter of the Roman Catholic Church, but that it’s place in world history has been so tragic and so celebrated. My time there was one that I am still reflecting and processing. For me, it was a soul stirring experience and you feel God’s presence with you. Mark the Vatican is my 8th country visited on this trip. Some of you asked if there is an actual border or if we needed to show our passports to enter the Vatican and the answer to that question is no. I didn’t realize we were at the Vatican until the bus stopped because the entryway for groups is very non-descript. There is a simple sign marked “Vaticani” that indicates where we are. After entering the museum, we were quickly ushered to the palatial outdoor courtyards, where our guide Monica walked us through the different rooms of the museum and Michaelangelo’s timeless, genius work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We only had a taste of what the Vatican Museums had to offer as we were on a pretty tight schedule and the place was absolutely bursting with tourists and school groups. We made our way through the candelabara room, where we saw priceless marble statues, and some Egyptian artwork, marble sarcophoguses and beautifully painted ceilings emblazoned with the Pope’s different crests and seals (ironically, no candelabras were found). The next great hall that we visited was the Tapestry Room, which was just spectacular. These huge tapestries hung from the ceilings, the artwork, the stitchery, absolutely priceless and beautiful. As we walked through the tapestry room, I was able to get a shot of the Vatican radio station through an open window. Pretty sweet. The next hall that we went through was the Map Room, which were beautiful maps drawn and painted from ancient times.

Up next was the Sistine Chapel. I could feel my heart beating faster as we entered the chapel. Folks, it’s a religious experience in and of itself to be in there. When I looked up at the ceiling and saw it, I wept. It was so powerful and moving, and just indescribable. The work is just a feat of genius and gorgeous expression. Painted between 1508 and 1512, the ceiling depicts the book of Genesis, with the Creation of Adam being the best known scene. In it, God is giving life to Adam, with God being held up by Angels and Adam lying in the grass with his arm outstretched. It is just stunning to see in person. The nine scenes the creation, rise and fall of man. Just unbelieveable. Religious or not, Catholic or not, please check out the Sistine Chapel photos online if you can. The creation of Adam and the picture of the Libyan Sibyl were my absolute favorites. On the sides of the these paintings, above the windows of the chapel are lunettes, which depict the ancestors of Christ with their names. And if this wasn’t a feast for the senses, Michaelangelo also painted “The Last Judgment” on the far wall of the chapel, which for me, would take a few hours to be able to see the landscape of it all. In the middle of the wall is Jesus standing with Mary, one of his hands pointing towards the sky, indicating those who had been saved, and one of his hands pointing down, indicating those who were going to hell. Just the artistry and the humanity brought to these images was enough to take your breath away.

The crowds in the chapel started to get a little congested, and Monica ushered us out and onto St. Peter’s Basillica we went. St. Peter’s, while not the largest basilica in the world, is probably the most famous. Some highlights from St. Peter’s (aside from just being there), were Pietra, the marble statue by Michaelangelo of Mary holding a dying Jesus, the Statue of David, and the Statue of St. Peter. St. Peter’s feet have virtually been rubbed off by the thousands even millions of visitors who have walked through the doors and rubbed or kissed his feet. I opted to rub St. Peter’s feet, said a couple of prayers, and toured the rest of the basilica. Again, time quickly slipped away, but not before I went outside the basilica and was able to overlook the square, which is just so impressive. The square was designed by Bernini, one of the most famous Italian architects and artists of his time. I also stood under the balcony where the Pope stands when he is first selected by the College of Cardinals and where he gives Mass every Easter Sunday. Pretty neat. The Pope was in Australia at the time of our visit, but we did get to see the Swiss Guards, the Pope’s personal body guards, who are 100 strong, all Swiss and basically some of the best trained killers in the world. They were decked out in their splendidly hued regalia dating back to the 1500s, when Michaelangelo designed the original uniforms.

After St. Peter’s, we were able to enjoy some free time on our own to explore. I was able to stop at a bookstore in Vatican City and buy some postcards, which I mailed off to Brian and his parents. I also bought some rosaries while there and if you can imagine, I ran around Vatican City looking for a priest to bless them, which two of them did (I was so nervous I was only able to get two out of their boxes so I had to get the third one done separately). Afterwards, I bought a book on the art inside the Vatican and just basked in the sun in St. Peter’s Square. It was a glorious afternoon, and one that I will never forget. The place was absolutely amazing and really spiritually moving to feel that God is close to you. Fascinating…..

We returned to Naples immediately after the Vatican. There, I met up with Marco, Zuri, Megan and Aaron and we proceeded to go to a late dinner. We stopped at a hole-in-the –wall restaurant along the coast and had an amazing feast! Bread, shrimp, prawns, octopus, pizza, you name it. We also had peach wine and complimentary limoncello and meloncello, which was refreshing and delicious. The waiter kept bringing out more liquor to try, which was hilarious. I think MJ took a photo of Zuri surrounded by bottles. It was an excellent meal that lasted well into the night with good friends.

Our last day in Naples was spent eating pizza, shopping, eating gelato and souvenier shopping. We headed back to the ship at 5 PM and waived goodbye to Naples.

In the wake of the bombings in Istabul that took place Sunday night, the ship diverted last night and we are on our way to Alexandria, Egypt! The field office was able to get trips organized there, so at this time tomorrow, I will be riding a camel to the pyramids in Giza! Can you believe it? How cool is that? While I will miss Istanbul, I am getting really excited to see one of the last man-made wonders of the world. Egypt is somewhere I never thought I would go in my life, so Africa, here we come. Our trip here is short, as we were at sea today, so we will arrive tomorrow and leave on Friday; arrive in Greece on Sunday.

Love to everyone!!!!