Lo-Tiv-Ro Tour Day 10

Today I had a very exciting trip planned, so I had to be up and out early and head back down to the Piazza del Popola, where I couldn't resist getting a couple of more pictures with the morning light:

So, we loaded up the buses and headed off towards the coast. Here is Naples off in the background and the Mediterranean Sea:

Our first stop, well except for the potty break at a gas station along the way, was Mount Vesuvius where we had the opportunity to climb to the top of the crater. Luckily, there was no smoke coming from the crater on this day, so we were safe that there was not going to be an eruption.

I figured that if these people could make it, then I could make it. Mind you, there were a couple of stops along the way where postcards and snacks were sold and where I'm sure a lot of people turned back. From the people on my bus, there were only a handful besides me that actually made it all the way to the top.

A shot across the crater:

I found somebody who would take a picture of me there....see, I really was at the top.

A shot out towards the sea:

Some more of the path...Getting a little more treacherous, but still doable.

The path above the cloud line. This is looking back from where I had just come from and where I would have to return down:

Another shot of the valley below.

Me trying to do a self portrait. I have NOT mastered the art of taking my own picture, yet.

On the way down. I was the last person to return to the bus, so yeah, I was "that" person. However, I was only 5 minutes late and like I said, only one of a small handful that went all the way to the top and around the rim.

We stopped at a large catering place for lunch, pizza, and then headed off to see Pompeii. Here is a shot of our tour guide starting the explanation:

Shot of the town:

Interior at the coliseum area of Pompeii:

Shop along the main thoroughfare. This would have been the equivalent of a fast food restaurant, they say, as the holes in the counter is where the shop keeper would have hot soups or food kept.  

This is the street. The raised stones would be the crosswalk for the people. The ruts are from wagons.

Have I mentioned at some point that I like doors and windows?

A ceiling in the baths area:

One of the body casts:

Exterior shot looking out towards Mt. Vesuvius:

This is what I did NOT enjoy about this trip. Notice the narrow street and all the people. There were sooo many people in Pompeii, which took a lot of the enjoyment away for me.

I wish more of it could have been of this nature:

One of the tiled floors that survived:

Again, cool portal....

At the forum of Pompeii, with Mt. Vesuvius in the background (yeah, can you see my ghost at the top since I was there just a couple of hours prior to this....)

Storeroom where they have many of the items that have been found during the on going excavation of the city as they are still discovering more all the time.

In the forum area, there were a couple of bronze statues that survived and had not been stolen off to the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

After we finished the tour, we headed back to Rome. It was a long day but a great one. As I look back through the pictures, it was really kind of amazing. I may have been annoyed while I was there but now I'm so very glad that I did it. I would definitely go back and explore both places again, but on my own time and not have to stick to a tour groups' time table. 

Lo-Tiv-Ro Tour Day 9

Today was the day that I toured the Vatican Museums and the four ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome. We started with the tour of the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica:

Since we were not allowed to take pictures within the Sistine Chapel, I opted to take pictures of some of the ceilings throughout the museums. This is all painted although it does look like it is carved or plastered:

 Also, there were some gorgeous floors that made me see quilt patterns all over the place:

Another ceiling:

And floor:

Raphael's painting The Fire in the Borgo:

And, another floor:

See, I told you that we couldn't take pictures and were supposed to be quiet. However, one of the things that really disturbed me was how many people ignored the signs. People seem to think that the signs are there for everybody else and they do not have to follow them. Just irks me..... and off the soap box.

This sign was obviously explaining to people the correct way to take the stairs, even though I really did want to scoot down them on my butt.

After we left the Sistine Chapel, we headed into St. Peter's Basilica. Now there are amazing doors at each of the basilicas. One is the Holy Door, which is only opened during Jubilee years. It is said that during Jubilee years if a pilgrim walks through all four of the holy doors then they will be washed clean of their sins. During the non-Jubilee years, when you touch the doors your are said to receive a blessing.

A shot inside St. Peter's Basilica:  

After the tour of St. Peters, we had a couple of hours to kill (or have lunch) before we headed out on the tour of the remaining three basilicas. So, I inhaled an orange and a croissant that I took from the breakfast buffet and ran down to the Castel Sant'Angelo and The Angel Bridge. I took a look back at St. Peter's and I would like for you all to note the clouds in the sky. Now I wonder why it is that every other day that I was in Rome the sun was out and it was beautiful, yet the one day that I'm visiting these four holy places the clouds come out and thunder rolled....I predicted that would happen.

Here is a shot of one of the angels on the bridge getting their air guitar on:

In the afternoon, the first basilica that we visited was the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls:

 The Holy Door:

The Blessing Door:

Inside:

The windows were not made with glass but rather with thinly sliced alabaster:

 The next basilica was the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran:  

 Holy door:

 Blessing door:

 Inside:

As part of the basilica is the Scala Sancta or Holy Stairs. These stairs, according to Christian tradition, are the steps that led up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate where Jesus Christ stood during his trial. Now people come to these stairs and will "walk" up them saying a prayer and can receive plenary indulgence, however, you can only go as fast as the person in front of you and once you start the process up the steps on your knees you cannot turn back. The original steps are marble, but are covered in wood to protect them from wear.

The final basilica that we visited was Basilica de Santa Maria Maggiore.

 Holy Door:

 Blessing Door:

 Inside:

After visiting Santa Maria Maggiore, I headed off back to the hotel. It had been a long day and a lot had been seen. Sadly, my sense of direction was a little askew and I ended up walking the wrong direction for about 4 blocks until I figured out where I was on the map and turned myself around. I was pretty worn out by the time I returned to the hotel and after running out for a quick bite of gelato I fell asleep knowing that the next day was another early day as I was headed to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii...