Sea Day Then Pompeii!

After 6 port stops all in a row I think all passengers sighed a bit relief knowing g finally we had a sea day where one could sleep in, wash out a few clothing items or send them off to be done and have a day to enjoy the boat or their comfy staterooms. We have changed time quite a few times losing an hour so that too disrupts you’re sleep cycle.  But we know when we head west again those hours will come back to us and we will really feel refreshed.  

Sea days give you time to explore more about what the ship offers, browse the shops which are always having so wrong on sale, and peek into other areas like pay for dining venues or peruse the casino ( not so much for me as the smell of smokiness lingers ). But you also can check out the Dutch Cafe area with its cute cafe that just out into the deck area, or the Crows Nest where they have scheduled events all day long.  You could take time to talk to a future cruise person who tries to sell you on upcoming cruises within the next two years.  I enjoyed listening to the Food and Beverage Director and Chief Chef talk about themselves, their work and answer questions from the passengers. Then I headed to a talk by one of the onboard speakers who spoke about some of the next upcoming areas we would dock at.  Their information is very different. They don’t talk about diamonds to buy and shops but more about the history of the area, ways to get around including buses, taxis, shuttles, trains, etc.  Their talks are from their experiences there and they want to point out places to see and visit fir a variety of reasons. The talks have been packed and you need to be there at least 1/2 hour before they begin!!

We met up with our friends Chuck and Betsy and we enjoy lunch together outside on the pool deck and then settle in for games including hand and foot, Triominos and Farkle!  

The day passes with beautiful seas to peruse outside our table location by the window and sunny skies with scattered skimming clouds. 

All of the sudden it’s time for dinner and we give way to choosing from a variety of options. After that we might attend the entertainment in the theater or watch a movie under the stars , keep playing games, walk to a music venue or call it a night.  Tonight we decided to  get ready for our next port of call Pompeii.  

We take a third party tour here and our guide gives us lots of information along the EXC talk the ship provides.   The city was  buried in ash 79 ad.  The eruption lasted 4 days. No lava here was spewed on the city just ash. The same ash was found  in Positano which was 25 ft of ash. In 1748 they started digging but to this day 1/3 still is buried.  

There are 175 acres in the complex. 

It takes a full week to really see everything there is to see and read all the information provided. 

There are many layers built upon each other. Built 800 years before Christ by first the Greeks then Romans.  Anything made of  wood burned and ceilings collapsed. 

At the heights of the city there were over 600 shops and stores!

Position was important for trading as a city and it was surrounded by mountains fir protection. The Theater 

was open air used as a foyer by Ronan’s to visit.  

Gladiators also trained in open areas.  In  1974 it was used as a theater for concerts which must have been amazing. 

All wood ceiling gone but other ceilings are over 2000 years old.  5000 people could sit in the big theater with 1000 in small theaters for music performances. 

Original marble was imported from areas close to Florence. First section of seating was for vip’s with cushions on their chairs!  Second section for men divided by caste system. Women were able to sit on the top

Comedy and drama were performed in the theater which had  no roof. Shows lasted an entire day. 

Shows were free to all of the city. 

Politicians paid for all to get elected meaning the more money you had the more likely you could pay off citizens to get elected!  Two main roads were Greek built 

with 7 gates into the city of Pompeii.  Streets are made of basalt and you can still see the original tracks of iron wheels that rolled through them.  Stepping stones were used to cross safely as garbage and water ran in streets. No drainage was really built into the streets so the large stepping stones were necessary for safety. 

Roads built for these streets were made fir the citizens and the size of their carts and wagons.  Other countries that cane to the area had to rent carts or vehicles that were here as their means of transportation wouldn’t be able to pass over the stepping stones.  There were 31 bakeries at the time the city was booming and different ones for different cultures.  All shops had tracks for sliding wooden doors so those who uncovered the ruins knew how to determine they were shops. Upper floors were for houses or other small shops.  

Pompeii is one of the biggest archeological sites in the world and a Unesco site.  1/3 of Pompeii is still buried.  

20,000 people lived here at one time. There were 4 public baths fir the population.  They were like a swimming pool with small stalls for massage. Also a gym and it was sectioned off for male and female. .  Men’s was larger than the women’s. Women had warm and steam rooms.  It was thought that cold water was dangerous for women and prompted infertility.  

Big water system were made out of lead for piping it. 

Lots of poor health disease resulted from this and  men typically died at 40!  Women were usually around 29 when they died and often at child birth.   You can still see the original floors and roof in the men’s bath along with 

the Lockers and waiting room.  They baths and massage areas had  heated floors and tubs. They used wood for ovens ti heat the water and floors. Then  after the steam room you could join others in the cool room

All marble decorations were used in the public rooms. 

Phalic symbol was used often and to the Greeks and Romans it meant good luck or to show direction to show what a store owner has.  Here you can see the only  marble fountain with a phalic symbol  for good luck

all markets were open air  with one side being fruits and vegetables and then other side a fish market.  

The coast line used to be right at the gate of Pompeii but after the eruption it moved almost 4 kilometers away. 

There was a tsunami and earthquake along with the eruption. Scientists say it won’t erupt for another 3 thousand years!!

Small stones white in the streets reflected light to show people the way 

Our tour took us then along the Amalfi coast to the quaint and lovely city of Sorrento.  It was obvious that this city is a resort area and full of beautiful flowers, lovely hotels and delicious restaurants.  Small tight streets are bursting with vendors selling everything you could ever need or imagine. 

We go thru three tunnels to get to Sorrento and then 

through the Milky Mountains.  

Green houses here are a big thing.  Greenhouses are everywhere. Lots of immigrants and poor people live in government housing. There are no jobs which makes for a more unsafe area outside the cities. 

The local area produces grapes, lemons,  and olive oil.  

It took  23 years to build the five meter  tunnel that leads us in and out if Sorrento. We pass Lantana, Hibiscus,  cactus, and the Potatoe plant along with 

Oleander, lemon, and Bougainville.  While in Sorrento we enjoy a delicious lunch of pizza in a traditional locally owned cafe. 

Back to ship after a full day!!

What it might have looked like during the eruption 

The large open area for markets 

Entering one of the large theaters 

A huge area which must have been amazing!!

One can’t believe these are still standing and how much work it took to build all of this. 

A view of the theater from the top.  Dan didn’t climb to the top because of his cough and cold :(

Stepping stones in the street and the grooves from wagon and cart wheels still present

Huge stepping stones 

Original colored ceilings in the bath houses!

Original beautiful ceilings in the bath houses

The large pools 

The phalic symbol pursued shop owners shops still very much visible!

An original one of a kind fountain still standing that is marble and also represents the phalic symbol 

The open market structure where fish were sold

Look at the beautiful stone work of the walls and imagine the times here 

Dan and Chuck pondering what to order at the authentic Sorrento restaurant 

Our menu cover!

Ah! It was pizza and delicious!

A beautiful historic church in the Sorrento square 

A view from the town out to the ocean between the deep chasm that exists with the highway taking up the space. 

Oh boy!  Imagine giving your neighbor oil as a gift from these glass containers!

Want some sexy pasta??!!

The street markets are lovely to behold with all those colorful fruits and vegetables 


Streets are clean here and everything is for sale 

The Amalfi coast 

Flowers are still blooming along the route

A stop at the Limoncello store and restaurant. 

The view!!


A fun tasting spot with a lovely ambiance.