We are currently on day three of our trek and staying in the fabled Sherpa town, Namche Bazaar and we have spent the afternoon nursing our sore leg muscles. Internet here is very expensive, so this will be a very short blog entry.
Everyone is alive and well and only suffering from HAFE: High Altitude Flatulence. Tomorrow we will spend a full day in Namche Bazaar getting acclimated and view the local museum and press on.
Hope everyone is well in Houston!
Namaste!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
If Your Pee is Yellow, You Are Not Drinking Enough Water...
Today was our first full day in Kathmandu. We did have an early wake up call of 6:30 AM, but luckily everyone in the group had a good night's rest and were eating breakfast by 7:00 AM. The Tibet Guest House did serve a buffet style breakfast of eggs, toast, potato cakes, and your choice of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. However, we also found out the Tibet Guest House offers soft drinks in the morning, so a couple bottles of Coke and Mountain Dew made their way to our tables.
We left our hotel around 8:45 in the morning to begin our day of sightseeing. Our first stop was at the Swayambhunath Temple. The Swayambhunath Temple is located in the Kathmandu Valley, just west of city centre, and is one of the main religious complexes visited by tourists. However, you may hear from your student, this place will affectionately be called the "Monkey Temple" because there are monkeys living at the top of the temple. Pictures will be provided upon return. We were able to get fairly close to the monkeys without any problems, except for one monkey stealing Denis' water bottle, climbing a small monument, trying to drink from the bottle, and then throwing it back at us. I personally did not see this happen, but I am sure the students have pictures.
Swayambhunath means "Sublime Trees" in Tibetan, mainly for the numerous variety of trees found in the area. Our tour guide, Raj, also mentioned that the Swayambhunath is probably the most sacred sites for Buddhist pilgrimages. It was very sacred considering we had to climb 365 steps to the top (each stair representing each day of the year) and prayer wheels were found along the outer walls.
In the center of the temple is a large stupa, which is a variety of shrines and temples. Painted on the stupa is Buddha's eyes and eyebrows and between them is what appears to be a nose, but it is no nose at all. It is actually the Nepali symbol for unity. It was awesome and made for some great photographs, which will again be posted later.
Small shops were set up along the perimeter and hawkers tried to persuade us to purchase Buddha figurines, swords, and other miscellaneous knick knacks at what they claimed were rock bottom prices. However, our students are becoming quite the bargainers.
After we left the temple, we were given the privilege of seeing the Kumari, or Living Goddess.A Kumari is the tradition of worshipping young girls who are believed to be the manifestations of the divine female energy. In order to be a Kumari, a girl must be from the Shakya clan, have certain physical aspects, such as black straight hair, neck like a swan, brown eyes, and no deformities or blemishes. The young girl must even spend the night in a dark room by herself with the heads of dead carcases. Kumari means virgin and a girl can remain a Kumari until she reaches puberty and begins menstruation. The current Kumari is six years old and no foreigner can arrange a private viewing with her, which I am glad for, because her reaction to you may mean imminent death:
Crying or loud laughter: Serious illness or death
Weeping or rubbing eyes: Imminent death
Trembling: Imprisonment
Hand clapping: Reason to fear the King
Picking at food offerings: Financial losses
I can live without the Kumari laughing at me. It was a special treat to see the Kumari because in Social Studies, we watched a documentary called "Living Goddess" which was all about the Kumari in Nepal.
After viewing the Kumari, we walked around the Old City of Kathmandu, taking pictures of old buildings, posing with police guards, and the Hippie Like priests of Kathmandu. We had a Nepalese Style Lunch on the roof of the Festival Restaurant that offered good panoramic views of the surrounding city.
We only had a half day of sightseeing, leaving the afternoon open for packing and some shopping. We leave tomorrow for a trek at 6:30 in the morning to catch a 7:45 flight to Lukla. All checked bags must be under 15 kg or 33 lbs, which hopefully everyone will be at once we check their luggage. I am not sure when we will update the blog next, but we will have a fun, safe, travel, especially after John went over the basics to make sure we avoid altitude sickness.
One way to avoid altitude sickness is to drink water or in John's words: "If you don't pee enough, then you are not drinking enough water or if your pee is yellow, you are not drinking enough water." There will be definite water parties on the trail.
Until the next blog entry, Namaste!
We left our hotel around 8:45 in the morning to begin our day of sightseeing. Our first stop was at the Swayambhunath Temple. The Swayambhunath Temple is located in the Kathmandu Valley, just west of city centre, and is one of the main religious complexes visited by tourists. However, you may hear from your student, this place will affectionately be called the "Monkey Temple" because there are monkeys living at the top of the temple. Pictures will be provided upon return. We were able to get fairly close to the monkeys without any problems, except for one monkey stealing Denis' water bottle, climbing a small monument, trying to drink from the bottle, and then throwing it back at us. I personally did not see this happen, but I am sure the students have pictures.
Swayambhunath means "Sublime Trees" in Tibetan, mainly for the numerous variety of trees found in the area. Our tour guide, Raj, also mentioned that the Swayambhunath is probably the most sacred sites for Buddhist pilgrimages. It was very sacred considering we had to climb 365 steps to the top (each stair representing each day of the year) and prayer wheels were found along the outer walls.
In the center of the temple is a large stupa, which is a variety of shrines and temples. Painted on the stupa is Buddha's eyes and eyebrows and between them is what appears to be a nose, but it is no nose at all. It is actually the Nepali symbol for unity. It was awesome and made for some great photographs, which will again be posted later.
Small shops were set up along the perimeter and hawkers tried to persuade us to purchase Buddha figurines, swords, and other miscellaneous knick knacks at what they claimed were rock bottom prices. However, our students are becoming quite the bargainers.
After we left the temple, we were given the privilege of seeing the Kumari, or Living Goddess.A Kumari is the tradition of worshipping young girls who are believed to be the manifestations of the divine female energy. In order to be a Kumari, a girl must be from the Shakya clan, have certain physical aspects, such as black straight hair, neck like a swan, brown eyes, and no deformities or blemishes. The young girl must even spend the night in a dark room by herself with the heads of dead carcases. Kumari means virgin and a girl can remain a Kumari until she reaches puberty and begins menstruation. The current Kumari is six years old and no foreigner can arrange a private viewing with her, which I am glad for, because her reaction to you may mean imminent death:
Crying or loud laughter: Serious illness or death
Weeping or rubbing eyes: Imminent death
Trembling: Imprisonment
Hand clapping: Reason to fear the King
Picking at food offerings: Financial losses
I can live without the Kumari laughing at me. It was a special treat to see the Kumari because in Social Studies, we watched a documentary called "Living Goddess" which was all about the Kumari in Nepal.
After viewing the Kumari, we walked around the Old City of Kathmandu, taking pictures of old buildings, posing with police guards, and the Hippie Like priests of Kathmandu. We had a Nepalese Style Lunch on the roof of the Festival Restaurant that offered good panoramic views of the surrounding city.
We only had a half day of sightseeing, leaving the afternoon open for packing and some shopping. We leave tomorrow for a trek at 6:30 in the morning to catch a 7:45 flight to Lukla. All checked bags must be under 15 kg or 33 lbs, which hopefully everyone will be at once we check their luggage. I am not sure when we will update the blog next, but we will have a fun, safe, travel, especially after John went over the basics to make sure we avoid altitude sickness.
One way to avoid altitude sickness is to drink water or in John's words: "If you don't pee enough, then you are not drinking enough water or if your pee is yellow, you are not drinking enough water." There will be definite water parties on the trail.
Until the next blog entry, Namaste!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Safe Arrival
Dear Parents, Friends, and other loyal blog readers,
Both HOLA groups arrived safely in Kathmandu today with very little trouble except for having severe jet lag (I personally believe the Delhi group suffered a little bit more from jet lag than the Qatar group), but we are at the Tibet Guest House, which is a lovely hotel near the main shopping district for tourists.
We have been debriefed for our trek and our guide friend John took us on a short stroll around the market area, where students have already purchased their Gurkha swords, small violins, and a Jonas Brothers cd or two.
I would write more, but since I am part of the Delhi group, the hotel bed is calling my name. Students are eating their dinner in the hotel restaurant, taking their showers, and preparing for a day of sightseeing ahead of them. There should be a good blog entry in a day or two after everyone is well rested.
Namaste!
Both HOLA groups arrived safely in Kathmandu today with very little trouble except for having severe jet lag (I personally believe the Delhi group suffered a little bit more from jet lag than the Qatar group), but we are at the Tibet Guest House, which is a lovely hotel near the main shopping district for tourists.
We have been debriefed for our trek and our guide friend John took us on a short stroll around the market area, where students have already purchased their Gurkha swords, small violins, and a Jonas Brothers cd or two.
I would write more, but since I am part of the Delhi group, the hotel bed is calling my name. Students are eating their dinner in the hotel restaurant, taking their showers, and preparing for a day of sightseeing ahead of them. There should be a good blog entry in a day or two after everyone is well rested.
Namaste!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Nepal, here we come!!
Another upcoming trip is about to commence! All our students have been working hard all year, studying the religion, food, and language of Nepal and fundraising for their trip by selling raffle tickets, holding a car wash and garage sale, and helping acquire items for our annual silent auction. All their hard work has paid off and we depart Tuesday, March 23
Summary of Flight Information:
March 23: Arrive at Terminal D at IAH at 4:30 PM, Depart on Qatar Airways Flight 78 at 8:45 PM.
March 24: Arrive in Doha at 7:40 PM
March 25: Depart Doha at 6:25 AM on Qatar Airways Flight 352 and arrive in Kathmandu at 1:30 PM
April 14: Depart Kathmandu on Qatar Airways Flight 355 at 11:30 PM
April 15: Arrive in Doha at 1:45 AM. Depart Doha at 9:50 AM on Qatar Airways Flight 77 and arrive in
Houston at 6:10 PM
TRIP INFO: Nepal Itinerary
25 March
Arrival. Airport meet-n-greet. Hotel check in and briefing.
26 March
In Kathmandu. Morning sightseeing in Kathmandu, afternoon for rest and recovery from travel fatigue; final preparations for trek.
27 March
Depart early to fly to Lukla. In Lukla you will take tea while your guides collect your porters, then head off. A short day, mostly downhill, to Phakding by the Dudh Kosi (Milk River).
28 March
Continue along the river in the morning, entering the Sagarmatha National Park area. Then in the afternoon a steep, spectacular climb to Namche Bazaar, the fabled Sherpa town set in a horseshoe valley.
29 March
Rest day in Namche. Explore this wonderful town and/or climb a bit in the hills above it for nice mountain views North towards Everest.
30 March
Contour high above the Dudh Kosi on an open, spectacular trail. Then descend sharply for lunch at Phunki where you will cross the river. Then a steep uphill walk to the fabled monastery at Thayngboche, set in a saddle and looking north to where Everest pokes its head out above Lhotse and Nuptse.
31 March
If the Rinpoche (reincarnate Lama) is receiving, you can pay him a brief visit and receive a blessing. Then press on to the north, past Pangboche where the "Yeti Scalp" which was the focus of the famous Edmund Hillary Yeti Expedition is located. Though the scalp was determined not to be a Yeti, it and the Pangboche monastery are still held in great reverence by the local people. Continue on an easy afternoon walk to Dingboche.
1 April
Another day for altitude acclimatization, as Dingboche is just over 14,000 feet. Cross the ridge behind the village to the hill called Dingboche Ri for the acclimatization; then climb down to Pheriche on the other side and at the same altitude as Dingboche.
2 April
Begin the ascent of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The views of Pumori and Nuptse from Lobuje, where you will overnight, are just a small taste of what's in store in the morning!
3 April
On the trail at the crack of dawn following the moraine past the dry lake bed at Gorak Shep. Climb steadily but slowly to Kala Pattar (18,100 feet) for unbelievably fabulous views of Everest and all of the surrounding Himals. Trek back to Lobuje.
4 April
Day of margin for contingencies. If everyone has acclimatized well and you still have this day in-hand, you can stay at the base of Gorak Shep overnight, go up to Base Camp and return to Lobuje. If you have needed the contingency day earlier you'll skip Base Camp. (There's little to see from there, but it's a great "destination" just because of what it is...)
5 April
Trek out to Pangboche. Try to arrange a viewing of the "yeti scalp."
6 April
Trek back to Namche and down to Monjo at the National Park entrance.
7 April
Trek back to Lukla
8 April
Fly to Kathmandu
9 April
In Kathmandu. R&R and a day of margin against domestic flight delays.
10 April
Drive early in the morning to Chitwan National Park in the south of the country, about 6 hours. Lunch on arrival, either in Bharatpur or at your accommodations. Afternoon activities.
11 April
Spend the day in the park: elephant-back safari and some combination of jeeping, walking and rafting.
12 April
Morning jungle activities, then drive back to Kathmandu with lunch en-route. Overnight Kathmandu.
13 April
Departure for some of the group, free day in Kathmandu for others.
14 April
Final departure
We will try to update this blog as much as possible while we are away. However, most of our updates will most likely come from Kathmandu before and after our trek.
Summary of Flight Information:
March 23: Arrive at Terminal D at IAH at 4:30 PM, Depart on Qatar Airways Flight 78 at 8:45 PM.
March 24: Arrive in Doha at 7:40 PM
March 25: Depart Doha at 6:25 AM on Qatar Airways Flight 352 and arrive in Kathmandu at 1:30 PM
April 14: Depart Kathmandu on Qatar Airways Flight 355 at 11:30 PM
April 15: Arrive in Doha at 1:45 AM. Depart Doha at 9:50 AM on Qatar Airways Flight 77 and arrive in
Houston at 6:10 PM
TRIP INFO: Nepal Itinerary
25 March
Arrival. Airport meet-n-greet. Hotel check in and briefing.
26 March
In Kathmandu. Morning sightseeing in Kathmandu, afternoon for rest and recovery from travel fatigue; final preparations for trek.
27 March
Depart early to fly to Lukla. In Lukla you will take tea while your guides collect your porters, then head off. A short day, mostly downhill, to Phakding by the Dudh Kosi (Milk River).
28 March
Continue along the river in the morning, entering the Sagarmatha National Park area. Then in the afternoon a steep, spectacular climb to Namche Bazaar, the fabled Sherpa town set in a horseshoe valley.
29 March
Rest day in Namche. Explore this wonderful town and/or climb a bit in the hills above it for nice mountain views North towards Everest.
30 March
Contour high above the Dudh Kosi on an open, spectacular trail. Then descend sharply for lunch at Phunki where you will cross the river. Then a steep uphill walk to the fabled monastery at Thayngboche, set in a saddle and looking north to where Everest pokes its head out above Lhotse and Nuptse.
31 March
If the Rinpoche (reincarnate Lama) is receiving, you can pay him a brief visit and receive a blessing. Then press on to the north, past Pangboche where the "Yeti Scalp" which was the focus of the famous Edmund Hillary Yeti Expedition is located. Though the scalp was determined not to be a Yeti, it and the Pangboche monastery are still held in great reverence by the local people. Continue on an easy afternoon walk to Dingboche.
1 April
Another day for altitude acclimatization, as Dingboche is just over 14,000 feet. Cross the ridge behind the village to the hill called Dingboche Ri for the acclimatization; then climb down to Pheriche on the other side and at the same altitude as Dingboche.
2 April
Begin the ascent of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. The views of Pumori and Nuptse from Lobuje, where you will overnight, are just a small taste of what's in store in the morning!
3 April
On the trail at the crack of dawn following the moraine past the dry lake bed at Gorak Shep. Climb steadily but slowly to Kala Pattar (18,100 feet) for unbelievably fabulous views of Everest and all of the surrounding Himals. Trek back to Lobuje.
4 April
Day of margin for contingencies. If everyone has acclimatized well and you still have this day in-hand, you can stay at the base of Gorak Shep overnight, go up to Base Camp and return to Lobuje. If you have needed the contingency day earlier you'll skip Base Camp. (There's little to see from there, but it's a great "destination" just because of what it is...)
5 April
Trek out to Pangboche. Try to arrange a viewing of the "yeti scalp."
6 April
Trek back to Namche and down to Monjo at the National Park entrance.
7 April
Trek back to Lukla
8 April
Fly to Kathmandu
9 April
In Kathmandu. R&R and a day of margin against domestic flight delays.
10 April
Drive early in the morning to Chitwan National Park in the south of the country, about 6 hours. Lunch on arrival, either in Bharatpur or at your accommodations. Afternoon activities.
11 April
Spend the day in the park: elephant-back safari and some combination of jeeping, walking and rafting.
12 April
Morning jungle activities, then drive back to Kathmandu with lunch en-route. Overnight Kathmandu.
13 April
Departure for some of the group, free day in Kathmandu for others.
14 April
Final departure
We will try to update this blog as much as possible while we are away. However, most of our updates will most likely come from Kathmandu before and after our trek.
Thank You
To Tom, Kaleigh, Kathleen, Bridget, and Aaron
Thanks for making this trip a memorable one! I hope to travel with all of you again in the future!
From Tom Pass:
Now, near the end of the trip, I find myself thinking in English, with an accent that it is a mixture of Italian, Greek, Spanish, and Turkish. Like, for example, having watched "Love Boat" reruns for decades, and having wanted to "seet at zee Captain's Table, yah?" I did. Last night. Of course, it was long after dinner, and the Captain was not there, and they did tell me to go buy my own "Captain's Crackers," but I did sit at the table, until they told me not to sit there.
Largely because of her (I think) the Houston-Chicago-Virginia-West Virginian group was awarded the unofficial "Good Group" Award. I also give major praise and credit to Sara Heatherly, forever of Chicago and Oxford, and lately of Houston. One day she will own her own cruise line, and I will be her first charge passenger.
Thanks for making this trip a memorable one! I hope to travel with all of you again in the future!
From Tom Pass:
Now, near the end of the trip, I find myself thinking in English, with an accent that it is a mixture of Italian, Greek, Spanish, and Turkish. Like, for example, having watched "Love Boat" reruns for decades, and having wanted to "seet at zee Captain's Table, yah?" I did. Last night. Of course, it was long after dinner, and the Captain was not there, and they did tell me to go buy my own "Captain's Crackers," but I did sit at the table, until they told me not to sit there.
Largely because of her (I think) the Houston-Chicago-Virginia-West Virginian group was awarded the unofficial "Good Group" Award. I also give major praise and credit to Sara Heatherly, forever of Chicago and Oxford, and lately of Houston. One day she will own her own cruise line, and I will be her first charge passenger.
From Tom "Duck" Pass
Enjoy the following blog entry from Latin Teacher Tom:
Somewhere on the Aegean Sea, 1 July 2009
Actually, I know exactly where we are: tied up to the dock at the famous Island of Rhodes. I remember the Colossus was one of the wonders of the ancient world. It was a statue of a man holding a torch on top of his head, to guide the ships. I would tell you more, but I bought yet another guide-book in the wrong language, this time French. When I finish translating it, I will share what I learn.
The ship is flying the red and white flag of ... the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which is now located, I suspect, in an unmarked post office box somewhere in Rome. "Whatever floats your boat!" I really imagined a cruise on a ship with Greek or maybe Italian registry, but those flags cost more, I guess.
I have never been on a cruise ship before, and never imagined that when I finally did get on one, it would take me to TURKEY. Actually very close to the ancient site of Ephesus, one of the major cities of the world for a long time. The Apostle Paul was a resident for 3 years, and the hostile Ephesians eventually awarded Paul three months' free lodging, courtesy of the city, in the local jail. (After they found him hiding in a dry cistern, which is hidden to this day). The jail was pointed out. (Really?)
We saw the ancient theatre at Ephesus, still used for concerts by people like Michael Jackson, who died suddenly last week, and Joan Baez, and Yanni, and Elton John. I did not Hear Rascal Flats listed, but that doesn't mean that he wasn't here. And we walked the famous Harbor Road upon which Marc Antony and Cleopatra processed. I watched for snakes.It was in Ephesus that Aaron Moser corrected the guide who mentioned the cotton of Georgia, USA, saying that Texas produces more cotton than the state of Georgia now.
This ship would be a wonderful place for a ship-board romance, and there's a lot of that happening. But I asked my suitemate, Mike Sharporisky, from West Virginia, and he said he was not interested.
Actually, a certain fair lass on the ship already has my heart. My granddaughter, Kaleigh, 12, is on the trip, and we are having a wonderful time. Yesterday she went shopping ashore... and she haggled a record seven tee-shirts for 20 Euros. She learned the skill from the very aggressive souvenir hawkers in Turkey earlier in the day. Even I learned to say "NO!" and mean it to them!! When we had been the House of the Virgin Mary, and Ephesus, the bus dropped us off in the port city of Kurdasi, and 21 of us were ushered across the street into the fancy den of carpet sellers, including carpets that FLY and change colors as they land. Mike was offered the large carpet he wanted for only 9,800 Euros, or roughly 12,000 dollars, but that includes shipping. He did not pay that much, but it took a long time and two visits to arrive at a suitable carpet-pro-mise. (He bought another rug on a similar trip several years ago, but he must have gotten tired of it. The 2'x3' miniature rug I liked was 1600 Euros, but I realize I could have had it for less, if I only had a room that small.
As we sail the Aegean Sea, it is customary to inquire about the health and welfare of other passengers, saying something like, "Is it Aegean with you?" (agreeing)
I should probably "Reverse Engines," and say that we started the tour in Rome, after a short lay-over in Frankfurt, Germany. In Rome we saw the Colieum, the spaghetti, French Fries, the Vatican, and the Forum (Agora in Greek). In Athens we saw the Parthenon, the Acropolis, Mars Hill, and French Fries. Over 9,999,998 other folks besides aleigh and me will visit those HIGH-lights this year, and it is wonderful to see re-construction of earthquake or fire-damaged historic shrines being rebuilt. We did not see the Catacombs in Rome, but there are MANY cats in this part of the world, and they all seem to belong to everyone, and to no one.
It's kinda like, "OPA!!!" a Greek exclamation that means nothing and everything, and is especially appropriate when "Bravo" or "Neat" would be misunderstood. Actually, my Greek conversational skills have been so poor, that I did not know how to say "Boo!" Now I can say it easily: "boo!" (I did know that cows in Greece and Italy are called "boos" because of the distinctive sound they make, rather than English-speaking cows that say, "moo.") My dear friend Charles in Louisville is called "Opa" by his grandchildren, a Scandinavian word for "Grandfather." With his love for St John's Gospel, I felt like I was walking in a place Charles would have found fascinating. He would NOT have been amused by my search for a "St Charles" icon, and I guess we will have to settle for the St Charles Ave trolley in the Garden District of New Orleans.
Our original port in Greece is the lovely city of Patras, which is still guarded by a hill-to fortress on the far side of the harbor. Lots of foreigners are touring these areas about now. including hordes of American kids celebrating graduations, or who knows what else? It is interesting to hear their accents: kids from Texas, Chicago, Virginia, California, Louisiana, all of them with regional assaults and variations on the English language.
We did not go to Delphi, which was a real disappointment to me. There are so many lingering mysteries and suspicions about my life, that I wanted to join the throng of pilgrims to consult The Oracle at Delphi, but I never made it. I DID see a Fortune-teller in Athens who asked a fortune to tell me anything! Since I did not make it to Delphi, perhaps I shall never know -- anything! The un-experience did inspire some lyric poetry though, to wit:
I will always wonder why,
that no matter how I try,
We never made it by,
My quest tossed aside,
to get to The Oracle.
It Del-fies explanation.
I wonder "why," for example, why we were invariably served a pasta dish, AND French fries, as a representative meal in Italy! "Mama Mia, that's a spicy mystery!"
I watched Kaleigh run at the site of the original olympic stadium near Mount Olympus. It was really hot that day, but she won her "Heat" and then was disqualified for wearing clothes -- a distinctly un-Olympian faux pas. Imagine, if it had been the style to wear uniforms in those ancient days, the fortunes that would have been made selling uniform replicas of the best athletes! We heard about the mother of one of the athletes in the ancient days who sneaked into the stadium, dressed 'like a man,' so that she could watch her son compete. She knew, of course, that if she were detected on the premises, which was forbidden to women, she would be killed. Then he won! And without considering the consequences, she went to embrace him, clothes flying --- giving away her secret. *
Some of us spent Sunday night at a "Greek evening" in an old restaurant, being entertained for hours and hours. I was most impressed by a young lass from Lake Charles, LA, who danced on two continents in a single week, joining a host of "barbarians" (non-Greek-speaking people) on stage to dance.
While I was on Patmos, I saw a tea infuser hanging with a bunch of other souvenirs (all made in China). The lovely proprietress asked me the English term for a metal ball filled with loose tea leaves, and it stumped me for a while, and I worried that I might have to refuse her, and then remembered "infuser." She said the Greek term is much more complicated, and she told me what it was, and it sure was more complicated!
I found out that the names of the week in Greek are actually numbered. The second day is "deutra," the third "tritee," the fourth "tetartee," and the fifth "pemplee." All of that is inaccurate; I am torn between writing the Greek letters, or the phonetic representations," and so I have done neither, and both. To me, the most significant is the one reserved for the first day of the week, our Sunday, which is "Keeriahkee," which begins with the word for "Lord," as in "Lord's Day," and resembles the actor's name on "Days of our Lives," Victor Kuriakis," played by Jennifer Anniston's father, John. Let those who have interest, appreciate."
I took a class yesterday in conversational Greek. It lasted 45 minutes, about one minute for every year I have been reading ancient Greek, while all of those years knowing that I did not have a clue how to say, "Howdy, Y'all." if I ever met some ancient Greeks!" I'm ready now!
Now, a modern Greek language lesson for you!
Calamari = good seafood, kali being "good," and mari being "from the sea". Fresh calamari has been offered at every meal on the ship, including breakfast. But I don't eat squid. Except once in Louisville, KY, fried. I doubt, seriously, that it had slept the night before in the Ohio River!
Calimera = good morning, kali being "good," and "mera" being morning
So, Calamari-mera = "did you have good squid for breakfast?" Wait 'til I try that in Houston!
Somewhere on the Aegean Sea, 1 July 2009
Actually, I know exactly where we are: tied up to the dock at the famous Island of Rhodes. I remember the Colossus was one of the wonders of the ancient world. It was a statue of a man holding a torch on top of his head, to guide the ships. I would tell you more, but I bought yet another guide-book in the wrong language, this time French. When I finish translating it, I will share what I learn.
The ship is flying the red and white flag of ... the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which is now located, I suspect, in an unmarked post office box somewhere in Rome. "Whatever floats your boat!" I really imagined a cruise on a ship with Greek or maybe Italian registry, but those flags cost more, I guess.
I have never been on a cruise ship before, and never imagined that when I finally did get on one, it would take me to TURKEY. Actually very close to the ancient site of Ephesus, one of the major cities of the world for a long time. The Apostle Paul was a resident for 3 years, and the hostile Ephesians eventually awarded Paul three months' free lodging, courtesy of the city, in the local jail. (After they found him hiding in a dry cistern, which is hidden to this day). The jail was pointed out. (Really?)
We saw the ancient theatre at Ephesus, still used for concerts by people like Michael Jackson, who died suddenly last week, and Joan Baez, and Yanni, and Elton John. I did not Hear Rascal Flats listed, but that doesn't mean that he wasn't here. And we walked the famous Harbor Road upon which Marc Antony and Cleopatra processed. I watched for snakes.It was in Ephesus that Aaron Moser corrected the guide who mentioned the cotton of Georgia, USA, saying that Texas produces more cotton than the state of Georgia now.
This ship would be a wonderful place for a ship-board romance, and there's a lot of that happening. But I asked my suitemate, Mike Sharporisky, from West Virginia, and he said he was not interested.
Actually, a certain fair lass on the ship already has my heart. My granddaughter, Kaleigh, 12, is on the trip, and we are having a wonderful time. Yesterday she went shopping ashore... and she haggled a record seven tee-shirts for 20 Euros. She learned the skill from the very aggressive souvenir hawkers in Turkey earlier in the day. Even I learned to say "NO!" and mean it to them!! When we had been the House of the Virgin Mary, and Ephesus, the bus dropped us off in the port city of Kurdasi, and 21 of us were ushered across the street into the fancy den of carpet sellers, including carpets that FLY and change colors as they land. Mike was offered the large carpet he wanted for only 9,800 Euros, or roughly 12,000 dollars, but that includes shipping. He did not pay that much, but it took a long time and two visits to arrive at a suitable carpet-pro-mise. (He bought another rug on a similar trip several years ago, but he must have gotten tired of it. The 2'x3' miniature rug I liked was 1600 Euros, but I realize I could have had it for less, if I only had a room that small.
As we sail the Aegean Sea, it is customary to inquire about the health and welfare of other passengers, saying something like, "Is it Aegean with you?" (agreeing)
I should probably "Reverse Engines," and say that we started the tour in Rome, after a short lay-over in Frankfurt, Germany. In Rome we saw the Colieum, the spaghetti, French Fries, the Vatican, and the Forum (Agora in Greek). In Athens we saw the Parthenon, the Acropolis, Mars Hill, and French Fries. Over 9,999,998 other folks besides aleigh and me will visit those HIGH-lights this year, and it is wonderful to see re-construction of earthquake or fire-damaged historic shrines being rebuilt. We did not see the Catacombs in Rome, but there are MANY cats in this part of the world, and they all seem to belong to everyone, and to no one.
It's kinda like, "OPA!!!" a Greek exclamation that means nothing and everything, and is especially appropriate when "Bravo" or "Neat" would be misunderstood. Actually, my Greek conversational skills have been so poor, that I did not know how to say "Boo!" Now I can say it easily: "boo!" (I did know that cows in Greece and Italy are called "boos" because of the distinctive sound they make, rather than English-speaking cows that say, "moo.") My dear friend Charles in Louisville is called "Opa" by his grandchildren, a Scandinavian word for "Grandfather." With his love for St John's Gospel, I felt like I was walking in a place Charles would have found fascinating. He would NOT have been amused by my search for a "St Charles" icon, and I guess we will have to settle for the St Charles Ave trolley in the Garden District of New Orleans.
Our original port in Greece is the lovely city of Patras, which is still guarded by a hill-to fortress on the far side of the harbor. Lots of foreigners are touring these areas about now. including hordes of American kids celebrating graduations, or who knows what else? It is interesting to hear their accents: kids from Texas, Chicago, Virginia, California, Louisiana, all of them with regional assaults and variations on the English language.
We did not go to Delphi, which was a real disappointment to me. There are so many lingering mysteries and suspicions about my life, that I wanted to join the throng of pilgrims to consult The Oracle at Delphi, but I never made it. I DID see a Fortune-teller in Athens who asked a fortune to tell me anything! Since I did not make it to Delphi, perhaps I shall never know -- anything! The un-experience did inspire some lyric poetry though, to wit:
I will always wonder why,
that no matter how I try,
We never made it by,
My quest tossed aside,
to get to The Oracle.
It Del-fies explanation.
I wonder "why," for example, why we were invariably served a pasta dish, AND French fries, as a representative meal in Italy! "Mama Mia, that's a spicy mystery!"
I watched Kaleigh run at the site of the original olympic stadium near Mount Olympus. It was really hot that day, but she won her "Heat" and then was disqualified for wearing clothes -- a distinctly un-Olympian faux pas. Imagine, if it had been the style to wear uniforms in those ancient days, the fortunes that would have been made selling uniform replicas of the best athletes! We heard about the mother of one of the athletes in the ancient days who sneaked into the stadium, dressed 'like a man,' so that she could watch her son compete. She knew, of course, that if she were detected on the premises, which was forbidden to women, she would be killed. Then he won! And without considering the consequences, she went to embrace him, clothes flying --- giving away her secret. *
Some of us spent Sunday night at a "Greek evening" in an old restaurant, being entertained for hours and hours. I was most impressed by a young lass from Lake Charles, LA, who danced on two continents in a single week, joining a host of "barbarians" (non-Greek-speaking people) on stage to dance.
While I was on Patmos, I saw a tea infuser hanging with a bunch of other souvenirs (all made in China). The lovely proprietress asked me the English term for a metal ball filled with loose tea leaves, and it stumped me for a while, and I worried that I might have to refuse her, and then remembered "infuser." She said the Greek term is much more complicated, and she told me what it was, and it sure was more complicated!
I found out that the names of the week in Greek are actually numbered. The second day is "deutra," the third "tritee," the fourth "tetartee," and the fifth "pemplee." All of that is inaccurate; I am torn between writing the Greek letters, or the phonetic representations," and so I have done neither, and both. To me, the most significant is the one reserved for the first day of the week, our Sunday, which is "Keeriahkee," which begins with the word for "Lord," as in "Lord's Day," and resembles the actor's name on "Days of our Lives," Victor Kuriakis," played by Jennifer Anniston's father, John. Let those who have interest, appreciate."
I took a class yesterday in conversational Greek. It lasted 45 minutes, about one minute for every year I have been reading ancient Greek, while all of those years knowing that I did not have a clue how to say, "Howdy, Y'all." if I ever met some ancient Greeks!" I'm ready now!
Now, a modern Greek language lesson for you!
Calamari = good seafood, kali being "good," and mari being "from the sea". Fresh calamari has been offered at every meal on the ship, including breakfast. But I don't eat squid. Except once in Louisville, KY, fried. I doubt, seriously, that it had slept the night before in the Ohio River!
Calimera = good morning, kali being "good," and "mera" being morning
So, Calamari-mera = "did you have good squid for breakfast?" Wait 'til I try that in Houston!
Cruising the Aegean Sea, Part 2
Note for anyone who might take EasyCruise in the future: They serve fairly decent food, but they do not always label the food that you might be eating. What was thought to be chicken in a lightly colored purple dressing of some sort, turned out not to be chicken at all. And it was not until the first bite was taken and swallowed that I realized the piece of food I had just ate tasted more muushy and fishy than chicken. I then looked down at my plate and noticed the tentacles. I knew I would never like squid.
Continuing along with our cruise, we stopped in the lovely island of Santorini, famous in such films as "Mama Mia" and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."
The Greek way of bringing ancient traditions into the modern age can be perfectly envisioned at Santorini, where white-washed houses cling precariously to cliff sides, and donkey caravans wind down mountain roads to the sea. Santorini, a volcanic group of islands in the Aegean Sea, is a beautiful mixture of archeological sites, sleepy seaside, hill top villages, and forbidding mountains.
The shape of the islands creates an immense, protected lagoon, in which safe harbor is found for all types of craft. Santorini is a large volcanic caldera, easily seen in the arrangement of its land masses around the deep central lagoon. Once known as the most active component of the Aegean Volcanic Arc, the last eruption in Santorini occurred in 1950. Many are drawn to the sublime romance of Santorini’s landscape, to the picturesque cliff top towns, and to the old-world feeling of the culture. Many are also drawn to the blossoming nightlife, and to the modern accommodations that have emerged to service the rise in tourism. Once called Kalliste, meaning “most beautiful,” Santorini charms, delights, and surprises all of its visitors.
This is where all the hiking in Guatemala and Belize paid off. As an optional tour excursion, we chose to take a short boat ride around Santorini and explore an active volcano near the island. For some of the group, this was their third volcano they climbed within a span of three months. Needless to say, HOLA members felt great when we climbed the volcano with ease and helped other members of group make it to the top.
Enjoying the top:
We even made a brief stop in Kasudasi, Turkey, where we visited Ephesus
and had a strong debate as to how the Romans used the public toilet.
As you can see, it looks very plausible that one can sit regularly, do their business, borrow a public sea sponge and wipe themselves and call it a day. However, some group members thought the Romans went like this:
This lead to a very interesting debate that lasted close to 45 minutes. Eventually, everyone had to agree to disagree. What is your opinion?
Continuing along with our cruise, we stopped in the lovely island of Santorini, famous in such films as "Mama Mia" and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants."
The Greek way of bringing ancient traditions into the modern age can be perfectly envisioned at Santorini, where white-washed houses cling precariously to cliff sides, and donkey caravans wind down mountain roads to the sea. Santorini, a volcanic group of islands in the Aegean Sea, is a beautiful mixture of archeological sites, sleepy seaside, hill top villages, and forbidding mountains.
The shape of the islands creates an immense, protected lagoon, in which safe harbor is found for all types of craft. Santorini is a large volcanic caldera, easily seen in the arrangement of its land masses around the deep central lagoon. Once known as the most active component of the Aegean Volcanic Arc, the last eruption in Santorini occurred in 1950. Many are drawn to the sublime romance of Santorini’s landscape, to the picturesque cliff top towns, and to the old-world feeling of the culture. Many are also drawn to the blossoming nightlife, and to the modern accommodations that have emerged to service the rise in tourism. Once called Kalliste, meaning “most beautiful,” Santorini charms, delights, and surprises all of its visitors.
This is where all the hiking in Guatemala and Belize paid off. As an optional tour excursion, we chose to take a short boat ride around Santorini and explore an active volcano near the island. For some of the group, this was their third volcano they climbed within a span of three months. Needless to say, HOLA members felt great when we climbed the volcano with ease and helped other members of group make it to the top.
Enjoying the top:
We even made a brief stop in Kasudasi, Turkey, where we visited Ephesus
and had a strong debate as to how the Romans used the public toilet.
As you can see, it looks very plausible that one can sit regularly, do their business, borrow a public sea sponge and wipe themselves and call it a day. However, some group members thought the Romans went like this:
This lead to a very interesting debate that lasted close to 45 minutes. Eventually, everyone had to agree to disagree. What is your opinion?
Cruising the Agean Sea...
A trip to Greece is not complete without a cruise around the Greek Isles. The last four days of our trip were spent sailing the Aegean Sea, stopping at Mykonos, Rhodes, Kasudasi, Santorini, and Crete. We cruised with EasyCruise, which is a discount cruise ship, one that I would consider the Yaris of Cruises: It gives you everything you need, but may not have everything you want. It provided us beds, rooms cleaned two times a day, turn down service, and all you can eat buffet at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It even had its own wave pool, i.e. the pool water made waves everytime the ship would rock side to side. And of course, you could even have your own private hot tub on deck, at sunset.
Our first stop on the cruise was at the isle of Mykonos. Named after Mykons, a grandson of the god Apollo, Mykonos is well known as a premier tourist destination. Its ring of white sand beaches and well established hotels cater to old and young alike. Set in the Aegean Sea, Mykonos was the reported location of a battle between the Olympians, gods of the Greek pantheon, and the Gigantes, a race of giant offspring of Ge the earth mother. This famed battle is depicted on the metopes of one side of the Parthenon in Athens, and is termed the Gigantomachy.
Though Mykonos entertains an exciting, warlike legendary history, the island is better-known for its bars, clubs, beaches, and relaxed atmosphere. Its nightlife is one of Europe’s most prosperous, and its clear ocean waters, warm temperatures and stretches of resorts are now its claim to fame.
Isle number 2 was Rhodes. Though the island of Rhodes offers its visitors much in the way of classical archeological sites, its medieval city is the axis of its historical significance. The fortified upper and lower medieval towns show a wonderful mixture of Gothic and Ottoman architecture. In the upper town where the Christian Gothic style is prevalent, the mighty Palace of the Grand Master looms, one of the many structures built by the knights of the Order of St. John, or the Knights of Rhodes.
Rhodes has been the destination of choice for many illustrious visitors, including the Roman emperor Tiberius, who sought refuge on the island from the pressing concerns of governing and turned it into his fantasy hideaway. Prior to Roman rule, the island was home to successful and influential Greek settlements, best memorialized in the remains of the Acropolis of Rhodes and the Acropolis of Lindos. These magnificent sites are beautifully offset by the medieval quarters, with the traditional Gothic style of the palace, the hospital, and many churches. The period of rule of the Knights of Rhodes lasted from 1309 to 1523, after which followed periods of Ottoman and Italian occupation—hence the sight of churches and mosques arranged side by side in the lower town.
Our day in Rhodes also served as our day at the beach.
As well as a day for boating...
Stay Tuned for Part 2 of Cruising the Aegean Sea...
Short Greek Language Lesson.
Here are some useful vocabulary terms and phrases one needs to be acquainted with before venturing to Greece:
Yes - Ne
No - Ohi
Please - Parakalo
Ok - Endaxi
Thank you - Efharisto
Today - Simera
Tomorrow - Avrio
Yesterday - Hthes
Good Morning-Kalimera
Good - Kalo
Now - Tora
Later - Argotera
Open - Anihto
Closed - Klisto
Cheap - Ftino
Mother - Mitera
Father - Pateras
Friend - Filos
Bakery - Fournos
Money - Lefta / Hrimata
Toilet - Toualleta
How are you? - Ti Kanis?
I am Fine - Ime Kala / Kala
What is your name? - Pos se lene?
I am Lost - Hathika
Excuse me, do you speak English? - Parakalo mipos milate Aglika
I don't speak Greek - Den Milao Elinika
OPA!!!-Greek Term For Almost Anything or Nothing
Athens: 1,000 years worth of gentrification.
Kalimera!
Today, we write you from Athens, Greece!!! Man, this trip has been amazingertastic! (Definition: More than amazing, beyond great and fantastic). After spending the past school year learning Latin, it is great to be in the place where a lot of it originated from.
Athens, the capital of Greece, is famed for its preserved representations of the Golden Age of ancient Greece, stepping stones in the evolution of Western culture and philosophy. Intermingling with modern buildings, subways lines and highways, the skeletons of some of the great architectural works of the once powerful Grecian city state invite visitors from around the globe. The Acropolis and the Parthenon are common names that bring to mind the image of a pinnacle in civilization’s long development.
There are a few modern problems that the ancient city of Athens is tackling, including the effects of pollution on the fabulous ancient monuments. Rapid modernization during the 1980s and 1990s led to an excess of atmospheric pollution and the occurrence of hanging smog and acid rain. The government of Athens has worked hard to face this problem, and in doing so, safeguard their legacy. The world looks to Athens, now a major European power, and in doing so looks back in time to when democracy and philosophy was born, back to the Golden Age.
Obligatory group photo in front of the Acropolis, or more specifically, the Parthenon.
Enjoying Gyros...
And shopping in the Plaka District. All the girls on tour made a dash to all the stores to find a pair of harem pants and a Greek dress, similar to what our tour guide Fortuna was wearing. She is the one on the left.
Bye Bye for now!
Today, we write you from Athens, Greece!!! Man, this trip has been amazingertastic! (Definition: More than amazing, beyond great and fantastic). After spending the past school year learning Latin, it is great to be in the place where a lot of it originated from.
Athens, the capital of Greece, is famed for its preserved representations of the Golden Age of ancient Greece, stepping stones in the evolution of Western culture and philosophy. Intermingling with modern buildings, subways lines and highways, the skeletons of some of the great architectural works of the once powerful Grecian city state invite visitors from around the globe. The Acropolis and the Parthenon are common names that bring to mind the image of a pinnacle in civilization’s long development.
There are a few modern problems that the ancient city of Athens is tackling, including the effects of pollution on the fabulous ancient monuments. Rapid modernization during the 1980s and 1990s led to an excess of atmospheric pollution and the occurrence of hanging smog and acid rain. The government of Athens has worked hard to face this problem, and in doing so, safeguard their legacy. The world looks to Athens, now a major European power, and in doing so looks back in time to when democracy and philosophy was born, back to the Golden Age.
Obligatory group photo in front of the Acropolis, or more specifically, the Parthenon.
Enjoying Gyros...
And shopping in the Plaka District. All the girls on tour made a dash to all the stores to find a pair of harem pants and a Greek dress, similar to what our tour guide Fortuna was wearing. She is the one on the left.
Bye Bye for now!
In Transit...
Aaron, Kaleigh, Bridget, Kathleen, Tom, and I have been enjoying ourselves immensely! We do not have a lot of downtime, hence the lack of entries. That is one of the downfalls of being on a guided tour with a bus: while it is nice that you know what you are going to do each day, sometimes you feel rushed and you don't have time to discover those random hole in the wall museums or quaint little restaurants with rock star service. We left Rome on June 25 and headed south to the ruins of Pompeii. Pompeii is the left-over ruin and partially buried town in the City of Pompei (Note the difference in spelling). Pompeii was once a happening town, with store fronts and free flowing sewage in the streets. However, In 79 AD, Pompeii was destroyed and buried completely by a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius. Pompeii became buried under 60 feet of ash and pumice and was nearly lost for 1,700 years, until it was accidentally rediscovered in 1748. Over two million people flock to Pompeii each year, as it is another popular tourist site. We were six of them. 
Bodies were forever encased by the ash. After Pompeii, we drove to the port town of Puglia to catch an over night ferry to Greece, where we experience having lunch with Jessica Simpson's portrait and discovered our liking for Greek yogurt with honey. Olympia was a wonderful stop along our way towards Athens. The original Olympic games were held here in classical times. Games were held every Olympiad, dating back as far as 776 BC. However, Emperor Theodosius I abolished the games in 394 AD because he viewed the games to be reminiscent of paganism. The Olympic Games as we know it today were not held until 1896 in Athens, Greece. 
We were in awe of having the experience of running on the original Olympic Track. View our race below:
Okay, not the best race video in the world, but we had fun none the less. We are much better posing for still pictures at the gate of the track.
That is all the time we have for tonight. Ciao!
Bodies were forever encased by the ash. After Pompeii, we drove to the port town of Puglia to catch an over night ferry to Greece, where we experience having lunch with Jessica Simpson's portrait and discovered our liking for Greek yogurt with honey. Olympia was a wonderful stop along our way towards Athens. The original Olympic games were held here in classical times. Games were held every Olympiad, dating back as far as 776 BC. However, Emperor Theodosius I abolished the games in 394 AD because he viewed the games to be reminiscent of paganism. The Olympic Games as we know it today were not held until 1896 in Athens, Greece. 
We were in awe of having the experience of running on the original Olympic Track. View our race below: Okay, not the best race video in the world, but we had fun none the less. We are much better posing for still pictures at the gate of the track.
That is all the time we have for tonight. Ciao!
Rome-Day 2- Part 2
We had fun visiting the Colosseum, attempting to run up and down the entry stairway, only to slip on the stone marble. And when I say run, our tour guide told us to.
After snapping a few more photos in and around the Colosseum area and pondering why the following person, if he was to impersonate a Gladiator, was on a cell phone,
we walked along the original Roman road outside the Colosseum that Julius Caesar himself walked on. It is amazing to walk on the same road as Julius Caesar. Quick little fact about Julius Caesar: All his sisters' names were Julia.
This road lead straight through the Roman Forum, which isn't much in terms of aesthetic beauty as it is in ruins now, but the Forum was the central meeting place of the city. In the Forum stood the most important public buildings and was considered to be the center of the entire Roman Empire.
After walking through the ruins of the Roman Forum, we made our way to the smallest country in the world: The Vatican. Now the Vatican is a landlocked sovereign city-state within Rome with a population just over 800 people. The Vatican is also home to two things: The Catholic Pope and the Sistine Chapel.
For being so tiny, it does take a while to get through the Vatican, winding through narrow hallways and crowds of people trying to push their way through to the Sistine Chapel. Also, it was hot. Not as hot as Houston for a summer day, but still enough to make the air thick and sticky. There was not much AC action going on and the only air ventilation came from tiny fans placed far and few between. But hey, we're in Rome! As long as you stay hydrated, you can beat the heat.
At least to those from the HOLA group, we believe the most important thing we saw at the Vatican was the Sistine Chapel, which is located in Apostolic Palace and modeled after the Temple of Solomon. Now, this Sistine Chapel is not a large room, only 134 feet long and 44 feet wide, with a 67-foot ceiling. The dimensions of the room are not important, but knowing the artist of the artwork is. Commissioned by Pope Julius II, the Sistine Chapel ceiling was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. On the ceiling, Michelangelo depicted nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, the center piece being the most prominent and iconic: the hand of God giving life to Adam.
One of the main rules while one is in the Sistine Chapel is that you must not take any photographs, especially with flash as the constant flashes of light damages the artwork. Security guards will only ask you once to not take a picture. Although, you see many people become creative at how they will sneak a photo.
Enough history for today. We must get to bed for it is an early departure for Pompeii tomorrow morning.
Ciao!
After snapping a few more photos in and around the Colosseum area and pondering why the following person, if he was to impersonate a Gladiator, was on a cell phone,
we walked along the original Roman road outside the Colosseum that Julius Caesar himself walked on. It is amazing to walk on the same road as Julius Caesar. Quick little fact about Julius Caesar: All his sisters' names were Julia.
This road lead straight through the Roman Forum, which isn't much in terms of aesthetic beauty as it is in ruins now, but the Forum was the central meeting place of the city. In the Forum stood the most important public buildings and was considered to be the center of the entire Roman Empire.
After walking through the ruins of the Roman Forum, we made our way to the smallest country in the world: The Vatican. Now the Vatican is a landlocked sovereign city-state within Rome with a population just over 800 people. The Vatican is also home to two things: The Catholic Pope and the Sistine Chapel.
For being so tiny, it does take a while to get through the Vatican, winding through narrow hallways and crowds of people trying to push their way through to the Sistine Chapel. Also, it was hot. Not as hot as Houston for a summer day, but still enough to make the air thick and sticky. There was not much AC action going on and the only air ventilation came from tiny fans placed far and few between. But hey, we're in Rome! As long as you stay hydrated, you can beat the heat.
At least to those from the HOLA group, we believe the most important thing we saw at the Vatican was the Sistine Chapel, which is located in Apostolic Palace and modeled after the Temple of Solomon. Now, this Sistine Chapel is not a large room, only 134 feet long and 44 feet wide, with a 67-foot ceiling. The dimensions of the room are not important, but knowing the artist of the artwork is. Commissioned by Pope Julius II, the Sistine Chapel ceiling was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. On the ceiling, Michelangelo depicted nine scenes from the Book of Genesis, the center piece being the most prominent and iconic: the hand of God giving life to Adam.
One of the main rules while one is in the Sistine Chapel is that you must not take any photographs, especially with flash as the constant flashes of light damages the artwork. Security guards will only ask you once to not take a picture. Although, you see many people become creative at how they will sneak a photo.
Enough history for today. We must get to bed for it is an early departure for Pompeii tomorrow morning.
Ciao!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Rome-Day 2-JUNE 24
Once you get passed the first initial day of jet lag and have a proper night's sleep, it suddenly dawns on you that you are in Rome, the capital city of Italy. The Forum, Colosseum, The Vatican, Gelato, and Espresso: all of it so Italian. There is just something about seeing all the sights that you have read about or seen in pictures while in school and then actually seeing them in real life.
Today was our first full day in Rome. We experienced some night life last night, taking a night bus tour of the city, just barely scraping the surface of what this wonderful city has to offer. Seeing the Colosseum while whirling by on a bus just doesn't serve it justice.
Still, it made for a cool picture.
Our first stop of the morning, however, was the Colosseum. After a lovely breakfast of muesli, croissants with Nutella, and coffee, we departed our hotel and headed towards the Colosseum. Now, Rome was once the largest city in the Western World and held onto that title for almost a thousand years, having a great political authority over its vast empire. However, it is true "All good things must come to end." The Roman empire might have fallen apart centuries ago, but its architecture and spirit still remain today, especially in the Colosseum.
Now, the Colosseum is an amphitheatre located in the center of Rome and was the largest amphitheatre ever built by the Romans.
It remains one of the prime examples of Roman engineering. Between 70 and 72 AD, emperor Vespasian ordered for the construction of the Colosseum to begin and it was completed in 80 AD under emperor Titus. In its heyday, the Colosseum could hold up to 50,000 spectators who would come to enjoy gladiatorial contests and other public events, such as mock sea battles, animal hangings, dramas, and executions. 
However, during the medieval era, the Colosseum stopped being used for entertainment purposes.
Today, it is one of the most visited sites in Rome, attracting more thousands of paying tourists. We were just glad we all got the student discount.
Today was our first full day in Rome. We experienced some night life last night, taking a night bus tour of the city, just barely scraping the surface of what this wonderful city has to offer. Seeing the Colosseum while whirling by on a bus just doesn't serve it justice.
Still, it made for a cool picture.
Our first stop of the morning, however, was the Colosseum. After a lovely breakfast of muesli, croissants with Nutella, and coffee, we departed our hotel and headed towards the Colosseum. Now, Rome was once the largest city in the Western World and held onto that title for almost a thousand years, having a great political authority over its vast empire. However, it is true "All good things must come to end." The Roman empire might have fallen apart centuries ago, but its architecture and spirit still remain today, especially in the Colosseum.
Now, the Colosseum is an amphitheatre located in the center of Rome and was the largest amphitheatre ever built by the Romans.
It remains one of the prime examples of Roman engineering. Between 70 and 72 AD, emperor Vespasian ordered for the construction of the Colosseum to begin and it was completed in 80 AD under emperor Titus. In its heyday, the Colosseum could hold up to 50,000 spectators who would come to enjoy gladiatorial contests and other public events, such as mock sea battles, animal hangings, dramas, and executions. 
However, during the medieval era, the Colosseum stopped being used for entertainment purposes. Today, it is one of the most visited sites in Rome, attracting more thousands of paying tourists. We were just glad we all got the student discount.
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