On to Rome and then Across the Atlantic!!!

And on our first full day in Rome...we headed out to Ancient Ostia...

a large archeological site where the harbour city of ancient Rome was located.

Ostia means "mouth" and of course, Ancient Ostia was at one time, 

located at the mouth of the River Tiber.

Our group...ready for the day...come rain or shine!!!

Yep...you guessed it...Rain!!!

Natalie...a two fisted umbrella whiz!!!

The ancient road into Ostia...

If you notice the walls on the right....the guide took us 

into the the buildings which at one time housed gladiators...

we had to duck significantly when going in

and the guide's comment was...

"If you're thinking Russel Crowe, you'd be wrong...

think more along the lines of Danny DeVito!"

Apparently, the gladiators were not particularly ripped...

This area included shops, an exercise field, and of course, the beloved Roman baths...

Shop doors on the road in town....

Our friend Pat...and one half of the couple

who talked us into this trip!!!

TheChief!!!  Ever the gentleman, relieved me of

the umbrella that was rusted, looked like it was found in a dump, 

and was sold to us by a street vendor for $5!!!

(Moral of the story:  When in Rome...do as the Romans do...

DON'T buy umbrellas from street vendors!!!)

  

Anyone up for the theater???

Mosaic floors...I don't know what the elephant signified, but the

second mosaic was in front of a storefront, or restaurant front!!!

A grander view of the theater...

Decorations (?) along the walkway to by the theater...

A Visit to Pompeii...

Our last port before returning to Rome was Naples...

We rented a car...

TheChief drove to Pompeii...

We got a tour guide who spoke English...

Who also turned out to be the best ever!!!

The first stop was in an amphitheater...

if you stood in the middle of the stage area...the sound amplified 

naturally...

those ancients were pretty darned ingenious!!!

Now we all know that in these ancient times, there weren't any cars...

instead, carts...

these stones were placed at intersections of roads with 

a dual purpose...they protected the pedestrian from 

stepping in mud, water, sludge, etc...

but also were protective in that only carts with certain  

sized wheels could pass...

Now, believe it or not...even in ancient times

life was busy and take out food was available...

They had indoor plumbing...

Now here's something you're not going to find in today's world...

at least not that I'm aware of!!!

The paintings are a menu of what the occupant of the room is willing to 

perform...get my drift???

They were also quite graphic on their street markings...

The group (minus two)

In 1860, Guiseppe Fiorelli realized that spaces were left in the 

ash layer...he realized that these were often spaces left by decomposed

human remains.  He devised a method of injecting plaster into the 

space...the above are examples of that recovery...

Work is still being done...

The group relaxing again after the tour...at the tour guide's mother's 

eating spot!!!

She was delightful!!!

A little late...but finishing up the Mediterranean Cruise!!!

The trip is winding down...

After returning from port, the group congregated at our favorite 

outdoor bar, where cigars could be smoked, drinks drunk, conversation

and rehashing the sights seen...

Our friend Sean's lovely young teenaged daughter Maddie

said that this was her favorite part of the cruise...

getting together with everyone after the port....

Sean had a new iPad...

And Art was checking it out!!!

Leaving the Greek islands with...what else?  But Greek music!!!

Even the crew is having a good time!

The Celebrity Equinox also had an actual glass blowing exhibit

throughout the cruise, when on board, we hung out here watching 

these very talented gentlemen create some magnificent pieces.

On to the next port...Naples...and a visit to the ancient city of Pompeii...

The Trials and Tribulations of Riding ATV's Through beautiful Santorini...

(Ooops!!!  Somehow I posted the wrong sequence last time...)

Back to Santorini...

Ahhhh...the infamous Santorini ATV gang...

Uh oh!!!  I didn't know "Ponch" moved to Santorini... 

(Eric Estrada in CHiPs) 

Nah!!!  That's just Art!!!

Getting ready to go do a bit of ATV sightseeing...

But this ATV is not cooperating...

The guys are perplexed...the gals are bored...

and time is a wastin'!!!  

We finally called the ATV place...they sent someone out and swapped ATV's...

Sooooo....we're off to the top of the hill....

Perhaps a more sensible way up to the top...

The view was incredible...

But boy was it windy!!!