End of the Mediterranean Season

Today was a cold rainy day in Naples,proof that the season has ended and winter is settling in. Justin climbed to the crater of Mt. Vesuvius and although the climb wasn't long, it was quite steep and he said it was so cold and wet it was hard to enjoy the sights. But he did it, he stood on the edge of the still active volcano that buried Pompeii in the year 79AD. Incredible. He said the trip through Pompeii was interesting but cold and uncomfortable too after the climb. I think he was quite proud that he had accomplished that. He said he was sore, but didn't think it was the 5.5 mile hike they said it was.

I took a different, easier excursion to the Isle of Capri. I'd heard it was beautiful and was excited to see it but was really disappointed. Partly because of the cold rainy weather, but also because it was not as beautiful as the Amalfi coast to me. And most of the stores had closed for the season so there wasn't a lot to do there. We had a delicious lunch in Capri and had combined transportation of the something foil boat to the island, then a tiny mercedes van up the island to the top, then a funicular down to the bottom and back again on the something foil boat, which was the roughest ride I ever remember taking on a boat. I was lucky, I didn't get sick, but many people did and the crew walked around with plastic bags passing them out to sick passengers. What an ending to this trip! It reminded me of the rides at Disneyland and although I felt safe; after all, I've been in a bus on it's side in a ditch in an Arctic blizzard, I was glad when we reached shore safely! I am sure the island is much more attractive on a warm, sunny day. There was an elderly lady sitting next to me who was quite excited about this trip. When she was 10, a child in Argentina, her mother had her read a book by a Swedish doctor, called something like "The Story of St. Michel" and all her life she wanted to visit the top of the Isle of Capri to visit this home and finally she was there. It was so inspiring to see someone's dreams come true, reminded me of my visit to Monet's Garden in Giverny. She was not disappointed and one of her life goals was accomplished today. Touching!

We disembark in the morning and will take the shuttle into Rome and spend the day sightseeing there before heading home on Saturday. What a trip this has been, challenging, but hopefully there will be good results someday.

Ephesus was incredible, it was beautiful and amazing to walk on the same streets that Cleopatra and Marc Antony (the original one) rode on in a chariot. Cleopatra was an interesting character. She wanted Egypt and the Roman Empire to join and then she would have a child who would rule everything. She had all of her siblings killed and one of them, Arsenica (?) escaped and lived in Ephesus. Cleopatra found her and had a spy slowly poison her and there is a large monument to her because she was so loved there. And that poison, previously unnamed, is now called arsenic!

Another highlight of Kusadasi was the visit to the Virgin Mary's small little home that is where she lived until her death in 39AD. The authenticity has been confirmed and Justin and I stood where many popes have stood and prayed in the past. That was a wonderful experience, even not being Catholic. Very inspiring place and an interesting story as to how a German nun had revalations that led people all the way to Ephesus to find it.

Visiting Athens and seeing the Parthenon on the Acropolis was another exciting tour we took. After seeing it and learning that it is an optical illusion, we enjoyed some time to shop and have lunch at a sidewalk cafe. An optical illusion?? It appears to be a square, but isn't, a great story!

And so my last big trip with fascinating sights and people comes to an end, and now I will have Justin to share my memories with!