Funchal, Madeira, Portugal April 19th

Madeira is the largest island and administrative center for the Madeira autonomous Portuguese region.  Measuring 35 miles long by 13 miles wide it is known as a floral wonderland due to the extensive colorful vegetation and climate.  The island is also thought by some ( mostly tourist companies I assume) to be part of the remains of the lost continent Atlantis.  I was recovering slowly from my back problem and we took a walk around the town.

This is a view of the port.  It is mostly used by pleasure boats and cruise ships.  Madeira has a volcanic origin.  You can see how quickly and steeply the land raises.

This is sailboat country.

This sailboat came in as we were docking.  Seems they had a run in with some weather and lost their sails.

The housing is very tightly packed and climbs up the sides of the volcano.

Some views from around town.  You can see how hilly it is and covered with trees and flowers.

I think this is a taxi stand….

You can see how steep the hills are by the bridge in the center of the pictures.   You can also see that there is weather moving in.

Another bridge shot.

The people in the lower town see clouds.  The people who live at the top are in fog.

That is all we have for Funchal.  It is really a very lovely town and Noreen would like to go back when we are more “mobile.”

Cartagena and Cadiz, Spain April 16-17

As you probably know from the e-mails, I was slowed down by a pulled muscle in my back.  Our visits in Spain were very close to “home.”  In Cartagena we docked with the MS Neuw Amsterdam; the newest ship in the Holland America fleet.  We took some time to tour the ship.  The Captain and officers lined up to welcome us aboard.  The Neuw Amsterdam carries about a thousand more passengers than we do.  I’m showing you this so you can see there is no handshaking.  This is a precaution against the spread of germs and sickness around the ship.

We did a chance to show we were here.

A view of the port from our veranda.

We were again docked near the naval base.

One shot of downtown and I’m back to laying down.

Our next stop was Cartagena.  I managed ot get out of bed to check our ambulance count.  Only one.  And that was the only picture we got here.  I wasn’t moving around at all.

On to Portugal.

Naples & Civitavecchia, Italy April 12-14, 2011

We started off our visit to Naples by docking along side the USS Monterey.  There was a lot of discussion among the old Navy types on board as to what class of ship she was.  I heard everything from a frigate to a light cruiser.  We didn’t realize they were leaving until they let go their lines.  They had been in port for three days.  You can see the tradition of lining the rails on entering and departing a port.

You know I’m a helicopter guy so here is a Sea Hawk in the hanger and out.

We stayed close to the ship on day one and visited Pompeii on day 2 .  These are pictures of the area from the bus on the way to Pompeii.

It is hard to see but there are literally dozens of antennas on the roof in the picture below.  Every roof was covered with antennas.  I guess each apartment has its own antenna.

A true Italian welcome to Pompeii (In Italian Pompei has one I, the English translation has two).

The city of Pompeii was a surprise to us.  It didn’t look anything like the various pictures and traveling exhibits we had seen.

This is main entrance behind Noreen.  The large door for chariots and carts with horses and the smaller one for people.

The height of the hill in the background is how high the land was over Pompeii when evacuations began.

Buildings surrounding the main gate.

Some buildings off the main road.

Single room stalls like these were shops along the road.

Original wall coloring still visible.

One of the main streets.

The central assembly area, one of the largest in any city at the time.

A continuation of the assembly area.  I try to shoot pictures without a lot of people in it but this shows that the area was crowded.

The body is covered in the ash.  When dug out, a hole is drilled into the shape and filled with a solidifying agent to prevent it from collapsing.  That is how they get the bodies.  This is a man.

A pregnant woman

A man who was squatting with his hands over his nose and mouth to try to protect from the ash.

This is a dog.

One of the main roads.

This is a mosaic tile entrance to a wealthy owner home.  It reads “Beware of the dog.”

Inside the same home looking toward the entrance.  Note the fountain in the sunken area of the entrance way.  The doors on the right and left are bedrooms which were always in the front of the home.

The kitchen area.

Wall decorations in the “family room.”

The courtyard in the center of the home.   The hedge is not original.

Chariot tracks worn into the roadway.

There was no drainage system on the roads.  When it rained the roads would become small rivers.  These stones were place for people to step on and avoid the water.  They are a spaced so horses and chariots can run between them.  There were always two horses and two wheels    This is a two way street.

When there was a single set of stones it was a one way street.  You can see the groves in the road stones.

Road crossing on a one way street.

This gives you an idea of the size of the town.  We were surprised at the overall size.

Pompeii was an international city with travelers from around the known world.  Language was always a challenge.  This symbol was located over the entrance to a brothel.  It takes care of the language problem.  I’ll let you figure out what it is.

 

A bakery, oven on the left.

A curve which shows the chariot and cart wheel tracks around the turn.  I think it is cool.

Did you ask about the weather?  We aren’t in the South Pacific any longer.

This ended our visit to Pompeii.  I could show you another 100 or so pictures (digital with an 8 Gig card is great) but I think you get the idea.  We traveled back to the ship and sailed a few hours later for Civitavecchia.  By the time we arrived the next day I was laid up with a bad back.  Sorry, no pictures.  Noreen and I took a quick walk out to sample the local food and back to the ship.  So we’ll see you next in Spain.