Pompeii, Venice, and Tarquinia
I'm really, really, really far behind in keeping up with this journal. Guess the virtual journaling option is no more productive than the pen and paper. But quickly, here is a rundown of the last 2-3 weeks.
2 weekends ago, the group went to Naples, stopped in the National Archaeological Museum, and then headed to Pompeii. The museum was interesting, with a great collection of fine mosaics discovered in Pompeii and elsewhere. Very intricate and large, often placed in the floor of aristocrats' homes.
Pompeii was incredible, very large, and very well maintained by the volcanic disaster there in 79AD if I remember correctly. The entire town was basically preserved, and it looks like it was abandoned in the state in which we walked through it. Streets are cobbled; very hard to walk in. We walked around as a group, stopping in particular homes of interest, as well as checking out the small arena and the gymnasium. The baths or spas were very interesting. They were used not only for hygenic purposes, but also as a social place of gathering. Routinely built right into your afternoon list of things to do. Go to the baths and hangout. The coolest thing about Pompeii was the molds of the humans and even dogs that were cast in the dirt after the volcano spewed its gasses everywhere. Although the organic matter disintegrated over time, the spaces were left to be filled in plaster, preserving the form of the dead as they had fallen. Very interesting to see, quite a thought provoking experience. Nevertheless, Pompeii rejuvenated itself and there are still people living within close proximity to this active beast. Guess we'll never learn.
Last weekend, Nicole and I headed to Venice after stopping in Ravenna with the group. Venice was very nice to see again. Really, just imagine getting around New Orleans when the flooding is really bad, and you've got Venice. I really don't think it is that romantic of a place, but who am I to say not being a romantic kind of guy. Venice of course prides itself terribly on its tourist appeal, and Nicole and I made a great trip of it, getting to see the Basillica of San Marco, Doge's palace (home of the world's largest oil painting), the Galleria dell'Academia, and the Guggenheim museum. Doge's palace was quite impressive. Home to the major of Venice basically, Doge's palace gave a thorough historical lesson into the government breakdown of Middle Age's Venice, complete with the Doge, Council members, and general councils where basically any male took part in the political process of electing a new Doge. Supposedly the election process for the Doge was very thorough and complicated, to discourage cheating and voter mischief, which I thought was intuitive. We ended up in the royal prisons where we belong by the end of the tour. Very depressing conditions prisoners had to live in back in the day. Certainly makes our "club houses" for prisons back home look more humanitarian.
Nothing noteable at the Academia, but the Guggenheim was the best part of the day. I have a new favorite artist: Rene Magritte! This guy blows my mind. The few Guggenheim museums (New York, Vegas, and Spain) are all devoted to modern or contemporary art, or basically since the expressionist and surrealist movements of the early 20th century. Picasso, Miro, Caulder, you name it. Every other piece you've seen somewhere in your life. They especially had a very nice exhibit of Jackson Pollick which was incredible. Nicole told me some of his pieces are priceless, but they're all just a bunch of dripped paint to me! :) Still very enjoyeable. Paid our respects to Peggy G and her Shitzus and we left with half the gift shop.
2 weekends ago, the group went to Naples, stopped in the National Archaeological Museum, and then headed to Pompeii. The museum was interesting, with a great collection of fine mosaics discovered in Pompeii and elsewhere. Very intricate and large, often placed in the floor of aristocrats' homes.
Pompeii was incredible, very large, and very well maintained by the volcanic disaster there in 79AD if I remember correctly. The entire town was basically preserved, and it looks like it was abandoned in the state in which we walked through it. Streets are cobbled; very hard to walk in. We walked around as a group, stopping in particular homes of interest, as well as checking out the small arena and the gymnasium. The baths or spas were very interesting. They were used not only for hygenic purposes, but also as a social place of gathering. Routinely built right into your afternoon list of things to do. Go to the baths and hangout. The coolest thing about Pompeii was the molds of the humans and even dogs that were cast in the dirt after the volcano spewed its gasses everywhere. Although the organic matter disintegrated over time, the spaces were left to be filled in plaster, preserving the form of the dead as they had fallen. Very interesting to see, quite a thought provoking experience. Nevertheless, Pompeii rejuvenated itself and there are still people living within close proximity to this active beast. Guess we'll never learn.
Last weekend, Nicole and I headed to Venice after stopping in Ravenna with the group. Venice was very nice to see again. Really, just imagine getting around New Orleans when the flooding is really bad, and you've got Venice. I really don't think it is that romantic of a place, but who am I to say not being a romantic kind of guy. Venice of course prides itself terribly on its tourist appeal, and Nicole and I made a great trip of it, getting to see the Basillica of San Marco, Doge's palace (home of the world's largest oil painting), the Galleria dell'Academia, and the Guggenheim museum. Doge's palace was quite impressive. Home to the major of Venice basically, Doge's palace gave a thorough historical lesson into the government breakdown of Middle Age's Venice, complete with the Doge, Council members, and general councils where basically any male took part in the political process of electing a new Doge. Supposedly the election process for the Doge was very thorough and complicated, to discourage cheating and voter mischief, which I thought was intuitive. We ended up in the royal prisons where we belong by the end of the tour. Very depressing conditions prisoners had to live in back in the day. Certainly makes our "club houses" for prisons back home look more humanitarian.
Nothing noteable at the Academia, but the Guggenheim was the best part of the day. I have a new favorite artist: Rene Magritte! This guy blows my mind. The few Guggenheim museums (New York, Vegas, and Spain) are all devoted to modern or contemporary art, or basically since the expressionist and surrealist movements of the early 20th century. Picasso, Miro, Caulder, you name it. Every other piece you've seen somewhere in your life. They especially had a very nice exhibit of Jackson Pollick which was incredible. Nicole told me some of his pieces are priceless, but they're all just a bunch of dripped paint to me! :) Still very enjoyeable. Paid our respects to Peggy G and her Shitzus and we left with half the gift shop.
my favorite magritte painting
Today, the group headed to Tarquinia to visit the best collection of Etruscan graves from the VI c BC. Fun part was we hit the beach in the afternoon and we dipped our feet in the Mediterraneon Sea. Beach was all dark sand! Very neat.
Tomorrow we finish our classes with finals and then we head out Saturday to Milan and the rest of Europe. Should be a very full last 3 weeks, but it has been a great time in Italy. More adventures lie ahead, including visiting Marissa hopefully.
~Giovanni
posted by John Reagan at 4:48 PM
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