Thursday, Nov 3, 2011-Day 9
Today we had our day at sea after being in Egypt for several days. It is nice to relax today. Slept in, up to the gym for a work out. It is always fun to use the equipment and look out to the Mediterranean ocean, we have had very calm seas, no nausea at all for the 10 days on the ocean. Layed out by the pool, had lunch and used the jacuzzi. Today I emailed Landon and everything is good at home. We enjoyed another dinner and show tonight and then to bed.
This early am morning the Norweigan Cruise line docked at Civitavecchia (Rome) Italy around 5 am. (Bill and I had packed our suitcases the night before and the crew on ship picked them up and had them in a special area so when we docked our luggage would be ready to pick up once we left the ship).
Friday, Nov 4,2011-Day 10
Today was a day at sea, Bill and I slept in a little, got up went to the gym to work out. Then we went and had lunch and layed out on the Deck. We were out in the sun for about 4 hours, I read and listened to music. The sun felt terrific. We enjoyed a dinner and show, packed our bags and set them outside our state room for the crew to pick up and take ashore tomorrow. It was a nice relaxing day.
Saturday Nov 5-Day 11 of our trip Rome, Italy
We met with our excursion group and headed into Rome . We first went to the famous COLLISIUM-ITS CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 72 A.D, THE ENGINEERING WAS QUITE A FEET SINCE ITS ENORMOUS WEIGHT RESTS IN A SWAMP(NERO'S FORMER LAKE)ON ARTIFICAL SUPPORTS. THE COMPLETED STADIUM WAS DEDICATED BY TITUS IN 80 A.D. IT IS COVERED WITH MARBLE AND CAN HOLD 80,000 SPECTATORS WHO WATCHED GAMES THAT NEARLY RENDERED EXTINCTION OF MANY ANIMALS FROM THE ROMAN EMPIRE. ALSO GLADIATORS WOULD FIGHT TO THEIR DEATHS. (LIKE PORTRAYED IN THE MOVIE THE GLADIATOR). OTHER INTERESTING FACTS: IT TOOK 8 YRS TO BUILD AND HAS 76 ENTRYWAYS. SPECTATORS WERE GIVEN AN ENTRANCE TICKET STAMPED WITH A NUMBER TO ENTER. VERY FEW OF THE ORIGINAL MARBLE SEATS REMAIN. WITH THE HUGE FLOW OF CROWDS IT WAS NECESSARY TO INSTALL FOUNTAINS (50 TODAL) IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AMPITHEATER. DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS THE CROWDS COULD DRINK AND WASH THEMSELVES FOR REFRESHMENT. THE GLADIATOR TROOPS WHERE THOSE WHO WERE CONDEMNED TO DEATH OR SLAVERY. THE SHOW WOULD BEGIN WITH A MAGNIFICENT PROCESSION: SPONSORS FOR THE GAMES THEN THE LICTORS, MUSICIANS,SIGN BEARERS CARRYING NOTICES EXPLAINING THE REASONS FOR THE DEATH SENTENCES THOSE TO BE EXECUTED, THE GLADIATORS IN PAIRS, THE PRISIONERS TO BE CONDEMNED TO DEATH.DUELS BEGAN WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC. IF THE FIGHTS WERE NOT INTENSE ENOUGH THE TEACHERS WHO STOOD CLOSE BY WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM BY SAYING "HIT HIM, SLAUGHTER HIM, BURN HIM". SOMETIMES FLOGGERS WOULD WHIP THE GLADIATORS TO MAKE THEM MORE ANGRY FOR THE FIGHT.IF A GLADIATOR WAS DEFEATED THEY WERE NEVER ASKED TO BE SAVED, THEY WOULD ONLY SMILE AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH. "ANYONE CAN LIVE;DYING IS AN ART". ANIMALS WOULD ENTER THE ARENA FROM CAGES UNDERGROUND, THE SPECTATORS WERE PROTECTED USING WIRES WITH ROLLERS SO IF AN ANIMAL ATTEMPTED TO JUMP INTO THE STANDS HE WOULD FALL DOWN. OTHERS STOOD BY WITH BOWS AND AROWS READY TO PUT THE ANIMAL DOWN IF IT GOT TOO CLOSE TO SPECTATORS. THERE WERE MANY OTHER WAYS THAT THE ROMANS TORTURED THE MISFORTUNATES.
Friday, Nov 4,2011-Day 9
Today was a day at sea, Bill and I slept in a little, got up went to the gym to work out. Then we went and had lunch and layed out on the Deck. We were out in the sun for about 4 hours, I read and listened to music. The sun felt terrific. We enjoyed a dinner and show, packed our bags and set them outside our state room for the crew to pick up and take ashore tomorrow. It was a nice relaxing day.
Thursday, Nov 3, 2011-Day 10
Today we had our day at sea after being in Egypt for several days. It is nice to relax today. Slept in, up to the gym for a work out. It is always fun to use the equipment and look out to the Mediterranean ocean, we have had very calm seas, no nausea at all for the 10 days on the ocean. Layed out by the pool, had lunch and used the jacuzzi. Today I emailed Landon and everything is good at home. We enjoyed another dinner and show tonight and then to bed.
Today we had our day at sea after being in Egypt for several days. It is nice to relax today. Slept in, up to the gym for a work out. It is always fun to use the equipment and look out to the Mediterranean ocean, we have had very calm seas, no nausea at all for the 10 days on the ocean. Layed out by the pool, had lunch and used the jacuzzi. Today I emailed Landon and everything is good at home. We enjoyed another dinner and show tonight and then to bed.
This early am morning the Norweigan Cruise line docked at Civitavecchia (Rome) Italy around 5 am. (Bill and I had packed our suitcases the night before and the crew on ship picked them up and had them in a special area so when we docked our luggage would be ready to pick up once we left the ship).
Friday, Nov 4,2011-Day 10
Today was a day at sea, Bill and I slept in a little, got up went to the gym to work out. Then we went and had lunch and layed out on the Deck. We were out in the sun for about 4 hours, I read and listened to music. The sun felt terrific. We enjoyed a dinner and show, packed our bags and set them outside our state room for the crew to pick up and take ashore tomorrow. It was a nice relaxing day.
Saturday Nov 5-Day 11 of our trip Rome, Italy
We met with our excursion group and headed into Rome . We first went to the famous COLLISIUM-ITS CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 72 A.D, THE ENGINEERING WAS QUITE A FEET SINCE ITS ENORMOUS WEIGHT RESTS IN A SWAMP(NERO'S FORMER LAKE)ON ARTIFICAL SUPPORTS. THE COMPLETED STADIUM WAS DEDICATED BY TITUS IN 80 A.D. IT IS COVERED WITH MARBLE AND CAN HOLD 80,000 SPECTATORS WHO WATCHED GAMES THAT NEARLY RENDERED EXTINCTION OF MANY ANIMALS FROM THE ROMAN EMPIRE. ALSO GLADIATORS WOULD FIGHT TO THEIR DEATHS. (LIKE PORTRAYED IN THE MOVIE THE GLADIATOR). OTHER INTERESTING FACTS: IT TOOK 8 YRS TO BUILD AND HAS 76 ENTRYWAYS. SPECTATORS WERE GIVEN AN ENTRANCE TICKET STAMPED WITH A NUMBER TO ENTER. VERY FEW OF THE ORIGINAL MARBLE SEATS REMAIN. WITH THE HUGE FLOW OF CROWDS IT WAS NECESSARY TO INSTALL FOUNTAINS (50 TODAL) IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AMPITHEATER. DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS THE CROWDS COULD DRINK AND WASH THEMSELVES FOR REFRESHMENT. THE GLADIATOR TROOPS WHERE THOSE WHO WERE CONDEMNED TO DEATH OR SLAVERY. THE SHOW WOULD BEGIN WITH A MAGNIFICENT PROCESSION: SPONSORS FOR THE GAMES THEN THE LICTORS, MUSICIANS,SIGN BEARERS CARRYING NOTICES EXPLAINING THE REASONS FOR THE DEATH SENTENCES THOSE TO BE EXECUTED, THE GLADIATORS IN PAIRS, THE PRISIONERS TO BE CONDEMNED TO DEATH.DUELS BEGAN WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC. IF THE FIGHTS WERE NOT INTENSE ENOUGH THE TEACHERS WHO STOOD CLOSE BY WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM BY SAYING "HIT HIM, SLAUGHTER HIM, BURN HIM". SOMETIMES FLOGGERS WOULD WHIP THE GLADIATORS TO MAKE THEM MORE ANGRY FOR THE FIGHT.IF A GLADIATOR WAS DEFEATED THEY WERE NEVER ASKED TO BE SAVED, THEY WOULD ONLY SMILE AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH. "ANYONE CAN LIVE;DYING IS AN ART". ANIMALS WOULD ENTER THE ARENA FROM CAGES UNDERGROUND, THE SPECTATORS WERE PROTECTED USING WIRES WITH ROLLERS SO IF AN ANIMAL ATTEMPTED TO JUMP INTO THE STANDS HE WOULD FALL DOWN. OTHERS STOOD BY WITH BOWS AND AROWS READY TO PUT THE ANIMAL DOWN IF IT GOT TOO CLOSE TO SPECTATORS. THERE WERE MANY OTHER WAYS THAT THE ROMANS TORTURED THE MISFORTUNATES.Friday, Nov 4,2011-Day 9
Today was a day at sea, Bill and I slept in a little, got up went to the gym to work out. Then we went and had lunch and layed out on the Deck. We were out in the sun for about 4 hours, I read and listened to music. The sun felt terrific. We enjoyed a dinner and show, packed our bags and set them outside our state room for the crew to pick up and take ashore tomorrow. It was a nice relaxing day.
Thursday, Nov 3, 2011-Day 10
Today we had our day at sea after being in Egypt for several days. It is nice to relax today. Slept in, up to the gym for a work out. It is always fun to use the equipment and look out to the Mediterranean ocean, we have had very calm seas, no nausea at all for the 10 days on the ocean. Layed out by the pool, had lunch and used the jacuzzi. Today I emailed Landon and everything is good at home. We enjoyed another dinner and show tonight and then to bed.
