Hello everyone!
It pains me to say this but this is my last night sailing the beautiful waters of the world (for now!) as we head to Rome tonight, getting into port at Civitavecchia around 5 AM.
At the moment as I write this email to you all, we have just set sail from Naples and are just passing the island of Capri having said "Arrivederci" to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, where I spent today. I love being mesmerized, enthralled and overwhelmed by great beauty, so much history, and the realization that this world for all its craziness, chaos and heartbreak at times, is such a phenomenally, rich, loving world.
Or, maybe it's the Chianti and Limoncello speaking!!!? Anyways, from where I'm sitting, literally, as we float gently past Capri, the world seems incredibly awesome and just continues to be so!
So much to tell you, but so little time...so I'll get right to it!
April 1st (no foolin'!), we arrived in Athens, Greece. Although a few years ago I had been to this intriguing city, seeing it again gave me such a different insight. I feel like I took it in in a more profound sense.
With its history often based in myth and legend, invading occupiers changing with the winds of time, and our current society still influenced and finding its intellectual origins in this city and country, I believe it's one of those cities and countries I need to continue to study and return to time and again to truly understand and take in.
It would take many lifetimes to ever become an expert on this country, its history, and culture. And yet, my amazing tour guide, Angelica, certainly was an inspiration for me. What a wealth of knowledge she was!
The excursion I chose for this day was a visit to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, Corinth Canal and the ancient city of Corinth. It was a full day of beauty, discovery, and absolutely spectacular history and scenery.
I learned that the Acropolis is the name of the large rock or mountain, which holds the Parthenon.
The normal use of columns had been 6 (wide) and 12 (length) for immense temples constructed pre-Parthenon. However, the Parthenon used more columns and higher columns, which caused an optical illusion. This trick of the eyesight was covered by building the columns inwards rather than straight up and down, and took 8 years to build! How's that for a bit of trivia!
The olive tree was a symbol of peace from ancient Grecian times and even to this day we still use the term "offering an olive branch" when seeking out peaceful outcomes.
Nike is the Grecian word for "Victory" and taken from one of the many Greek Gods who was depicted with wings!
The amphitheater at the Acropolis was actually built by the Romans and is still in use today as a musical concert venue.
Athens was only a small town of about 3 to 4,000 until about 1834 when it became the capital after Greece became an independent country in 1830. Now the population is well over 4 million and spread out significantly.
I was informed that the Corinth Canal began to be constructed in the first century by the Greeks and then the Romans, with work done by 6,000 Jewish prisoner slaves, but it was only finished by a Greek company after a team from France (who completed the Suez Canal in 1869) went bankrupt. The Greek company finished and inaugurated the Corinth Canal on July 25th, 1893 after such a rich and diverse history of stops and starts in its construction.
The "city" of Corinth is said to have been settled before 3,000 BC. The early government participated in the Peloponnesian War and Persian War as an ally of Sparta (550 BC). After many years, Rome destroyed this city in 146 BC and became a newly built Roman colony in 44 BC. Over the years, many governments claimed it as their own, and it was rebuilt numerous times after being destroyed by warring parties, earthquakes, as well as fires.
Biblically speaking, it was the site where St. Paul lived for 18 months, wrote the letters to the Thessalonians, was arrested and eventually exiled. His exile came after his bid to persuade the citizens to convert to Christianity was thwarted.
The grounds of this ancient city, which now are sparse, house an incredible collection of ruins. This includes a small yet crowded museum, overflowing with an exquisite array of artifacts dating back to well over 500 BC, such as marble statues of Ancient Greek and Roman leaders of the day, pottery, glass wares, art pieces and so much more.
I honestly felt like I was transported back in time to a different age! Surreal! It was one of the most remarkable museums I have ever visited.
The next city on our cruise tour was Valletta, Malta on April 3rd. I admit that I don't often research my trips or the cities I visit, as I don't like to read reviews based on others’ opinions, and form a preconceived notion about the places. I prefer allowing my first impressions to form my own opinions. And this was certainly one of those times of which I was thrilled that I could experience this place from a fresh perspective.
Moving into port that morning, as the sun was beginning to rise, so orange and brilliant in the sky, I was immediately in love with the city. So culturally and historically remarkable, which one couldn't mistake upon seeing the walled fortress protecting the city on both sides of the bay. The city’s cannons still sounded at times during the day in reenactment of its many battles from ages past.
This city and country was founded officially in 800 BC by the Phoenicians, and was invaded throughout the centuries by marauding invaders of every persuasion. However, the Hospitaller Knights of St. John fought through battles to establish themselves as the protectorates of Malta. As a result, Malta became the destination for injured soldiers of the crusades sent here from Jerusalem.
This was also the country where St. Paul in 60 AD was shipwrecked, was bit by a poisonous snake on arrival but survived and was declared a miracle worker. He was then sent to Publius, the Roman Chief in Malta, where he also cured the father of Publius. Publius was very impressed!
Paul’s miracles influenced Publius to welcome Christianity for the entire island. Upon Paul’s death, his right wrist bone was returned to Malta, and is enshrined in St. Paul’s Shipwreck Church in Valletta. (Not sure what happened to the rest of him!)
I was supposed to go to Rabat, Mdina, the catacombs and a glass blowing factory as my excursion. However, on this day, the city of Valletta had other ideas when they moved out a huge crane and large sandstone boulders onto city streets, blocking access for about seven tour buses from our ship. So...change of plans!
After a wait of almost an hour, I exited the bus only to come face to face with a couple of my cousins who have been traveling with me onboard and it was the perfect opportunity to take the ferry across to the heart of the city. We had such a fantastic time together strolling through quaint streets, wandering the shops and historical sites, visiting cathedrals including the Co-Cathedral of St. John commemorating and named after St. John The Baptist.
This cathedral was rich with paintings from the artist Carvaggio, including his famous painting “The Beheading Of Saint John The Baptist”. Mattia Preti’s paintings are also housed here, including “Saint George On Horseback”. There are ornate sculptures, Flemish tapestries, and the marbled epitaphs of 400 knights' tombs underfoot as well. So much history in such a small space!
We also had the weather on our side and were able to have a delicious meal in an outdoor cafe while people watching, listening to numerous languages of people from far and wide. Such a great influence of cultures, languages, peoples here even now as there has been throughout the ages. So it’s no wonder that the language of the Maltese people is a combination of Arabic and Hebrew dialects mixed with Sicilian and Italian. Very cool to listen to!
A perfect day topped off with a massage in the ship's spa!
My stops after Malta were Sicily and Naples, so still plenty to tell you! Hope you're enjoying the read so far, maybe with a glass of Italian wine?!
I will continue this note to you in the next couple of days while I am in Rome!
It is getting late and my departure from this incredible home for the last 27 days, the Sapphire Princess, will be earlier than I would like. Certainly going to miss this ship and those I have come to know - crew and fellow passengers.
Chat more with you soon! Hope you're doing great and enjoying life where you are!
Love, Jae
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