Saturday, April 24, 2010

Rome to Naples to Sorrento to SLEEP

What a day! I left Rome. :( It was really starting to feel like home. (Rhyme!) One thing that I won’t miss: that hard bed.. I think my back is still hurting from it. I got up super early to make my 9:00 train. That was only 14 hours ago, but, man, it feels like weeks. Made it to Naples with no problems. This city is known for pick pocket-ers and other pesky, non-violent crime. Someone told me today that I must be a brave girl; good news is that I haven’t found anything missing yet. Mom, I promise I was/am SO careful. My muscles are so intimidating that people don’t even look at me twice for fear.

In Naples, I toured the National Archaeological Museum. As “home to the greatest collection of ancient art and artifacts in the world”, the inventory was quite large – I could have spent much longer. But, as the swift traveler I am, I only allotted myself about an hour. A big part of these artifacts was recovered from Pompeii and Heculaneum, nearby areas that were buried by Mt. Vesuvius’ eruption in A.D. 79. Highlights:

  

Dancers. I want them to be named the dancing mimes. just saying.

Athletes. they are in this for the glory. check out their eyes.

Distinguished Roman. not just a Roman. he’s distinguished.

Druken Satyr. hmm.

FYI: definition: 
satyr |ˈsatər; ˈsātər|
noun
1 Greek Mythology one of a class of lustful, drunken woodland gods. In Greek art they were represented as a man with a horse's ears and tail, but in Roman representations as a man with a goat's ears, tail, legs, and horns.
a man who has strong sexual desires.

So wouldn’t all satyrs be drunk and lolling in their stupors?

he holds the weight of the world on his shoulders.

 the Blue Vase from Pompeii made in the first century A.D. 
can you believe this thing is here? and in one piece?

old dice. hah. i guess there have always been gamblers.

Artemis of Ephesus – her many breasts are supposedly a symbol of fertility. 2nd century A.D.

Hercules at rest. Roman copy, between 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., 
from a Greek original of second half 4th century B.C.

the Farnese Bull.

Myth of the “Punishment of Dirce” from the museum: Dirce is guilty of maltreating Antiope, her punishment is to be tied to a bull by Antiope’s sons, Zetus and Amphion. The scene is set on Mount Cithaeron in Boeotia, which was sacred to the god Dionysus. The cruel and spiteful torture to which Dirce is subjected is a typical Dionysiac theme.

Venus.

From the museum: “The young girl uncovers her nudity with a deliberate effect created by the softness of her body and the heavy fall of the drapery. Although it has been subject to much restoration (the whole upper part, left are, right hand and right leg are modern), the composition of the statue remains substantially unaltered. Handed down to us are the key features of Hellenistic creation, but its interpretation is controversial, in terms of the subject it represents (Aphrodite, an hetaira or a dancer), its date (3rd or 2nd century BC) and its geographical origin (Magna Grecia or Asia Minor).

Next I headed to Cappella Sansevero. Here Giuseppe Sammartino’s Cristo Velato (Veiled Christ) is available to view.  Sculpted in 1753, this masterpiece depicts Christ’s body draped with a thin veil. Amazing. It was probably worth the hour I spent looking for it. No pictures allowed. Google it! (You can click on that in blue, and it will Google automatically.)

Napoli (Naples)

There was something funny about Naples. No, I didn’t get robbed, but I did get lost. I got on the metro, waited for 20 minutes, then they told us it was closed. (I think… it was all in Italian: I just follow along.) Finally I got out of there, hopped on a train and made it to Sorrento! I am staying in a beautiful hotel with an amazing view! I feel like I’m on vacation, especially after that wild day in Naples. As soon as I got into the room, I took a hot bath. I don’t think I have ever needed one so badly as at that moment.


views from my room:



I was lost in Naples, had to ride a long train, walked in the rain with all of my stuff for about 20 minutes, paid too much for a cab. I needed that bath. After showering up, I strolled along the main Piazza and shopping lanes. I followed the advice of my hotel and went to Zintonio. It looked like something you would see in Little Italy. It didn’t look very impressive – I almost broke the reservation and went somewhere else. Boy, was I wrong?! It was delicious. Some (new) friends from Illinois at the next table loved it so much, they came back for a second meal for their four day stay. I had the Caprese salad and the Ravioli – Caprese style. I was praying for a bigger stomach so that I could eat more.

Now, safely at home in this beautiful hotel, I am beat. Tomorrow I am going to ride the bus up and down the Amalfi Coast, visit towns like Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. I’m sort of reminded of Hawaii here: mountain to the northwest and sea to the southeast. What a nice holiday during my vacation! (Brits say holiday; Americans are the only ones to call it a “vacation”.)

Oh! I bought some boots today in Naples. [Don’t laugh at me Gabriel! (That’s my new Brazilian friend; he thinks it’s silly that girls like {and buy} shoes so much.]



and my new sunglasses.

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