Vesuvius Victims

Apparently the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD was sudden and showered the city of Pompeii with a dry volcanic ash. Many citizens were found in a sort of mummified state, preserved eerily in place for more than 19 centuries. Today it is just as eerie as it must have been to those who excavated the site.

SUNDAY POSTER

Softcover Book Published

During the course of my travels this summer, I visited the Holy Land with a special extra purpose in mind. A dear friend who faces the challenges of ALS with grace and courage was on my mind. He and his family are wonderful examples of the power of prayer and family. To assist in the fight against this insidious disease, I used over 30 of my photos with a like number of Bible verses to put together an eBook entitled TO WALK HUMBLY. This title is from my friend's favorite Bible verse.

Today I have completed work to have the book published in a quality softcover version and it is available online for onlyh $20. All proceeds are dedicated to the fight against ALS. Check it out and consider purchasing a copy today!

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/rickbeatophoto

More Details

Many of the streets of Pompeii are remarkably complete and interesting, as you see here. The detail above is actually a portion of sidewalk; the mosaic was designed to act in place of street lights on moonlit nights, a fascinating concept twenty centuries ago.

Pompeii Details

The details we learned of the Roman city of Pompeii were quite interesting. Here we see one of the lead pipes that provided running water to public and private buildings all over the city. Below is a view of one of the streets. Deep gutters were provided to allow safe runoff of heavy rainfall. The stones crossing the streets allowed pedestrians to walk across without stepping down into the water. Look again: the cross stones were well arranged. Carts, whether pushed by people or pulled by donkeys, could use the street, with wheels fitting between the stepping stones.

Pompeii

Our stop in Sorrento began with a visit to Pompeii, the city that was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. We entered close to the theater and were able to see the classic architecture of the outdoor facility.

Rome to Sorrento

We take a final look at the Castello Sant'Angelo, with the statue of Michael the Archangel in the central courtyard, and then complete our time in Italy . . . . in a way. The next morning we board Pacific Princess for our cruise, which stops in Sorrento, where we are pleased to visit both Pompeii and Positano on our actual final day in Italy. Here we see the sunrise over the bay as we prepare to tender to the dock in Sorrento.