New Blogs Coming!!!

Ok everyone, I'll get the new updates posted, please forgive my tardiness...lol But to tide you over, Jeff my Cabin Mate has made a truly stupendous blog, so enjoy it until I get the updates posted on mine!

http://tresnautiques.blogspot.com/

Rome Day 4; Roman Chaos, Vatican Museum and hello Florence

So Rome has been fun, not easy, not quiet, not slow paced, not kick back, but fun. Its more like grueling and crowded, but amazing at the same time.. So I awoke this morning knowing that I'd be catching a train to Florence in Tuscany, and in a way I’m kind of looking forward to it. Not that I won't miss Rome, and not that I wasn't very impressed with the sights and experiences, but let's just say I don't mind moving on. And who knows, the friends last night said I should come back to Rome if my plans in Venice don't work out, so maybe I'll return...Anywho, I woke up and set off for another day of seeing the sights. On the agenda today...the Vatican Musei (Italian for museum). I didn't know much about the Vatican before this trip so I didn't know quite what to expect besides Michelangelo’s famous Sistine chapel.So I headed there, thru the gauntlet of hundreds of people and construction zones on Rome’s main subway station. Man these subways are HOT!!! And confusing! All this remodeling and these repairs are going on so the two subway lines are super messed up. (I even got on the wrong subway once!!!!! >:{ I mean you really get hot waiting for this thing, and your jam packed in there with all these other people, then on top of that your all sweaty, so all in all it can be kinda uncomfortable and hectic. And one thing I'm learning culturally is that Italians don't always operate by the most orderly standards. Ya they'll fix something when it's broken, but that's after they've sat back and had their cappuccino, cornetta, vino, gelato and siesta for two hours in the afternoon. For Italians, life comes first, stress comes second, and if they have their way, never the two shall meet...lol so if your gonna survive here, get used to a little chaos...So after a confusing subway ride and a 10min walk I arrived at what looked like a maximum security prison, but was in fact the Vatican. WOW, all i can say is wow! From room to room, you look at one priceless work of art/relic after another. One pope would take a wing of the palace, fill it with rare masterpieces, and then name it after / dedicate it to himself, and then the next pope would do the same thing, and just try to outdo the pope before him. And during this all I could think of was 'man! Did the popes really need to acquire all of these works at such high prices, on the backs of Catholics tithing thru the centuries, all in the name of God??' but hey, I guess it must be ok with the 1 billion Catholics said to be on earth today...So anyway, after two hours of art filled rooms, you come to the grand finale, the crem de la crem, Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel. Ok so I had heard alot about it, and thought i would get there and be like 'o, so that's it...that's all?' but man, it really was cool. What I liked was that this dude really was an amazing artist, very hard working. Contrary to popular belief, he stood up the whole time, neck craned skyward, painting arm up in the air for years to create this work. And the style of painting used was called a frescoes, (Italian for fresh because the paint was mixed into a plaster that was to cover the wall, so when It dried it actually became part of the wall. But this meant he had to work fast and if he didn't get it right the first time, he had to scrape it clean and start over, till he got it right). This guy was good, so much detail in the paintings, the bodies in so many figures and positions, almost as if they're jumping out at you. And he really seemed to like the bible. The original idea the pope had when he asked Michelangelo to take on the job was just to paint the 12 apostles on either side. Michelangelo refused unless he could do it his way. He instead made a series of scenes from Genesis, from the creating of light and dark to the earth to the famous spark of life given to Adam, to making woman from his rib....all the way to Noah and the flood. After the ceiling was finished it was so widely applauded that no one could top it. Well that is, except for Michelangelo himself. The pope had him come back to finish up the chapel by painting the wall behind the altar. This was Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” featuring Christ Jesus return to judge the world and its inhabitants for their deeds. This was a similarly powerful, while a much grimmer, masterpiece. Check out my blurry photos ..lol … Michelangelo really seemed to love the bible, (and it's been said he had ties to Protestant movements and the reformations that started with Martin Luther speaking out against the corruption of the Catholic church.)The guard’s were in there watching making sure nobody took pics, well, everyone except double O negroe / Don Gabriel lol...check out my hard snuck photos for all the world to see...heheAfter that I frantically caught my train from Rome to Florence, checked in at my hostel, and welcomed a quieter, smaller town, and hopefully a more relaxed leg of my Italian adventure. But who knows what lies around the corner........ for Don Gabriel the Count de Monti Crisco. :{

Rome Day 3; Caesar Shuffle and Going Away Dinner

So this morning was check out from my hostel, man o man whoever made checkout for 10 oclock is OUT OF THEIR MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean i struggled to get up just to get some cereal from the subpar continental breakfast area before they cleared the food away at 945, much less shower, get packed and clear out by 10... well anywho, i got up and as house cleaning was breathing down my back to move on, i finally checked out by 1140...lol, thatll show them hehehe... ;[ o and you may have noticed just now that for some reason the Don's mustache has changed.... well you can thank these east indian key boards im using... lol, they seem to lack key for my perfecto mustache i used to wear, therefore consider the don to be having a 'bad mustache day' for a bit...lol

so after checkin out and updating the blog, i caught the metro to the romes ancient capitol hill, which includes the coloseum, palatine hill, and an old valley next to the two called the roman forum. Starting out at the coloseum, i must say i quite enjoyed myself, the shear size was awe inspiring, and i took and audio tour describing the old gladiator games, races, and animal events that used to occure here, along with possible executions of early christians.. nice lesson in history.. next was the palatine hill, which i didnt get too much from, and after that was my fav, the forum....

So the forum was a valley with all of these ruins of ancient roman governmental buildings and temples to the god's, and the emperors, who after dying were said to become gods. I found them all very interesting. But most interesting of all was the arch of titus. This huge arch was constructed as a war trophy and a testament to the roman victory over the rebellious nation of Israel in 70 C.E. Just like weve always learned about in the bible, from Jesus warning the jews to flee when the roman armies encamped them!!!!!! It was really cool cuz up close you could see carvings of the soldiers marching off with jewish treasures from the temple! So very faith strengthening all in all....

After a hot sweaty day of travel, i met up with Jameson and Rachael at their flat, (wish i had time to shower...lol) cuz just as i arrived, (coolest apt ever!!! top floor, no i mean rooftop with a view of the roman city skyline!!!!!) we were off to a going away dinner for Julia, (Finnish sister who pioneers in the Roman english hall and is headed back to finland).. We had a nice time, we ate at Tsega and Kamil's house, the food was delish!! and the wine was also a great delight...lol

After another very long and active day we bid adue to our fellow bros/sisters at the farewell dinner, and set off back to Jameson and Rachels flat (love calling it that!) for some much needed rest....

..... hey every one gets tired from time to time, even Dons....lol

;[

The RMS Rhone

For some reason the Rhone pic didnt post so ill try again

Day 7 All Good Things Must Come to an End:

Well today was quite the day. Finally, 7 days and i was given the privilege of being cap'n of the fair lady Patricia J. I got to take the wheel and call the shots! (those of you who know me well know i don't mind taking charge lol ). So we woke up ate breakfast, and set sail from Little Harbour in Jost Van Dyke.

We traveled a southerly course, through the "Thatch Island Cut" (a passage between the west end of Tortola and the neighboring Great Thatch island) and then east through the Sir Francis Drake channel. Our first destination: the western most point of Salt Island to see the Wreck of the Rhone.

The story of the RMS Rhone goes like this. Way back in the 1800s it was a steam ship that carried mail for the Queen (Great Britain). In the 1860s there was a hurricane and they got trapped in the area. Apparently they were taking safe refuge in nearby Great Harbour on Peter Island. When the eye of the hurricane passed over and things got really calm they figured they better make a run for it to open water. (big mistake) They almost made it, but at the western most point of Salt Island they met with the hurricane and ship wrecked. Leaving quite an interesting dive.

Twas really cool, this ship was huge! There was this giant hull and this huge propeller and anchor that had all this choral growing on it. And wreckage was teeming with tropical fish swimming through it. The only down side….i forgot to charge my waterproof camera! So no pics that i can claim to have taken.. :( Well i guess ill have to rely on memories (and the internet) for this one.

After that we headed back west for Deadman's Bay on Peter Island (the harbour across from Dead Chest Island, the Island where Blackbeard left "16 men and a dead mans chest, yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum" No joke!). We dropped anchor in Deadman's Bay and MAN! this beach is so pretty. Coconut palms lining the whole thing! At least i got pics of that. We walked basically most of the beach and headed back onboard for dinner. Spaghetti and meat sauce, one of my personal faves! After that i just laid on the deck, listening to the waves crashing on the beach, looking up at the huge moon filling the starry night sky. This place is so peaceful. I'm sad to think that this will be my last night on board.

I guess its like the old saying goes, "All good things must come to an end." ….Well, at least in this system of things it does..…. ;)

Well all, it's been a wild 7 day journey, thanks for reading and becoming followers. Stay tuned for "The Voyages of Cap'n Gabe Part II: Journeys to Work, Home and the Dog Park! Starring first mate Tollie (my dog) Skipper Dick (step dad number 2) and yours truly!

lol!…. just kiddin..…. no im not