Naples – Part the Second

And so the mess ups continue.  Cold and high wind in Naples should have tipped us off that more weather was to come.  Late the afternoon of the first day in our Napoli substitution stay Captain Richard announced that high winds causing high waves would prevent us from docking in Sicily.  He added that should be arrive successfully we would probably not be able to leave again for two or three days which would cause us to miss Algiers and possibly Barcelona.  This would be especially difficult for those who would be disembarking in Barcelona to fly home!

I was looking forward to Sicily since I had not ever been there but another morning in Naples wasn’t all bad.  Everyone who wanted to go could load up on the buses and spend two hours in the Archeological Museum of Naples as Vikings guests.  Of course we went.  Our first room of discovery was the Herculaneum display.  That and Pompeii were well done.  The actual artifacts were displayed adjacent to photographs of the site where they were specifically found.  Many statues and household goods on view also.

Love shadows!

We all agreed that we absolutely love the current temporary exhibit of altered photographs titled:

These very clever pictures reminded Elva of overlays in Biology or Science books.  There was either a modern photo with some portion of a Pompeiian fresco introduced into the action or vice versa.  Really cleverly and carefully done.  Must have been at least 100 of them    Here are just a few of my favorites.

I love this one.  I remember walking over these very stones which were meant for just this purpose.  
 To keep feet dry when crossing puddled streets. Who ever knew what was in the water that might be flowing down them!

 

The actual fresco is on the left.  The reinterpretation on the right. 

The lover helps his lady to cross the street on their way to a sunset rendezvous.

I call this one Ancient Pickpocket!

As we returned to the ship it occurred to me that had we kept on schedule we would l have missed the opportunity to experience this wonderful museum.  Today the streets are a little less busy as people are returning to work after the New Year celebrations.  But in Europe the festive season never ends before January 6^th.  This is the feast of the Three Kings.  So the streets still have children playing and running about.  The shops are busy with holiday sales since the Kings bring the gifts to the children in Spain on their feast day, Not with Santa and his sleigh.  There is even more car traffic noticeable since we strayed out of the historic district which, as in most cities, is car free except if you live within it.

Back on board we ate lunch in the Café Terrace but settled on a sunny table, out of the still high winds, and enjoyed good service from Osman and for dessert I had Rhubarb sorbet which was exceptional.  All the ice creams and sorbets are prepared in the ship’s kitchens and the flavor varieties change every day.  They have one guy who just makes ice cream during his entire shift!

By 1:00 we had collected our popcorn and sodas and had settled into very good and comfortable seats for a showing of Bohemian Rhapsody!  It has won the Golden Globe and fans of Queen will love it if you haven’t already seen it. 

Drew’s Port Talk followed at four and then the Explorer Society, which on this ship is just about everyone so everyone was included, met for a toast with the Captain.  They cocktails and hors d’ouevres but Carol points out that no cocktails are to be see.  Sparkling wine and fruit juice are the choices.  I take one of each and combine them for a strange sort of cherry Mimosa.  The Beef Tartare with quail egg is definitely not my thing! 

Good Bye Vesuvius!  Sorry I won't see Mt. Etna on this trip but I guess that is an excuse to return.

At dinner in the Restaurant I had a delicious rib eye steak and truffle mash with my favorite Crème Brulee for dessert.  Although wine comes with dinner, I generally do not drink it.  In the USA I can’t drink wine at all.  I think because of the required sulfates we add in.  In Europe I can enjoy a glass but usually stick to my Diet Coke.  Thank goodness Viking contracts with the Coca Cola Company and not Pepsi.  Once you have lived in the South as long as I have, Coke is it!

We enjoyed the 9:15 show.  Our cruise Director, Drew Raitch, is very talented.  His rock and roll performance was excellent.  The Viking Band is so very good too.  Each member had a solo that drew wild applause.  The way they do the stage set onboard is interesting.  The backdrop can be static or change with the beat as it is all LED lights that pixelate across the stage creating a depth perception that is deceiving.  When it is curtains, for example, they actually look like they are forward of the rest and functioning as curtains.  The screens also wrap forward so that at times the performers appear to be within it.  The dies can be part of the whole or separate as with port talks or guest speakers.  During port talks the sides simply say Viking, for speakers it is their topic or a second and third view of whatever the main screen is showing.  More about them tomorrow.  For now it is my nightly cup o’ tea and good night.