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Weekend Words

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

"A word in earnest is as good as a speech." ---Charles Dickens

Istanbul, Turkey: A city that demands a return — Essay I

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

by Richard L. Weaver II

We liked Istanbul better than Rome — better than any of the large cities previously visited on this cruise. There are some similarities between Rome and Istanbul. Both are large cities; both have enormous traffic problems; both have air pollution; both are thriving, active, vital cities. But there is truly something exotic about being where Europe meets Asia. Our Istanbul tour guide led us to Asia, and he gave all 42 people on our bus a chance to put our feet on the ground there.. Because there was a request to use restrooms, he led us to a McDonald’s on the Asian side — a side of Istanbul which is cleaner and more residential (but less interesting historically) than the European. Easy getting across the bridge into Asia, it took us 25 minutes in stop-and-go traffic to get back to the European side over the narrow Bosporos Strait — the body of water separating European Turkey from Asian Turkey.

Although scheduled for 10½ hours, the tour of Istanbul took place over 2 days and took a total of 11½ hours. In general, things took longer than anticipated because of bathroom stops, crowded tourist sites, and traffic congestion. Centuries ago when the narrow streets of these large cities were constructed, car transportation was never anticipated nor the huge, air conditioned tour buses.

To avoid road construction on the morning of our second day, our bus sought some interior roads on the Asian side. As we turned onto one small street a gentleman on the far end flagged the driver away, and our bus driver made an immediate right and headed slowly down a narrow street with cars parked on both sides. Soon after making this decision — the only one available at the time — he realized the street was too narrow for the bus. Our tour guide left the bus to survey the situation, and it was quickly determined there was no way the coach could make it, so, with the tour guide directing the traffic from behind the bus, the driver inched his way back so he could turn onto another street — a feat that gained the admiration, cheers, and applause of everyone on the bus. Another very difficult and sharp turn onto a narrow street gained further applause.

Our tour guide made it clear with an announcement to us all that we had just seen sights on the Asian side of Istanbul seldom, if ever, seen by tourists!

It was the “Istanbul Classical Tour,” and it began 1½ hours late because we were late getting into port. Why? “Heavy traffic through the Dardanelles” we were told. The Dardanelles is the narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Although 38 miles long, it ranges in width from only three-quarters of a mile to 4 miles. Like the Bosporos, it separates Europe and the mainland of Asia.

The skyline of the old European side of Istanbul forms the skyline silhouette on the port side as one enters the harbor. The minarets of all the mosques — including the famous Blue Mosque — offer an introduction that is both fascinating and enticing. I watched our entrance from the bow of the ship on deck 11.

On the first day of our classical tour, we visited the ancient side of Istanbul where we saw the remnants of the old Hippodrome (meaning horse path), the sporting and social center of Constantinople, capitol of the Byzantine Empire, and the largest city in Europe. Istanbul is its current name. Only a few remnants of the old Hippodrome survive, but for 1,000 years it was the center of Byzantine life and afterwards, for another 400 years, of Ottoman life.

The Hippodrome was the scene of countless political and military dramas, including rival chariot races. All that is left today is an impressive granite obelisk carved in Egypt around 1500 BC and brought to Constantinople in 390 AD. It requires a good guide with lively descriptions and a vivid imagination to realize what occurred on this spot. Venice now has the Triumphal Quadriga or Horses of Saint Mark that once adorned the Hippodrome. They date from classical antiquity, and in 1204 Doge Eurico Dandolo sent them to Venice as part of the loot sacked from Constantinople in the fourth crusade. They were installed on the terrace of the facade of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice in 1254.

In addition to the remnants of the Hippodrome, we saw the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It’s one of several mosques known as the Blue Mosque for the more than 20,000 hand-painted, blue Iznik tiles adorning the walls of the interior. All the decorative wall tiles in the land of the Ottomans were made in the city of Iznik (the ancient Nicaea). This mosque is recognized as “a triumph of harmony, proportion, and elegance,” and it is the only mosque in the world with 6 minarets.

The interior of this Blue Mosque is breathtaking not just because of the Iznik tiles. It is the mighty dome, the series of small domes that support it, as well as the 200 stained-glass windows that create a spectacular colored effect as you walk around the interior. It was built using the construction methods of the day — mounding the earth and sliding the pieces of the dome into place, then removing the earth bit-by-bit. Because it is still used as a house of worship, we took off our shoes to walk on the soft Turkish carpeting throughout — carpets donated by faithful people and regularly replaced when they become worn out.

Directly across from the Blue Mosque is the St. Sophia Museum (Hagia Sophia - or Divine Wisdom), a former patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a 1000 years. For almost 500 years it was the principal mosque in Istanbul and served as a model for many Ottoman mosques. It originated in 326 under Constantine the Great, and was rebuilt on a larger scale during the reign of Emperor Justinian whose intention it was that the new building should surpass in splendor all others in antiquity. Marble columns were brought in from temples in Asia minor, Greece, and Italy. 10,000 workers were employed in its construction, and it was, as recently as 1934 under the direction of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, converted into a museum. It is now the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul — famous for its immense dome, beautiful frescoes, and outstanding mosaics.

Our tour of Istanbul was so far-reaching and extensive that I have only one choice: to conclude this Istanbul tour in a second essay. Obviously, it isn’t just the city that demands a return!
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At Lonely Planet, it’s site on “Istanbul” has all the information a tourist needs for visiting the city. The site begins with the comment, “Istanbul is hot. And we’re not talking about the weather. These days, there are more happening restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs around town than there are exquisite Ottoman mosques (and that’s a lot).,” then at the beginning of the very next paragraph says: “The city’s over-abundance of important historic buildings and exciting new art galleries and museums provides visitors with more than enough to see during the day.” The site supports our observation: the city demands a return.

At Istanbul.com, there is a great deal of information as well.
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Copyright July, 2009 - And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The pace of events is moving so fast that unless we can find some way to keep our sights on tomorrow, we cannot expect to be in touch with today. —Dean Rusk

Day #65 - Cherish all your tomorrows.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.
Free 10-Day sample: smoers.com

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday’s essay is the seventh in a ten-part series about our Mediterranean cruise. It is entitled, “Istanbul, Turkey: A city that demands a return - Essay I.”

1. “Cruising is incredibly self-indulgent” (06-04-09)
2. “Barcelona and the French Riviera (Nice and Eze): Minds Stretched in New Directions” (06-11-09)
3. “Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Tuscania: So much history it boggles the mind” (06-18-09)
4. “The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s, and the Colosseum - Our tour of Rome” (06-25-09)
5. “The Port of Napoli - Our tour of Pompei and our warning about Naples” (07-02-09)
6. “Piraeus & Athens: Learning so much, and yet so much to learn” (07-16-09)

The series will cover additional cruise stops in Santorini and Mikanos (Greece), as well as Venice. The essays will offer a little history, our experiences on the excursions, as well as additional insights and observations.

Share your link. Have you written anything on Mediterranean cruising? Have you visited Istanbul? Burger King or McDonald's in Asia? (I'm kidding!) Do you know someone who has? Can you share some insights about any of your own touring or excursion experiences with readers? What would you like to tell people who want to cruise the Mediterranean? Places to go? Things to see? Any personal information you would like to share with them? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Istanbul, Turkey: A city that demands a return - Essay I
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

Directly across from the Blue Mosque is the St. Sophia Museum (Hagia Sophia - or Divine Wisdom), a former patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a 1000 years. For almost 500 years it was the principal mosque in Istanbul and served as a model for many Ottoman mosques. It originated in 326 under Constantine the Great, and was rebuilt on a larger scale during the reign of Emperor Justinian whose intention it was that the new building should surpass in splendor all others in antiquity. Marble columns were brought in from temples in Asia minor, Greece, and Italy. 10,000 workers were employed in its construction, and it was, as recently as 1934 under the direction of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, converted into a museum. It is now the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul — famous for its immense dome, beautiful frescoes, and outstanding mosaics.

And Then Some Works - see you Thursday!!

Book Review Mondays

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

More information at Amazon.com

No obligation to buy Click below:

The No Complaining Rules: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work
by Jon Gordon

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Gordon writes, “"The goal of this book is not to eliminate all complaining, just mindless, chronic complaining. And the bigger goal is to turn justified complaints into positive solutions. After all, every complaint represents an opportunity to turn something negative into a positive” If your goal is to increase your positive attitude, this is the book for you. This 155-page book is simple (some would say, “shallow”), easy-to-read, and told in storybook style, but it packs a powerful punch for its suggestions for obtaining a positive approach to life. Because it is short and to the point, it is a worthwhile investment.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.

Weekend Words

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

"He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense." ---Joseph Conrad

Piraeus & Athens: Learning so much, and yet so much more to learn

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

by Richard L. Weaver II

Prior to arriving at the port of Piraeus, we had a badly needed sea day. A day of rest between excursions! We needed time to just relax. In addition to listening to two lectures — one by a professor of history, Dr. Martin Binder, an excellent talk on the “Classical Greek Empire,” and one by the tenor, Alejandro Guierro, on “The Three Tenors” — I spent time in the ship’s library, “Words,” where many of these essays on Mediterranean observations were written. Celebrity’s “Discoveries and Enrichment” series is excellent, and the lectures are well attended.

Celebrity’s “Discoveries and Enrichment” series reminded me of Grand Circle Travel’s (GCT) “Discovery Series,” designed specifically to offer passengers unique opportunities to discover local people and cultures firsthand. Although GCT offers more experiences and numerous one-on-one style adventures, the difference comes down to numbers. Celebrity had 2,067 people onboard; GCT had only about 136, which they always divided into three groups of about 45-people with a cruise director in charge of each one. The point is — and this needs emphasis — their concern over providing passengers learning opportunities is greatly appreciated.

The port of Piraeus is a busy, international port that services all of Athens. Our Acropolis and sightseeing tour began on time, and our experienced (34-year) tour guide majored in English literature at the University of Athens. Knowledgeable, with a great sense of humor, she gave us dates, rulers, and historical information that you don’t get from reading a brochure.

Our tour began by entering the city center of Athens from the southwest along Syngrou Avenue. We drove past the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, the largest Corinthian-style temple in Greece, taking over 700 years to build. We saw Hadrian’s Arch which separates the old and new Roman towns. We saw the National Gardens, the National Library and Parliament Building as well as the Panathinion Stadium built in 1895 for the first modern Olympics in 1896.

From the Panathinion Stadium, our bus took us to the Acropolis, where they expect 17 million visitors this year. The marble pathways and 150 steps to the top of the hill were slick, the weather cool and windy, the crowds dense and loud, the structures imposing and impressive, and the views out over Athens unbelievable. We entered through the Porpylea Entrace, saw the Erectheum, and the Temple of Wingless Victory.

The Acropolis is the best known acropolis (high city) in the world. It is also referred to as the “Sacred Rock.” On March 26, 2007, it was proclaimed to be the pre-eminent monument in the European Cultural Heritage list of monuments. It is a flat-topped rock that rises 512 feet above sea level.

There is archaeological evidence dating human occupation of the Acropolis (then known as Attica) as early as the Middle Neolithic Era (6th millennium BC). Once into the Bronze Age (4th to 5th millennium BC), a Mycenaeum (last phase of the Bronze age) megaron (great hall) stood on top of the hill, housing the local potentate and his family, guards, workshops, and ordinary habitations. It was surrounded by a thick wall and this early Acropolis was spared the violent destruction experienced by other Mycenaeum palaces during the Dark Ages.

There were numerous changes in the Acropolis as various factions took it over in their attempts to seize political power by coups. Most of the major temples were rebuilt under the leadership of Pericles during the golden age of Athens (460-430 BC), and it was during the 5th century BC that the Acropolis obtained its final shape. Construction on it began in 447 BC and it was completed in 438 BC. Decorations were added until at least 432 BC.

Information from our tour guide that I found most fascinating was about the Parthenon named after Parthena (“Virgin” or “Maiden”) Athena. It was the Emperor Theodosius who turned the Parthenon into a Christian Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was the Franks who turned it into a Catholic Church in 1204, and the Turks turned it into a Mosque in 1458.

You may wonder how it became the shell it is today? In 1687, when the Turks were using the Parthenon as a powder magazine, they were attacked by Venetian military forces of Morosini (with Otto Vilhelm Konigsmark (1639-1688) as field commander). A German lieutenant fired the fatal shot on September 26, 1687, and it reduced this crowning glory of Grecian art to a mere skeleton. The roof collapsed, and parts of the sculptures and pillars were destroyed, It is imposing nonetheless, and there is work going on that will completely restore the structure.

We were standing in the place where public speaking had its birth. On our tour of the Acropolis, we stood on the spot where Demosthenes and other citizens not only practiced, but in the Greek democracy, spoke out freely and often. The most important aspect of Greek society given to the rest of the world was democracy — stated by our tour guide, reinforcing in almost the same words what Dr. Martin Binder had told us earlier in his lecture on the Greek empire.

Given the excellent tour guide we had, it is clear that our sightseeing tour of Athens and the Acropolis could be done individually — without a tour — only with great difficulty. Knowing your way around and getting to the places you desire is tough for like other early European cities, the streets are narrow and the traffic is heavy. Even though our tour bus was big as it plied the narrow streets, it commanded an undisputed presence and negotiated easily for its right of passage, despite the yellow taxis, small cars zipping in and out, and the ever-present motor scooters. Our tour guide said, “There are many scooter accidents.”

We have learned so much. Our tour guide to the Acropolis, at the end of our tour as we were entering the port area, apologized for giving us so much information all at one time. She was right, it was overwhelming, but she didn’t need to apologize. The history and background of Greece is fascinating, to say the least. There is just so much to know and understand, and she barely touched the surface, of course. The information about the Acropolis and Parthenon in this essay gives little evidence of how much information we would have to absorb to completely understand it all and put it into the proper context.

One reason for writing these essays — especially for writing each so close to the time the excursion was taken — and for my wife taking the many photographs she did, is to preserve some differentiation. That is, the goal is to keep all of this information from becoming gray and undifferentiated. Clearly we learned so much, and yet there is so much more to learn.
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At www.in2greece.com, there are at least 40 icons tourists can click on to get information about Greece, the Port of Piraeus or surrounding areas.

At www.Greece-Athens.com you’ll find a panoramic view of the Port of Piraeus as well as nearly 40 icons, one of which has a variety of 360 paroramas. At its Athens website, you’ll find just as much helpful information on the city.

Matt Barrett’s Travel Guide, has an Athens Survival Guide that gives all the specifics including basic Athens information, walking in Athens, services, and additional information.
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Copyright July, 2009 - And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come through unsought for are commonly the most valuable. —Francis Bacon

Day #64 - Treasure your thoughts.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.
Free 10-Day sample: smoers.com

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday’s essay is the sixth in a ten-part series about our Mediterranean cruise. It is entitled, “Piraeus & Athens: Learning so much, and yet so much to learn.” The other essays in the series (with their posted dates in brackets) are:

1. “Cruising is incredibly self-indulgent” (06-04-09)
2. “Barcelona and the French Riviera (Nice and Eze): Minds Stretched in New Directions” (06-11-09)
3. “Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Tuscania: So much history it boggles the mind” (06-18-09)
4. “The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s, and the Colosseum - Our tour of Rome” (06-25-09)
5. “The Port of Napoli - Our tour of Pompei and our warning about Naples” (07-02-09)

The series will cover additional cruise stops in Istanbul, Santorini and Mikanos (Greece), as well as Venice. The essays will offer a little history, our experiences on the excursions, as well as additional insights and observations.

Share your link. Have you written anything on Mediterranean cruising? Have you visited the port of Piraeus or the city of Athens? Do you know someone who has? Can you share some insights about any of your own touring or excursion experiences with readers? What would you like to tell people who want to cruise the Mediterranean? Places to go? Things to see? Any personal information you would like to share with them? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Piraeus & Athens: Learning so much, and yet so much to learn
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

We have learned so much. Our tour guide to the Acropolis, at the end of our tour as we were entering the port area, apologized for giving us so much information all at one time. She was right, it was overwhelming, but she didn’t need to apologize. The history and background of Greece is fascinating, to say the least. There is just so much to know and understand, and she barely touched the surface, of course. The information about the Acropolis and Parthenon in this essay gives little evidence of how much information we would have to absorb to completely understand it all and put it into the proper context.

And Then Some Works - see you Thursday!!

Book Review Mondays

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

More information at Amazon.com

No obligation to buy Click below:

Totally Wired
by Anastasia Goodstein

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

In Totally Wired, Goodstein has written a superb book. It is so good that I wrote an essay using her book as the centerpiece. The essay is entitled: "Being totally wired means being more communicative and expressive." If you are a parent and you have a teenager, please read this book. This is the essay I wrote in its entirety:

I want to admit upfront in this essay that I am not totally wired; however, I spend a great deal of time at my computer, and I have written extensively about the Internet and its effect on various aspects of communication in my textbook, Communicating Effectively (McGraw-Hill, 2009).

What I want to do in this essay, more than anything else, is simply to document what is happening in our society. It will be outdated, of course, almost as I tap on these keys, but what a benchmark it establishes as technology races forward. This is an essay that will be entertaining to read ten, fifteen, or twenty years from now simply for the contrast it provides to what is happening at that time. Although teens will be totally wired, the technology will be different.

I am indebted to Anastasia Goodstein and her book, Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007). I sought this book for the insights Goodstein could provide in helping me write the ninth edition of the book referred to in the first paragraph above: Communicating Effectively. The characterization of teens that follows is Goodstein’s.

When totally wired teenagers today get out of bed in the morning, the first thing they do—before breakfast and before showering—is to fire-up their “at rest” computer to check for messages on their favorite community sites. They open iTunes to accompany them while getting dressed and listen to songs from CDs their friends burned for them. Before going downstairs for breakfast, they check their cell phone for both voice and text messages from their friends.

Totally wired teenagers will call or text their friends on the way to school so they know where they are and where to meet them when they arrive. To protect themselves from having their cell phones confiscated during classes, they turn them to vibrate, but they use them between classes to keep in touch with their friends and plan activities for immediately after school.

Schools have many computers, and students own their own laptops as well. Students use school computers to check their Web e-mail messages, do research for school projects, type projects and papers, and make PowerPoint presentations. Students, for the most part, are more comfortable with computers than most of their teachers, and often students end up answering their teachers’ questions and helping them figure things out.

In English, the teacher created a special website just for his classes that includes the syllabus, course expectations, brief project outlines and papers that must be downloaded, and a FAQ (frequently asked questions) link as well. One feature of the website is an ongoing, up-to-date blog which students are required to respond to using their special class names that only they and their teacher know.

This English teacher has received high ratings on Ratemyteacher.com not just because of his use of the computer but how he integrates the computer into classroom activities, maintains a daily question-and-answer page on the website where students can keep up with any aspect of the course about which they have questions, and a “contact me” link where students can contact him directly regarding problems, suggestions, or personal insights.

The algebra teacher, unlike the English teacher described above, does not receive high ratings on Ratemyteacher.com. She assigns too much homework (according to the students), sometimes embarrasses them when they don’t know answers, and calls on them when they aren’t paying attention.

Totally wired teenagers often are incredibly busy after school hours. In addition to athletics, homework takes up time, but spending time on the computer dominates. They update their LiveJournal (LJ) entries, post comments on their friends’ Ljs, instant message (IM) their friends and relatives, check their own website blog, add a new entry to it as well. They go to their MySpace profile to keep in touch with distant friends. They may even keep tabs on boyfriends’ or girlfriends’ online profiles, sometimes leaving flirtatious comments, posting recent pictures of themselves or cute photos of them together. Although they like having boyfriends and girlfriends, they realize such contacts take time.

Much time is spent, too, interspersed within all of this, sending and reading e-mail messages and text messages. If there is even a little time remaining, they may surf the Internet, enter a chat room, post a note on a message board, hang out on community sites, or just go back through all of their contacts to see answers to their questions or more recent posts. Sometimes they just relax and review what they have done.

When they are away from home, it is not uncommon to receive cell phone messages from parents who are just checking in. When they are somewhere they know their parents would not like, they lie and tell them they’re somewhere else. As long as they answer their cell phones when their parents call, they get away with it. When at parties, it is not uncommon to receive text messages from someone across the room, telling them to check out someone else, or talking about someone else who is in the same room.

When they hang out with friends, they go see movies, rent DVDs, play video games or watch others play video games, just talk as they watch for text messages or communicate with someone else on their cell phones, or listen to their iTunes or MP3. They find such multitasking comfortable and easy, and most students perform multitasking when they do their homework, work at their computer, or watch DVDs.

Today’s teenagers spend enormous amounts of time socializing with friends, love listening to music and playing games, actively use their computers for socializing, doing homework, and researching papers and projects, and find it easy getting information of all kinds from the Internet. Because of the Internet, gossip travels quickly just as negative information and mean pictures. Writing diaries, once considered a personal form of expression, has become public documentation and sharing diaries, emotional experiences, and likes and dislikes is common practice.

“There are more opportunities for teens to express themselves and distribute their work as writers, artists, videographers, or podcasters (Internet radio hosts who create audio recordings you can download from the Web)” (p. 13), writes Goodstein. There is no doubt that totally wired teens raise new issues of privacy and safety, but it may be, too, they are becoming more communicative and expressive at the same time. We live in a far more verbal world than ever before.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.

Weekend Words

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

"Like apples of gold in a silver setting is a word that is aptly spoken." ---The Bible, Proverbs 25:11

The Port of Napoli — Our tour of Pompei and our warnings about Naples

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

by Richard L. Weaver II

Everyday on this Mediterranean cruise (with the exception of sea days) included another excursion. After Florence and Rome, our next port-of-call was Napoli (Naples), and being docked, as opposed to having to be tendered in from the ship, I was able to leave the ship easily to walk directly into the city of Naples. I simply followed a main street away from the Castel dell’ Ovo (the Castle at the Port), beginning, of course, at Terminal Napoli. I walked by the Piazza Municipio, then along Via de Pretis to the Piazza Bovio, then I took the Corso to Piazze Nicola Amore and Umberto 1 to the Piazza Garibaldi — which seemed to be a grand transportation hub for all of Naples’ buses and taxis. Here, I chose to turn around and walk back the same way I had come.

At one point I saw a possible detour from the route I had previously taken, so I turned onto a side street to enjoy the small bakeries, eateries, coffee houses, and other fruit and vegetable shops. Heavily populated by locals, the air was full of smoke (most Europeans do), and merchandise and produce were still being arranged and stacked for a Saturday of potential sales.

To me, Naples was like every other very big city — and, as it turned out, I walked through the most expensive shopping area as well as the business center of the city. There was a great deal of activity; traffic was heavy; stores catered to almost any kind of interests citizens might have; vendors were just laying out their goods on tables and cloths along the sidewalks. Lady’s pocketbooks, children’s toys, and souvenirs seemed to be the predominant items for sale.

I had to hurry back to the ship in time to have a bite to eat before our planned afternoon excursion. I met Andrea in the hallway leading from our cabin, and together we had lunch.

Today’s afternoon excursion (1:30-5:15 p.m.) was to Pompei. It takes about one-half hour on a nice highway once away from the port area. On the excursion bus we passed through the entire port of Naples and along the portside of Naples on our way around Mount Vesuvius — six miles east of Naples, close to the shore, and always visible off to the left side of our coach. Mount Vesuvius is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted in the last hundred years. It is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because it has erupted many times --- there is a population of 3,000,000 people living close to it --- and of its tendency towards explosive eruptions.

Pompeii was one of the highlights of our trip thus far. Although there is much to see in the big cities, getting in and out and around them is difficult and chaotic. We have, once again, determined that big-city life is not for us. In many cases, the old cliche, “great place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there,” doesn’t even apply. In some cases, they aren’t even great places to visit! That was not true about Pompeii — although all the evidence prior to getting up into the ruins themselves (the tourist buses, restaurants, canvas-covered souvenir stands, and individuals hawking their wares) might easily convince you otherwise.

The still-active volcano, Mt. Vesuvias, contributed to the sculpture of the Bay of Naples when, 1,900 years ago, on August 24, 79 A.D., it erupted and covered the town of Pompeii with 30 feet of ash and pumice stone. The city was lost for 1700 years before its accidental discovery in 1748. Its value today — besides being one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy — is the extraordinarily detailed insight the city provides into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire.

Pompeii was a thriving Roman city and standing in the Forum, the center of the old city, you are surrounded by the remains of lavish temples and porticoes. The forum was an open place where all people could gather and nearby were centers of government, places of worship, and markets. As one walks the narrow stone streets, at each intersection there are raised stepping stones that ensured pedestrians could cross without getting their togas wet. Embedded deeply in these stone streets one can still see the deep ruts of the chariots, always pulled by two donkeys.

Wealthy patricians moved to Pompeii to escape the turmoil of Rome, and evidence of its prosperity is everywhere. In addition to the extensive forum, an exercise court, and public swimming pools, there were lavish baths, a bordello, temples, villas richly decorated with frescoes, and a wonderful venue for theatrical performances (all by men, not women)

As we left Pompeii and were returning to the ship, I asked our tour guide about the pickpockets and why Naples doesn’t crack down — since their reputation is tainted and visitors must all be warned. She suggested that it's impossible. This was just after she pointed out a group of Romanian gypsies living in shacks under one of the raised highways near the port.

She said that seeing gypsies is a common phenomenon throughout Europe and not unique to Naples. Basically she was defending her city, saying, in fact, “Don’t point your finger at Naples!” She said that because of open borders between countries, if the problem of pickpockets was stopped on any given day, it would only reappear the next. It is too big a problem. Finally, she said, these are poor people whose only means of survival is begging and stealing. In a sense, our tour guide’s heart went out to these poor people.

For tourists, the only good thing about the pickpockets is 1) that the problem is not hidden, and 2) you are clearly warned. Onboard ship, we were told to take no jewelry or watches of any kind into the city because, “what goes into Naples, stays in Naples.”

On my walk through the downtown area, I was constantly on the lookout for vagrants or others who might choose to rob or steal. Of course, I saw no one of such ilk; however, I should make it clear that it was morning, I was in the center of the business district and the wealthy section of Naples, and I was moving quickly.

As in everything else, tourists should be aware and cautious. I talked to one cruiser onboard our ship whose fear was raised to such a state, he chose not to disembark to go into Naples at all. Based on my own personal experience in the city, this was both an extreme and unnecessary measure.

It’s not like Naples is a crime-ridden city, and everyone you meet is trying to rob you! Poor people, vagrants, and people with negative intentions are part of (and, in part, produced by) all large cities. The problem cannot be totally avoided, but tourists can be aware and wary. Avoiding a visit to a new, large, foreign city should never take place simply on the premise that one may fall victim to a crime. Just because I found no evidence, however, doesn’t mean evidence doesn’t exist.
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At the portanapoli website, the website covers everything a tourist needs (or would seek) for information on Naples, Italy: 1) Portanapoli, 2) The City of Naples, 3) What so see, 4) Art, 5) Culture, 6) Amalfi Coast, 7) Sorrento Coast, 8) Travelling, 9) Apartments, 10) Bed & Breakfast, 11) Cheap Flights, 12) Farm holiday, 13) Groups & School, 14) Holiday villages, 15) Hotels, 16) Last Minute, 17) Religious Houses, 18) Special Offers, 19) Villas, 20) Photo gallery, 21) Webcams, 22) Wallpapers, 23) Italian cuisine, 24) Gastronomy.

At terragalleria.com, there are a number of outstanding pictures of Naples that are worth a view.

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Copyright July, 2009 - And Then Some Publishing L.L. C.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

You can not always control circumstances, but you can control your own thoughts. —Charles Popplestown

Day #63 - Do not worry about events over which you have no control.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.
Free 10-Day sample: smoers.com

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Have you checked out SMOERs.com lately? We've updated the website to offer you more. It's not just a 10-day sample of self-motivation, optimism, encouragement, rules... Now it's a full 30 days where each sumptuous page offers a delectable treat. Get more daily reminders for outstanding living and then get the full 365 days in th book.

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Also, RelationshipRulesWorks.com has been updated with new essays. Now there are seven essays supporting our upcoming book on relationships! Some essays are only available on the website and haven't been posted on our blog. Check out the essays section and read more.

Check out the painting progress in the Book Cover section of RelationshipRulesWorks.com. This page will be updated soon with new pictures... the cover painting is done!

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Thursday’s essay is the fifth in a ten-part series about our Mediterranean cruise. (We’re half-way through.) The first essay was entitled, “Cruising is incredibly self-indulgent,” and it served as an introduction to the series. The second essay was called, “Barcelona and the French Riviera (Nice and Eze): Minds Stretched in New Directions.” The third essay was, “Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Tuscania: So much history it boggles the mind.” Last week’s essay was, “The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s, and the Colosseum - Our tour of Rome.” This week, the essay is called, “The Port of Napoli - Our tour of Pompei and our warning about Naples.” The series will cover additional cruise stops in Athens, Istanbul, Santorini and Mikanos (Greece), as well as Venice. The essays will offer a little history, our experiences on the excursions, as well as additional insights and observations.

Share your link. Have you written anything on Mediterranean cruising? Have you visited the port of Napoli, Naples (the city), or Pompei? Do you know someone who has? Can you share some insights about any of your own touring or excursion experiences with readers? What would you like to tell people who want to cruise the Mediterranean? Places to go? Things to see? Any personal information you would like to share with them? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
The Port of Napoli - Our tour of Pompei and our warning about Naples
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

Pompeii was a thriving Roman city and standing in the Forum, the center of the old city, you are surrounded by the remains of lavish temples and porticoes. The forum was an open place where all people could gather and nearby were centers of government, places of worship, and markets. As one walks the narrow stone streets, at each intersection there are raised stepping stones that ensured pedestrians could cross without getting their togas wet. Embedded deeply in these stone streets one can still see the deep ruts of the chariots, always pulled by two donkeys.

And Then Some Works - see you Thursday!!

Book Review Mondays

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

More information at Amazon.com

No obligation to buy Click below:

The Ten Roads to Riches: The Ways the Wealthy Got There (And How You Can Too!)
by Ken Fisher

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Ken Fisher’s 228-page book, The Ten Roads to Riches: The Ways the Wealthy Got There (And How You Can Too!), covers the subjects (in separate chapters): 1) Start your own business, 2) Become a CEO, 3) Become a "ride-along" to a successful CEO, 4) Become rich and famous, 5) Marry into wealth, 6) Become a plaintiff attorney, 7) Use other people's money, 8) Invent something, 9) Real estate, 10) Save and live frugally. For most people, of course, the final chapter will have the most relevance. Fisher is a self-made billionaire, and helps those wanting to start a business, own real estate, invest wisely, or marry very, very well (from the front jacket). The book is a fun, fast read (It takes about a day or two.) It is full of examples, includes 14 pages of high-quality notes, offers a great deal of sage advice, and is written in a simple (jargonless) manner that is engaging. I highly recommend this book.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.

Weekend Words

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

"Words are but the images of matter; and except they have life of reason and invention, to fall in love with them is all one as to fall in love with a picture." ---Francis Bacon

The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s, & the Colosseum — Our tour of Rome

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

by Richard L. Weaver II

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” said Saint Ambrose, in 387 A.D. Some aspects of this popular aphorism cannot be avoided. For example, as you get closer and closer to the city, traffic begins backing up, and you wonder — appropriately — if you’re ever going to see the city. Traffic is horrendous, and our excursion guide told us it is that way all the time. The best advice she gives to tourists is, “Don’t drive in Rome.”

A comment like that, “Don’t drive in Rome,” doesn’t just refer to the amount of traffic; it refers to Roman drivers as well. Watching our bus driver maneuver was an amazing display of negotiation and orchestration. Every move, in a bus full of 50 people, requires plotting, scheming, and skillful operation. It isn’t just the small cars going in and out of traffic and trying to enter already full lanes, it is the thousands of motor scooters (Vespas) following the middle area between the lanes of traffic — zipping along on the right and left, then crossing between and among the cars. Viewed from above, as we did from the seat of our excursion bus, it looks like chaos — crowded, clogged, and going nowhere fast — and yet it is a spirited, high-octane, gutsy chaos that reveals a zestful dynamism that is positive, aggressive and, finally, with patience, successful.

Just an aside about Rome traffic has to do with trying to cross a Roman street. Not only do automobiles not obey the traffic signals, but the notorious Vespas appear suddenly out of nowhere to wreak havoc with attempts to cross the street. The best advice is to latch onto natives, and let their expertise be your guide.

The drive into Rome from the port town of Civitavechhia takes 1½ hours, some of that on a 4-lane highway — which should be 8-lanes just to service the traffic. On the way, we passed the small port city where our bus-tour guide, Valerie, lives — a 21-year-old, attractive, female, college student studying Italian, English, and Chinese. She told us about her interest in rock music (and the groups she likes, e.g. “Guns & Roses,” “Queen,” and “Kiss”), her interest in moving to Los Angeles, her car, and some of the things she and her “spinster” (her word) girlfriends enjoy doing. It wasn’t about sightseeing, explaining things we were seeing along the way, or even about Rome and what we could expect; it was about her, her life, and her interests.

We passed a McDonald’s and sitting in the second row of seats at the front of the bus, I asked Valerie if she likes McDonald’s. She said she goes there at least once a week for a cheeseburger, fries with curry sauce, and a coke. She said, “I love Coca-Cola.”

Although Valerie was not one of our better guides as far as her historical knowledge and amount of information, she gave us insight into the life of teenagers in Italy. She probably learned as much from all of us as we learned from her. She proved her English acumen at reciting one tongue-twister, and we taught her two others: “She sells seashells down by the seashore,” and “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood.” I wrote these two in a notebook she provided for me.

After picking up a tour guide for Rome, we went directly to the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica, both located in the one-half mile square, smallest country in the world — Vatican City. Although the Sistine Chapel was crowded shoulder-to-shoulder (we had 20-30 minutes there), the line to get into Saint Peter’s Basilica went around the entire Saint Peter’s Square — almost a mile-and-a-half we were told. The Basilica takes its name from Saint Peter who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and who is buried there. We went directly to the front of the line, took less than 15-20 minutes to get in (because we had a reservation), and then spent almost an hour (way too long!) inside. Our guide was not only knowledgeable, she wanted us to see and experience everything in this massive, marble, memorial to dead Popes — beginning with the first ones. We would have preferred a more balanced approach, because our next stop was the Coliseum where we had just 15-20 minutes to see everything and use the restrooms.

Two impressive sights within Saint Peter’s Basilica are Michelangelo’s “Pieta” and Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Pulpit. The Pieta depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother, Mary, after the crucifixion. The Pieta is in the first chapel to the right as one enters the basilica, and was moved to this location in the 18th century. Bernini’s Pulpit is an 85-foot high Baroque baldachin over the high alter in Saint Peter’s. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, canopies were used for various purposes.

We became even more aware of our guide’s predisposition toward Saint Peter’s when we exited the Basilica into Saint Peter’s Square only to realize that Pope Bemedict XVI — elected on April 19, 2005 — was on site. Visiting a nearby museum, they had a large screen television set up in the Square that followed his every move, and chairs were everywhere for people to sit and view his presence. Our guide remarked how lucky we were to be there when the Pope was visiting. Truly, she was in awe.

We stopped for lunch at the Ristorante Tanagra where we were served pasta with tomato sauce, peas, potatoes, and two hamburger patties, along with tiramisu for dessert. There was champagne, wine, and bottled water as well. It was an adequate lunch but nothing spectacular.

The Roman Colosseum — our last stop in Rome — is a colossal structure and the largest ever built during the Roman empire. It is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions. Known to seat 50,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on classical mythology. It remained in use for nearly 500 years with the last recorded games being played as recently as the 6th century. Following its use for entertainment in the early medieval era, at various times it was used for housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine. Its current damaged condition resulted both from earthquakes and stone robbers.

We were already running late, and the bus ride back to the ship (1½ -hours) got us there at 6:30. We had to hurriedly change clothes and proceed late to a 6:15 dinner. Being at a table for two, however, allowed us to discuss our long day in Rome. There is no question that the Roman sites we visited today were stunning, but the immensity of the city, the volume of traffic, and the narrowness of the streets made our visit a singular one. We enjoyed every minute of our 10-hour stay, but we have no interest in ever returning to Rome!
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On lonelyplanet, offers an overview as well as things to see and do. This is a tourist website, but it provides most of the information tourists need to get started.

At Italyguides.com, the website on “Rome” offers comprehensive travel information and a virtual tour of the city through a beautiful display of photography. This is a delightful website.

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Copyright June, 2009 - And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create. —Albert Einstein

Day #62 - Depend on your imagination.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.
Free 10-Day sample: smoers.com

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Have you checked out RelationshipRulesWorks.com? The front cover painting is almost done! We continue to update the website with examples of the cover and essays that support the upcoming book. The table of contents is now available with excerpts coming soon... and then some!

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Continuing our summer essay series, "A Crusing Summer" is the fourth in a ten-part series about our Mediterranean cruise. The first essay was entitled, “Cruising is incredibly self-indulgent,” and it served as an introduction to the series. The second essay was called, “Barcelona and the French Riviera (Nice and Eze): Minds Stretched in New Directions.” The third essay (from last Thursday) was, “Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Tuscania: So much history it boggles the mind.” This week’s essay is, “The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s, and the Colosseum - Our tour of Rome.” The series will cover additional cruise stops in Naples, Athens, Istanbul, Santorini and Mikanos (Greece), as well as Venice. The essays will offer a little history, our experiences on the excursions, as well as additional insights and observations.

Share your link. Have you written anything on Mediterranean cruising? Have you visited The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s, or the Colosseum? Do you know someone who has? Can you share some insights about any of your own touring or excursion experiences with readers? What would you like to tell people who want to cruise the Mediterranean? Places to go? Things to see? Any personal information you would like to share with them? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter's, and the Colosseum - Our tour of Rome
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

A comment like that, “Don’t drive in Rome,” doesn’t just refer to the amount of traffic; it refers to Roman drivers as well. Watching our bus driver maneuver was an amazing display of negotiation and orchestration. Every move, in a bus full of 50 people, requires plotting, scheming, and skillful operation. It isn’t just the small cars going in and out of traffic and trying to enter already full lanes, it is the thousands of motor scooters (Vespas) following the middle area between the lanes of traffic — zipping along on the right and left, then crossing between and among the cars. Viewed from above, as we did from the seat of our excursion bus, it looks like chaos — crowded, clogged, and going nowhere fast — and yet it is a spirited, high-octane, gutsy chaos that reveals a zestful dynamism that is positive, aggressive and, finally, with patience, successful.

And Then Some Works - see you Thursday!!

Book Review Mondays

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

More information at Amazon.com

No obligation to buy Click below:

Get People to do What You Want: How to Use Body Language and Words to Attract People You Like and Avoid the Ones You Don't
by Gregory Hartley and Maryann Karinch

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Hartley and Karinch's 283-page book, Get People to do What You Want, has a great title that, by itself, will attract readers. The authors give some information on what motivates people, and I think beginning a book with this title with an explanation and application of Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a superb idea, and it may be one (maybe even the) most important part of the book. If you are familiar with the area of persuasion, there are many books in the field (as you already know) that offer information. If you're looking for insights, new information or perspectives, recent evidence or new resources, or suggestions that exceed what you already know from common knowledge or commonsense, look elsewhere. The examples are interesting, the book is simple to read, the suggestions are straightforward and easy to put into use, and, overall, it provides a broadbased beginning point --- an elementary approach --- for those interested in persuading others.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.

Weekend Words

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

"All words are spiritual. Nothing is more spiritual than words." ---Walt Whitman

Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Tuscania: So much history it boggles the mind

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

by Richard L. Weaver II

After docking in Livorno, Italy, where there is nothing but industry, containers waiting to be loaded or unloaded, and container ships, we spent 3½ hours on a bus traveling into Florence. Forty-five minutes to one hour of that time was spent in a small gas station on the way into the city so people (7 busloads at one point) could use the restrooms.

Traveling into Florence allowed us to see beautiful countryside as well as a park-like entrance and a view of the entire city from the Plaza of David where a copper replica of Michelangelo’s David holds a commanding overview. Within the city with its traffic and narrow streets, we went directly to the Academy Museum where Michelangelo’s actual statue of David resides. Getting there early helped us gain entry easily. There were many people standing in line to get in, but with a tour, reservations, and a bold excursion guide, we entered with little pause. Seeing this masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture — and the most recognizable statue in the history of art — is breathtaking. It is both a symbol of strength and youthful beauty.

Following the Academy Museum, we stopped at Cathedral Square to view the Duomo, the Baptistery, and Giotto’s Bell Tower. In Signoria Square we saw a second copy of David and toured the Church of Santa Croce where Michelangelo is buried in a non-descript tomb that our excursion guide said, “gives tour guides something to talk about.” The Italian composer Rossini is buried in the same church.

We had lunch at the Ristorante Tirovino which consisted of alfredo lasagna, potatoes, peas, and chicken covered in red sauce. The bottled water and dry red wine were appreciated, but the tiramisu was the best we have had thus far.

Tiramisu is an Italian desert typically made from sponge-finger biscuits, espresso coffee, mascarpone cheese, eggs, cream, sugar, Marsala wine, cocoa, and rum. The Italian name tiramisu means “pick-me-up” (metaphorically, “make me happy”) and considering the caffeine-containing ingredients (espresso and cocoa) and the sugar, its pick-me-up notoriety comes as no surprise.

Following lunch we viewed the Ponte Vecchio (or “Old Bridge”) which dates back to 1345. As we walked the bridge, we were on constant lookout for pickpockets, and the warning we received well before we arrived there was reinforced by two burly police officers holding billy clubs and standing next to each other in the center of the entryway in fierce “I dare you” posture.

The 1½ -hour bus trip back to the ship where we arrived 1½-hours late took place through small towns and numerous countryside vistas. It was totally unexpected and not on the itinerary. It turns out that our bus driver was in contact with two other tour buses ahead of us, and those drivers warned ours about a 3½ mile back-up of traffic on the main highway ahead of us (due to both construction and an accident), so our driver took an immediate exit which returned us to the port more quickly and avoided delay.

A 6:45 p.m. return to our ship put us in the Mediterranean Restaurant at 7 p.m. (45-minutes late), but our waiter, Catalin, and his assistant, Everton, waited for us, expected us to be late, and cheerfully welcomed us back to the ship. Only 4 days since coming onboard, and already our wait staff was making us feel comfortable and secure.

Following the port of Livorno, the port for all cruise ships with passengers heading to Rome, is Civitavecchia. Although we were in this port for 2 days (by popular demand our cruise line told us), we chose to go into Rome (about 1½ hours by bus) on the second day only. Touring takes its toll on the body, and our second day in Rome includes a 10-hour tour. On the first day in Civitavecchia, we chose a half-day excursion through the Etruscan countryside to a small village called Tuscania and then on to a farm that grows and presses olives into a variety of extra-virgin olive oils. Their olive oil is special for two reasons. First, they only pick the olives when they are exactly ready, and, second, they press them into oil (using a portable press taken directly to the trees) immediately when harvested. This prevents the acidic build-up that occurs when the olives are not pressed immediately.

The woman giving us the talk at the olive farm told us that to get regular olive oil (or virgin oil), the mash from the first pressing is put back into the press; however, to make it taste like extra-virgin (and to bring out added flavor), chemicals are added to it. Only the extra-virgin olive oil is from the first pressing of the olives and is free of chemicals. This is the kind of information that makes these excursions so interesting, valuable, and worthwhile.

Our visit to the small, remote, walled city of Tuscania reminded me of our previous visit to Eze along the French Riviera. Both were situated on hills so the inhabitants could protect themselves from invaders. Both cities were walled. Both were active and vibrant and contained many small stores within the walls. Eze was more tourist oriented; Tuscania, much larger than Eze, was more eclectic and cosmopolitan. Both had a cathedral as a central, important element in the village. The cathedral of Eze had a bishop; that of Tuscania (a duomo), did not.

Our guide for our trip to Tuscania, and our bus driver for this trip as well, were from a small city on a hill we passed as we drove to Tuscania. I mention this for one reason only. Like our previous guides, these folks relate so many dates and times they are hard to digest. For example, Tuscania was built during the 7th century and its strategical position granted it a leading role in the Etruscan world. In the 5th century it became one of the first bishopric seats in Italy, maintaining it until 1653. It gets worse. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Tuscania fell to the Lombards in 569, became part of the Papal States in 967-1066, was a fief of the Auguillara family, and then a fief of the marquises of Tuscany, before being besieged by Emperor Henry IV in 1081. There were at least seven more changes of authority throughout the years including being ravaged by the French troops of King Charles VIII during his march towards the Kingdom of Naples in 1495. After inner struggles and riots of the citizens, the city experienced a long decline until the annexation to the new unified Kingdom of Italy in 1870. You get the point.

Although historical information like this is important — especially to the local people — without other known historical reference points it is difficult to remember the details. There is so much history in these European towns, it boggles the mind.
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At LivornoNow, the website includes everything you may want to know about Livorno, Italy, and its surrounding area: 1) News, Articles & Editorial, 2) Annual Events & National Holidays, 3) About Livorno, 4) Travel & Transport, 5) Accommodation, 6) Wining, Dining & Partying, 7) Places to Visit, 8) Shopping in Livorno, 9) Bars and Cafés, 10) People, 11) Sarah's Blog, 12) Sport and Free Time, 13) Music Scene, 14) The Arts, 15) Services, 16) Real Estate, 17) Event Management, 18) Community Close Up, 19) Livorno Now Photo Galleries, 20) Local Authorities & Utilities, 21) Medical & Emergency, 21) About Us, and 22) LivornoNow Connections Friendly Links.

At About.com: Cruises, Linda Garrison has a wonderful essay, “Rome and Civitavecchia - Mediterranean Ports of Call: Unforgettable Eternal City,” in which she makes the case for her first statement, “Rome is a marvelous city, and deserves a visit of several days, weeks, or even months.”

At planetware, using the icons at the top of the page, you can find out anything you want to know about Tuscania, Italy. This is a tourism website, so it gives you tourist interests at the click of a mouse.
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Copyright June, 2009 - And Then Some Publishing L.L.C.

SMOERs: Words of Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Procrastination is a roadblock in the path of happiness. —Maxwell Maltz

Day #61 - Stop procrastinating.

SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules! - Daily Reminders for Outstanding Living
An everyday guide full of quotations to uplift your spirits.
Free 10-Day sample: smoers.com

And Then Some News

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Thursday’s essay is the third in a ten-part series about our Mediterranean cruise. The first essay was entitled, “Cruising is incredibly self-indulgent,” and it served as an introduction to the series. The second essay was called, “Barcelona and the French Riviera (Nice and Eze): Minds Stretched in New Directions.” The third essay (coming this Thursday) is, “Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Tuscania: So much history it boggles the mind.” The series will cover additional cruise stops in Naples, Athens, Istanbul, Santorini and Mikanos (Greece), as well as Venice. The essays will offer a little history, our experiences on the excursions, as well as additional insights and observations.

Share your link. Have you written anything on Mediterranean cruising? Have you visited Livorno, Civitavecchia, or Tuscania? Do you know someone who has? Can you share some insights about any of your own touring or excursion experiences with readers? What would you like to tell people who want to cruise the Mediterranean? Any personal information you would like to share with them? Share your link with us. We’ll post it and move traffic in your direction. And, a big “thank you,” in advance, from AndThenSomeWorks.com, for sharing your link.

Click here to LINK your And Then Some story

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview
Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Tuscania: So much history it boggles the mind
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

Traveling into Florence allowed us to see beautiful countryside as well as a park-like entrance and a view of the entire city from the Plaza of David where a copper replica of Michelangelo’s David holds a commanding overview. Within the city with its traffic and narrow streets, we went directly to the Academy Museum where Michelangelo’s actual statue of David resides. Getting there early helped us gain entry easily. There were many people standing in line to get in, but with a tour, reservations, and a bold excursion guide, we entered with little pause. Seeing this masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture — and the most recognizable statue in the history of art — is breathtaking. It is both a symbol of strength and youthful beauty.

And Then Some Works - see you Thursday!!

Book Review Mondays

noreply@blogger.com (andthensomeworks.com) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

More information at Amazon.com

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Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
by Mitch Albom

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, PhD.

Mitch Albom's very popular 192-page book, Tuesdays with Morrie, can be enjoyed on a variety of levels. First, if you've ever had a great teacher, it is a wonderful and touching dialog between teacher and student. Second, the philosophical insights, wisdom, and simple life lessons Morrie Schwartz, a sociology professor at Brandies University, dispenses throughout the book are excellent, basic lessons on how to live. Third, you experience, along with Albom, Morrie's declining health (he's dying from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)), and it is an honest and straightforward lesson in how to die. Fourth, you learn from this experience that human relationships and health are more important than all the gadgets, modern conveniences, and the other trivialities that occupy our lives. Fifth, you enjoy the special connection that can take place between a spiritual mentor and a pupil. Sixth, you will be reading a book that will touch your heart in a deep and meaningful way. This is a short, inspirational book (It takes 2-4 hours to read), with the most important truth being: you learn to live by learning to die. The other truths include the necessity of devoting yourself to loving others, devoting yourself to your community, and devoting yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. What's interesting about this book --- a type I tend to avoid, for the most part (it was recommended to me by my wife) --- is that "it lives up to all the hype!" It is a classic, and it will continue to be a bestseller for a long time. I highly recommend it.

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