Italy

Well, I have arrived in Italy and my first sight flying into Naples is of Mt. Vesuvius looming in the backround of the city. Its pretty scary to see that cities have been built back up despite the threat staring them in the face everyday. Naples is wonderful except for the fact that I do not recieve a stamp on my passport for coming in from Athens. The city itself was made for navigating by foot. The National Archeological Museum and the Piazza Plebisito are spectacular. It is completely impossible to keep kosher for passover in the city that invented pizza so I promise to do so when I get back ( better late than never)....
Next I move on to the island paradise of Ischia. The culture and the people are so great. Its actually really fascinating to learn that the island has been built up on an active volcanic site. In fact the most significant reason for tourism is the world famous thermal springs. These pools of ultra heated and nutriant rich water are literally parts where tiny cracks in the bedrock allow an amount of gas and magma to come into contact with the surrounding sea. Talk about living dangerously...
Finally, I arrive at the crown jewel of the Italian nation and metaphorically speaking the notion of the developed "free" world, Roma.. It is such an amazing city with absolutely so much to see that it is daunting to even glance at the map before you. But, as I start to walk I realize at how much I am able to see and experience. It seem as though every corner has a different site to capture. I am a little freaked out by the ruins as a reminder that even a city as grand and powerful as the "center of the universe" can be destroyed as easily as it is built. It made me wonder if that could be the fate of the American Empire 700 years from now.
I loved every moment of my Italian experience but I must move on to the French Rivera, its a tough job but someones got to do it, Ciao !!!