Our trip was a 14-night cruise to East Mediterranean and Israel. The cruise line was Celebrity.
Ports of call included:
Some of you asked about the camera I used for taking pictures. Most of the pictures were taken with a Sony NEX-5TL camera, mounted on a HEAVY DUTY selfie stick, with an infra-red remote shutter. Not often time I also used my iPhone 6 Plus.
The first port of call for our cruise ship, after leaving Rome, is Naples, an old city with a long history. Its old city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Regretfully we didn’t get to tour the city because we had joined a private tour group to visit Pompeii and Amalfi Coast.
We arrived early and not many tourists had shown up. This is the entrance to the site. 
This was the harbor when the town was buried, now several miles away from the shoreline.
Our Italian tour guide, Veronica, speaking in unblemished English, was very knowledgeable and eager to explain. She was explaining how a once majestic Mount Vesuvius blew its top off, sending ash and rocks to Pompeii, and the mountain split itself into two smaller mounts.
Streets lined with commercial stores and residential houses. Notice that streets were paved and sidewalks were raised. And these were done 2000 years ago! The exterior of these buildings was originally marble with bricks underneath. We now only see the inner layer bricks.
A water tank sat atop this arch tower. It got its water from a larger tank and supplied water to nearby residents.
Pompeii had a big town plaza, which was surrounded by buildings on all sides. There was the temple, the courthouse, the city hall, and the market. Most of the artworks in these buildings are now stored in a museum in Naples.
The residence of a shop owner. The far side was the entry door leading to an atrium with a skylight and a pool to catch rainwater. The near side was the receiving hall to entertain visiting guests.
The floor of the entryway of the shop owner's house. It is sealed off by a glass panel, and the floor was laid with a barking door mosaic to ward off strangers.
The dining room of the shop owner's house with beautiful wall paintings and floor mosaic.
A Roman settlement had to have a bathhouse, and there were several in Pompeii. This was the entrance to one of many of these bathhouses.
The changing room of the bathhouse. Underneath the window is a Neptune fresco.
The steam room had a big fountain that spouted water onto the heated floor to generate steam. They did this 2000 years ago already? Really!
A big hot tub for everyone to soak in hot water.
Since Pompeii was a seaport, there inevitably were sailors coming ashore to seek comfort. This was the entrance to such an establishment. (The roof is a new addition to protect the building)
The service menu of the establishment was etched on the wall.
After Pompeii, we headed south toward the town of Positano on the Amalfi Coast.
Another selfie buddies. Capri island is in the back.
We had lunch at an excellent Italian restaurant at Positano. The restaurant made its own wine, its own pasta, and used vegetables from its own farm. And the view from this restaurant was spectacular.
Next stop was Sorrento, a seaport with an old-fashioned charm. An archway under an aqueduct, built in the Roman era, leads into the old town of Sorrento.
The street in old town Sorrento is lined with little shops as any touristy town would have.
Rosaline bought a swimming suit for going to the Dead Sea later in our cruise. The swimming suit on the mannequin had the lowest price and the most clothing material. (hint!)
The town center of Sorrento
Considering the heavy traffic on the Amalfi Coast highway, we knew there was not enough time for us to go further south. We made it back to our cruise ship in time. This day has been an eye-opening, gastronomy satisfying, and fun filling day.
This was the harbor when the town was buried, now several miles away from the shoreline.
Our Italian tour guide, Veronica, speaking in unblemished English, was very knowledgeable and eager to explain. She was explaining how a once majestic Mount Vesuvius blew its top off, sending ash and rocks to Pompeii, and the mountain split itself into two smaller mounts.
Streets lined with commercial stores and residential houses. Notice that streets were paved and sidewalks were raised. And these were done 2000 years ago! The exterior of these buildings was originally marble with bricks underneath. We now only see the inner layer bricks.
A water tank sat atop this arch tower. It got its water from a larger tank and supplied water to nearby residents.
Pompeii had a big town plaza, which was surrounded by buildings on all sides. There was the temple, the courthouse, the city hall, and the market. Most of the artworks in these buildings are now stored in a museum in Naples.
The residence of a shop owner. The far side was the entry door leading to an atrium with a skylight and a pool to catch rainwater. The near side was the receiving hall to entertain visiting guests.
The floor of the entryway of the shop owner's house. It is sealed off by a glass panel, and the floor was laid with a barking door mosaic to ward off strangers.
The dining room of the shop owner's house with beautiful wall paintings and floor mosaic.
A Roman settlement had to have a bathhouse, and there were several in Pompeii. This was the entrance to one of many of these bathhouses.
The changing room of the bathhouse. Underneath the window is a Neptune fresco.
The steam room had a big fountain that spouted water onto the heated floor to generate steam. They did this 2000 years ago already? Really!
A big hot tub for everyone to soak in hot water.
Since Pompeii was a seaport, there inevitably were sailors coming ashore to seek comfort. This was the entrance to such an establishment. (The roof is a new addition to protect the building)
The service menu of the establishment was etched on the wall.
After Pompeii, we headed south toward the town of Positano on the Amalfi Coast.
Another selfie buddies. Capri island is in the back.
We had lunch at an excellent Italian restaurant at Positano. The restaurant made its own wine, its own pasta, and used vegetables from its own farm. And the view from this restaurant was spectacular.
Next stop was Sorrento, a seaport with an old-fashioned charm. An archway under an aqueduct, built in the Roman era, leads into the old town of Sorrento.
The street in old town Sorrento is lined with little shops as any touristy town would have.
Rosaline bought a swimming suit for going to the Dead Sea later in our cruise. The swimming suit on the mannequin had the lowest price and the most clothing material. (hint!)
The town center of Sorrento
Considering the heavy traffic on the Amalfi Coast highway, we knew there was not enough time for us to go further south. We made it back to our cruise ship in time. This day has been an eye-opening, gastronomy satisfying, and fun filling day.
-Joe
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