Back on board the Le Ponant, the sails were raised for the first time on our cruise. We had been at Tall Ships in Chicago and saw sails raised with ropes. On the Le Ponant, this process was mechanical – but still a beautiful site! When attending the briefing given by our tour directors, we learned that we would be passing the island of Stromboli overnight. Stromboli is home to a “constantly active volcano” and I decided to set my…
As we walked among the ruins of Pompeii, our local guide shared what life in Pompeii would have been like as well as that fateful day when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. The ruins remained undisturbed for over one thousand years. One of the first areas we saw was the forum, a large plaza where people would have gathered to socialize, do business and worship. Immediately below is the Temple of Jupiter with Mt. Vesuvius in the background. The…
As we approached Heimaey Island, we sailed through an archipelago which formed as result of volcanic activity under the ocean. The water was a little rough, but it was a beautiful day to be out on the deck. We saw Surtsey Island (second picture), which emerged from the ocean in 1963 as a result of a volcanic eruption under the sea. Since the eruption ended, the island has been eroding because of heavy seas. Access to the island is highly…