walao.org: EUR03-Naples,Pompeii,Vatican

Naples

Bus trip to Naples and Pompeii, the only scenic stop at Naples was near the Egg Castle. I really like the wide angle lens, so everything will be wide angle from now on.

Dog outside the souvenir shop

I didn't see this dog and stepped on it a little when our tour guide was gathering the crowd. Luckily I didn't kill it or vice-versa. Sorry doggy :|

Pompeii

Once upon a time, a volcano erupted very seriously, and most of Pompeii was covered in ash. We visited the excavated Roman city. It is quite amazing that such a huge area with streets, stores, plaza, houses and even prostitute shops clearly identified and marked.

A penis carved on the roadway pointing in the direction of brothels, well, the oldest profession man!

Volcano in question, Mt. Vesuvius in the background. Ash can cover till where we stand and beyond, quite scary right? I see lots of small plantations (e.g. mandarin) on our way, soil is really fertile.

Franco, the local guide

original cat's eye tiles (brighter room at night)

shit load of birds making formations in the sky

Vatican

Vatican Museum is one very big museum, I suggest you watch ~~The Da Vinci Code (2006)~~ Angels & Demons (2009) plus check out the following guys before your visit:

Note that if you swap Donatello for Saint Peter, you can actually form the Ninja Turtle party.

Our guide Michelle (best guide of our trip), explaining Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel beforehand, because you have to remain silent while you are in the chapel. I have built Sistine Chapel multiple times in Civ3 and Civ4, it feels really good to see the real thing for once. If you are familiar with a painting with 2 guys touching finger, that's the painting we are talking about here, Creation of Adam.

You may be wondering why is the ceiling so yellow? Well, usually it is plated with real gold... I heard there is a secret vault not accessible by the public in the Vatican City. Imagine what could be in there!?

This is the symbol or coat of arms of the Pope, symbol is different for each Pope, but it usually features a crown and then 2 keys and then a personalised figure in round shape. You can find similar symbol on the wine bottle from Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Rhone).

St. Peter's Basilica, very impressive interior, but then I heard the building materials were "stolen" from nearby historical monuments including the Colosseum and Pantheon, I was like, WOOT?