CLICK ON THE RIGHT-HAND side where you see
# 2 discussion... June 21-July 4 --- VENICE, ITALY
ITALY: # 1 online discussion June 7-20, Pompeii: "Hello Italy Travelers: I am sending you a link to a site about Pompeii, Italy. At the bottom of the page on the LINK, you'll see several i..."
Hi travelers,
ReplyDeleteThis is where you can post your comments about Pompeii. Although the discussion period runs from June 7 - June 20 for the Pompeii location, I am beginning to put information onto the Pompeii page now. You don't have to wait until June 7 to begin. I'll continue to add things, so even if you begin now, be sure to come back to the Pompeii page during the Jun 7 - June 20 discussion time.
REMINDER: Don't limit your reading and research just to what I put on the blog! You can do your own searching too. Have any of you checked out any books about "visiting Italy" from the library?
AM
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBrooke Dummer is logged in.
ReplyDeleteBrooke,
ReplyDeletePlease go and log in on the HOMEPAGE too, would you? Thanks. AM
Courtney Berg is logged in!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is Megan Guggisberg posting.
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I have found that if you un-check the "Remember Me" box, it lets you post comments. Maybe this is the same problem for Sarah.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the national news with the report on the current active volcano? Where is that volcano?
ReplyDeleteThrough my reading of Pompeii, I found many interesting facts that I did not know about. I did not realize that the people didn’t understand that when springs dried up that it was a sign of the eruption. As a result of this, the eruption came as a surprise to them. Something else that I found quite interesting was the wind on that day. One of the articles I read wrote “By chance, the wind was blowing from the northwest, so when the volcanic matter began to fall, it was blown in the direction of Pompeii.” I find it interesting that of all the ways the wind could have blown, it just happened to be blowing towards the city.
ReplyDeleteThis event sounds like it was an “end-of-the-world” feeling to it. A large cloud of ash and rock was shot into the air and the cloud covered the sun to produce darkness over the city. The ash, pumice, and rock fell to the ground, often injuring people. The pumice and debris was piling up. The magma built up and broke down the city walls. Now this is when things get ugly. The article says “All people still present in the city died instantly, literally baked alive by the hot air of the surge.” Just the thought of people being instantly burned to death is unimaginable. Just innocent people going about there everyday lives and all of a sudden-dead. Also knowing that thousands died in this, some of them were even trying to flee, but could not outrun the magma.
Lastly, it is interesting that archaeologists are still working on Pompeii. I guess there can never be an end to the digging and research of the outcome of the devastation of Pompeii.
TRAVELERS,
ReplyDeleteHi. It's June 7. Let's get our discussion about Pompeii going on this blogspot!
I am definitely hoping to see thoughtful comments about the material on the blog.
(Please be specific.)
Thank you, Derek, for your posting above.
Remind each other to log on and start sharing your thoughts and ideas about the various Pompeii materials.
Remember. Click on the right-hand side where it says "# 1 discussion - Pompeii.
Sometimes I WILL post some questions to help you think about what you might like to write on this blog, but to begin with this week, just start sharing your thoughts/ideas/questions.
If you really can't think of something to say for your first real "post," why not just try responding to these questions:
What caught your attention the most about the information on Pompeii?
Did you know very much about Pompeii before this? If yes, what "new" things caught your attention. If no, what surprised you the most?
A few people have not logged on to the blog at all yet. Some have not sent me an e-mail yet either. So please call, text, or e-mail them...remind everyone to join in the conversation.
AM
test post by Kyle Franta
ReplyDeleteI had never given much thought to the city of Pompeii. After reading about the city I have found that it is quiet fasinating! I find it so amazing that in only 19 hours an entire city was destroyed. Pompeii was frozen for nearly 1,700 years under 9 feet of volcanic ash! It is so amazing that this city was baked in ash in one day, not even! The piece of information that suprises me the most is that no one knew what had happen! The city had been buried for nearly 1,700 years yet no one had noticed its disappearence, until it was accidently discovered! I did not know much about Pompeii before doing research for this blog and I am happy I did because this city and its history is remarkable!
ReplyDeleteCourtney,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments on the blog. You and Derek have both "said something" and I'm glad because we are almost ready (Tuesday, June 21) to move to the next topic. PLEASE, if you have an opportunity to REMIND OTHERS, do so.
AM
TRAVELERS,
ReplyDeleteI have to admit it is disappointing to me that it looks like I'll have to go to the e-mail addresses and send out reminders so that people do some reading, viewing, and posting on our blog. I hope that each traveler will MARK HIS/HER calendar so that the summer blogging gets rolling. I'd like to spend my energy "preparing" the blog, not sending out reminders.
I'm guessing that each of you spends some time with your cell phone, text messages, internet searching, and / or e-mails most days. PLEASE GET TO THE BLOG ASAP. Read, view, "post." We are counting on everyone to help keep the conversation going.
I do think that a two-week period for reading and viewing and "posting" allows ample time for everyone to participate, and we said from the start that we would be asking the travelers to join in some educational preparation for our journey.
So far, only Derek and Courtney have commented about Pompeii.
Travelers, if you are having trouble knowing what to do, I should be getting questions from you by e-mail. Please get on the blog between now and Monday night. Starting on Tuesday, June 21, we are moving to a new topic. [discussion # 2]
Learn about Pompeii and tell us what you think about it!
AM
After reading a few pieces of information that Mrs. Moeller has provided, I decided to do a little research of my own. I learned that the city of Pompeii was home to the most elite people in the area at that time. The city was composed of various fabulous villas and beautiful gardens. The city was located in a very beautiful area. It overlooked the Bay of Naples. One day the people of Pompeii saw a large cloud of smoke and ash rising over the city. The citizens knew it was time to leave. Before they could escape, a large toxic cloud enveloped the city. The people died instantly of thermal shock, as the cloud reached temperatures of more than 900 degrees. The history of Pompeii is amazing and I cannot wait for our trip to Italy!
ReplyDeleteMolly Forst
As I was doing research on Pompelii,I found it very interesting that the whole city was covered in ash and destroyed in only 19 minutes. I also found it interesting that many people tried to flea the city but were killed instantly because of the rising temperatures and the toxic fumes. It also seemed strange to me that it was "accidentally" discovered 1,700 years later. I find it really hard to believe that no one noticed or knew anything about the city and than all of a sudden it was discorved! All the information I found was very interesting and I can't wait to see it on the tour!
ReplyDeleteMolly and Megan,
ReplyDeleteThank you both for writing. I appreciate the good "voice" in your blog posts. You are sharing "reactions," as well as information, and that is how to get the conversation going. I am looking forward to seeing what others reply to YOUR posts, and what comments you might make to others --- when more people get going on the blog. PLEASE help to remind people to get on the blog and start posting. (I'd really appreciate it if you would phone or text people who are going on the trip and just remind them to get something posted by Monday evening.)
Thanks for posting on our ITALY blogspot,
AM
Throughout my research of Pompeii, I have found many intriguing facts that make Pompeii a popular tourist attraction. For one, I found research about specific building materials that the Roman Empire used throughout its regime. Historians and anthropologists alike were uncertain about the progression of building materials. When Pompeii was discovered, this magnificent city preserved as if it was still 79 AD, which gives historians a myriad of information about the Roman Empire. I also found that Pompeii was not the only city that Mount Vesuvius destroyed. There were others, including Herculaneum. But why Pompeii? Pompeii was the easiest to excavate because it had the least amount of rock covering it.
ReplyDeleteALSO. I have a question. Would you recommend learning Italian? I recently just bought a book and have read over it and I was just wondering how essential will it be to know how to speak Italian. I am assuming our EF tour guide can speak it but would you encourage us to learn some so we can be immersed into the Italian culture?
Thanks
-Nate Holm
While I was doing my research I was shocked to hear that the whole city was destoyed in less then a day! From the first video I learned that after the volcano erupted half a dozen of the towns around Pompeii were covered in ash! Also from the video, for the first time the government allowed scores of foreign students to help clean up because they dont have to tools and money to clean up the ash from the volcano themsleves. The city was buried in 20 feet of earth and ash! Before the volcano Pompeii was 500 meters from the ocean and after the volcano erupted it is now 2 kilometers away! I have found some very interesting facts from reading all of this and I am very excited to see Pompeii!
ReplyDeleteJordan Bode
While I was thinking about the destruction in Pompeii two thousand years ago, I kept realizing that life two thousand years ago was more similar to life today than we may assume. By watching the Youtube videos that Mrs. Moeller provided, I figured out that the people that lived in Pompeii during the eruption experienced the same emotions and uncertainties as we do. They were fearful and sometimes oblivious of the damage that Mother Nature could have on their lives. They had families and loved ones that they would choose to protect with their own lives. Unfortunately, they didn't have the technological advances that we do today, so they didn't quite understand what was happening to them. They couldn't predict the eruption or their eventual deaths. They didn't even realize that they needed to get out of their city. Once the cloud of gas and ash reached the people, they were instantaneously dead and turned to charcoal. I think the entire situation was horrible, and it is very sad that these people didn’t have the opportunity to either flee or fight back. There was absolutely no escaping this terrible death.
ReplyDeleteBefore this I had never really thought about Pompeii much, but after reading the information provided I think Pompeii is a very interesting city. It's insane that in a short amount of time a whole city was destroyed. I think it is very sad that the people living in this city had no way to survive, whether they ran for it or took shelter indoors, it was death either way. They had no way to predict what would happen either, so they were completely taken by surprise. Living in modern times, we can predict most weather related disasters like hurricanes but we still are at the mercy of Mother Nature and what happened in Pompeii is a very sad reminder of what Mother Nature can do.
ReplyDeleteI have always had an interest towards Pompeii but never really knew a very much about it. After reading the information givin I can now say that I know more about Pompeii. I didn't know that the citizens of Pompeii thought that the volcano was actually a mountain. The eruption must have caused a big surprise not only to the people of Pompeii but to the citizens and people of the surrounding areas. I am very excited to see the actual site of Pompeii for myself!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you travelers who have written in the last 24 hours --- Kyle, Sarah, Peyton, Nathan.
ReplyDeleteI will continue to try to reach the people who have not contributed any comments yet. Would all of you who have posted something about Pompeii, PLEASE try to spread the word to the others! [EVEN THOUGH the Pompeii topic ends tonight, I still URGE ALL OF YOU TO do the reading, viewing, and "posting" on discussion # 1 - Pompeii.]
Let's see if we can get the NEXT DISCUSSION going earlier in the two-week period which begins tomorrow. THAT WAY, we can accomplish two things with discussion # 2:
a) the travelers can comment about their own reactions and interests related to the "linked" materials, and...
b) the travelers can write to comment about what other people have said in their posts...
I am going to give a comment about now about Nathan's question. (If you didn't read Nathan's question about the Italian language, please scroll back "up" and read it now!)
Nate,
I am glad you asked about learning some Italian.
Here is my response:
1) I think it would be great if you decide to do some Italian language learning on your own.
2) Mrs. Esser and I have talked about trying to teach the travel group some words and phrases in Italian before we go on the trip.
3) Nate, if you do some work in this area, please share with us what you are finding. Maybe you could become one of the people who helps us locate information and helps us decide what we should cover with the group in the course of the coming months before we leave for Italy. There might be some other travelers who are also very interested in exploring the Italian language as well. Let's hear from you travelers!
One more thing about the blog...
ReplyDeleteThe "slideshow" at the top is something I changed today. The pictures are ITALIAN, but they are different from the pictures which were rotating before in that "slideshow" space at the top of the page on the right-hand side.
Occasionally, you'll be looking at those pictures of Italian art and architecture and all of a sudden, a random photo of people will pop up. I am not sure exactly HOW some of the pictures are related to the topics I have selected. If you see some pictures which are just random - no problem. If you see some which are not very appropriate, let me know. Again, I am checking everything, but sometimes things change. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING that I need to "remove," tell me - don't tell each other.
Thanks travelers. Check again soon for Discussion Topic # 2... aren't you curious to see what it is going to be?
AM
Throughout my research on Pompeii I found it interesting that no one knew the signs, like the shaking, and since the volcano hadn’t erupted in years nobody was expecting anything to happen. The people of Pompeii didn’t even have a word for volcano. They would have had enough time to escape but they had no clue what was going on, then when they did try to escape they ended up suffocating from all the ash and smoke. I also learned that the volcano opening was plugged with old magma, and the chemical reaction of gases and water finally shattered the plug causing a much more dangerous eruption. All this research has taught me a lot and I can’t wait for our trip.
ReplyDeleteI think I know the answer to Mrs. Esser’s question
Answer: Iceland
Thank you for writing, Brooke. You clearly looked at some "details." Good for you. AM
ReplyDeleteVENICE! VENICE! VENICE! VENICE!
ReplyDeletePlease start the "discussion" about the sights of Venice. CLICK ON THE # 2 discussion - Venice.
You'll find some links there to videos and articles about the city of Venice, Italy.
Please become familiar with ARTISTS, ARTWORK, ARCHITECTURE, GLASSBLOWING, the canals, the boats, and more.
I found Pompeii to be a very interesting city. It was surprising to me that the citizens didn't know that Mt. Vesusivius was about to erupt. I also enjoyed researching the architecture of its great buildings. I am looking forward to learning more about Pompeii.
ReplyDeleteI can’t wait until we can see Venice. I really like the waterways and the bridges between them. It amazes me how the city was built over the islands that were then connected. Through the reading I have done, the architecture seems to be very beautiful and interesting. We get to see a basilica and a palace, how cool is that! As I am typing this, I have a question… Does Venice ever flood? Do they even have anything that they call a flood? Or that is equivalent to one? I wonder what would happen if Venice would have a major flood. I would also like to add that the fact that Venice was not bombed during WWII is incredible. As stated in the reading, Venice is one of the most beautiful places. I would have to agree with that. I would like to see Venice at night. I think that would look so cool. Are we going to have a gondola ride through Venice? That would be pretty cool too.
ReplyDeleteDerek,
ReplyDeleteThank you for these remarks. You made some great observations, but in addition, you posed some thoughtful questions for us to think about.
1) I do not know the answer to the "flooding" question. There must be some fairly sophisticated procedures to control the minor adjustments in rising and falling water levels, but what happens when the water rises more quickly or more severely than normally expected? GOOD QUESTION. I hope some of you Italy travelers will do some research on that!
2) I assume we will get to see Venice at night, but as to whether or not a gondola ride is possible, I am not sure. That's a good question for Mrs. Esser and for me to ask the EF tour guide people. Thanks for bringing up that question.
TRAVELERS...let's hear your reaction to the VENICE material!
The blog topic changes next Tuesday!
AM
The more i read about Venice, the more I look forward to visiting this remarkable city. I agree with Derek, the city is quite beautiful and I would enjoy riding on a gondola. I've become very interested in the lions of Venice especially. It was cool to find out that the history of the lions is associated with St. Mark. I am looking forward to seeing the lions when we visit. Another interesting fact i learned is that Venice played a major role in the glass making industry. The Roman Empire actively encouraged glassblowing and even made laws about it. Some of these laws prevented foreign glass and foreign glass makers (glass was only to be made in Venice). I watched a video that showed a professional making a glass kitten figurine and it was incredible how fast he made it. I hope that we can see how the glass is made.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the provided information i have quickly become much more interested in the magnificent city of venice! It is absolutely increduble that the streets are actually water. The thought of having to take aboat to get to different parts of the city is mind blowing. And i agree with Mehgan and Derek; a gondola ride would be really cool. I have always wanted to do that! the more i read and learn about Italy and its many magnificent cities, the more i want to see and visit them for myself! Thank you for providing the information on both Pompeii and Venice!
ReplyDeleteMeghan and Kyle,
ReplyDeleteThank you both for posting about VENICE. It is good to hear what your reactions are when you look at some of the sights in that city.
I wonder if either of you have anything specific to say about the Doge's Palace or St. Mark's?
Did either of you look at the "Italian language" website which I linked to the Venice page?
Please continue to phone or e-mail others who are going to Italy on this trip. Remind them that they need to participate and contribute to the BLOG.
Thank you for "posting" about Venice.
AM
Wow! Venice sounds like an amazing place! The city is home to many old and famous places. It is astonishing to me that the people of that era could have created such complex and intricate designs. St. Mark’s Basilica really sparked my interest and I decided to do more research of my own. The history behind this immense building is really quite amazing. The original church was constructed in 828. The building burned down in 976 during an uprising. They rebuilt the church twice, the last time being in 1063. At that time the power of the Venetian Republic had risen dramatically, and the new basilica, consecrated in 1094, would come to symbolize the republic's growing power and wealth. This basilica is the one we see today. It was the doge's private chapel until 1807, when it became the city's cathedral. The design of the church is a mixture of the eastern and western Churches.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am interested in learning the Italian language before we go on our trip. I was glad to see some of it included in this discussion! I am looking forward to learning more!
-Molly Forst
As I was doing research on Venice I become more and more excited to see it! The beautiful art work and the canal walkways look awemaziing. I think the most interesting thing I found in my research was that in the fall and early spring the city floods. It is becuse of the tidal waves from the Adriatic sea. I'm so excited to see the beautiful art work and even the city!
ReplyDeleteMegan L. and Molly F.,
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting on Venice.
Let me remind everyone and urge everyone to begin exploring the Florence, Italy discussion page now too.
I will continue to add things to that page. PLEASE keep returning to that page to look at the NEW things you will find on it.
As of today, July 8, there is just one comment on Florence. You can add your Florence comments by simply clicking on "comments" underneath that heading.
So far, Florence just has "1 comment" and that is a comment from me, urging you to "post" and to remind your fellow travelers to do so as well.
Summer is flying by. Please spend some time looking at the Italy information. It really IS enjoyable to begin thinking about the sights we will be able to see next summer.
AM
While I was researching Venice, I found it interesting that Venice is built on 117 small islands and has 150 canals connected by 409 bridges. I was also fascinated by the old yet beautiful architecture. I would find it fun to take a ride on a gondola in one of the canals. I can't wait to visit this beautiful city.
ReplyDeleteI was already very much looking forward to seeing Venice, but after reading this article it made me overjoyed. I cannot wait to see the streets of water! Such a different way of traveling around a city!
ReplyDeleteAs I was researching Venice, I read that the wood the buildings are made of is petrified wood so the wood does not decay! I found this very interesting. I also find it interesting how traveling around town on boats everyday can seem normal! Blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteWow! Watching some of the videos about Venice really makes me excited about seeing it! Seeing how the buildings were sitting on the water like that was absolutly amazing! It is very obvious there were some great architects when the city was built! The oil painting in the first video also was very pretty! Learning about the cities of Italy really does make me much more excited to go!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the information and watching the videos about Venice made me realize how beautiful the city of Venice is and I can't wait to go! I learned that St. Mark's Basilica is one of the most delustrious churches in the world! I also learned that Venice is the 6th biggest cities in Europe! Also one of the videos showed St. Mark's Square and it is big! Doing all of the research is making me more pumped to go! I can't wait!
ReplyDelete(I will post about Venice and Pompeii thus)
ReplyDeletePompeii has always been a piece of general knowledge to me. I remember watching a National Geographic movie about Pompeii. However, in light of this new information, there is so much about Pompeii to know and understand even for the excavators, for some of the city is still undisturbed. It's fascinating how ancient Rome had so much system, so much organization, for being at such an early time. Even some of the paintings and architecture (like that of the Greeks) is very much better than what one might expect.
Venice to me is such an exotic city. It is built on several islands, has a canal system instead of roads, and it combines ancient with new. I did already know that most of the city is not canals, but I do know that the canal rides can get very expensive. I know someone who went to Venice and said that he paid 75 US dollars to go on a ride. The same person said that everything in Venice is excruciatingly expensive, especially housing. The glass art is worth a small fortune, so don't expect to buy one unless you have a couple thousand dollars on you.
However, I am very excited to visit beautiful Venice and experience its wonderful culture.
It is astounding to me that so many people died at Pompeii because they didn't realize that Mt. Vesusivius was about to erupt. It makes me realize how lucky we are to have people working to make sure people are able to escape before a volcano erupts. I am also very excited to see Venice! And taking a gondola ride would be amazing. I hope we get to do that.
ReplyDelete