Welcome/Stravich, to the short but interesting photo collection from our trip. Here are some of the things we saw on our trip.

Part I: (The) Ukraine....Kiev

A View of Kiev, notice the statue at the right which is kind of like a statue of liberty but most the people hate it. It a symbol of communist power and too expensive to destroy apparently.

Here is a cool gold domed cathedral that was re-done but is really, really old.

Another view of the cathedral this time with familiar faces. The rock is part of the original building (which is why it looks really, really old).

Part II: Donetsk

Here are some Ukranians that Dan knew. Dad and myself (Jeff) had difficulty communicating with them as with everyone else in that country.

Part III: Italy....Venice

Here is a glass blower from the island of Murano (they make all the world famous Murano glass here.) The demonstration on glass blowing is free, but the items in the gift shop aren't.

This is the colorful island of Burano. All the houses were colored brightly and in every imaginable color. Not sure about why they do this here. They also make lots of lace, go figure.

Ah, the Adriatic Sea. The water is warm and the beach had people who walked rats on leashes, or at least they looked like rats. We went to the beach with Jamie and her roomate Allison (from Boston), Jake lost no time getting to know her (or so you would think).

Campo San Marco, this is the biggest open space on Venice and also happens to be inhabited by about a billion pigeons. In the background is the cathedral home to St. Mark. Ask dad for more details on that one if you are interested.

The Pigeons were hungry (and so was dan, but they wouldn't fly into his mouth for some reason).

Ah, mi amores. The gondola ride...perfect for a romantic date...no comment.

Part IV: Lake Como

This was the highlight of Como...leaving.

Part V: Pisa

This is a tower in Pisa, I can't figure out why it is famous.

Part VI:Firenze (Florence for us American speakers)

Since everyone else was holding up the leaning tower of Pisa, we opted to hold up this exciting temple near the Medici getaway above Florence. This was a Roman temple converted into a Catholic church, I thought it was interesting at least.

This are the glorious "Gates of Paradise". Solid gold craftsmanship by the talented Ghiberti. East entrance of the Florentine Baptistry (facing the Duomo).

The view from Piazza di Michelangelo (Jake and myself were the only ones making the hike). The big building is the Duomo (cathedral). And you can see one of the famous bridges crossing the Arno river.

This is a shot at the top Piazza di Michelangelo. These are two of his fake "Davids." We saw the real one but you aren't supposed to take pictures.

Part VII: Sienna

This is the town of Sienna, where the color name "Sienna" comes from. Supposedly it is the same as the color of the bricks. The building at the top of course is their own Duomo.

Part VIII:Rome (I was using Roman numerals to number this thing for a reason you know)

One of the cool fountains of Rome...ooohh boy!

A view of the dome of the Pantheon from the inside. The occulous, as the hole is called is the only real source of light inside.

Dad's favorite picture. Enjoying a diet coke (coke lite) in front of the Pantheon. You never can get too far from home.

A better view of the Pantheon

Here is another cool fountain (a Bernini if your interested, the rest of these people in the picture clearly weren't, they seemed much more interested in they ingenius charactered who draped himself in a gold colored blanket, and a gold mask...Wow! isn't he amazing?, by the way you can see him at the bottom if you look hard).

Inside the cathedral of Paul, where he was supposedly burried.

Another good look at that cathedral.

One of the several standing arches, and the colleseum.

The Ancient ruins of the Roman Senate.

Our conquest of the ruins. Julius Caeser was supposedly burned in a room right behind the picture taker here.

Inside the Colleseum.

More of the Arena.

Again, I kind of liked this place.

Off we go to the Vatican!

Michelangos Pietre. It's really dark in there.

St. Peter is purportedly burried under this enormous thing.

An illegal shot from inside the Sistene Chapel.

More contraband.

What else would you keep in the Vatican...I mean everyone needs a mummy(in the museum part at least).

Part IX: Pompei...had to use up the role so there are a lot of them.

Ruins

Ruins

And More Ruins

A street, with real living Pompeins, but none of them live here

What you would be living in if you lived in Pompei 2000 years ago.

Not quite the Colloseum, but hey, it was a start.

One of the less fortunate original residents...actually just a plaster cast of the hole he left in the ash after his body and everything else decomposed.

Another cool house.

More of that

A dancer

and the dancer.

who are these people?

The End.

Created by Jeff.