City Under Ash

Pompeii, Italy, famously buried by volcanic ash nearly 2000 years ago, still captivating visitors with its glimpses of life and death. The ruins are Temple of Jupiter and the Forum, which were both destroyed by an earthquake 17 years before Mount Vesuvius erupted. I believe that is the volcano in the background.

Kathy visited Pompeii while she was an exchange student in Italy. She writes that it is her favorite travel experience to date. Eerie and sad, but with history and well preserved architecture ... a place that takes visitors back in time.

Tick Tock Two

Today's clock is from Rouen, in Northern France. This astronomical clock, called Gros Horloge, dates to the 16th century, though the clockwork is much older, perhaps 12th century. This postcard is also quite old. It was published in France and the captioning on the back looks handstamped. From the fashion, maybe 1940s?

Marie experienced a first in Rouen. In 1986 she left her sunny south of France home and went to work in Rouen. It was raining when she got there, and the next morning she awoke to fog. Marie hadn't ever experienced thick fog, and, to make matters worse, she had to drive in it! She crept along at a very slow speed and wonders now at how many other drivers cursed their luck that morning.

Clocks are one of my favorite collecting themes, but the reason I decided to have back to back clock "orphans" yesterday and today is because they were both adopted by Maries. And they both arrived back here right around the same time. And the two Maries have similar handwriting. I always have to check the postage to see if it is German or French before I'm 100% sure which Marie is writing :-)

Tick Tock

This beautiful black and white postcard shows the astronomical clock in Lund, Sweden. The top part of the clock shows the phases of the Moon and sunset times. In the center, figures representing the Three Magi and their servants circle out and around a Mary and Joseph. The clock plays twice a day, except on Sunday, when it only plays once. There is also a calendar at the bottom which allow for calculating the days of moveable holidays, like Easter. The calendar is only set up to work through 2123. After that, according to Wikipedia, "a new one must be obtained so that the clock can be used." Love the optimism that sees the clock still being used in more than 100 years!

Marie's boyfriend studied in Lund and she visited him there a few times. While he was in class, she took a bike and toured the city. She writes that Lund in a lovely "student city," and she is so captivated that she and her boyfriend are considering going back for an extended visit in a few years. And she wants to make a point of seeing this clock! No worries ... it has another 100 or so years before it needs to be upgraded :-)

In English, clocks go "tick, tock." I wonder what the sound is in other languages?