Category Archives: New Testament

Yesterday I mentioned crossing the Strait of Messina by hydrofoil. Here is a rather unusual photo that I made from the stern of the hydrofoil as we left Messina, Sicily, toward Reggio di Calabria in Italy.

Crossing the Strait of Messina by hydrofoil. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Once we arrived in Reggio we walked a few meters to our 3-star hotel. This little hotel, the Continental, has been recently refurbished. The elevator was new, and everything in the room, including the bathroom, was also new. The biggest disadvantage is that they did not have any Internet connection. I think this is the first hotel on this entire trip that did not provide some kind of access to the Internet. Eventually I paid 5 Euro (about $7.50) for one hour on the Internet at another hotel. But that is a good price compared to the hotel I am in tonight in Rome. The charge for one hour is 10 Euro (about $15.00).

We walked into town to visit the Archaeological museum and find something to eat. The museum, like the one in Syracuse, had nice displays of small items. I did not see anything of great helpfulness.

Reggio is situated along the strait and up the slope of a mountain. Only the main street and the promenade is level. Local advertising says that the area has been described as “the most beautiful kilometer in Italy.” From my limited experience in Italy, I would agree.

According to Luke, the Alexandrian ship Paul was on stayed only one day in Rhegium before a south wind allowed them to sail north through the Strait of Messina. It must have been a good wind. The next stop was Puteoli which is located in the Naples area.

We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Puteoli. (Acts 28:12-13 NET)

The modern port at Reggio is an artificial one. I tried to get some photos to illustrate where the natural port might have been. Elizabeth made this photo, look north along the Italian coast.

Looking north along the Italian coast at Reggio. Photo by Elizabeth Jenkins.

This morning we got up early and took the 6:46 a.m. Eurostar train from Reggio to Rome. The trip took a little over 5 and one half hours. We had about 6 brief stops between Reggio and Naples. From there it was non-stop to Rome. Mount Vesuvius was visible from the window of the train. Obviously I wished that time would permit a stop in Naples to visit Puteoli, Pompeii, and Mount Vesuvius.

Elizabeth and I enjoyed the Eurostar trip. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

This afternoon we were able to visit several sites in Rome with good sunshine and clouds. Maybe tomorrow we will be able to share some of those photos.

Thanks for following along with us on this journey.