Mediterranean Cruise -- Rome Sorrento

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June 9th - 10th -11th
After leaving the port for Nice and Monaco we sailed for Livorno, the Port for Piza and Florence. We have had the good fortune to have visited both Piza and Florence several years ago when we had more time to explore, particularly Florence. The City is one amazing museum. On this trip we had the luxury of being able to sleep in and have a leisurely lunch. Our plan was to have one full day of sightseeing followed by a half day. So instead of joining everyone off to Florence and Piza we ventured into the country-side for wine tasting of local chianti and cheese. We were somewhat delayed when several people joined our bus and only once we were on our way did they discover that it wasn't going to Pisa. They gave out numbered colored stickers to attach to your shirt that match the color and number of bus you were to take. Seems like a simple system but then again some people are always right and the rest of the world is at fault. God help us from such people. The wine was excelllent , which surprised me; my past experince was that chianti tended to be harsh, but perhaps the blame for this lies with the Ontario LCBO for the crap they import. Naturally I had to taste all the different wines they produced.

The port for Rome is Civitavecchia, about 11/2 hour drive to the city. When we arrived in the city our guide gave us a rendezous point near St Peters. One observation about Romans and tourists in Rome; they are not up-and-about at 8 am on a Sunday. (Very civilized) Immediately Mare and I were off. Thank-goodnesses I can read a map and have a fairly good sense of direction. We headed for the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon etc. Only when we were wandering the streets did we realize how fortunate we had not arrived the day before. That day President Bush was in Rome and some of his support was evident in a couple of broken shop windows; oh how this man is able to turn friends into enemies. If he had a third term I am sure he would have accomplished the impossible of making all of Europe anti-American.

On the way back to St. Peter's we stopped at a side-walk cafe and enjoyed a dance between the street vendors (all looked like illegal immigrants from Africa) and the police. The cops would wander down the block and like a wave retreating from the shore the vendors would retreat, when the cops disappeared it was like a new wave washing up on the shore as the vendors returned only to retreat as the cops re-appeared just as a wave would.

The next port was Naples. Most people headed off on full day excurisions but we followed our plan of one full day followed by a half day, so we opted to take a trip into Sorrento and lounge on the beach. Previously we had spent several days in Sorrento and it continues to be one of our favorite towns. Our guide on this tour was very enthusiastic with everything either verry-very important or very-very special . His very-very descriptions became something of an inside joke.

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Photos

Vatican Square
Not often you will see Vatican Square this empty

Early morning in Rome
3 hours later the bridge was crowded and there was a line-up to get in

Trevi Fountain
Famious from Patti Page's song -- Three Coins in the Fountain (only my generation will recall the song)

Ancient Ruins
This was once a temple to Zeus

The Pantheon
Once this was an ancient temple; early Christians turned it into a church. How the ancient Romans were able to construct the dome is a mystery to me.

Swiss Guards
Swiss Guards in traditional uniforms at the Vatican

St Peter's Square
Earlier in the day the Pope had spoken from his gallery.

In St Peter
We are familiar with normal statues of saints etc. This one is definitely different.

Death
We have our scary movies now days; I wonder if this was the medival equivalent.

The road to Sorrento
The road to Sorrento hugs the coast line

What a View
These houses are built right on the edge of steep cliffs, a great view but no backyard