Day 4 This was a long, wonderful day. We are in the province of Marche, pronounced marke. Leah, our guide was a local lady and very enthused about introducing Americans to The Marche and Abruzzo. Our first stop was Ascoli. On the way we saw The Marche on the right, Abruzzo on the left, divided by the Tronto river. The right is populated from the valley to the ridges. On the left there are fields and olive groves and all the villages are on the top of the ridge. More about the differences later. We arrived at Ascoli around 10:00am. We walk to the "Old Town" and stop at the first of two major squares. We visit the local cathedral where there is an Renaissance alter piece that is in tact. Most alter pieces have been ... read more

Day 3 Forgot to mention the bright full moon in a cloudless sky that followed us to the hotel last night. Today the group went to Cortuna as I stayed back and nursed my legs. It was very pleasant to rest, read, catch up on my reading and nap. Pam, my Sicily roomy, who is having mobility issues too, joined me in the afternoon and we shared a taxi to the Periginia chocolate factory. We met the group and had a tour of the works. Think Willi Wonka without the Upa Lupas. We had a chocolate tasting and then toured and then headed to the store. By then, the last thing I wanted was chocolate. Picked up something for Joe and escaped. That night Pat and I joined Pam and Diane for dinner at the hotel. ... read more

Day 4 This was a long, wonderful day. We are in the province of Marche, pronounced Marka. Leah, our guide was a local lady and very enthused about introducing Americans to The Marche and Abruzza. Our first stop was Ascoli. On the way we saw The Marche on the right, Abruzza on the left, divided by the Tronto river. The right is populated from the valley to the ridges. On the left there are fields and olive groves and all the villages are on the top of the ridge. More about the differences later. We arrived at Ascoli around 10:00am. We walk to the "Old Town" and stop a the first of two major squares. We visit the local cathedral where there is an Renaissance alter piece that is in tact. Most alter pieces have been ... read more

Day 2 Up at 6:00 and after a lovely breakfast we were on the road at 9:00. Our first stop of the day was in the California region of Umbria. What Mike meant was that we left the bus in Los Angeles and headed for Santa Maria degli Angeli. This imposing church (Saint Mary of the Angles) contains the modest chapel of San Francisco (St. Francis). Hence the California reference. The left side of the church was closed except for confessions. The side chapels looked interesting but I forgot all about them because as I walked around I heard singing. It was coming from the modest structure in middle of the church where Mass was going on. The chapel could hold about twenty worshipers and we stopped in the doorway to listen. This is the chapel ... read more

Tuesday was a day of R&R. We lazed about, read, gambled, napped...did all those things that make a cruise special. Wednesday we docked about 7:00am and by nine the ship was virtually empty. We ate breakfast in the dinning room and the food was uniformly good. After lunch we boarded a catamaran for a snorkel cruise and although the fish sightings were meager, just being in the warm Bermuda water was a treat. I did spot my first scorpion fish. Wednesday we had the pool to ourselves, literally and it was wonderful. Anita and I went for massages and then read. Thursday we took the Rhode Island Fast Ferry to St. George. The sun was warm but the breeze refreshing and the island is so pretty from the water. We got back in time for lunch ... read more