Saturday, October 19, 2019

Corfu

Our outing at Corfu, Greece was to the Achilleion Palace. It was originally built for the Empress Elizabeth of Austria but she was assassinated before it was completed. It was then purchased by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.

We did some photo stops on the way back, principally for Mouse Island (because it's shaped like a mouse, or at least someone thought so). We ended up back in town and walked through the Esplanade, past the cricket pitch, and by the Saint Spyridon Church (patron saint of Corfu).

Then back at the boat in time for sunset.

All the photos are here.



Achilleion Palace

Mouse Island

Ruins we drove by.




Friday, October 18, 2019

Sicily

It was a tendering day, meaning we were anchored off shore and used the lifeboats as tenders.

First stop was a small village on the slopes on Mount Etna (an active volcano) called Lingua Grossa. The Lingua Grossa Trattoria was a delightful little stop there offering pistachio gelato. We also visited a church across the plaza, the Church of Saint Giles.

Then on to the main attraction, Gambino Winery. Never before have we been greeted at the gates of a winery with a glass of wine! Then a full-on tour of the facilities. We tasted four different wines along with enough food to make a lunch. I really liked the wines made from the grapes on slopes of Mt. Etna, Feu d'O and Petto Dragone. Great view from up there, too. We sent some wine home...

It was mussels night on the boat.

All the day's photos are here.

Mt. Etna was belching the day we were there!


Tendering to shore

Church in Lingua Glossa

Welcome to Gambino Winery!



That's our boat.


Thursday, October 17, 2019

Naples/Pompeii

Today was all about Pompeii. Lots of surprises, but mostly about how vast the site is, and how well some of it is preserved. There are still frescos on some of the interior walls of homes. I also did not know it was a city of relatively wealthy families. Plenty of 2- and 3-bedroom houses with interior courtyards! There's a fairly well preserved brothel including frescos on the wall of "the menu." And phalic directional signs. There's a museum in Naples of the many artifacts from the site, but we'll have to catch that next time.

On the way we visited a cameo producer.

Back home on the boat for dinner and lattes.

All the day's photos are here.





Mt. Vesuvius


Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Rome

Rome!

We traveled from the port city of Civitavecchia into Rome on the Roma Express (a special train from port to Rome run for the cruise lines). Once in Rome, we were on our own! The train station was very near St. Peter's Cathedral, so we gave that a quick glance and promised ourselves to be back later in the day to see that last; worked out well!

BTW, here's a handy, interactive online map of Rome.

We visited (in this order if you're following the photos):
Castel Sant'Angelo
Piazza Navona
Saint Agnes of Agony
The Pantheon
Trevi Fountain
St. Peter's Cathedral

Then back to the port by Roma Express return.

We had very good luck with chiantis bearing the black rooster. And, Jamie had to try a carbonara in every port available, about 6 or 7 in total by the time we were done. All very good, all quite different with their own twist.

All the day's photos are here.

Roma Express

Castel Sant'Angelo

Piazza Navona and St. Agnes of Agony

Inside the Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

Approaching St. Peter's Cathedral (in the distance center top)

Roma Express return

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Florence (and Pisa)

It's Tuesday, so this must be Florence and the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

The leaning tower is in the Field of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli) which includes not only the leaning tower, but also the Baptistry and the Pisa Cathedral. The leaning tower is the bell tower for the cathedral.

Once in Florence, we did a guided walking tour of the historical center and visited the Accademia Gallery where Michaelangelo's David resides as does a very cool collection of old instruments, the Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore (very interesting colors of marble used: green, pink, white), then some more strolling around and a stop at a cafe.

All the day's photos are here.

They tried their best.

Instruments at the Accademia Gallery


Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore



Happy Hour on the boat with much of the gang.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Monte Carlo

Next stop: Monte Carlo, Monaco.

After a leisurely breakfast on board, we headed out for the medieval village of Eze. It's built on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea. The first stop was the ruins of a 12th Century fortified castle. And in the castle area is the Jardin Exotique (Exotic Garden).

The second stop was the Fragonard perfume factory.

Then on to the Principality of Monaco, the second smallest country in the world (Vatican City is the smallest). There we strolled around the old town, visited the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and then on to the Palace Square to see the Prince of Monaco's residence.

All the day's photos are here.

Monte Carlo from our docked ship.

Walking the cobblestone streets of Eze.

View from the Exotic Garden.

Smell testing at Fragonard perfume factory.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Palace Square

That's our boat at the pier, M/S/ Sirena.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Cannes

Cannes, France was our next port of call. We chose to do this day on our own with Bob and Sandy (and not join one of the organized excursions). The first thing we stumbled on was a huge Farmers Market right in the middle of the old town down by the water. And just a block or so off that path was a quaint little cafe where we had some wine and a charcuterie board for lunch. It was Jamie's first shot at conversing in French, and we didn't starve.

We decided to climb the mountain (hill) to visit the fortified tower where the Chapel of St Anne houses the Musée de la Castre. We didn't go in the museum, but did enjoy strolling around the grounds and visiting the old church up there.

And then back to the ship in time for... That's right: high tea, happy hour, and dinner!

All the day's photos are here.

Farmers Market

The proprietor of our cafe fixed the omelets right behind us.



High Tea on the ship.

Dinner on the ship.