THIRD UPDATE OF OUR EUROPEAN HOLIDAY

12/13 Sep - Today we arrived in Venice for a 2 day stop. Ship made a slow
passage trough Venice so we got a good overview of Venice before we docked.
Venice is very crowded and expensive. I would not go back there. I am glad
we saw it but if this was my First impression of Italy then I would never
return.
Fortunately the rest of Italy makes up for Venice.
Judy and I did spend 4 hours on September 13 touring the Doges Palace and that
was interesting and had lots of wonderful art - again most of it above our
heads so more sore necks. As we left, ship had to stop and return to dock to
for one couple who were late ( and very lucky that ship stopped.)

14 September - Dubrovinik Croatia - very pretty place! We walked the town and
looked at the walls and decided not to climb them--too many tourists. Instead
we went outside the city walls and climbed the steps up to the residential
area, even higher than the walls. It was well worth the climb and we ended up
wandering through narrow alleys, etc. until we found a wonderful restaurant
right on the water and away from the crowds. They had one table that wasn't
set for lunch and so agreed to serve us our much needed beer. it was a great
day!

15 September - Day at sea relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine.

16 September We took a tour to Pompeii, Capri, and Sorrento. Pompeii was
very interesting and we had a guide who had played there when he was a young
boy. Sorrento and Capri were very pretty but once again so crowded that we
weren't able to see as much as we would have liked. There were at least 5
cruise ships in the harbour that day. We sat at the marina in Capri and had
local beer, the most expensive so far at 7 euros each.

Second Update on Our European Trip

We are having a gerat time here in Europe. We decided to forgo the baech and
got into the Sistine Chaple without having to line up by going there in the
afternoon. Wonderful art - most of it above our heads so we got sore necks.
After that we went for dinner at a great little family run restaurant - met a
family from New Zealand and a couple fro Rome who eat there at least twice a
week. Food was excellen and inexpensive. Then went for another ice cream.

4 Sep - Our trip from Rome to the Ship was fast and uneventful- Italian
transportation system is great. Walked to peirin 10 minutes and had a quick
and easy check in to the ship. Met up with Mike, Gail, Carolyn, Gary, Hector
and Pat prior to our departure at 5 pm.

5 Sep - into Portofino - - smalll picture perfect little town which was easily
toured on foot.

6 Sep - Livorno - Went on tour of Cinque Terre by Bus foot and Boat. Walked 4
of the 5 towns (terre) very pretty and definitely worth a return visit tho next
time will arrive by train and walk all 5 terre.

7 Sep- Toured Livorno Nice small City - looked for shoes for Judy with no luck.

8 Sep - Day at sea relaxed by pool ect -just eat drank slept swqam and lounged
around. I can really get into this life.

9 Sep - Messina Sicily _ Sunday so all stores closed ( great) town has a
fabulous Clock which comes to life at noon. Beer cost $6.00 a glass.

10 Sep - At Sea - -see 8 Sep

11 Sep - Split Croatia Wonderful city Toured palace had our first rain - Sea
got rough and we had a hard time getting back on board ship - Tender made 3
tries.
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WE ARE IN ROME AND LOVING IT

We have had a wonderful trip so far. After leaving Victoria on Monday 27
August, we stayed in the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel overnite - $165 for a
small room plus $1.33 for each of 2 local calls. Felt ripped off.

Gary left home wearing two different shoes so we had to find him some new ones
in Richmond.

Our flight left at 6am on Tuesday so it ws up at 330 and to the airport for 4am
(as told to do by Air Canada employee) only to find out that counters didn'open
until 430am. Oh well.

Flight to Rome via Toronto and Montreal was comfortable and pleasant with 2
good meals served between Montreal and Rome.

We arrive at the Rome airport at 725am on Wed 29 Aug and after a speedy
clearance through immigration we were on the train into the city by 805am.
After a short walk, we were at our hotel, Best Western Globus, by 9am only to
find out that we couldn't get our room until 2pm. No problems tho as the
Hotel looked after our bags, gave us access to a washroom to clean up in and
then fed us a complimentary breakfast after which we toured the town until 2 pm.

On our tour, we saw a fantastic Catholic Basilica built on the ruins of a Roman
Bath near the PIAZA REPUBLICA, visited the Visitors Centre and recced the local
area. We found out about the new Roma Pass which for only €20 gives one free
access to 2 museums, a discount on the others and a 3 dat transit pass. A
really good deal.

We checked into our large and airy room, at 2 and after unpacking headed off
for our first ROMAN pizza – Potato for Judy and a meat pizza for Gary. THEN
AFTER BEING UP FOR OVER 24 HOUS WE CRASHED.

August 30 –Today we toured Rome on the hopon/hop off bus ( €13) and then
visited the Colosseum (free with Roma pass) the Forum, Circus Maximus, Panatini
Hill, Trevi Fountain (yes we did throw in our 3 coins) and the Pantheon. All
are incredible. We had lunch at a small café near Trevi Fountain called the
News Café where they served us lunch after 3pm even tho the Kitchen was
closed. They also have the cheapest beer we have found. That nite we had
dinner at a Hotel near the railway station. We had the tourist meal special
which was only €15 and was OK but nothing to write home about. Also had first
of what will become many Italian Ice Creams-.

AUGUST 31 –Today we used another Hop on/hop off Bus to visit the ancient Apian
Way and saw the Aqua Duct, Catacombs and a old Roman house. After finishing
the Bus tour we stopped at a very nice restaurant for a very good(but
expensive) lunch and off course Ice cream – Home made and delicious. We then
toured the art gallery (bathroom break) and then walked back through a
different part of town to our hotel where we had a nice supper at the hotel
restaurant with a bottle of white wine (€5.00).

SEPTEMBER 1- Today we used our transit pass to get around town – very easy.
First we toured the Vatican area. We tried for the Sistine Chaple but to
crowded and we are to cheap to enrich the Catholic Church with reservation
fees. Instead, we had a great tour of the Castel d'Angelo near the Vatican,
and then had lunch with 2 good but expensive beers before heading off to the
Spanish Steps. We then mad our reservations for the train to Nice, Shpped in
the stores in the RR Terminal and had supper before going for a long walk in a
different direction from normal. On the walk we found this fabulous Ice Cream
store where for only €1.80 one gets a triple scoop cone of the best Ice Cream
we have ever had.

SEPTEMBER 2 – Off today using our transit passes on the Metro and train to
Ostia Antica, (the ancient Roman port which is being uncovered and restored)
Fabulous. After 4 hours there, we caught the train again and went exploring to
Lido Ostia, the beach area west of Rome. Our plan is to return there
tomorrow. After a beer at the beach, we caught the train and subway back to
our hotel where we had another excellent supper and the wentout for our €1.80
ice cream cone.

Our last day in Rome will be tomorrow and then on Tuesday its off to the ship
to start our cruise.
I expect that Wednesday or Thursday will be the next time I will up date this
Blog

CIAO
Gary