We docked in messina on the island of Sicily. After a bit of a cluster fuck finding our tour guide we boarded the bus. We drove up
To the 6000 ft point on Mt. Etna bs about halfway up ran into a ton of fog. The fog proceeded to turn to drizzle. A very cold drizzle.
We got to the mid point and decided to forgo etna and head to castelmola. This city high in the mountains had stunning views and not much else. We then went to Taormina a quaint town with lots of good food, and some history to boot. While there I decided to pick a pear off of a bush. Now I know why they are called prickly pears. Ouch.
We then went back to the ship. We were able to are a magic show. Sadly he only did card tricks. And I was able to catch at least three of them.
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So after a longer ride we arrived at Venice. A truly beautiful city as you arrive in. A bunch of people(us included) climbed up to the very top
Of the ship where the horn is to tale some amazing pictures. Security came quickly to kick us out because understandably it is dangerous to stand in front if the horn. We got off and headed to A vaporetto which is a boat that is used as public transportation.
We made our way over to saint marks piazza and entered this beautiful church. Covered in mosaics from the eleventh century with beautiful murals all over the walls, this is the most famous church on Venice.
We then walked the steers and bridges till we got tithe Rialto bridge. This us one of four bridges that spans the grand canal. We were able to get some really nice pictures off the bridge and then take a gondola ride. W
On the ride we saw some very small and narrow canals. Truly a romantic trip. But, pricy at 100€.
We then went home. In the mor ing we woke up and headed to murano. A small island which is parr of Venice, and famed for it’s glass. We saw some glass blowing and some beautiful churches.
We also have noticed that year water buses are pretty hard on themselves. Everyte they come to a stop they smash into the docks. Very hard. It would definitely be intereesting to live in Venice and ride these all the time. Chiropractors must get a lot of work.
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We visit Dubrovnik. Probably the only. Cheaper city that we visited. We first kayaked out around a beautiful island. We entered grottos that were built out of the rocky cliff wall. We so paddled into A small cave that had a narrow restriction, which suppposedly opens up to 60 meters of passage. Would be a fun dive, the water is crystal clear.
We kayaked all around the island, saw some nude sunbathers(not hot) and then back to the plocje gate. This is one of two gates into the old city. We then climbed the wall of the ancient fort. 400 steps up and a hot hot hot walk across. But the views were beautiful.
We then walked through the old city. Lots of shops selling junk. The only cool thing was a place that would fill your water bottle with wine for 5kuna(1$).
Then back to the boat and a long journey to Venice.
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Yesterday was a day Audra. We slept in and had a liesurely breakfast. Then we went and played some trivia(surprise I am good at trivia). After trivia we got dressed up and went to the captains reception. Lots of free
drinks, Nuff said.
Last night we also had reservations at the on board steak house. The steak was delicious.
After the steak we were so full that we got tired. So off to bed. This morning we plan to kayak around the walls of Dubrovnik. Then afterwards, on doris’s suggestion we are going to walk the walls.
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Today we went on a tour of pompeii. What an interesting ancient city. To see that people were just buried and suffocated alive under 25 feet of ash was truly heart wrenching. We were both truly awed.
Then we drove across the amalfi coast to positano. Boy was the road windy and narrow. Not very much to the town but beautiful views of the Mediterranean are readily available. Our co-tourers were wonderful as always. Our guide from romeinlimo.com was also very good and funny.
Todd bought herself a beautiful necklace and a pair of nice scarves. I bought some olive oil.
Back at the ship. Tonight, startrek is playing on the bigscreen and then we will curl up under a blanket to watch it
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We’re off. On the beautiful ocean. Our start was slightly delayed due to the arrival of an ambulance(I hope they are ok).
T and I watched the ship depart and are at dinner now. We made friends with our tour group from this morning and had some drinks w them. Now it’s time for dinner.
Later on we’ll go back to the roof and watch the inaugural laser show.
I just finished dinner and overall am not impressed. I ordered a fruit cup w/ a rum glaze. The first cup came out moldy. The second one came out without any rum. I ended up not really eating either. My main course(tilapia) was decent but nothing to write home about. Tiffs steak was quite good with some excellent spices on it.
Overall the Crimson restaurant doesn’t get high ranks from me.
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Today we did a whirlwind tour of the Vatican museum, Sistine chapel, and St. Peter’s basilica.
We started off in the Vatican museum and saw many beautiful artworks. Then we walked in near silence through the Sistine chapel. And them we walked through the basilica. Tiff managed to pull a disappearing act at the basilica and we spent about 10 minutes looking for her.
Then we had about a hour long ride to the port. We are now on the dream. So far it is a wonderul ship. We’ve already eaten some food and both understand how easy it would be to gain weight here.
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Well we are getting ready to check out of the San remo. What a pleasant hotel. Our bags are all repacked and we are jus waiting for our guide to pick us up. Today we visit the basilica, Sistine chapel and Vaticaniseums. Then it is off to get on the carnival dream.
We are both excited to see the beautiful art all over Vatican city and to board our first cruise. Also, we are both thoroughly exhausted. We have done more walking in 3 days then we had probably done in the last month.
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Today was our exciting visit to the forum and coliseum. The forum was so amazing. Gettng a chance to really see what a Romans every day life woulsnhave beeen like, walking the streets that the Caesars might have walked, visiting the homes of Caesar Augustus and livia was ttulybawe inspiring. Seeing such things as the senate hall(did you know it wasn’t a theatre in the round? Or that it wasn’t actually where Caesar was killed?)
We also were able to see the three arches around the forum. The arch of constantine, septimus severus, and the arch of Titus. A wonderful learning experience.
Then we went to the colloseum. I have seen it before in books and on tv but never did I imagine it was this amazing. Seeing the way that Romans would have sat a d watched and cheered as these fights to the death would rage on around them was truly awe inspiring. We spent about an hour walking around the arena and then went to lunch bthe group of people we had toured with.
After lunch we climbed the palatine hill and got so e of the most wonderful views of the ancient city that truly was the center of the world.
We then decided to walk to the great synagogue of Rome. We were able to get some great pictures of the outside but due it being the last night of rosh hashanah we were unable to get I aide to take pictures. Of course all the restaurants around the Jewish ghetto were closed for the high holiday.
We then walked back from the great temple to our hotel and took a nap. We put our count at 5 times walking most of the length of Rome either from our hotel or back to it. Mom and dad, I truly think that my wife is a laskin. She can deal with the laskin style of touring.
So here we sit. At a wonderul ristorante eating our tiramisu. Mom, tiff says you would be jealous of the tiramasu. Wishing you were all here.
So last night, tiff and I decided to go to a rosh hashanah service. What do you know but there is a shul down the street from our hotel. We went in and Tiffany got the chance to experience her first rosh hashanah service. Mehitzah included. The service was run Italian style which was very interesting and different. I was proud and honored to be offered the first two amidah’s.
What an honor to be in A city we did nit know, in a place we were not from and to be given such a great honor. I was so shocked that I fumbles the third prayer for the first amidah’s.
After service tiff and had planned to head back to our hotel. But, this was not to be. A guy ran up to us as we walking up the street and asked “have you eaten dinner”. At this point we were invited back to one of the houses of one of he Shuls members to have an Amazing dinner. We were both tired but could not pass up the opportunity. We had an excellent dinner and felt like we were treated like family.
We ended up getting back to the hotel at nearly midnite. The next day had us scheduled to visit the colloseum and the roman forum.
L’ahana tova.