Today we are in Naples a city that while we have been here
before we have not spent a lot of time here.
We had hired a private guide so we took a taxi 30 minutes to
the meeting place.
She was a few minutes late because of traffic which was a
nightmare.
Every port we visited had too many people out in the
streets.
For the next couple of hours we explored the old city and it
was a wonderful tour.Lots of very
little streets and so much history.
At one point we wend underground and saw an excavation from
centuries ago and it was an amazing site to visit.
At the end of our tour, we took a taxi to the Presidential
Palace; however, we first went to a recommended pizza place and had a Margarita
Pizza as Naples is where it was first developed.
Then we took about a 2-hour tour of the Palace which had
been hit by many, many bombs during Worl War II and fully restored.
Finally at 3: oopm we took a cab back to the ship.They had some shops right before boarding the
ship and it was amazing that Barb found a scarf!
We wend up to the Ocenview Café and had some snacks and then
back to our cabin to rest a bit and get ready for the evening, our last evening
on the ship.
Dinner, of course was in Blu and
Then it was on to the show which tonight was a production
number by the cast called Life.
We then came back to the cabin and packed for
disembarkation.
Tomorrow we will be met by a driver to take us to the
airport where we will board a Royal Air Moroc plane to Casablanca, change
planes which will take us to Marrakesh, Morrocco.
We will get in quite late so the blog tomorrow will be combined
with then next day,
The blog for today with today's pictures is not completede - we will complete it while we are at the airport tomorrow.
Our second day at sea and the second to last day of our
cruise.
We slept in and then were up on the top deck relaxing in the
sun.The only problem was that it was
very windy but it ok.
At noon we went into the Ocenview Café for lunch and today
was their extravagant day with chocolate fountains, extra special deserts and
an entire mound of shrimp and lots more new choices.
Then it was back up in the sun before going back to our room
to get ready for the evening.
We left the room early so that we could explore the shops
and just relax people watching as tonight was Evening Chic.
The show tonight is a singer from London with a show of
music and comedy.He was very good.
Dinner tonight was
The casino
Tomorrow our last day and the Port of Naples.
We have been to Naples a couple of times, but don’t really
fell like we have seen it so we have hired a guide to take us on the
sights.Should be fun.
We docked at a town call La Spezia which is quite aways from
Florence where we planned to stay overnight.
We had to hurry off the ship as our first train was at
8:32am.
It was raining when we got off the ship and walked to the
shuttle bus off the port, about 20 minutes.
Then at the taxi stand with 3 other couples, we couldn’t get
a cab to the train stations.Finally one
came and we all shared one van to the train station.
On the taxi ride we met two guys who had been together for
over 20 years and lived in Cancun and we ended up sitting with them on both
trains to Florence.
Then we had to transfer trains in Pisa for the remaining train
trip to Florence.The problem was that
it was 7-minute window.We and 8 others
literally ran down the planform down stairs and underground to the next set of tracks.As we jumped onto the train, the doors
closed, we all laughed and we now could relax on a nice 1-hour trip to
Florence.
At Florence, we took a taxi to our hotel, the Arte” Boutique
Hotel and it was everything we expected and more.The hotel was originally a palace for a rich
member of the aristocracy in the 1400’s.Then it was a home to several rich families.Since 2019 it has this boutique hotel of 13 rooms.We had an upgraded room that had an amazing
over the main Cathedral in Florance, El Duomo.
When we arrived it was drizzling and it continued throughout
the day.
We had a fine 2-hour walking tour that took us to the major
sights in the city and after that we went back to the hotel.
While we were on the ship, one of the couples that we ate
with gave us the name of their favorite restaurant in Naples and we made
reservations for lunch and it was wonderful.
As it typical in Europe, the good restaurants are small and
the owner is always there to greet you.This restaurant was no different and the owner stopped by at our table
several times. We had to go there for
lunch as the only available time for dinner was 11:30pm!!
After we finished dinner, the rain had stopped so we walked
around, had some gelato, and then finally went to bed.
On Wednesday, we had an amazing breakfast as I am sure the
picture swill show will show and then went to the El Duomo Cathedral to go inside.We had a line pass, so we skipped ahead of what
seemed like hundreds in line to get in.the guide spent about ½ hour inside telling us all about the church.
This is the third largest church in the world, behind Rome
and London.It still has the largest
dome in the world.The original plans
were destroyed in a fire and they still have not figured out how the architect
built it.One of things that made this
Cathedral unique was it its exterior is all marble giving it a white exterior –
truly magnificent.
The original church was built in 4AD and was a church for
the people and had no domination, rich or poor all were welcome.The church as stand today began construction
in 1296 and the building process lasted 72 years and finished in 1368.At the time, it was that largest church in
the world and still is the church of the people.Even admission to see the church is free and
the church is now a Catholic Church.
We then had time to ourselves to explore more of the church.
They have a clock inside that hs 1 at the bottom. To the people then 1 was 1 hour after sunrise. Someone climbs up to the clock every two weeks to reset the clock to keep time correctly - amazing.
Then we went walking for the next couple of hors and of
course Barb found some beautiful scarves.
We then checked out of the hotel at noon and took a taxi to
the train station.This time we had 28 minutes
to transfer trains in Pisa before getting back to this about 4:30pm
Then it was time to take a fast shower and get ready for the
evening.
The show tonight was a production show by the cast of the
ship and it was not that good and we had seen it several times in the past.
Then onto dinner in Blu where we shared the last couple of
days stories with people we had met before.
Tomorrow is our second day at seas and we are looking
forward to just relaxing in the sun (we hope)
Night on the way to our last stop, Naples.
Ready to go to Florence for overnight
The two guys we met from Cancun
The lunch menu that was recommended to us by people on the ship
Inside the restaurant
Igore the owner
Barb buying rings (4)
Just the bedroom in the hotel
El Duomo from our hotel room
Going out for our second day
The front door to the hotel. At night the doors are closed and our key opens them
Breakfast at the hotel
The clock
The main dome
A sandwich for lunch on the train back to the ship
Going out for the evening
Our room at the hotel - one of the best we have ever had
Today we are docked in our in the harbor at Santa Margherita
and when we woke up it was raining and it rained all day!
The town is 22 miles southeast of Genoa and its part of the
Italian Riviera.It is a port for both
tourism and fishing activities with about 10,000 people all who seem to live on
the side of the hill leading down to the port.
We left the ship about 9:30am with raincoats on and an umbrella
and took the tender into the town.It
was drizzling and stayed that was all day.
We had a self-guided walking tour that took into a plaza as
port level with one of the two churches we visited.Then we walked a long walk up a very winding road
to beautiful church and restaurant at the top of the hill.The bad news is that they had closed the restaurant
that day.
Then we walked down the hill on very steep walkways into the
center of the town, which is the port area.
We stopped at noon at a very nice little restaurant and it
was warm inside so it was perfect.
We had a caprese salad and a great pizza.We met the owner who bought us each a small
sipping drink of Lemon Cello!!
Then we walked about the shops, ate one of their famous pastries
and took the shuttle boat back to the ship to dry out and rest.
Tonight the entertainment was a flautist who was very good; however, we probably wouldn't go to see her again.
Dinner in Blu was good and while you sit at a different
table for two each night, you are usually sitting next to another couple as we were this night and met an interesting couple from England.We have met several couples that we have
enjoyed talking to at dinner.
Then we went back to room to
prepare for the next two days. We plan on packing only one "beach" type bag for the overnight trip.
The ship is docked overnight in the City of Lasperxia, Italy
and we will take the train into Florence and stay over night there.I will not be taking my laptop so the next
blog post will come in two days on Wednesday
We woke up to Nice, France, actually a port called Villefranche
about 20 minutes away by taxi.
This is one of two ports that we have to use a tender to get
ashore.Fortunately, because we have cruised
so much with Celebrity, we have priority.That meant that we went to a meeting place and they put us on the next
available tender.A huge plus.
We walked up a hill and attended a church before going back
down to the coast.
We took a cab into Nice another city on the French Riviera with
a huge beach.
The walking tour was interesting and when we finished, we
took a cab back to the port.
Where we docked is a very tiny port along the coast with
virtually no straight streets.
We walked around a bit and then had a croissant and a glass
of wine.
Then we took the ship’s tender back to the ship and relaxed
for a bit before gong out for the night.
For the fact that we have cruised with Celebrity before like
we have, we are eligible for free booze from 5pm – 7pm. We found out the first
night that Kaula was no longer of the free list; however, we fond a bartender/waiter
who was able to get us Barb’s favorite drink every night!!
Tonight’s entertainment was a production number with the singers
and orchestra and it was very good; however, as are most of the performances,
it was too loud for our taste.
Then dinner in Blu where Barb had Lamb and Ed had Tuna, both
outstanding meals.
We skipped the casino tonight as were both tired and we
wanted to be fresh tomorrow for more walking.
Tomorrow is our second tender port to Santa Margherita,
Italy, another place we have not been to.
Time to stop and go to bed – night-night
Going up to church
A huge market in Nice
A car show in one of the squares
The very long beach in Nice
A lunch break and a little wine in the port of Villefranche
Today we arrived in Marseille, France which the oldest port
in France. The town was founded by the Greeks in 600B.C.
and is the oldest city in France.
Lots and lots of fishing boats line the Old Harbor which is
protected by two forts at the entrance to the harbor.Marseille is now a very large city of 860,000+
people.
We took the shuttle bus that the ship provided and it was a 20-minute
ride into the edge of the Old Town.Then
it was another 20 minutes until we reached the harbor.
The harbor is filled with boats and the street making a “U”
around the harbor is lined with more restaurants than we have ever see in one
place.
Once we were in the Old City, we took a break and had a
couple of Croissants and tea.Then we
walked around most of the harbor, doubled back and walked the side streets.
Finally at about 1:00pm we ate at a small sidewalk café along
the waterfront and had a dish that Marseille is famous for -Bouillabaisse this
dish was originally made with fish parts that were not sold; however, today the
dish is a little different and of course it was all fresh.The picture should show the ingredients.
Then we walked to the shuttle and took it back to the ship.
Of course we had a snack and then got ready for the evening.
The show tonight was a sax player from Wales and he was
outstanding and one of he best individual acts we have seen in a long time
Then we ate in Blue and Barb had Salmon and Ed had Braised
Short Ribs
Finally we ended the evening in the Casino
Tomorrow our next port is Niece, France a port we have not
been to.
This is the first of our two sea days and we slept in until
about 9am and it was wonderful.
This ship is sooo smooth and the room sooo dark, it sure
helps when you want to sleep.
We had breakfast and then were up on the top deck for some
sun before going to lunch at Noon.
Then at 1:00pm Ed played in qualifying round of the blackjack
tournament and did not qualify.
Then we went back up to be out in the sun; however, we didn’t
last long because it was only about 68 degrees and windy.
So, we came back to the room, rested, and then changed for
the evening.
Tonight the dress code is Evening Chic so we were down in
the center lobby with music early to people watch.
We then went to the show which was a production number by
the cast that we had seen before and we didn’t really like it the first time
and we feel the same after watching it again.
Dinner in Blu was
Then it was time to go to the casino for our last stop
before going to bed.
Tomorrow, we visit the port of Marseille, France and we are
looking forward to it.
