Saturday

Saturday, April 25, 2009
Yes, I could visit Italy for a much more extended period… Hear that Kiki? I now think I know how to get around in this country. The train system and other public transportation is so easy to use. Although I know we walked far more than the average person might, we also took advantage of the trains and subways.
We ate early at the Garden Café (my food was cold by the time I found a table). Then we left the ship by 8 a.m. and met Denise an Ivan off the ship in order to board the shuttle to the end of the port. From there we walked a few blocks to the train station to catch the train to Rome. We are ported in Civitavecchia. Today is a Roman Holiday, I believe Independence Day. So many events are taking place in Rome and the entrance to most venues is free. Therefore, the traffic and crowds everywhere are similar to the height of tourist season!!! When arriving in Rome we bought tickets at the station for the Archeobus which is a hop on/hop off type open tour bus. We saw some old ruins and then hopped off the bus at the Coliseum. We decided to do the tour with an English speaking guide so we would know some of the history behind what we were looking at. It took about 45 minutes before we got inside and she explained a number of things about the Coliseum and what happened there and what it originally looked liked. Then we broke away from the group and explored on our own as we didn't want to waste too much time with only one day in Rome and not to mention that we just can't handle having to follow the lady with the purple umbrella.
There is a Metro station right across the street from the Coliseum so we showed Ivan and Denise how to use the subway and took it to the Trevi Fountain. This was much more beautiful than any picure I had seen on it. Denise took our picture as we tossed our pennies overhead into the fountain. It's said that if you do this, you will return one day. I'm sure that wish will come true.
We were starving after the visit to the fountain so we walked back towards the Metro where we had seen a nice sidewalk café with Italian dishes. Chip had a brick oven pizza and I had the lasagna. He also order a BIG Beer which was huge. All the food was wonderful and afterwards we headed back to the Terminal to catch the train back to Civitavecchia. When we got back to the ship, Chip's key card didn't work and he thought a pickpocket got his phone cards in his pocket. It turned out the phone cards were in the room and he got his key card replaced so we went back out into town and found an internet place so I could upload my blogs to date.
We had dinner in the Grand Pacific Dining Room and I had the Tomato Bisque, Cesear Salad and Prime Rib and Chip had the Tilapia, Tomato Bisque and Spring Rolls. For Desert we enjoyed Flan and Coconut Crème Pie. After dinner we went to the Spinnaker Lounge where the comedian, Lenny Windsor did a show and we were right near the floor and got picked on (in a nice way).
Have to get up early for a 7 a.m. arrival in Naples (Napoli). Going to catch the train to Pompeii.
Ciao Baby!!!