Getting Greedy

I'm finding that the more research I do about this trip, the more I want to see. I'm getting greedy. Lately, I feel like I'm constantly reminding myself that time is limited, and this cruise will be a sort of grand introduction to the Mediterranean - not an in depth study of every port, each of which could be an entire vacation in itself, so I really need to chill.

Case in point, thanks to the ever informative Mr. Rick Steves and fabulous program highlighting the Amalfi Coast, I want to see Paestum. I had no idea there were Greek temples in such good condition in southern Italy. These particular temples were used to worship Neptune, Athena, and Ceres and their very antiquity is mind boggling to me. It'd be so interesting to visit the site, but that will have to be for another trip because, hi, we'll be up to our eyeballs in ancient world porn when we visit Pompeii that day. I'm pretty sure I'll still get my antiquity fix!

I've always watched travel documentaries and subscribed to National Geographic, but looking with a purpose rather than aimlessly perusing has been much more fun. Instead of thinking, "Huh...that's a cool place I'd like to see someday," I get to think, "Woo hoo! I'll be standing there in under a month!" I've learned so much about the places we'll be visiting, and it's just added to my eagerness for Oct. 22nd to get here already. While Sofi is watching some a football game or one of those lame "guy" channels featuring massive auto crashes and sports bloopers, I'm parked next to him, Googling away. And the more I Google, the more I want to see. It's a vicious cycle!

There are only so many hours in a day. Barring Barcelona, we're only in each town/area for one day. Even a math moron like myself can figure out that there isn't time for everything. So, I shall content myself with photos of Paestum....and thoughts of future Mediterranean trips that venture into Greece and Turkey.....and all of the great places we will have time to visit.

That Montserrat Mystique

I always assumed that when the Beach Boys were singing about "that Monserrat Mystique," they meant another place like Aruba or the Bahamas. Kokomo just doesn't pull up visions of Europe for me. So, imagine my surprise when I finally caught a clue and realized that there's is a Montserrat (with a 't') in Spain, just a short distance from Barcelona. Is this what they're singing about? I still don't know...but this place is gorgeous.

Montserrat is a mountain-top monastery aproximately thirty miles away from Barcelona, up in the Catalunya mountains.

Viator (sooo glad we found that site) has a half-day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat:

Getaway to the Montserrat mountains on a half-day trip from Barcelona. You'll visit the Royal Basilica with its 12th-century carving of the Black Virgin and perhaps hear the children's choir sing.

After driving through picturesque little villages you will arrive at the incomparable setting of the craggy mountain of Montserrat, which rises majestically up from the plain to 4,051 feet (1,235 meters) and has spectacular views.

The Royal Basilica of Montserrat has been one of Spain's most important pilgrimage sites for hundreds of years, due to its famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of the Virgen Moroneta, the Black Virgin. At 1pm on weekdays there is the opportunity to hear one of Europe's oldest children's choirs, La Escolania de Montserrat.

On your way back to Barcelona you will make a stop at the harbor, where you may choose to visit the Barcelona Aquarium (entrance fee not included). There is a variety of restaurants, cafes, shops and cinemas in this area, so feel free to conclude the tour here and stay on to explore.

This could be a fun way to see a little more of the country around us during our few days in Barcelona. Frankly, I think Montserrat beats Gaudi, and his apparent hold over Barcelona, hands down. Just look at this place!

Check check!!

Things that we can officially cross of that mental (and physical) checklist:

**My passport came in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Huzzah!

**Airfare booked and paid for! This includes an awesome 12-hour layover in Paris.

**Tuscan Countryside--San Gimignano & Volterra Excursion booked and paid for.

**Ample research on things to do in Paris and Barcelona.

DONE and DONE. :)

Things that we need to work on crossing off the list:

**Purchase the rest of the excursions. This includes:
-Villages of Provence: Fayence and Seillans in Cannes (Day 1)
-Taste of Sorrento & Pompeii (Day 5)
-Deciding between the Cirque Terre or the The Taste of Ligurian Riviera in Portofino (Day 2)

**Purchase the Roma Archeological Pass

**Book hotel room in Barcelona for October 23, 31 and November 1.

**Decide on Paris walking tours and purchase

It's a good thing we have 43 days until we leave!

Airfare Officially Booked!

With the official purchase of our airfare, this trip is becoming more and more real to me. I know how lame that sounds, considering the fact that we already booked our cruise and that we've been pouring over excursions and making lists of things to do and see for nearly two months now. Somehow, this just makes it even more concrete. I have to say, pulling off a trip like this in four months? Not too shabby. Go us!

Barcelona: Archive of Courtesy

Congratulations on your lovely new passport, Susi! I have my application filled out, the check is written, I just need a picture of myself that isn't fugly. My current passport photo is no bueno. I took it on campus at BYU-H, just after I'd dashed over from Hale 3 in the pouring rain. It's not pretty!

In response to your post about Gaudi and Barcelona - I LOVED the lighting of the torch at the Barcelona Olympics. Even though I was just ten at the time, I've always remembered what a thrill that was.

As I type this, I'm watching "Barcelona: Archive of Courtesy," a travel DVD I checked out from Netflix, and taking notes. It doesn't start out auspiciously - stating that Barcelona is a city with a spirit that muses the bohemian and the modern. I don't have much interest in either of those. :)

Gothic Quarter
I think that we should definitely see the Gothic Quarter, which is the historical center of the city. The old cathedral there is surrounded by a street market with stalls selling art, fruit, jams, cheese and trinkets. It looks like a fun place, people performing the Sardona (ring dance and national symbol of Catalonia), and singing amongst beautiful buildings. As I'm watching this program, I'm rather surprised that there aren't more historical buildings seeing as the city was founded some 2000 years ago. I think one of the most interesting parts of our trip will be seeing how the ancient is mused with the present.

Guell Park
Guell Park is very interesting as well. It's a "Garden City," designed by Gaudi (how often do you think he was under the influence of something when he worked?) and is definitely worth a look. It reminds me of the "Alice in Wonderland" version of New York's Central Park.

Casa Mila - "The Puff Pastry"
One of Gaudi's works - it's very odd looking, but you gotta give the guy credit for his imagination and flair.

Golden Square - an area that reflects the work of modernist renaissance architecture and is described as an "outdoor museum." The photo here is an example of the buildings that make up Golden Square, or Quadrat d'Or, in Espanol.

Paseo de la Exposition - large, impressive looking building that houses large conventions and such. I thought it was a government building, but I think I'm wrong. :)

I think we'll be able to find plenty to see during our few days in Barcelona.

Opening Up A Whole New World

After making a deposit on our cruise back in June, I realized that I needed to get the ball rolling and get my passport! Couldn't get to Spain or Italy without a passport. Going on this cruise actually forced me to get a passport. I've had the paperwork for quite some time--filled it out on numerous occasions, but could never force myself to go down to the county building to turn it in. I actually took my passport picture at the local FedEx Kinko's (now FedEx Office) back in mid-April when I took a concealed weapons permit class. Never expected that of me, huh? Anyways...I filled out the passport application, and being super prepared, even went to the bank to take cash out in case I couldn't pay with a check or debit card. I had to scrounge around the house for a copy of my birth certificate (thanks mom for being on top of things). My arrival at the county administration building was filled excitement as I realize that obtaining a passport will open my eyes to a whole new world. Literally. I produce the necessary documentation, only to be told that a copy of my birth certificate is not acceptable. Well, I couldn't find the original! Luckily, because I was born in Utah, I quickly drove the five blocks to the public health department, paid $18 for another one, and returned to the county building. The cash came in handy--I had to pay $25 to the county and they didn't accept cash or debit cards. Wrote a check out for $75 to the federal government and away the application went! I was even given a compliment by the lady that both my passport photo and drivers license picture were nice! :)

Today, I received an email letting me know that my passport application has finished processing and is in the mail even as I type! Because it is being shipped priority, it should arrive by next Tuesday! The email was even kind enough to give me a tracking number! WOO HOO! I am one step closer! Spain, France and Italy here I come!

Incidentally, everyone has asked if I was allowed to smile in my passport photo. They didn't tell me I couldn't, so I did. I'm also assuming that since my application was processed and in the mail, it's not that big of a deal.

Gaudi in Spain? Gaudi in Vegas?

Besides the 1992 Summer Olympics taking place in Barcelona, what else is there? Maybe we're judging the city of Barcelona too harshly and rashly, but besides Antoni Gaudi architecture, what else is there? Yes, the Sagrada Familia is definitely something to see. Despite it's grandeur, it's still not complete. I did more research (thanks to wikipedia--who I know, is not a credible source) on Gaudi and he seemed like a troubled young man, too entrenched in religion to think outside the box. As he signed his award for the title of architect someone said "Who knows if we have given this diploma to a nut or to a genius. Time will tell." And given the look of many of his structures, that may be up for debate.

According to wikipedia (which you've linked to in your previous post), Gaudí was a devout Catholic, to the point that in his later years he abandoned secular work and devoted his life to Catholicism and his Sagrada Familia. He designed it to have 18 towers, 12 for the 12 apostles, 4 for the 4 evangelists, one for Mary and one for Jesus. He spent the last few years of his life living in the crypt of the "Sagrada Familia". Who lives in a crypt? I'm definitely thinking spiders and cobwebs now! And the coup de grace is that Gaudi was run over by a tram! Wikipedia says that "because of his ragged attire and empty pockets, many cab drivers refused to pick him up for fear that he would be unable to pay the fare. He was eventually taken to a paupers' hospital in Barcelona. Nobody recognized the injured artist until his friends found him the next day. When they tried to move him into a nicer hospital, Gaudí refused, reportedly saying "I belong here among the poor." He died three days later at age 73, half of Barcelona mourning his death. He was buried in the midst of La Sagrada Familia." Sad huh?

Based on the extensiveness (and craziness) of his architecture is that where we get the saying "That's gaudi looking?" Is that why things that are "over the top" are considered "gaudi?"

Considering we have three full days in Barcelona (Friday when we land, Sunday after we disembark from the boat, and Monday), we can definitely fill our time with all the Gaudi-like places! I like your idea of ranking them in order of weirdness! Or maybe we can visit the Olympic Stadium where they had one of the coolest torch lighting ceremonies ever!

Barcelona, What Were You Thinking?

I'm not going to lie, a big part of me wishes our cruise began and ended in a different place. I've never had much desire to be in Spain, but it's still Europe. There are still things to explore and experience, right?

This evening I spent a bit of time Googling things to see and do in Barcelona. Time and again the Sagrada Familia pops up as the number one thing to see in the city. I can see why it's such a popular location - it's a building straight out of a nightmare. I can't quite understand what the architect, Antoni Gaudí, was thinking. Or, for that matter, the entire city. They seem to have embraced his architecture on a wide scale. As far as the Sagrada Familia goes, I personally believe it looks more like something out of a Tim Burton world, or Oz, than a Roman Catholic Cathedral. Seriously, I look at it and I think spiders. Big, gigantic spiders. I think it's because the design looks to be made of cobwebs.

Gaudi's work is peppered throughout the city, and I think that might be what is turning me off of Barcelona as a whole. We might have to give our B-Town sightseeing a purpose and look for architecture that's not cob-webby. This tunnel is pretty cool, though, don't you think? It's in Park Guell, which contains more Gaudi weirdness.

It's too bad Paris isn't closer to Barcelona. There's a two-country Spain'n France rail pass. I'm thinking that Barcelona is going to end up being the European equivalent of our quick trip to Bear Lake....once is enough. Surely there are things to see apart from the Aquarium, the Picasso and Dali museums, and the beach. I'm just not finding them tonight. Maybe we should visit as many of Gaudi's works as possible and rank them in order of weirdness. That would be kind of cool.

Thoughts on Portofino

Pretty vs pretty sums it up nicely! It's a tough decision. Luckily we have time to think it over.

I did see the Taste of Ligurian Riviera excursion and its castle. In fact, that was the first excursion I poured over for our first day in Italy. The castle drew my eye! Isn't it funny that something that small was used as a defense against the Saracens?

In spite of the need to walk 2 hours, the Cinque Terre excursion would take to us to see so much of the park and the area. Rio Maggiore, Vernazza, Manarola. The walking probably wouldn't be too bad - it sounds like the 2 hours would be spread out over the day in places like the "Street of Love" along the sea and in the villages. It's such a unique region. I wonder what led Medieval Italians to settle in these coves.

Do you ever watch Rick Steve's travel show? I love him. His special about the Cinque Terre region airs on PBS Sept. 25th. Maybe that will give us some insight!

Hannibal Raids Italy

Why wouldn't you have such a picturesque landscape as your desktop wallpaper! The colors are so vivid and yes, it does make one wonder how captains didn't plunge their boats into the coast!

If Florence is the "hole" of Italy, then Portofino must be its jewel. All the pictures I have seen of this place are absolutely stunning! Pictures of Cinque Terre also remind me of Santorini (I'd like to give my thanks to the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants!). I love that wikipedia calls this the "rugged portion." How can anything be described as rugged when used in the same sentence as a "Italian Riviera"? I must say, as an introduction and first stop in Italy, Portofino definitely makes an impression! Did you read that Cinque Terre is a national park and that it has a Street of Love?! How does a street receive such a designation? :) Something to think about.

I'm torn. This excursion sounds absolutely wonderful--except the part where it says visitors will need to walk 2 miles. You know how I feel about walking/hiking long distances! But aside from my apparent physical laziness, did you check out "The Taste of Ligurian Riviera" excursion? For someone who loves castles as much as you, I thought that this one would be awesome! Just like the Cinque Terre excursion, you take a little motorboat to St. Margherita and Rapallo. The description says that as we stroll the ancient streets, we will "view a 16th-century castle that was built as a defense against the Saracen raids. Originally, this complex was connected to the land by a single span Roman bridge. According to legend, Hannibal crossed over this bridge during his invasion of Italy." Hannibal? Raids? Invasion? Sounds like a good time! We'll also visit Sestri Levante, a place praised by Dante and Petrarch.
How pretty is this? And this excursion includes lunch! ARG! What why the tough decision? Why can't it just be like ugly vs. pretty? Instead of pretty vs. pretty?

Second Vote for a Day in Tuscany

We already know that we can't do anything in depth with this trip - it's a great introduction to Italy, but really just skims the surface. I talked with my boss again yesterday and, in spite of all her trips to Italy (she takes groups of students over to Rome), she's never seen Pisa . She's never gone to Florence. That got me thinking again about the parts of Italy I've always dreamed of seeing. As I mentioned in a previous post, they were the Cinque Terre, Venice, and Tuscany. I think I'd forgotten that, thinking that we needed to see the big cities and such. How could I overlook a full day in Tuscany in lieu of a mad dash through Florence and a trek to see an architectural disaster?

Your post made me look closer at the Tuscan Countryside excursion and it was like a light bulb finally lit up in my head (you'd think it wouldn't have taken so long, but let's overlook that, shall we?). Dirty Florence and crowded Pisa or rolling hills and quaint Etruscan villages? Of course I'd rather spend a day in medieval towns in the Tuscan countryside! I can't even begin to count how many times I've watched "Under the Tuscan Sun" or "The English Patient," and wished I were in Tuscany.

Your photo of the "Town of Fine Towers" sealed it for me, although I needed little convincing! Let's skip Florence and it's dirt (we'll have plenty of that in Rome) and enjoy as much of the Italian countryside as we can. The view from Volterra (pictured above) is breathtaking. We should take advantage of the chance to see that in person.

Tuscan Countryside vs. Pisa...

Who needs to see a leaning tower? I surely don't. It doesn't look that interesting in a picture, why would up close be any different? If everything you're finding about Pisa talks of cheap stalls and pushy salespeople, don't you think we'll get some of that at every port? Why be overrun with it in Pisa?Looking closely at the excursions, including the "Florence and Pisa On Your Own, and given my need to not really see Pisa, how about the "Tuscan Countryside--San Gimignano & Volterra" excursion? It must be my fascination with medieval towns, cathedrals, and country. But on this trip, you'll go through the "Town of Fine Towers," (picture above) which could be considered castles. :) We'll have time to explore or shop or have a "taste of Tuscany's legendary cuisine, a local farmhouse will serve a generous lunch with typical local specialties." This also includes seeing one of the most beautiful squares in Italy (and given all the pictures I've seen of Florence, it looks super dirty). There's also a Roman theatre that dates back to the 1st Century! All the artwork or craftsmanship in Florence all read copies. Who wants to see a copy of Michaelangelo's David? This tour is $155 for 9 hours, but may be more conducive to how we roll! It may be the perfect relaxation day before we hit Rome hard!

Thoughts?

Wherefore art thou Pig Hamlet?

Hehehe....I completely forgot about Bro. Ward and his pig Hamlet! That's awesome. Remember what a struggle his classes could be? Remember the girl who thought she was assigned to present ruins, but she was supposed to discuss runes??? I really did like the "Canterbury Tales" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight."Ah, good times!

I didn't even consider the smell of a perfume factory, odd as that sounds. But, now that you mention it, it might be slightly overwhelming! Let's visit Fayence and Seillans after we enjoy a morning in Cannes. You'll never hear me say no to a stroll through a medieval town!

Brother Ward Would Be So Proud...

Oh, Cannes. The first stop on our grand excursion. And what a stop it will be!

Although I wouldn't mind visiting a perfume factory, I think the smells may be to noxious for me! Let's just visit the perfume counter at the local Dillards or other major department store and call it good! Besides the perfume thing, the Grasse & St. Paul-de-Vence excursion does sound fun. Especially that awesome stairway and the fact that it's in the countryside. Who cares if it's considered touristy? Are we not tourists? The downside to this tour (that I found), is that considering it's a 5 hour excursion, 2 hours of that is eaten up by travel.

I love the idea of exploring Cannes on our own in the morning, leaving us the afternoon to do an excursion. I agree that the Fayence and Seillans tour would be tres bien. A scenic drive, a castle, a village, a cobblestone street, a renowned Love Fountain--what more could we ask for? Maybe some of that stuff we learned in our Medieval class will rub off! Although all I can remember from that heinous class is Brother Ward talking about his pig Hamlet!

Thoughts?

The Cinque Terre

For quite some time, this photo of Manarola was my desktop wallpaper. The colors! The rugged cliff side! The froth of turbulent waves! I'd look at those little boats pulled up onto the stone steps and wonder how the humans who captain those small vessels avoid being slammed into the rocks. It's all so dramatic and characteristic of the villages that line the Cinque Terre.

When I realized that we'd be docking in Portofino - just a short distance from Manarola - I was thrilled. Next to Tuscany and Venice, the Cinque Terre has long captured my attention when it comes to Italy. In many ways, photos of the area remind me of Santorini (or, at least, photos I've seen of the place, lol). Here's a bit of info about the area (thank you Wikipedia):

"The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the Liguria region of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Cinque Terre is noted for its beauty. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible "modern" development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the outside."

I'd love the chance to see these places in person. It's amazing to think of the different cultures and towns Italy has to offer. From the isolation of the Cinque Terre to the Eternal City to the Tuscan countryside and fashion capitols like Milan, it's somewhat mindboggling. And all this from a country that the CIA World Factbook describes as "slightly larger than Arizona!"

Is Pisa Worth It?

As I've been researching our trip (thoroughly enjoying myself in the process), I've come across several blogs and chatboards proclaiming that Pisa is not worth the trip. There isn't much to see there and the area is overrun by cheap stalls and pushy salespeople. Apart from the tower, there's the cathedral and not much else. I'd personally rather spend more time in Florence. There is SO much to see there, one day will never be enough. If we were to slice it even further to accommodate Pisa, we really wouldn't see much. Which led me to the question...is Pisa worth the effort?

The "Florence & Pisa On Your Own" excursion would only give us 3.5 hours to wander around Florence and then would take us to Pisa. It does not include entrance fees to the Field of Miracles or lunch. I believe it's 15 Euros for a 30 minute visit inside the tower, not sure about the Field of Miracles. When you add the loss of time in Florence to the extra cost for the sites in Pisa and Florence, the $99.00 excursion fee doesn't seem so great. At first, I simply thought, "Skip Pisa! Who cares about some crooked tower?"

However.....how could we go to Italy for the first time and NOT see the tower while in the area? Also, one could ask how much we'll be seeing of Florence in one day anyhow. At least we'd see even more of Tuscany traveling to Pisa.

While significantly more expensive ($188), the "Florence & Pisa" excursion would take us to Pisa for just 45 minutes first thing in the morning (and we could see Tuscany bright and early) and then would take us to the major sites of Florence with a guide, and with lunch included. It might be worth the extra cost. We'd spend a minimal amount of time in Pisa, and the majority of the day enjoying Florence.



If we were drinkers, I'd suggest just going to a Tuscan wine tasting. But we're not and watching others get sloshed is no fun. :) We'll get to drive through Tuscany on the way out and back to ship. That'll have to be enough for this first trip.

Parfum de France

Now that we've decided on the excursion we'd like to take for our last port, I decided to turn my attention back to the first port. I must admit, I quite like the sound of the excursions that venture into Provencal villages.

The first is the Grasse & St. Paul-de-Vence excursion. How interesting would it be to visit a perfume factory? I think it would be fascinating.

I also looked up St. Paul-de-Vence (I'd never heard of it before) and found that it's a fortified medieval town about an hour inland from Cannes, right in the Provencal countryside. It's quite an impressive looking place. I fell in love with this stairway (lame, I know), don't you want to know what it's heading off towards? Many of the travel sites describe St P-de-V as "touristy." Seeing as we're first time tourists to Europe, I don't know that that would be such a bad thing.


The other excursion that I think would be tres bien is the tour of Fayence and Seillans. These are villages nestled into the Alps (so we could say we'd been to not only the French Riviera, but the French Alps as well!). I read that Seillans has often been called the "prettiest village in France," and I've got admit, I'm curious. PLUS....Seillans has a CASTLE at its summit. You know how I love castles. Seeing one in real life may bring me to tears.

As these are both afternoon excursions, and relatively inexpensive. We could explore Cannes on our own in the morning, and at our leisure.

Done and Done!

Talk about fortuitous - I logged in ready to blog about a blurb I just read about how dirty Naples is! Let's skip it and enjoy a restorative day in the Italian countryside. I think we'll need it after the craziness of Rome. And I whole-heartedly concur with the idea that Pompeii is something we need to see. I was thinking that I know I'd regret missing it.

And, concerning your questions about electric outlets, I'd like to point out that that's no trivial concern! The Celebrity Cruise site says that each cabin (is that what they're called?) includes a hairdryer and electrical outlets like those we use here. I think I've still got a universal outlet converter from my time in Tonga, if I can find it I'll be sure to bring it along.

Another trivial concern? I'm not exactly sure how many pictures my camera's 1gb memory card will hold. I've been taking a bunch of random pictures to discover the answer, like a scientist testing a hypothesis. ;)

Who Needs Naples?

Okay, here's my input for our last day in Italy. I'm thinking the Taste of Sorrento & Pompeii. As much as I'd love to do the Herculaneum tour, I think it would be more beneficial for us (as first time visitors), to visit Pompeii. It's kind of one of those things that as a tourist you just don't miss. Here's what that tour includes:


Travel from Naples via the autostrada and the Campanian coastal route to Sorrento. Enjoy the panoramic scenery of the Bay of Naples as you make your way towards the Sorrentine Peninsula. Once in Sorrento proceed to a local farmhouse, nestled in the hills and located over this beautiful town. Visit the antique wine cantina and learn of the process of producing olive oil and hand-made mozzarella. Following the explanations and demonstrations, enjoy a taste of the mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, salami and bread in a peaceful setting of lemon and olive trees. You will have a time (approximately 1.5 hours) at leisure to explore, shop and eat in Sorrento's charming flowered-filled streets that offer a wide array of boutiques, souvenir shops, and atmospheric outdoor cafes. Please note that lunch is at the guest's own expense. After lunch, drive towards Pompeii and enjoy views of Mt. Vesuvius, the still-active volcano located about fifteen miles southeast of Naples. Your guided walking tour through the rocky ruins of Pompeii will begin as you enter through the sea gate. Marvel at the many beautifully restored buildings. The plaster casts of the volcanoes victims are particularly poignant and one can never forget the horrible events that brought life in Pompeii to an end. Time permitting; a stop at a small cameo shop will be made so you can browse for delicate, handmade earrings, bracelets and brooches. Return to Naples and catch glimpses of this metropolitan area, much of which stretches along the waterfront with a maze of crowded streets and their infamous motor traffic.

My boss Russ said that eating hand-made mozzarella in Italy is an experience. Plus, it's in a farmhouse nestled in the hills, and we can learn all about olive production! This Sorrento/Pompeii excursion is not only cost-efficient, but we'll see Naples because we have to disembark! I think this should be one of the first excursions we purchase after we get our plane ticket.

I'm so glad I've spent so much time researching this trip! That Roma Archaeological pass is amazing! Apparently, it's 27.50 euro (you do the conversion--it's too much for me to think about right now...). Thanks for enlightening me on the Palatine Hill and the Eternal City. Considering Rome was always conquering other lands, it makes sense that it remained the capitol. You're so smart!

Taking a break from excursions, I had some thoughts go through my head. If I remember correctly, doesn't Europe have a different power source? If so, will we need to bring converters to use electronics ie. hair straightener, blow dryer, and kindle (hopefully) or ipod charges on the boat and in the hotel room? How do we go about finding out? I know, super trivial, but still important! :)

Naples? Pompeii? Herculaneum?

I've been pouring over the excursion trips (yet again) for our day in Naples/Capris. I'm sure there's something else I should be doing, but as whatever it is isn't readily coming to mind, so Italy it is!

It looks like the Pompeii excursion, which lasts is a four hour trip, has a morning options (leaving at 8:15) and an afternoon option (leaving at 1:30). Herculaneum has just one excursion, at 1:30 pm. Additionally, there is the Naples Archeology Museum and Pizza Tasting excursion, which is also four hours long, that begins at 8:30 am. Obviously, we have a number of options here: Pompeii/Herculaneum, Naples/Pompeii, Naples/Herculaneum, Pompeii/Herculaneum.

Paying for two excursions is tantamount to purchasing a more expensive one, like the Sorrento & Pompeii trip, for example, but how determined are you to see Naples? After a day in and about Rome, it might be nice to spend some time in the country. The problem is that I just don't want to miss anything. So many possibilities!

Speaking of Rome, I think the Roma Archaeological pass you mentioned is a fabulous idea. If memory serves me correctly, the Palantine Hill is one of the seven hills of Rome, as well as being one of the oldest parts of the city. It's part of that myth about Romulus and Remus, twin brothers raised by a she-wolf. The brothers lived in a cave on the Palantine Hill and grew up to found Rome (can you tell that I revised the Latin I courses at work recently?). While we're seeing the glory that was Rome, I think we'd be well served to pay a visit to the Hill.

Also, Rome is the called the Eternal City because, in it's 2,000 year history, it's always been the capital city of whatever country/empire it's part of. Pretty amazing, isn't it?

Seeing the Wonders

This blog is in reference to Lani's "Blew Up Like that Vesuvius." It is so true that when you have a subject on your mind, everything revolves around it. Articles seem to be written for your upcoming trip and strangers who have been to that country now become your bosom buddy and are giving you advice on places to see and things to do.

In regards to Herculaneum, I had no idea that a city's wealth was judged by the number of brothels it had/has! I wonder what the worth of Las Vegas would be? Or Pahrump? Apparently, it's the brothel capitol of the world! I'd like to think that there are other places that brothels are in abundance (not that I'm a visitor) :) Good ole pornographic wall paintings. Brothels-what a lucrative business! No wonder people say that prostitution is the world's oldest business.

We need to find out how to go from the Herculaneum tour to Pompeii or vice versa. Or like you mentioned, visit one or the other and spend the rest of the time in Naples before returning to the ship. I'm totally for seeing museums! I'm so glad that you and I have the same interest in museums--they're fascinating! Can you really be all museumed out? I daresay, nay, nay. Who knows when you'll have the opportunity to go back? I say take advantage of seeing everything! Plus Naples is the last stop on our trip. Do as much as we can because the next day is a whole day at sea!

In regards to other excursions, I read an article this morning entitled "Seeing the Wonders of the World Without the Crowds". One wonder on their list was the Roman Colosseum. The author mentioned going in January because it will be cold and the Christmas crowds will be gone. I think late October may be just as well! We had talked about just walking Rome ourselves. This article says that because the Colosseum is highlight for visitors, he suggested getting a combination ticket for the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum that would allow us to bypass waiting in lines at all three sites. I'm not quite sure what Palatine Hill is, do you? I'll have to do some research. He also mentioned a Roma Archaeological Pass that offers the same privilege for nine archaeological sites in the Eternal City. And why is it called the Eternal City? Anyways...something to look into. At least we're not going to Machu Picchu! This guy said to forget it entirely! Your thoughts?

The Makings Of A New Adventure

I am not what one would call an adventurer. Sure, I like to explore new things. Who doesn't? But I usually like to do it from the comforts of a car as I drive by an expanse of land, or visiting something in the confined contours of a building with proper air conditioning and heating. I am not a risk-taker by any means. My idea of a risk is trying to flirt with a guy or attempting to get a rise out of my younger siblings. By definition, an adventurer is "1. a person who has, enjoys, or seeks adventures. 2. a person who undertakes great commercial risk; speculator." The past two months, I have expanded my proverbial wings and am flying!
For many years I have subscribed to Travelzoo . It's a website that discounts aifare, hotels, vacation packages, etc. I often just give it a passing glance, but not this one week in May. Lani and I just returned from our travels to Bear Lake, Paris, Idaho, the Black Gold Testicle Festival and everywhere in between. Needless to say, Bear Lake didn't quite live up to its hype.
I came back wanting. Hence, the microscopic examination of Travelzoo . Like Lani, I've always wanted to go to Europe--"Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin". When the words "Mediterranean Cruise" featuring the countries of Spain, France and Italy popped out to me, I knew I had to do it. The price was fantastic and what better way to be introduced to Europe? Now two months from that fateful day of surfing the web, our cruise is all paid for, flights determined, a hotel in Spain found, and my wishin', hopin', thinkin' and prayin' has become reality. Like the eruption of Mount St. Helens, Kilauea, and even Mount Vesuvius, I'm exploding with excitment! In three months (this October), I will be the ultimate adventurer and speculator as I embark on my first international trip. (Thanks Lani for being so adventurous with me!)

"Blew Up Like that Vesuvius"

Have you ever noticed that when you've got a certain subject on your mind, references to it pop up frequently? More so than usual? Case in point, today my history blurb of the day is focused on Pompeii and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius (talk about your violent igneous rock!). In my ignorance, I had no idea that so much of the city has been un-earthed.

I know the other day we chatted about visiting Herculaneum, but I'd really like to try and see Pompeii as well. Did you know that a city's wealth is often judged by the number of brothels it had/has? Apparently, Pompeii boasted a large number of brothels, complete with pornographic wall paintings. Men haven't changed much over the last few millenia, have they?

From what I understand, Herculaneum ruins are in better conditions than those in Pompeii. If we can't manage both Herculaneum and Pompeii, at least both are relatively short excursions - 4 hours each, I believe. We'd still have time to see some Naples before returning to the ship. That, in turn, makes me wonder if we wouldn't enjoy staying in Naples and visiting museums and such. There is the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, the Duomo, and lovely Napleon castles. Although, by that point, we may be all museumed out. If we weren't restrained by time and needing to be back to the ship, we could create our own day of it using local trains/busses. What are your thoughts, Sus?

Europe, Here We Come!

I've already said it half a million times....and will probably continue to say it....but, I am SO EXCITED FOR THIS TRIP! For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to visit Europe. I always thought I'd venture into the U.K. first, exploring the castles I love, and places that are featured prominently in my favorite books....but, a Mediterranean cruise? I'll take it!

Three months from today will find us winging our way east, en route to Barcelona. Sadly, in spite of nearly six years of study, I do not feel my Spanish is going to find favor with the locals. I've put Senor What's-his-name to shame.

I think that preparing for the trip is nearly as much fun as actually being there. There are so many things to see and try to experience in just one short week. I don't to miss anything (and I don't want us to wear ourselves out after a couple of days). Even the formal dinners on the cruise will be an adventure. This year really has been all about fun trips to various parts of the U.S., and now the world. It's exciting!