20-OCT-2006
Ostia Antica
The port is about 90 minutes out of Rome, but since we needed to get a car and driver anyway, we arranged for more time and touring on the way out. First stop, the Avaline Hill and the orange garden.
We have time for a quick stop at St. John Lateran, one of the four major churches of Rome.
Next, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, another of the four major churches. This one has gold mosaics around the ceiling of each and every pope.
We spend about 90 minutes at Ostia Antica, but this archaeological site has enough that we could have spent all day. Once the port for Rome, practically the entire city has been excavated, and I’m amazed that there are few barriers. You can just wander all over, inside the old ruins, and all around.
20-OCT-2006
Etruscan Necropolis
I have never seen anything quite like the Etruscan Necropolis before. This is a city of tombs, with streets laid out. Most of the tombs are bee-hived shaped mounds of tufa stone with vegetation growing all over them.
20-OCT-2006
Etruscan Necropolis
Inside are numerous rooms, depending on the size of the tomb, from a couple to a dozen in the largest. One of the tombs had wonderful art work all over it.
20-OCT-2006
Etruscan Necropolis
We would have spent a lot longer here, too, but the crack of thunder was a warning sign to head back to the car.
20-OCT-2006
Civitavecchia, the port for Rome
The rain came, hard, before we got back, and we boarded the ship looking like a couple of drowned rats. Never has a hot shower felt so good! The sun came out again, and the weather was beautiful when we sailed.
31-OCT-2006
Sunrise over Naples
We sailed overnight to Naples, and we took a tour of the Amalfi coast. This is a drive from Sorrento south, along a beautiful rugged coastline. We stopped in Sorrento before starting the drive along the coast, and walked into the old town.
21-OCT-2006
Positano
We drove down the coast to Positano, a little town built on the steep hillside down to the coast. Our big bus couldn’t get through the streets, so we had to transfer to a local minibus to get to the pedestrian area. It’s a charming little town, but I was really tired after walking even partway down the hill and back up!
21-OCT-2006
Positano
Lunch was at the Hotel San Pietro, perched high on a cliff above the ocean. We ate out on a terrace with the most incredible views, and sat there for almost two hours, eating, drinking wine, and admiring the view. But once again, the clouds started rolling in so it was time to go. We got back on our big bus just in time; it started raining hard about ten minutes after we left the San Pietro.
Back aboard, we decided against going back into Naples in the rain, and went and sat in the Jacuzzi. The show was a magician, who was very good, but a magic show just didn’t quite do it for me. Tonight is a singer who spent time as Raoul in the international cast of Phantom of the Opera, so that should be better. We sailed at 10PM, in the rain, so there weren’t a lot of good views of Naples on the way out.
Time to Relax
Today is a sea day, very quiet. Bill went to a lecture on the Knights of Malta this morning, while I opted for a massage. Afternoon will be devoted to organizing my pictures, reading, and resting before the Captain’s Welcome Aboard Party for formal night tonight.