Cities of Perfection

2007, July 16
Portofino, Italy

Serenity anchored off Portofino so tendered to shore. We each
had different tours today. Diane's was "Delightful Genoa & the
Delightful Riviera". (Both were delightful.) From Portofino
we were ferried to Santa Margherita where we caught our
bus. It took the scenic route which was beautiful. The streets
are so narrow the bus had to back up many times to let cars
pass the other direction. Arrived in Genoa which is mostly a
modern town. Much of it was destroyed in WWII when Genoa
sided with the Germans. What remains is either simple,
plain marble facades or opulent Baroque architecture.
One of the highlights was the San Lorenzo Cathedral
with black and white striped marble portals which is a
French Gothic style. (Took a lot of pictures).

The tour took us walking through picturesque streets.
We passed by the home of Christopher Columbus - just
from the bus, couldn't visit it. Visited the Palazzo Ducale
which is beautiful but is actually not marble but just stucco
and paint - they couldn't afford the marble. Had lunch at
Zoeffirino where Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli and
Pope John Paul II had dined at regularly. Buon Apetito!
Then return to Santa Margherita and on to Portofino.
Paul toured "Scenic Drive to Rapallo and Sestri Levante".
Also leaving from Portofino to Santa Margherita took bus to
Sestri Levante which is a medieval beach resort town.
Free time to walk around and enjoy the sights. Then onto
Rapallo for a light Italian snack. A nice quiet day
enjoying the Italian Riviera with cliffs, coves, and beaches.

2007, July 17
Civitaveccia, Italy

Originally we were scheduled to get a delivery but due to
problems in customs it was cancelled. There was a crew
drill scheduled at 10:00am. After the drill it didn't really
seem like enough time to take the train into Rome and make
it back in time for work. Stayed in town. By the time we
took the shuttle (just a few minutes ride) into town the stores
were closed for Siesta. They wouldn't reopen until after 5pm.
Did find a good internet place which was only 2.5€ per hour
versus the $10/hr we pay on the ship. Enjoyed a quiet day
on the ship and a beautiful sunset at about 8:45pm. Shops
open from 9pm - 11pm.

2007, July 18
Sorrento, Italy

Anchored off the Piccola Marina in Sorrento so we were
tendered in. Both Paul and Diane escorted "The Excavations
of Pompeii". The city was well preserved after the eruption
of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD because the city was buried
beneath 30 feet of volcanic ash and cinder. There were
original casts formed from the tombs that were made by
bodies that were encased and incinerated. Eerie to
see their expressions. It was about 40 celcius today
which is about 104 fahrenheit. Hot day - but after all it
is summer. Shops open from 6PM to 11PM but had to
go in at 5PM to do "change overs" (changing the clothes
on the mannequins).

2007, July 19
Day At Sea

Shops open 9am - 9pm. No rest for the weary.

2007, July 20
Santorini, Greece

We were going to get going early and go into town.
There are about 6 ships in port so it was going to
be crowded.We woke up thinking it was 9am
but it tured out to be noon. Oh well, we stayed
on the ship and did laundry and layed out in the
sun.

Shops open 6pm to 11pm.

2007, July 21
Nafplion, Greece

We ended sleeping in until noon. All this
touring tires us out. We stayed on the ship
because we had IPM duties and the stores
were open 5pm to 11pm.

2007, July 22
At Sea

Stores open 9am to 9pm.

2007, July 23
Corfu, Greece

Paul escorted a 4x4 jeep tour with about 46 guests.
Went into the heart of Corfu. Visited a small village
and had a snack at the Golden Fox Restaurant
that overlooked the sea.

Diane escorted 26 guests on a mountain bike tour.
Good thing Paul was not there, he would have past
out from the heat. It hit over a humid 104 degrees.
The route was approx 20km which is about 12 miles.
Diane enjoyed herself. All the bike riding Diane did
in Phoenix before our trip to Europe paid off.

Shops open 5pm to 6pm

Til we write again............