More Mediterranean

2007 - August 10

Portofino, Italy

IPM today. Enjoyed a quiet day on-board ship.
Sailed at 5p. Shops open 5p - 11p.

2007 - August 11
Livorno, Italy

Docked in Livorno which is an industrial port.
Diane escorted a tour to Medieval Lucca and Historic Pisa.
Lucca has over 88 churches which the tour went to every one.
Not really. It was a beautiful town though with historic city
walls built in medieval times and reconstructed in the
16th century. All for protection from the Venetians and the
Pisians. Today the walls a a beautiful tree-lined park.
It also included a typical Tuscan lunch at bucadisanantonio.
Afterward a short bus-ride to Pisa for a visit to the Duomo,
Bapistry and Leaning Tower of Pisa. The foundation of the
Tower shifted during construction in the 12th century,
- devastating architect Bonanno Pisano. Little did he know
that the Tower would become internationally famous.
Paul did not have a tour today so he went into Livorno and
walked around a little.

2007 - August 12
At Sea

Typical sea day
Shops open 9am - 9p

2007 - August 13
Sorrento, Italy

Anchored off Sorrento. More tour escorting today.
Diane escorted "Snorkeling the Protected Bay Or Ieranto".
The Bay Of Ieranto is protected by the National Trust for Italy.
The Bay can only be reached by boat. Snorkeling wise there
wasn't much to see. The snorkel guide did find a couple
different star-fish, a sea cucumber, and a spiny urchin, also saw
some jelly-fish. It was a lot of fun to go swimming in the
Mediterranean Sea. It was so cold and very salty. Also took a
path to an old church where there some great views.
Paul escorted "Deluxe Discovery of Amalfi and Positano".
Same tour as Diane did last time in Sorrento.
Shops open 6p - 11p

2007 - August 14
Taormina, Italy (Sicily)

Anchored of the port of Giaridini Naxos. More tours.
Diane escorted "Panoramas of Castelmola & Taormina".
Part of the fun of this tour was the bus ride to Castelmola.
The streets are so narrow the bus driver has to back down
the steep, narrow streets. After a walk around Castelmola
transferred to Taormina where we toured the Greek Theatre
then a very nice lunch at Grand Hotel Timeo.
Everything in Sicily is "piano, piano" - slowly, slowly.
They don't like to get upset about anything - they have a very
laid back lifestyle.

Paul escorted the Silician Cooking and Gardening Tour.
He visited a typical Tuscan Villa right out of the movie
"Tuscan Sun". At the villa they had a typical Silician garden
with fruit trees, olive trees, fig trees, plus other seasonal
vegetables. Afterwards attended a 2 hour cooking class
where Paul helped to prepare a Sicilian lunch.

Shops open 5p - 11p.

2007 - August 15
Corfu, Greece

Docked off Corfu Town. Paul escorted the
"Achilleion Palace & Old Corfu Town". The palace has
beautiful gardens and a fantastic view of the Ioanian Sea.
Then a short walk through the narrow lanes and beautiful
mansions of Corfu's Old Town

Diane escorted the "Corfu Adventure by 4x4".
Paul did this tour before. The road we took boasts 27
hairpin turns, leading from the east side to the north side
of the island. Then onto the west side for a quick snack
at the Golden Fox restaurant.

Shops open 5p - 11p.

2007 - August 16
Dubrovnik, Croatia

Docked today. Crew drill at 10am. IPM today but
switched cards with Kate and Ruschda so went in to
seaman's center to use the internet and phones. Also
went to the grocery store - a crew member luxury.
Shops open 5p - 11p.

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