ROME AND HOME

We got off of the ship on April 15 and were picked up by a driver and taken to our hotel in Rome, where Barbara met us and we spent the next few hours seeing Rome and then back to the hotel and a walk to a neighborhood restaurante for dinner.
A pick up by our driver took us to the airport @ 6:30 AM and then Delta from Rome to Atlanta to San Diego.  A long day.

Crowds @ the Fountain of Trevi.

 The Fountain of Trevi.

 Statute of Christ by Michaelangelo

 Nancy in front of the Colesseum.

 Our guide, Barbara.

 We stopped for a pizza and a COKE for Don.

Beautiful wisteria.

 Barbara showing Don the antiquities.

 Hotel Paranisi near the Spanish Steps

View from our hotel room balcony.

Fried Artichole for dinner.

ELBA

The harbor @ PORTO AZZURO.
Interesting lady outside the summer residence of Napoleon.
Nancy and Don in the "predictable sunshine" outside Napoleon's residence.
Reception room where Napoleon received guests.
Villa San Martino-the summer residence of Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile.

ELBA AND THE PORT OF PORTOFERRAIO-APRIL 14, 2012

Back to the ship!!!
The vineyards in the countryside.
Don stopped for a Coke while I shopped.
The charming streets of Porto Azzurro.


We docked @ the Island of Elba in the city of Portoferraio Elba's major seaport, called a Napoleonic palindrome. The island is approximately 10 miles off the Italian shores of Tuscany and is one of 7 known as the Tuscan Archipelaago. Elba, it goes without saying, is the most famous. "Lucky Napoleon" was exiled to Elba in 1814 with full sovereign rights over Elba. He lived in exile from May 4, 1814 to February 26, 1815 when he escaped and returned to France.
The city of Portoferraio is the largest city and the island's capital, it is really the only city on the island. Fewer than 15,000 people call it home. There is much to see and do and some 2 million vacationers come here especially to enjoy the predictable sunshine and tourism has been the island's main industry following the steel mill closures at the end of WWII.
We went to the Villa San Martino, the summer residence of Napoleon and then onto the southern coastal road to PORTO ASSURRO where we strolled along this seaside community's charming streets and then a return to our Crystal Symphony ship

PORT LIVORNO, ITALY-APRIL 13, 2012

Our driver, Ferdinando, dropping us off @ Port Livorno.
Our pizza lunch - yummy.
One of the 7 gates to the walled city of Lucca.
Happy Don!!
Nancy and Don with Antonella, our guide.
White wisteria!!
Church in the old part of Lucca.
The walls of Lucca constructed of large, rectangular stones.
Don holding up the Tower of Pisa.


LIVORNO is the gateway to Florence-Italy's Renaissance City. Don and I had both been to Florence so we hired a driver, Ferdinando, who met us @ the port and drove us to Pisa where the Leaning Tower of Pisa tilts precariously above the Piazza dei Miracoli and has become a trademark of Italy. Then to Lucca where we had a guide, Antonella, waiting to show her charming medieval village of Lucca. Featured are the historic city walls which were built to encircle the town in the16th century. In the 19th century they were redesigned to include a verdant, tree-lined promenade, making a perfect enclosure for the serene city within. Lucca is often called the "City of 100 Churches". We had pizza for lunch and headed to the ship.

MONTE CARLO-4-12-12

The harbor @ midnight from our verandah.
One of the many fabulous shops.
A painting of Princess Grace hanging in one of the shops. She was beloved and died in 1982 @ the age of 52.
Heliocopter on one of the yachts in the harbor.
Yachts in harbor.
Monte Carlo harbor.


Our second day in Monte Carlo and we took the hop on-hop off bus for a city tour. Unfortunately my battery in the camera was dead and I did not get any photos of the Palace (Albert II and his new wife are living there) and the Cathedral where Princess Grace and Prince Ranier are buried.
I did go back to the city in the afternoon and took a few photos. The city is so small and is very upscale with shops, yachts and people.
We left @ 12 midnight and I was up to see the beautiful port with all of the lights.

MONTE CARLO, MONACO-APRIL 11 &12, 2012

Our afternoon visit to Monte Carlo in front of the Grand Casino.
The Grand Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
On the road up to EZE looking down on the Mediterrean.
NICE and the French Riviera.
The incredible NICE harbor.
Nancy and Don having a coke.
Can you believe this asparagus?
Fabulous Roses @ Flower Market.
Nancy in Flower Market in NICE.
Greek church.
Hotel in NICE.
Beautiful streets of NICE, France.
Breakfast in the room served by Igor before setting out for the day.


MONACO is an ancient principality steeped in rich and colorful history. Its proud monarchy is presided over by Prince Albert II. Today it has a modern skyline and covers less than one square mile. It is the size of 1/2 of Central Park in NYC. It has a breathtaking sea, a fantasyland-style palace, a nail-biting Grand Prix, no taxes and a world-famous casino. It is truly regarded by all as the gem of the Mediterranean.
Our delightful 1/2 day excursion took us to the dazzling Nice and medieval Eze. Nice, often referred to as the "Queen of the Riviera" is a beautiful city. We strolled along Cours Saleya, an elegant promenade lined with palm trees and bordered by inviting shops and visited an enticing flower market.
Next, we traveled to the quaint village of Eze, perched atop a rugged peak high above the Mediterranean and climbed to the town's medieval castle and browsed through the town's unique shops.
The day was NICE AND EASY!!
Back to the ship for lunch and then a shuttle to town and a visit to the Grand Casino with a peek inside. Jackets are recommeded and we had none. Nancy went to the Prada Store.