Florence

October 21, 2010
Florence, Italy
- took Ship Shuttle to Piazza Grande in Livorno, then took a city bus to train station. Since shuttle didn't leave until 7:49 we missed the 8:10 train to Florence so we had to wait an hour for the 9:10 train.
- arrived in Florence around 10:30 and immediately went to the Accademia even though our reservation wasn't until 3 pm. They let us in and we saw Michelangelo's "David"- it was a highlight in my life!!!!!
- saw 2 Elders riding bikes- gave them a quick shout out as we crossed the street.
- walked through central Florence passed the Pallazzo Medici (1 block away from the Duomo) then passed the Duomo to see Ghiberti's doors on the baptistry (!!!!) and on to the Uffizi.
- saw Botticelli's "Primavera" and "Birth of Venus"- it was kind of weird to see them framed and behind glass. Another highlight!! Saw Caravaggio's "Judith Slaying Hollefernes"- AMAZING!!!!!!!
- walked down the back of the museum down to the Ponte Vecchio- did some shopping (scarves and ties and looked and looked and looked for a sweater for dad).
- got back in train to Livorno at 3:10 pm and arrived at 4:50- took the bus back to the piazza to catch the shuttle- the bus was SO crowded but not as bad as the train yesterday. Met a funny group from Chicago waiting/ guarding the line for the Ship Shuttle (which cost $8 each for a 10 minute ride). Some people are so rude/selfish/ignorant of people lining up and waiting patently- getting on the shuttle was ridiculous and yet hilarious because husband were getting on without their wives and vice versa then complaining about it. CRAZY but the shuttle organizer was awesome and didn't take any line cutters or shovers.
- back on ship: went to dinner and the staff sang for us :)
- played Name That Beatles Tune but they did trick questions and played singled-out parts like Ringo's drums in "Strawberry Fields"
- Sang Kareoke (Les sang "Cowboy Take Me Away" by Dixie Chicks!!)
- watched The Quest game show.
- watched dancers at Club 20 party which basically seemed like a party for the cruise director staff. I wish I had the courage to go dance with them but I was tired and looked like crap and they all were such amazing dancers.Palazzo Medici!!

Bruneleschi's Dome!!! This architectural marvel ushered in the Renaissance!!

Stairway in the Uffizi

Outside front entrance of the Uffizi.

Ponte Vecchio

Gelato!!!!!!!!!!!!

So tired so we are taking a rest before our big night out.

Europe Feet- I think we sped walked through Italy :)

ROME

October 20, 2010
Roma!!
- get off boat 7:30 (late arrival)
- walk to train station for 1 hour 20 min ride to Roma Termini
- get on Metro to Coliseum!!
- get back on Metro to Spanish Steps, walk up and down the steps.
- walk to Trevi Fountain!! Throw a coin and eat delish gelato (Alli had melon, everyone else has nutella).
- walk to Pantheon!!!! Scale is VAST!!
It just kept getting better and better.
- walk to Piazza Navona and bought art.
- took bus to Vatican City. St. Peter's square was closed (papal audience at noon). Arrived at Vatican Museum at 12:30 so we barely missed seeing Pope Benedict. Saw the Laocoon!!! Saw Raphael "School of Athens"!!! Saw 3 sister missionaries in the museum for their P-Day. Saw the Sistine Chapel- ah!!!!! It really is as amazing as they say it is.
- snuck out a side door from Sistine Chapel and got right into St. Peter's Basilica when they re-opened it after the papal audience.
- saw Michelangelo "Pieta"
- saw the Baldachino- the scale is HUGE!!!
- ate lunch sitting on the steps of Bernini's perfectly designed piazza- the arms reaching out.
- took the train ride from Hell back to port (over crowded, hot, had to stand for an hour)- we call it the Pit of Dispair. Les counted 35 people crammed in to the entry-way/loading area standing without A/C for an hour.
- dinner and hot tubbing to soak our aching muscles.
- ordered hot chocolate from room service- it came with hot milk :)
BEST. DAY. EVER

Naples, Sorrento, and Capri

October 19, 2010
Naples, Italy
-Walk Through Naples and miraculously found Corso Gharibaldi when we asked a paperman and we were already on the street :)
- train ride to Sorrento took aprox 1 hour
- walk through Sorrento in the rain, cute shops, lemons and coral.
- walked down to shore and took water taxi to Capri.
- hike up to the City of Capri.
- drink in the view of island!!
- walk down alleys with designer shops
- more jewelry stores.
- more amazing views and photo-ops.
- take water taxi back to Naples across the bay.
- dinner in Carmen
- Name That Tune: 70s songs
- Beatles Manics Show

On the train from Naples.

Sunny Sorrento wasn't really sunny for us :(

Hiking up the island of Capri to the town of Capri.

The view was SO worth it!!

Getting on the Ship and Our Day at Sea

October 17, 2010
Happy Birthday Lacey!!
-woke up and had breakfast at Starbucks across from Hotel.
-checked out of hotel and booked room for next week
-walked with luggage to Place de Catalunya and down las ramblas to the CC monument. Then we walked to the sea port terminal and across a large bridge to port B (Royal Caribbean) and checked into our cruise.
-talked to head waiter about eating at 7pm not 9pm.
-lunch at the buffet- the Windjammer Cafe. We had breakfast there almost every morning.
-explored the pool area, spa and walking track.
- walked the royal promenade and entered raffle (welcome expo).
-found rooms
-watched the boat pull out of Barcelona harbor at sun set!
-ate dinner and had a mix up because head waiter didn't really change our time to eat but it all worked in the end.
-Beatles music in the Vault where we saw some Asian lady dancing by herself and having a great time.
-majority rules game
-party around the world parade
-singles dance at the Vault- fun!! The boat was SO rocky that you could see the crowned dance floor sway- especially during line dances :) it was awesome!!!
-ship is very bumpy/rolley/rocky- to the extreme.

October 18, 2010
Day at Sea on boat
- ate breakfast (eggs Benedict!!)
- took nap until 1:30 pm
- Oktoberfest in the Royal Promenade (yummy pretzels)
- walked to very front of ship and saw some coastline as we sailed between Corsica and Sardinia.
- went to highest point on ship (sky bar)
- saw ice show!!
- mini golf and watched the end of soccer tournament.
- snack at Promenade Cafe.
- got ready for Formal Night at dinner.
- dinner at Carmen
- sat in "our spot" Aquarium Bar
- saw "Music in Motion" in La Scala theater.