May 5, 2016 – Home

Thanks to Silversea Cruises, we experienced a whirlwind of history and culture.  I hesitate to call this cruise a vacation, because it was non-stop sightseeing.  Too much to see and do equals no down time.  We were thankful for the timing on this trip.  It seemed busy enough in most of these places, but I …

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Rome, Italy – Day 3

We do a lot of walking on our last day in Rome.  Some of it is a bit aimless due to the challenges of finding places even with a map.  The unexpected diversions on the way to a destination still prove to be charming. Shopping for gifts is also a mission.  A street vendor selling …

Rome, Italy – Day 2

The next day we meander around the Colosseum to investigate the lonely Arch.  This is the Arch of Constantine and is the last surviving monument of Imperial Rome. From here, we taxi to Vatican City. Dodging huge tour groups and numerous vendors offering tour packages is annoying, but we manage nicely. Inside the Sistine Chapel, …

Rome, Italy – Day 1

Our Silversea Cruise ends in Rome.  We will be spending 3 days here, because there is so much to see.  Bob has arranged Airbnb accommodations because we are on our own expense.  This is our first Airbnb experience and it is a delight to stay in an apartment across from the Colosseum!  It is an …

Sardinia, Italy

Next, the Silver Spirit stops in Olbia, Italy on the island of Sardinia.  This is Italy’s second largest island, after Sicily.  The tour is relatively short, but we get to explore the Northern part of the island.  The countryside is scenic and undeveloped.  This is sheep country and the island is famous for sheep’s milk …

Florence, Italy

Florence is about 1 ½ hours away from the Port of Livorno.  The bus ride is excellent with facts and tips from our wonderful guide, Marina.  There are so many tempting places to stop during our drive through Tuscany, but Florence awaits! Finding the hidden tourist ticket office is adventurous.  How anyone would know about …

Eze, Nice, and Monaco

A tour excursion into France is the first adventure, when we arrive in Monaco.  The bus winds through town and it is exciting to see the set up for the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, which is happening in May. Traffic from Monaco into France isn’t exactly a breeze.  There’s only one road well traveled, but …

Sanary-sur-Mer, France

The next day we arrive at Sanary-sur-Mer, a resort on the Mediterranean in the Provence region.  The weather has been a bit chilly on this trip.  Multiple layers of clothing are helpful, but neither of us brought a roomy jacket or sweater.  In Sanary, we learn that this area is famous for the Mistral wind …

Sete, France

We wake up in France ready to explore Sete.  This is the biggest fishing port in the French Mediterranean and I cannot miss!  We explore on our own.  No need for guides, I know my food. The fish market is huge and I go crazy over all the fish I cannot buy to eat.  This …

Day 2 in Barcelona

Our second day in Barcelona involves transferring to the ship.  It’s another cruise on the Silver Spirit, complements of Silversea Cruises.  This will be the fourth time we have traveled on this particular ship. After all the usual coordinating and arranging, we have time to explore via the City Tour bus.  The West route takes …