Roaming Around Rome

Since we settled into our cabin late on Sunday we stayed aboard.  The city of Rome is a distance of about an hour or more drive depending on traffic.  So today, Monday, December 31, 2018 we joined an included tour called Snapshots of Rome.  Mostly a bus ride with walking or stopping for photo ops.  After exhausting international travel it is not a bad idea.  In every port we plan to take advantage of the included tours with a few added optional ones.  Most of the ports we have been to before and done our exploring.

In the morning, which seemed to arrived too soon, we boarded a bus at the port at 7:30 for the long sunny drive past the airport and into town.  For Elva it was the first time she saw the countryside as when she had arrived it was already dark.  It is, of course not green this time of year and I only saw two lonely horses.  No other livestock of any kind.  About three miles from town we made a pit stop as Rome doesn’t have public toilets.  You must always go into a café, or restaurant, or bar to buy something to get a ticket to use the restroom.  Even then they may not have one.

We learned lots of history as we drove and then rode around the city.  There is a New Year’s Eve Marathon so many of the streets were blocked and hundreds grew into thousands to watch the race.  Many shops were closed but that was all right with me as I do not enjoy ‘shopping stops.’  We circled the Colosseum and I was surprised that I did not remember that on the more photographed side the entire third floor is missing but is still intact on the back side.  Earthquake damaged is a funny thing.  There is a great PBS, by now maybe it has migrated to the History Channel, program about the many different uses for this iconic building.  It could even be flooded for simulated navel battles!

Needs no words.  I think everyone recognizes this iconic image.

We took a long photo stop across from Caesar’s Palace and the Hippodrome.  Picture Ben Hur.  This is where chariot races would have been held.  I didn’t remember that it is basically a couple of football fields long and naturally indented into the ground quite deeply.  We heard the history of many of the martyrs as we passed by the churches named for them.  Finally we made our way on foot toe Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, and to St. Peter’s Square.  For anyone who wanted to visit the Basilica there was disappointment as the tour did not allow time for the three+ hour wait in line.  I don’t think there were many or maybe not any who had thought that would work out.  Several couples had flown in early to spend a few days and others were on a back to back cruise and had overnighted on the ship and gone into the city by ship shuttle to tour on their own the day before.

Since Carol, Elva, and I had all been in Rome before the tour was a perfect refresher.  We walked away from the packed and overcrowded square.  It was exceptionally jammed because a large center section was cordoned off since on the night of December 31^st the Pope comes out on the balcony to give special prayers and blessings.  Carol and I walked along a main street and found a quiet little church with an amazing Nativity scene.  We went back and got Elva from the sunny bench where she was resting and together we enjoyed the mechanical, musical depiction.

Mary actually picked up the Baby and hugged Him and rocked Him.

The scene would be dark, lights would come on and townspeople went about their ordinary lives.

Water drawn from the well, rugs shaken out, men heading to the fields.  Just a beautiful rendition. The scene was a about six feet across and in proportion.

Outside the church was a sign indicating where the McDonald’s was located.  Elva was ready for a coffee so we set out and although we got there easily enough I believe we took the long way around.  We did meet a nice family from Australia. Two brothers with their wives and one’s son and the other’s daughter.  Good thing about having coffee or a snack at McDonalds in other countries is to compare what is served and the prices with the ones at home. Best thing is --- free toilets!

Back on board we cleaned up then t and enjoyed the Munch Moments before going to The Chef’s Table.  The food is all way too fancy for me.  Carol calls it the Foam Room.  Every course is served with a different perfect wine pairing but also about everything but the entrée is served with some sort of elegantly named foam and made from some strange flavor.  We enjoy the pleasant quiet atmosphere and excellent service by the well trained staff but it is a little too over the top for someone with simple tastes like mine.  Our theme was Venetian so the food was good.  I am sure you get the picture when I saw small servings on large and gastronomically decorated plates!

The 9:15 show in the Star Theater was a variety introduction performance so that we have an idea of what to look forward to.  Of course there was the obligatory introduction of the Captain, Crew, and Senior Staff and a champagne toast.   Drew is still our Cruise Director like last time on this shop in the Amazon but we did notice that this time there are the four vocalists but no dancers.  Maybe because on back to back to back one week cruises they only really need seven nights of entertainment, not 21 like last time.

By the time the show was over the New Year’s Eve Celebration was in full swing.   Lots of champagne, music in the Atrium, singing and dancing as the passengers and crew gathered to see the New Year in.  That is something I have not done in many years!  It was fun.

We enjoyed it all very much and were happy to get a cup of tea in the World Café and go to sleep!