Napoli, Pompeii, Herculaneum and Sorrento beckoned us this morning as the ship docked early this morning. Had enough of following crowds around so six of us went off on our own Dick, Yvonne, Andre, Patricia etc. Negotiated a taxi ride to the Naples Train Station with the taxi driver doing some really bad maths to try to convince us to hire him for the day. Caught the local train to Pompei then later on to Sorrento then back down the same line to Herculaneum befo...

Roma, Roma it's good to be back in your crowded, noisy streets with your welcoming pickpockets, gladiators for hire and tourist touts. Oh, and Il Papa of course and his myriad nuns and priests thronging the streets. Andre, Patricia, Jeannie and I had taken the excursion where you're dropped off in Rome and do it yourself. Being Sunday traffic is lighter so we elected for the Hop On Roma Christiana Bus. Not sure how the Buddhists are getting around. St Marks Squ...

Sailed into Livorno Italy this morning with the group all Pretty in Pink splitting out into the Tuscany countryside for Pisa (Andre and Patricia), Florence (Richard and Yvonne) and Cinque Terre (Jeannie and I) with Mick and JanMarie free styling from Livorno. Cool sunny day traveling through the Tuscan fields to Cinque Terre (went past the Leaning Tower of Pisa) with mountains to the side and clustered hilltop villages. From La Spezia went to Mansora by bus the...

And the cruise begins. The ship is new and really well appointed- lots of bars, dining rooms pools etc. a running deck, fitness, casino, library etc. 3500 passengers but the ship is so big you never have a sense of crowding except at boarding and excursion days. Dressing up as "Where Wally" was a big hit with passengers and crew - good icebreaker. Today was wig day - aging rock stars, Kath and Kim and Marylin Monroe. We told people to brace themselves as one of t...

Yesterday was fantastic with the trip to Montserrat topped off by an intense flamenco show in Placa Reial, then a wander through the plazas late at night when everything comes alive. People thronging the squares with bands and buskers at every turn. A good meal earlier off Las Ramblas with beers so big we could barely lift them (what Aussie orders the "small" beer when given a choice between big and small?) and pallellas, pollo and pescado. Today was our last da...