Arrivederci Rome!

I was awake before the alarm rang, why, I don’t know… it could have been worry about the tooth that I broke last night eating popcorn and whether or not I’d need a dentist. Yes, my tooth woes are not over…

But I was also drawn awake by the blue sky that peeked through the shutters. It looked like it would be another beautiful day in Rome. It was with mixed feelings that we walked across the piazza for our last breakfast, we’ve had a wonderful time here and didn’t want it to end. We tried to visit the Pantheon one more time, but alas, it wasn’t open yet - in the end I decided to skip the last visit and will save it for the next time we are in Rome.

We had time to spare before the van picked us up for the drive to the port so we wandered the streets for a final look at a few fountains. It was early in the day with few people around so we could enjoy the spaces without bumping elbows with hoards.

Finally it was time to heft our bags down the narrow stairs of the hotel to wait for our ride. He eventually arrived and our bags were (literally) thrown into the back of the van. We were the 2nd pickup, there were 2 more to go. Each stop saw more luggage crammed into the back - I wondered if our bottles of wine would survive (they did). And then we were on our way out of Rome.

Arrivederci Rome!

The port is about an hour outside the city and the landscape flew by at supersonic speed (the Italians are no slouch on the gas pedal), and finally the ship came into view, our home for the next 21 days.

Boarding was done in a flash - no waiting at all. We wisked ourselves up to our room and unpacked our carry ons which left us in good time for lunch in the main dining room. Yes, the feasting had begun.

Lunch, unpack our big suitcases (oh so many hangers required), wander around, listen to music, drink a beer, attend muster, get dressed for supper, eat some more, go to excellent music show (4 guys singing), see Stephanie cruise director staff that we met on Coral, wander around checking out the music scene, back to room, write blog, and eventually crash.

Tomorrow is an early start to Florence!

“The gladdest moment in human life is a departure into unknown lands.”

~Sir Richard Burton