After a long and hot day walking around in Venice we headed back to the boat to shower and enjoy an amazing dinner. Day two was also in Venice, so we decided to take a boat ride to Murano for some glass shopping. Cliff & Summer bought the most beautiful chandelier. Micah and I got a glass blown horse, he's been wanting one since we went to Venice two years ago.
Day three was in Dubrovnik, Croatia. What a beautiful village. We walked around the Old City all afternoon. We had the most beautiful view from the top of the Old City walls. After walking the Old City wall we took a boat cruise around a small island. When we got to the back side of the island there were quite a few sun bathers on the rocks and they were all naked. Yes naked. No pants and no tops, standing there watching us drive by in our little boat proud of what God gave them.
Walking thru Old City to the Old City walls.
View from the top of the wall.
Me and my honey.
It took us about one and a half hours to walk all the way around the wall.
It was worth it. The view was amazing.
It was so hot I wished I had my bathing suit. There were swimmers just below us.
That is the little island we took a boat tour around.
The water was so clear you could see all the way to the ocean floor.
Heading out on our boat tour.
It was nice to sit down and relax.
Sun bathers on the rocks. Fortunately these guys were fully covered.
What was waiting for us on the bed when we returned.
Our room It was a bit messy.
The rest of our room. You can see Micah in his swimming trunks.
On day 4 we spent the day at sea. This was new for Micah and I. On our last cruise we spent all of our days at ports and didn't get any down time to just lounge and hang out on the boat. We were really excited to spend two days at sea and get to lay out and relax. We began our day at 8 am with a couples massage. It was amazing. From there we put on our swimsuits, although I wanted to nap after the massage almost put me to sleep, and hit the pool. During our summer of softball we have received some awesome farmers tans. It was time to get to work on getting rid of them.
We lounged by the pool all afternoon, only leaving our beds to get drinks and snacks. Micah and cliff took in the water slides. Our boat also had a high ropes course, mini golf, shuffle board, chess, adult pool and kids pool and of course hot tubs. Not to mention tons of bars and a casino. I'm proud to say that after days of laying out my farmers tan is gone!
Day 5 put us at Messina, Italy. We booked our first tour, Taormina & Greek Theatre at this port. If your not familiar with Messina, Italy it is the island of Sicily. You know, where the God Father was filmed. After getting off the boat we took a coach to Mount Tauro where the medieval Taormina sits. We visited the Duomo and walked the streets of the charming village. After the tour we made our way to the Greek Theatre that was built in the 3rd century B.C. The theatre is still used to host summer open-air performances.
Hanging out at the bar beside the pool before leaving the boat.
The medieval duomo.
Charming villages.
View of the ocean from the city center.
Buildings built into the landscape.
Anywhere in Italy is amazing to visit.
A cozy street in Taormina.
Entrance to the Greek Theatre.
Obviously the lower seating is not original, but the rest of the theatre is.
Mt. Etna at 2900 meters.
View from the top of the theatre.
From the theatre with Mt. Etna in the background.
Another view from the back of the theatre.
Mt. Etna.
The theatre ready for a performance with Mt. Etna looking on.
The coast line.
Taormina.
On day 6 we arrived in Naples, Italy. I was very excited about this particular port, it's been on my bucket list forever. We booked a tour and were headed to Pompeii! A quick history of Pompeii. First of all it's probably one of the most famous excavations in the world. There were approximately 20,000 people who lived in the town and roughly 2,000 perished when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. Twenty feet of ash and pumice stone covered Pompeii. In the last 200 years much of it has been removed during excavation to reveal the amazing village and what life must have been like to live here. After our visit to Pompeii we visited a cameo factory where we purchased to cameo's.
Castle at port.
Where the gladiators were housed.
The gladiators practice field.
The ampitheatre.
Wine was served here.
Paintings on the wall inside of a home. Everything was so well preserved.
Skeletons of victims.
Murals on walls inside of homes.
Inside of a home.
I'm not really sure what this is.
A ceiling to let in rain water.
Cast of a body.
Cast of a body.
Tiny bed made of stone.
Cliff and Summer.
Micah and I in front of the Temple of Jupiter with Mt. Vesuvius in the distance.
Town square.
This man was believed to be a slave by evidence of the belt he is wearing.
View of the outside of Pompeii.
Leaving Pompeii.
So cool!! A Mediterranean cruise is on my bucket list! I loved seeing all your pictures!
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