Now to try to catch up again

Now that I was able to post pictures, I will try to explain about what else we have been up to. 

 

I think I ended as we were on our way to Genoa, we sailed into the narrow harbor about 6 AM.  And we had an early tour so we had to eat in the room instead of our favorite Sabatini's. So it was on to meet Jim and Val and board the bus. 

First we went to Rapallo, we saw a bridge, from a distance, that according to legend Hannibal crossed during his invasion of Italy. We only caught a glimpse of it,,,, then it was on to Santa Margherita, for a chance to have coffee, and a few sweets, it was cold this day, but at least not raining. Then we strolled along the seaside promenade and looked at all the things for sale in the market stalls that were there that day. 

We then walked to the harbor to catch the boat to Portofino, an ancient fishing village of Romen origin.

We were suppose to go to the church of St George, but the four of us opted out as Jim wasn't feeling all that great and I had developed a really bad blister on my foot. And the church was way UP!  So instead we had a most enjoyable time sitting by the sea, and had a sandwich and a beer. Then back to the ship to get cleaned up for formal night. 

The timing of the formal nights on this cruise has been interesting, but we did have a lovely time. 

Ed really I joyed this beer

These are Photos from the Paestum Escavations

These were taken at Castello Sonnino

More

Here are photos from San Gimignano 

October 8th sea day

Ok, so I will hope to catch up again, but before I write an tell all I want to try to post some fotos of the past places I wrote about. 

This was at the Buffalo  Mozzarella

cheese factory 

Catch up day

First I want to say, we are on the beautiful EMERALD princess, not the RUBY. LOL. So now that you & I know what ship we are on, I will try to bring you up to date. 

Today we awoke at 7AM  to Capt Martin Stencel announcing that we were going to miss Cannes. That was ok with us as we had decided not to go ashore anyway, so we went back to sleep.   Ed got up before I did, so when I did, we got dressed and went up to Sabatini's for there wonderful breakfast. And now I will go back in time and try to catch up. 

The first day was Palarmo, and I told you all about that, then it was on to Salermo, it was an early get up so no Sabatini's we ordered room service. Then found our tour to the buffalo mozzarella tasting & Paestum Escavations.  This was a very good tour. The buffalo mozzarella is really special, seems there are many rules, as to what can be called "buffalo" mozzarella.  And it doesn't keep longer then a week. And they don't ship it out of country, as tree mozzarella is NOT pasteurized. We had a nice tasting, of bread, wine and cheese. Ed and I missed the gelato, and buying the wine, but that was ok. 

We then boarded the bus for The Paestum Escavations, we had no idea what o expect here, and we were really blown away. It is located in the eastern part of the Gulf of Salerno, 10 km from the mouth of the river Sale in the territory of Lucania and the northern boundary of the region in sec. IV BC it used to be called Great Greese, and was one of the richest and most flourishing Greek colonies of southern Italy on the west coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It was over 2,500 years old and when settled it was ideal for farming. It had been hidden until WW II, when the Americans found it by accident, looking for the caves the Germans were hiding in. And over the eons if the people of Italy hadn't used the stones to build new things more would be in tact, it was all and all a great tour with a great guide!

After Salerno, we had a sea day, and we went to the meet and great, on the morning. And then it was on to the sale, for Tee Shirts for Ed, as we didn't bring any, on purpose so he could get them to wear on the cruise. Now I am not sure it will be warm enough to we are them. As it is about 60 degrees today.  Then we went to the Pub lunch it was goog as usual. So now it was on to the hot tub to relax before getting ready for the first formal night, eat, drink, eat, drink, rest dress eat drink......... Well somebody has to do it, right?

Next day Laverno,  up early, to go on our tour in for wine tasting, this was a private tour that Craig, organized back up in the hills of Tuscany.  Highlight was going back to San Gimignano and do a bit of shopping, then it was on Castillo Vicchiomaggio to tast white Chianti, it was very good and we bought a couple bottles to have on the ship. Then it was on to revisit the Verrazzano wine store, Ed was very happy, and we ordered a case of wine to be shipped home. 

We then went to lunch and a tour of Castello Sonnino, it is located in Montespertoli. They have 45 hectares of vineyards we were not taken by the wine here, but the tour was great and the linchpin good but a bit pricy. The olive oil they prouduce was great, and I regret not buying any, so I will try to get some on the ship, as it is very good too. So all and all it was another good day.Tomorrow, we go to Genoa. 

I will try to publish so photos tomorrow.

We are in Salerno

Well I should say we "were" in Salerno,,,,, now we are headed to Livorno. I have to catch you up on. The goings on, since we boarded this beautiful Ruby Princess! 

Our boarding was uneventful, but my internet has been very eventful! The blog gave me a huge challenge as it was hung up some wear, I have no idea what has gone out and what hasn't.  So if it all looks weird know I tried. It seems I can't send more then one picture at a time if I use the app, and I can't get to my photos if I use on line. So now you know my limitations. :) 

We boarded, and found our cabin,,, we knew wher that was,,, after doing 49days last year in the same cabin. LOL I was the first person to board,, how about that!  We all had our bags befor the muster drill, who say Italians are slow. So Jim and Ed made reservations for our dinner table with the head waiter. And then they made reservations for the first night at the Crown Grill, while I unpacked. 

We had a lovely dinner and went to bed early as we all had to get up early, for our tour in the morning. 

We set the alarm for 0630 and got up got dressed and headed to Sabatini's my favorite breakfast venue. Then down to meet our guide Barbara from  Benvenuto limos.  She was wonderful and I would highly recommend her.  

She took us to Monreale first, it was a suburb of Palermo up on top of a small mountain that has  a magnificent cathedral and as we were there on a Sunday they were performing a baptism, and we were able to see some of it, and we could even take pictures! Then we were given a private tour of an art museum that was closed as it was a Sunday! The lady that guided us around the museum, was so sweet, she showed us so much, wow talk about feeling special. 

Then we had an espresso to becom refortified, and it was down the mountain to Mondello, by the sea! And a very nice lunch. Barbara, became part of the Lonneville and Masek family, it was a wonderful lunch of clams and pasta, after a bit of a walk around, our driver picked us up and we had a tour of the highlights of Palermo Sicily, what a grand way to start. 

 

Market at Civitavecchia

Sitting by the pool

Wish I could show you the view, but the blogger is not working right. I think that is going to be the story of this trip.
We went into town this morning. Fillippo dropped us off at a suppermarket then we meandered  down through the  streets and found a street market, that was really cool, I bought a hat and Ed bought some grapes and raddishes the raddishes were 1€ incredabul!
We have had a good couple of days here, it is an interesting place. If this goes out I will post more.

Arrived Rome

They called for boarding our plane on time, and because we were globule entry pass holders we were in the #1 line so we found our seats and were greeted, by a warm and friendly flight crew.  Who as it happened were celebrating a birthday of one of the attendants and a retirement of one, they were really a happy bunch.

(Unfortunately  I tried to put some pictures here, and it all hung up)

We arrived Rome an hour early, it was  a great flight, we got lucky and didn't have to climb down airline stairs, we had a GATE!  And although the lines were long at Imagrations we were out in about 15+ minutes. Our transfer was waiting, and it was off to Tenuta del' Argento, our home for the next three nights. I got a shower, and crashed for the next 3 hours.
Val and Jim arrived while I was sleeping, all was well with them, and we had a great dinner last night at the hotel and all of us went to bed.  

We made it

We are here at Dulles all checked in and sitting in the lounge having a glass of wine. And some cheese, and olives. 😜

There was a terrible accident on 95, so we  (Eddie, son) we had to go all around robben's hood barn to get here.  There was a 20 mile back on 95.  Now Ed just read on line it was a fatal shooting, by a guy who kidnaped a woman, it happened at eight this morning. But we didn't know.... Oh well we are here and, all is well so far. 

Oh almost forgot the go card reall made getting through TSA a breeze, thanks Bruce!

Next stop United Air.

Sept. 21 Night before we leave

I thought everything was going to well.   And sure enough, it came back to bite me late this afternoon. I  had to change my Apple password and something happened, so now I can't get into the Mac Book Pro, ugh the old password won't work and the new one doesn't work. So after I spent time on the phone with my two family guru's and a couple hours pulling my hair out, I gave up. I will hope to write the blog on my Ipad, at least the new App seems good.  Butif it is not up to snuff, I'm sorry. 

Two days and Counting down

The bags are all packed, and were pretty much ready to go.  We will need to close

up the house, but we will do that when Ed Jr picks us up on Tuesday morning.

The packing was an intresting endeavor, as it had been some time since I packed 

for Europe.  Should have been somewhat like around the Hone, but I couldn't get that in my 

head.  

Any way it is finished.

I haven't figured out how to put this in my side bar so I will do it here, one of these days I will learn. 

I should mention that we are no longer going to Tunis as it shows on the map.  We will be in

Salerno, Italy instead.

I guess it is time to wake up my blog, and me, as it is Sunday morning, and I'm not moving very fast today.  Ann reminded me, when we all went to lunch that it might be time, to do that. 

We will be leaving in just nine days, for our 21 day transAtlantic cruise on the Emerald Princess.  

 We fly to Rome on Tuesday the 22nd and get to Rome Wednesday, and we are being met at the airport by a transfer service that our hotel Tenuta dell’Argento, in Civitavecchia. This is about 50 miles outside of Rome. And where the cruise ships dock. The hotel is a ranch, so it should be a very interesting stay. We will be there for three days. The ship sails on Saturday.

So now it is on to finish up the packing, and readying the house, (we have people watching the house) and Ed is putting the netting on the two ponds today, we now have two. 

It has been a busy year around here, putting in and refurbishing ponds having the range repaired, that still isn't finished, now the fridge water dispenser isn't working. Taking a fun cruise with Jack and Honey, to celebrate their 50th. Visiting Tim and Audrey at there new home in Florida, and hosting Ken and Joan, while there, at the time shear.   

The sun has rise,,, and the sun has set and here we is in Texas yet! 😎

We arrived in Abilene last evening, to see dear friends, and we are having a wonderful visit. I wanted to try to catch up a bit on yesterday's drive.

We had a nice stay in Albuquerque at a very nice hotel that had such a Spanish fell, that if we had closed our eyes, as we ate Tapas, we would have thought we were back in Spain.

As we drove south this was some of what I took from the car.

As we left the park we saw the fire that we had seen the smoke from the other side.

This is the old Route 66

This is what has happened to west Texas,,, windmills every where.

At the North Rim

Well we made it to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. 😎 only one issue no wifi and little cellular. I hope this will go out, as the power to receive pictures is not strong enough. Maybe I can send some we will try.

We are having a wonderful time just wish we could have done this when we were younger. This side really has some wonderful trails, but without proper shoes it is a bit to challenging for both of us, as the trails are rocky and steep. And then there is the altitude,,,,, we are at 8600 feet here! So we are still huffing and puffing,, even the staff says that the ones that have only been here a week are huffing and puffing. 😜

The views we have at this area are wonderful, and there are people, but none of the crowds that the people that came here from the South Rim have in countered.

Ok so I will first see what I can send. It wouldn't go out, so I will have wifi tommrrow at the south.

We could not get wifi so photos that I wanted to post I will have to see how to send them.
Meanwhile here are a couple;

We are on the way to the south rim, wow what a drive! Photos are not working for me.... More when I can.

Almost there

We are about 70 miles from the Grand Canyon, here is what we are seeing.

Leaving Salt Lake City

We had a good stay at the Sheraton last night. Didn't do anything just a nice glass of wine and a big salad for dinner. We are now on our way to the Grand Canyon 😎

This is my view this morning.

ON OUR WAY TO THE GREAT SALT LAKE

We are on our way on our trip back. First stop Salt Lake City. We will spend the night and try,,,,,,,, to catch you up.
Speed limit is 80 so it won't take long, we are about 70 miles away 😎