Just got back from a twelve day cruise. Ports: Venice, Ravenna, Split, Kotor, Corfu, Valetta, Messina, Sorrento, Ajaccio, Monte Carlo, Portofino, Civitavecchia, Rome.
My favorite is still Monte Carlo. It is just so beautiful.
Everything was great until they lost our luggage. But it was found.
Venice - great for shoppers. Topography is crazy.
Ravenna -one of the great cultural sites in Europe. Dante's tomb. Basilica di San Vitale, the 6th-century church known for its Byzaintine mosaics.
Split- Diocletian ruthlessly persecuted Christians. Ironically, St Dominius Cathedral occupies his mausoleum. I was really not a fan of Croatia. It felt repressive.
Kotor-Was really tired so did not see much.
Corfu - taxi driver showed us around town. Achilleion Palace - palace with Italian gardens built for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who was assassinated in 1898. Great desserts from Rosey's shop. No eggs, no flour, no butter, but still yummy! She is sooo nice! Stop by!
Valleta-St John's Cathedral - Tarxien Temples - ancient ruins of prehistoric man. Looked like a bunch of rocks to me. But it is the oldest free standing structures in the known world, dating from 3250 BC. So why do the let people walk all over the site?
Messina- just walked around the city. Not much to do unless you go to Mount Etna or go to the cathedral. But who wants to see another mountian or another cathedral? Don't get me wrong. I love God, but after seeing your 100th cathedral, it becomes over kill.
Sorrento- Pompeii- Totally awesome! This ancient Roman resort was buried by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Before the eruption, Pompeii was a town of more than 20,000 inhabitants. 2/3 of the city has been excavated. I could have spend the entire day at this site.
Ajaccio-birthplace of Napoleon. But he left at like 9 years old...
Monte Carlo - the playground of the rich and famous. Now for two years in a row, my backyard. lol. I did not think I would be seeing this town again so soon. But lucky me here I was yacht watching at the harbor. Did not go the the casino, as we did that last year. Headed to the Royal Palace. Prince Albert was home, since the flag was flying high. Wish I could have told him Stacey said hello. lol. St Nicholas Cathedral - Princess Grace and Prince Rainier are buried here. This has got to be the most beautiful Cathedral I have ever seen. It made me cry. I even said a little prayer and lit a candle.
Portofino - Walked around Santa Margherita. By now, every town looks the same and I am ready to start packing and come home. I have eaten too much and have gained 9 lbs. Sigh...
