IntrepidFromDC

Yes they checked my negative results along with passport, vaccination card and boarding pass.

Misc. Pride pics

I did capture some pics and videos as we approached the narrow channel between the tip of the toe of the boot and Sicily. They are closer than you would think from looking at a global map. Here you can see the yellow ferry leaving the toe of the boot.

I don't know how St Greg does it, I can't keep my posts up with the day! Today, the cruise down the Italian coast was spectacular. Kinda like Alaska where you don't just have open water on both sides of the ship on Fun Days At Sea... Italy has town after town of seaside villages perched on the mountains that go from sea to sky.

I have to catch up on your b2b, Jamman. Thanks.

Forget it bidet, NOT happening...

As we are about to sail away and I feel the ship revving, I suddenly hear a strange soft whisper in my head coming from Rome... "you never gave me a chance"...

After a shower and muster I headed straight to Alchemy hoping someone would have their monkey on the bar, alas no such luck.

The 55-minute train ride from Rome to Civitavecchia was beautiful, sorry no pics as I got lucky with 4 trainmates all on the Pride and they were both interesting and fun. Once we got to port it got ugly. The first pic is outside of cruise terminal from Lido, second is inside of cruise terminal, last 2 are surrounding area from Lido deck left and right.

A few more random pics from walking around Rome, which was a joy... then onto the cruise!

Forget to attach pic

Pantheon, I believe it's famous because modern engineers say the weight of the dome cannot be supported by the walls, and/or it was the largest freestanding cupola or dome for over a thousand years. Something like that and I'm tired of checking sources because I am now on Carnival Pride as I type this and still have to catch up with Rome stuff...

Circus Maximus is hundreds of years older than the Colosseum and held 150,000 people for events both historic (battles to the death between men and beasts) and mythological (Sabine women). It sits just south of Palatine Hill, the highest of the 7 Rome hills. The last image is a depiction of what it is thought to have looked like in the days of use.

Piazza di Spagna leads down to very high end shopping where Gucci and Prada are overshadowed by ultra-high end stores. That's said the green gucci purse in "Jackie 1961" style was mesmerizing in the Gucci window. I hope the photo does it justice...

Palatine Hill, I didn't get any great pics of it as we drove by on the HOHO bus, but it was the most prestigious neighborhood and the highest of Romes seven hills. Senators and nobility would have homes built there during the Roman Republic. It is also believed to be the home of Romulus and Remus who founded Rome.

Circus Maximus is hundreds of years older than the Colosseum and held 150,000 people for events both historic (battles to the death between men and beasts) and mythological (rape of the Sabine women). It sits just south of Palatine Hill, the highest of the 7 Rome hills. The last image is a depiction of what it is thought to have looked like in the days of use.

Rome is mostly a busy, noisy city but there are always quiet parks, piazzas, calles and small ristorante and cafes just a few blocks away.

I'm not sure if my post of Circus Maximus is showing, it's in red and says "hidden".

We can use the same wells and fountains for fresh, clean water as Romans have used for hundreds of years. The top pic is me, filling up. Bottom pic a woman is drinking directly from the fountain.

Piazza Navonna is one of my favorite spots in Rome. As I entered the piazza a rock band was finishing up a version of USA National Anthem. A husky yet twangy voice yelled above the crowd "Now that's what I'm talkin about! THAT'S a national anthem!" I inferred from the smattering of boos afterward they were playing other national anthems before I got there, and Earl was being called out for showing off.

Circus Maximus is hundreds of years older than the Colosseum and held 150,000 people for events both historic (battles to the death between men and beasts) and mythological (rape of the Sabine women). It sits just south of Palatine Hill, the highest of the 7 Rome hills. The last image is a depiction of what it is thought to have looked like in the days of use.

Roman Colosseum where gladiator fights and other sports took place. But not the chariot races, they were held at the much larger though less impressive and older Circus Maximus

This is the first and I hope last "daughter ditched dad" trips. Faith recently met a Carnival casino pit boss and is now with him in Romania.

Things I love about Italy... THE FOOD! Tonight I ate at the #1 restaurant in Rome on TripAdvisor. I had a first course and second course, 2 glasses of excellent red wine and a large bottle of Italian spring water for just under 40 euros, which is under 40 bucks these wonderful currency exchange rate days! The strazzicana ameritricana was one of the best pasta dishes in my life, exciting and sublime at the same time. I had never had strazzicana pasta before, it was "al dente perfecto" and the bacon was exceptional. The secondi was also wonderful, veal cheeks in black truffle summer sauce. highly recommend and agree with TripAdvisor on this ristorante.