Just back! Our VIKING SKY-tastic 7 day Iconic Mediterranean cruise. November 7 - 14, 2021. Full trip report with tons of pix.

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The beautiful grounds in and around the palace area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We let the guide know we were leaving the tour and would make our own way back to the ship.  She bid us adieu and we went on our way.

It was about a 25 minute walk to the casino area.

 

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Lots of fancy shopping around there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little (very little) fancy something from Van Cleef and Arpels.

 

 

 

 

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Every store in the Principality displays a photo of Prince Albert, Princess Charlene et la famille.. interesting!

 

 

 

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An easy 20 minute walk to the Monaco train station from the casino and soon we were on our way back to the ship. 3 euros pp and the train ride was only 15 minutes from Monaco to Villefranche Sur Mer.

 

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Signs and the map from the tourist board made navigating the 10 minute walk back to the ship a breeze.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Back on the Sky in time for lunch at The Pool Grille.  A nice change.

 

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Sunset over Villefranche Sur Mer.. breathtaking.

 

 

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The set menu had changed at The Chef's Table so we ate there again.. delicious and beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FRIDAY - Good morning Livorno, Italy.

 

 

 

 

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As we were booked on the included afternoon tour to Pisa  our morning was free.  What a site to behold.. a laundry room with not a person in sight. 

True laundry heaven!

 

 

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My favorite lunch spot on the back deck of the Sky under a shaded awning, just outside of the World Cafe.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 15, 2021 by Sleep7

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I was bringing my plate of food out from the buffet and almost sat down with the wrong husband and even funnier was that his wife almost did the thing. Twins from behind!

 

 

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At 1:30 we embarked on our tour to Pisa.  No matter how many times you have seen the leaning tower it still is a WOW!!!

 

 

 

 

Can't leave Pisa without one of these pix.

 

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There is a Jewish cemetery right near The Field of Miracles in Pisa.. who knew?

 

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Our lovely tour guide says she gets a lot of comments about the name of the tour company.🙃

 

 

In case the walk back to the bus made you thirsty..

 

 

 

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Dinner at "The Restaurant"  It was lobster night.. yum.

 

 

 

 

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☹️Boohoo.. disembarkation tags and instructions.

Also.. our printed negative COVID tests needed to fly back to the USA in 2 days.  Thanks Viking for making that so easy for us!👌

 

 

 

 

 

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SATURDAY - Good morning Livorno, Italy.. again.

 

 

 

 

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Today was our second day in the Port of Livorno and we signed up for the optional full day "Renaissance Treasures of Florence" tour.  Thank goodness for spell check.. Renaissance and Mediterranean happen to be two of the hardest words ever to spell.🤷‍♀️

We have visited Florence many times in the past but have never been to the Uffizi Gallery.  Oh the art treasures.. oh the viewing pleasures..

It wasn't too crowded so I was able to jockey in front to snap good pix of all the greatest hits.

Uffizi means "office" as the museum is housed in the former offices of the Medici family.

Here are a few..  Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" and "Primavera" have now usurped my daughters as my phone lock screen and home screen.

Seeing the paintings in person was truly a thrill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Our guide for the day was fantastic.  He played a dual role as teacher on a class trip making sure nobody got separated or lost and art historian.  His name just happened to be Sam too!

 

 

He told us that the figure all the way on the right is believed to be a self portrait of Botticelli.

 

We also admired works by Filippo Lippi

 

 

 

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And an unfinished early painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.. "The Adoration of the Magi."

 

 

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Even just the building is a masterpiece!

 

 

 

 

 

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Also a glorious view of the Ponte Vecchio.