NCL Viva: The Good, The Bad, the DISSAPOINTING: Italy, Turkey, Croatia, and Greece (with hints, tips, and help)

[Travel R]

13 hours ago, drew69 said:

The journey began without much fanfare. Our daughter drove us to the departing Terminal at Newark for United Airlines and we crossed through customs, security, and passport control in a fairly quick amount of time.  We then discovered that our Global Entry card was of little use when exiting the country, but the process was very quick, so it made little difference.

 

There is no passport control or customs when boarding a departing flight in  Newark unless you were connecting from a flight from overseas, you simply check in with your airline who checks your passport and then proceed to TSA.

 

Global Entry is as it name implies for Entry - not Exit.  You never need or use the actual card for air travel.  It would not have been of little use though, for if the number is entered into the reservation, it grants TSA pre-check for going through security.

I stand corrected as to customs.  However, our passports were actually checked twice - once when going through security and then when entering the gate for our departure.

 

Note that Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck, which should have allowed us to go through the expedited security line.

 

[Travel R]

3d. Dinner

 

Our friends had originally tried on getting reservations to a Michelin Star restaurant for the evening, but due to the ongoing time changes for our Colosseum visit we could not get a time down. They had a few back-ups they had researched, including two that were near the Colosseum that did not take reservations, so we walked to one of them after our visit to this iconic site.

 

We decided upon La Nuova Piazzetta.  Besides their initial research being well reviewed and recommended (4.8/5 on Google with amost 25k reviews), it was off on a side street, did not have pictures on their menus, did not have waiters outside trying to pull you in, and there was a line waiting to get in.

 

Although the list of items without cheese was limited, I played it safe and ordered  a pecan-crusted salmon dish and this was the best dish I had in Italy.  Our friend M enjoyed his dish a lot (a pasta with pork cheek) and our DWs, liked their pasta dish (they shared).  In fact, he continued to reference this dish throughout the trip and became the bar which was never surpassed. We sat outside, and although the air had cooled, the humidity still adhered to our tired bodies. [The inside was not air conditioned anyway.]

 

[Side note:  The dish was good, but as stated in my initial post, not inspiring. I have made this and similar dishes before. The waiter was okay, although was much more attentive to the two pretty girls he was assisting at the next table. The meal was good, properly prepared, and it was semi-filling (it did not come with rice or any substantial side of vegetables, which would have been a great compliment to the dish), so I am not complaining about the food, it was just not so outstanding where I would specifically seek out this restaurant again if/when we return.

 

We were unable to find a taxi (or taxi stand) and walked back to the hotel, but stopping at a gelato place. I had some chocolate gelato, and it wasn’t bad, but the coolness of the cream felt wonderful as it was being consumed.

 

We got back to the hotel, took showers (the one negative about the hotel is that the water pressure was not great), and went to bed. Even after the shower I was still warm.

 

3e. An American’s Comments about European Hotels

·       Keys: In several hotels they provided us with a physical key or key-item (which were electronic), some looked like weights used when fishing.  When leaving the hotel, we were mandated to return the key to the front desk and retrieve it when returning to our rooms. The one hotel that provided the cheap plastic key also insisted upon us returning it (in the US they seem not to care).

·       Tourist tax: We were charged a tourist stay tax in every hotel. The amount differs on the city and the level of the hotel. I wonder when they will begin doing likewise in the US. NYC is going to re-start the congestion pricing, so I can see the tourist tax coming next.

·       Room Size:  Comparatively, hotel rooms in Europe are smaller than in the US. During our very first trip to Europe, when opening the door to our room in Paris, it was so small the door would hit the bed (and the bathroom was communal and located down the hall) – would have been okay, but it was just as expensive as a decent hotel in NYC at the time. All of the hotel rooms during our current adventure were not very large, but they were not tiny. By design were not in the rooms very long except to sleep and take (multiple) showers. [Note, however, one of my favorite hotels in the US when I used to travel to San Francisco was the Hotel Triton, which had small rooms, but loved the vibe (and I believe was owned or managed at the time by the wife of musician Carlos Santana.]

·       Passports: Passports were needed to be shown for all occupants at all hotels

·       Stars: Hotels in Europe receive official stars, but the number of stars does not always represent how good they are. In fact, they are based on the number of utilities

·       Air Conditioning: Air conditioning in Europe is not as proficient as in the United States, and many hotels do not even have any.  Video conferences with co-workers from Europe are harrowing during the summer, watching sweat roll down their faces with only a fan to cool themselves down. [The office generally has AC, but their own homes do not.] If travelling during the summer it may behoove you (especially Americans) to check if a hotel has AC before booking.

·       Bidets: I have been in many European hotels over the years and a great number of them have a bidet. To tell you the truth, I have never used one.  Maybe it is because I am really not sure how to use it. Even looking at instructions [see] it looks confusing.

·       Ordering Cabs: Although the front desk/concierge can order you a cab, I have found it quicker (both during this trip, and last year in the UK) to order an Uber yourself – especially early in the morning. If in a real rush, the higher price of Uber Black may be worth the expense.

·       Front Desk/Concierge: I have found the people at the front desk in European hotels to be very helpful and informative.  They usually speak English, and are an excellent resource when you need help with any issues concerning the local language.

[drew69]

4 hours ago, Travel R said:

I stand corrected as to customs.  However, our passports were actually checked twice - once when going through security and then when entering the gate for our departure.

 

Note that Global Entry also includes TSA PreCheck, which should have allowed us to go through the expedited security line.

 

Yes, the airline will often recheck it at boarding but both are the airline checking, not passport control which would be different.

[drew69]

 Tourist tax: We were charged a tourist stay tax in every hotel. The amount differs on the city and the level of the hotel. I wonder when they will begin doing likewise in the US. NYC is going to re-start the congestion pricing, so I can see the tourist tax coming next.

 

Many cities/states in the US have been charging tourist tax for years - just under different names - room occupancy tax, convention center tax, etc.  If you look at your folio, the various taxes in addition to sales tax are all listed individually.

 

NYC charges several and has for many years:

 

NYS SALES 8.875% TAX $24.76 

NYC OCCUPANCY 5.875% TAX $16.39

NYC HOTEL ROOM $2.00 TAX $2.00

NYS HOTEL ROOM UNIT $1.50 TAX $1.50

 

 

 

[Travel R]

4 hours ago, drew69 said:

 Tourist tax: We were charged a tourist stay tax in every hotel. The amount differs on the city and the level of the hotel. I wonder when they will begin doing likewise in the US. NYC is going to re-start the congestion pricing, so I can see the tourist tax coming next.

 

Many cities/states in the US have been charging tourist tax for years - just under different names - room occupancy tax, convention center tax, etc.  If you look at your folio, the various taxes in addition to sales tax are all listed individually.

 

NYC charges several and has for many years:

 

NYS SALES 8.875% TAX $24.76 

NYC OCCUPANCY 5.875% TAX $16.39

NYC HOTEL ROOM $2.00 TAX $2.00

NYS HOTEL ROOM UNIT $1.50 TAX $1.50

 

 

 

 

The above hotel or entertainment taxes I am (unfortunately) familiar with, but it does not have any connection to being a tourist, and applies to NYS and NYC residents.  I am referring to an additional tax or fee for non residents that will be added on top of the above "taxes."   If it generates additional revenue (and it can be in the millions), I can reasonably foresee Adams or Hochul (or whoever is elected Mayor/Governor next) putting something like this in effect.  

 

[DrUrsula]

On 9/4/2024 at 10:33 AM, Travel R said:

On a thread on Facebook there was a person that was stating how they hoped the food in Italy would be as good as Olive Garden.  Yes, you read that right.  Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, so when it comes to taste, it is something personal - it is whether the food is properly prepared and presented that one can argue.  As to pizza - my family has had a tradition of eating pizza wherever we go (various countries and different states). If you ask any of us where the best pizza is - we will unanimously say Brooklyn, NY (L&B being the best).

We, too, eat pizza when we travel just for the differences.Hubs is from NYC and I'm from New Haven, CT. Can't beat pizza from either of our home towns.

Not a fan of the pizza we had anywhere in Italy; had AMAZING pizza in Egypt. Go figure!

can't wait to read the rest of your review. We are headed to Italy, Greece and Turkey next week.

[Travel R]

9 hours ago, DrUrsula said:

We, too, eat pizza when we travel just for the differences.Hubs is from NYC and I'm from New Haven, CT. Can't beat pizza from either of our home towns.

Not a fan of the pizza we had anywhere in Italy; had AMAZING pizza in Egypt. Go figure!

can't wait to read the rest of your review. We are headed to Italy, Greece and Turkey next week.

One word "Pepe's"!!!!

[Travel R]

DAY 3:

POMPEII AND THE AMALFI COAST,

A GUIDED TOUR

[Travel R]

1. Early Rise and Piazza Popolo

 

We have a large dog at home that requires walking outside. No, he will not do his business in the back yard, which means that we have to get up, get dressed, and take him out regardless of the time of year and weekday, holiday, and weekend have no meaning to him. So, we are used to getting gup early.  But after a very long day of travelling and sight-seeing, who wants to get up early again?

 

Tip: If going on an excursion that is going to be a full or even a half-day, it may behoove you to bring a day pack.  In our pack we included: Water containers, fans, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen bug repellent, snacks, hydration powder (to add to water), tissues (for sneezing and bathrooms), pills for possible stomach issues, and (eventually) Halls for coughing/congestion.  Money, cards, and IDs we kept on our persons.

 

I guess we had no choice. The day ahead will bring us to the ancient ruins of Pompeii and the beautiful coast-side cliff towns of the Amalfi Coast.  To do so, we needed to meet our Tour Guide at Piazza del Popolo.   One benefit is that it brought us North of where we are staying and enabled us to see this area as well as the west side of the Borghese Gardens. It also allows us to see (the exterior) of two historic churches (one being the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo) as well as some beautiful fountains and one of the 12^th century BCE Egyptian obelisks (although too bad one of the original Giacoma della Porta fountains was not there – removed for one of the current fountains in the late 16^th century) in this piazza redesigned in the early 19^th century by Giuseppe Valadier. Three streets, known as the Trident, branch out off of this piazza.

 

I am not sure, but when the tour bus left the area, it may have brought us over or at least close to Milvian Bridge (a little north of Piazza Popolo), which is supposedly the place where Constantine defeated Maximus and saw the cross, which as the story goes, was the sign that made him convert to Christianity.

 

Our fare for the hotel came with breakfast, but it did not begin until 7, and we needed to be out of there before then, so they offered us coffee (to have there, they would not let us take it out), but provided us with “To-Go” bags that consisted of a bottle of water, box of apple juice, crackers, and an apple.  I was hungry, so the bag came in handy.

 

Another disappointment occurred on this morn.  If you run or exercise you will feel my pain . . . . my GPS/fitness watch broke.  The LED screen went blank.  As a runner (before I became ill), the watch and tracking every step and mile was almost a part of me. I have had it for about 5 years, and was considering getting a new one (my family even offered to get one for me for my prior birthday, but I said no). It was a loss, but I shook it off and went on with my day. I still had my Google Fitness on my phone, which at least tracked steps, and that was all I really needed for this trip. When I get back, I’ll purchase another watch and it should get to me far before I start getting back into my running routine.

 

We met our tour guide in the Piazza. A nice young woman from Roma. She spoke English with an accent, which was not bad, but she spoke fast, which accentuated the accent and there was also a disconnect between how she was expressing things in English, which sometimes made it hard to follow her dialogue (as my friend stated, “she had a hard time connecting the worlds”).  This was something a lot of Tour Guides faced – they knew a lot, it was just that they did not know how to properly express themselves in what was not their native language, Although some were better than others, really have to give them credit for trying to express sometimes complex thoughts in a language that they were not born speaking. To all the Tour Guides out there . . .  Thank You! [As I discovered later, after talking to her, she was not a historian, just a licensed guide that taught herself the facts and history she told us.] As far as the history she related is concerned, she was okay, but impressed at what she knew, not being a historian.

 

For those of you that may be taking the Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, & Positano Day Trip (via Viator), one thing should be noted – although the Bus is comfortable, there is no bathroom. However, they do stop at a rest stop about 1.5 hours away (halfway to Positano).  The rest stop has free Lemoncello shots w/ alcohol. There are restrooms, a gift shop, and various foods (sandwiches and pastries including chocolate croissants), drinks, and snacks to purchase. It’s not the cleanest of places, but the bathrooms were not disgusting, and it was air conditioned. As a bonus, they had PowerAid Zero!

 

On the way down, the Tour Guide pointed out the town of Casino and talked about one of the battles of WWII that was fought (and fought hard) here. Knowing a little bit about WWII history, I wished she would have followed up, at least briefly that this was only one of a few lines the Germans set up against the Allies in their march north to Rome.

 

Suggestion: One comments about tipping Tour Guides – Although Europe does not have a tipping culture, it is customary to tip Tour Guides (and drivers). What you tip is entirely up to you, and whatever you feel comfortable with giving.  I am not even going to throw out a figure, since each tour and guide is different, and the amount could be dependent upon the length of the tour, how much they spoke, the quality of their dialogue, the clarity of their dialogue, if they went out of their way, did they pay for anything (e.g., pay toilet), if they spoke on a level that was understandable to you and your children, etc. There was only one time we did not tip, and I will give you the story once this tale of mine brings us to Istanbul.

 

Tip: Besides having Euros (coins) on you for bathrooms, Euro (cash) for when credit card machines mysteriously do not work on cabs, for small shops, and misc., have cash on you to give to the Tour Guide and Driver.  Although I did not experience it on this vacation, in the past some do provide a code bar to scan so you can send them a tip electronically through Venmo or other payment systems.

[Travel R]

2. Positano & Amalfi Coast

 

The drive along the Amalfi Coast was beautiful, absolutely beautiful.  It is something that can take your breath away.

 

To get to Positano the large bus stops about 2 miles from town and you transfer to a smaller bus to get to town.  This is because the streets along the cliffs and in the town itself are very, very narrow. But you get a chance to get off the bus and take photos from the side of one of the cliffs.  Our driver also made a stop along the cliff to allow us to take additional photos.

 

Opinion: We talked to other people about Positano and they loved it. We actually met some lovely people on this tour with us. Don’t get on me for saying the following, but I thought Positano was a “Tourist Trap on a Hill.”  It was one retail shop after another with a few over-priced food restaurants mixed in. We did stop at one of the pizza plus food establishments on the way down (our guide cautioned us not to spend a lot of time eating). I had a burger that was at most “okay,” with a too-hard bun, but it was a full half pound or more of meat; the addition of bacon bits (which I did not see on the menu) was a welcomed burst of taste to offset the rest of the sandwich.  I was hungry, it was not bad, and it fulfilled its purpose. The place also had a restroom for use by its patrons (although I am sure anyone could have used it).

 

At the bottom of the hill, the beach looks nice (albeit small) and the water was the deepest blue.  Interestingly, there was once fish shop with a “seaman” shucking muscles outside the storefront. I guess the town wanted to keep some connection to its origins as a seafaring town. Throughout the town you will see several stores selling chili-emblazoned items. As we discovered, chilis are a sign of good luck in this region.

 

One odd thing of little consequence that did stick out, is that Positano, like many towns offer Vespa tours. We were walking down the street when one of the these tours were beginning and a (suspected) Newbie came within inches of a crash.  It was funny since no one got hurt.

 

Tips: There is a public pay bathroom near the bottom of the hill. There is a sign for it.  If you have mobility issues, I would not suggest this trip, it’s a long way down, and then you have to walk all the way back.  However, note that I saw a public bus, but not sure of how it can be used (payment, price, etc.).

 

It’s a nice place aesthetically speaking as far as tourists traps go. As for me, I am NOT a shopper.  As a couple, we will usually purchase one small trinket that represents out vacation. [Years ago we used to purchase magnets for every port/city, but that became overwhelming after a short while, so we stopped a while back.] My DW will usually pick up some type of jewelry or statuette (e.g., Lladro in Spain), and we will pick up something small for our daughters and my MIL.  I generally will not purchase a souvenir for myself. If we would have passed by a shop that sold antiques, then maybe I would have picked up something – I did see a coin and stamp shop in Venice, but it was closed and most places in all cities we have visited sell 21^st century Chinese knock-offs. So for this trip, the “souvenirs” I came home with were a cold (which hopefully will not last long), a few Daily newsletters from the Viva, about $2 USD worth of Euros (which will probably be used during our next trip), tons of photos (which I hope to start posting soon), and lots and lots of great memories.

[pcrum]

I am loving this review.  We were in Rome in April, 2024, arriving on a TA cruise on the NCL Epic.  We are visiting Rome again in Oct., to take the NCL Epic back home to FL. I'd love a detailed itinerary of your time in Rome.  There is so much to see and although we saw a lot in our 4 day visit in April, we did not hit everything, so are excited to visit again in Oct. 

[pcrum]

So glad to hear you liked the location of your hotel.  We stayed at Spagna Ave (Via dei Due Macelli, 31) in April, but have booked the Barberini Retreat (Via delle Quattro Fontane 171/172) in Oct., which I see is a one-minute walk from your hotel.  In April, we really appreciated being within walking distance of so many of the major sites.  For some reason, Spagna Ave was $100 per night more expensive for an Oct. booking than it was in April, so that is how we ended up with the Barberini Retreat. 

[Travel R]

17 hours ago, pcrum said:

I am loving this review.  We were in Rome in April, 2024, arriving on a TA cruise on the NCL Epic.  We are visiting Rome again in Oct., to take the NCL Epic back home to FL. I'd love a detailed itinerary of your time in Rome.  There is so much to see and although we saw a lot in our 4 day visit in April, we did not hit everything, so are excited to visit again in Oct. 

 

Glad you are enjoying the review!  Rome is such an amazing city, it could take years to really see everything. Even if you only see three churches a day, it would take you almost a year to just visit all the churches in Rome.  Regardless of what I said about the food (although loved it the first time we visited) and Rome not being a beautiful city like Paris or Barcelona, it is one of the most fascinating cities in the world when it comes to history and culture and I will hopefully visit again one day. 

Edited September 14 by Travel R

[Travel R]

17 hours ago, pcrum said:

So glad to hear you liked the location of your hotel.  We stayed at Spagna Ave (Via dei Due Macelli, 31) in April, but have booked the Barberini Retreat (Via delle Quattro Fontane 171/172) in Oct., which I see is a one-minute walk from your hotel.  In April, we really appreciated being within walking distance of so many of the major sites.  For some reason, Spagna Ave was $100 per night more expensive for an Oct. booking than it was in April, so that is how we ended up with the Barberini Retreat. 

 

Can't go wrong staying in this area - heard good things about the Barberini Retreat (I think our friend's family had stayed there last year). [Piazza Barbarini and the Triton Fountain were also a perfect location for me to begin my introduction to the Italian Renaissance to my travel party.] We stayed in this location last time and walked everywhere (I think the only transportation we took at the time were the car service from the airport and to the port). This time we also walked a lot (especially in the morning), but needed to use cabs/Uber a few time due to the unbearable heat.  As I had mentioned, I would rather go with our friends to Rome in the heat of summer than not go at all, but when we return to Europe (likely in 2 years), it will be in the Spring or Fall.

[Travel R]

3. Pompeii

 

Another of my bucket list items was crossed off this day, a visit to the unburied ancient city of Pompeii.

 

It was about 30-45 minutes to go back north to arrive at the archeological site (we saw Mt. Vesuvius on the ride down; now I am wondering if I ever told my group the story about Vesuvius and Spartacus – something for you to look up).  At the entrance we were handed over to another official guide that was an archeologist.

 

The guide was pretty good, but only kept to the basic information. I did know more, but wanted to hear facts and history I did not know before. In fact, like most of these sites, I had already taken video tours, and already seen many of these places virtually. However, visiting them in person is a whole new feeling/experience.  But I always want to know more.

 

The site, if you have never been, is massive and in the 1.5 hours we had, we only saw a part of it (there were new mosaics recently uncovered that I would have loved to see, but the tour did not take us to that section).  We did see all of the major sites like the theater and as someone that studies ancient civilizations, this was just amazing. The Colosseum was fantastic, but that was one structure, this is an entire town . . . . unbelievable.  I could probably spend a day or two (or more) just exploring this site. However, it was extremely hot and humid, so another visit would have to occur when it is cooler.

 

Fact: Like the chili peppers, another curio that we began seeing here at Pompeii, Positano, and the Rest Stop (and in almost ever city and port thereafter) were penises, usually painted with the name of the city or country or tourist spots. Sometimes as bottle openers, or fly swatters, or a host of other things.  One can make a connection with the ancient phallic symbols in Pompeii (in/near brothels), but when we started seeing them being sold in Turkey, Croatia, and Greece, one has to scratch one’s head.

 

Note: Throughout Rome and many of the cities we visited there were many feral cats and dogs.  Although there are many cats, the dogs are usually neutered and tagged by some of the local governments to help track them.

 

Suggestion: Before going to Pompeii, learn a little about the city’s history, the catastrophe (eruption of Mt. Vesuvius), and the excavation of the site.  There are several good documentaries on the History Channel and a few that can be found online.  Our guide provided a good basic understanding of life in the town at the time of it’s destruction, but did not explain (IMHO) sufficiently how or why it was buried in the manner it was. Also note that for additional viewing of items found during the excavations (if you have time), visit the Pompeii Antiquarium and the Archaeological Museum of Naples – we unfortunately did not visit either. In a similar vein, there is what is called a “sister” city to Pompeii that was buried during the same eruption in a nearby site of Herculaneum.  For me, all of these are “next time” and “gotta do” things to do.

 

The Tour Guide had a deal with a local pizzeria near the site and people on the bus could pre-order a pizza (and sodas) for after the tour. Although myself and DW did not, many people did (they thought is was okay).  Outside the site’s entrance there were multiple little shops with more trinkets and souvenirs, and we walked around a little bit. 

 

Tip: There is a bathroom and cold water just as you first enter the site. I did not see any WCs while walking around the ruins, and only one place to fill up your water containers. So recommended to do your business and fill up your water here before beginning your walk/tour.

 

After the tour we hopped back on the bus, and there was one more stop at the original Rest Stop we had visited earlier in the day.  Note that most of the sandwiches and pastries were sold, but snacks, souvenirs, and other items are aplenty.   Of course, you can use the facilities before the last leg of the bus journey back to Rome.

Edited September 14 by Travel R

[Travel R]

4. Dinner After a Looooooong Day

 

We found a taxi stand after a little while nearby (it is across from the McDonalds, near Piazza Popolo) and took the cab to a pasta place for dinner.   We were hot, tired, and hungry (but not too hungry for McDonalds).

 

We all had some type of pasta.  I do not remember the name of restaurant (sorry). There was a pasta with Bolognese sauce on the menu.  I told the waiter that I was allergic to cheese and he said that the dish had cheese in it. [I thought to myself, it is a meat dish, why does it have cheese.] I then asked if it could be made without cheese, he said no.  I asked about removing cheese from another dish, and he said no. I asked what did not have cheese, and he pointed to pasta w/ seafood dishes.  [Note: It is considered improper to add cheese to seafood dishes in Italy, so I know that they are generally safe for me.] So, guess what I had? 

 

Opinion: The dish was okay, and as the story continues, not exceptional and far from inspiring. The dish consisted of assorted broiled seafood atop spaghetti in a light oil and garlic sauce. It is a classic and basic dish that was prepared well.  However, this is a dish I have been making every few weeks in my own home (or variations thereof), and I make it better – or should I say, I like the way I make it better.  If I were to make this dish, I would have added more garlic (extra garlic may be an American thing, but I like garlic), I would have also added a little hint of basil and black pepper to the sauce. Lastly, I would usually dice up (or mince) additional seafood and mix it into the pasta so that when you take a bite of the pasta you are always experiencing a savor of the seafood in each bite. [Some may argue that each seafood should be experienced individually, to that I say “hooey.”]  The last ingredient would probably not be added in such a venue, since there would not be cost effective.

 

Don’t worry, going forward I am not going to reconstruct how I would prepare and cook each dish.  I enjoy writing about food and have written a number of articles on the subject, but this is not the proper setting. If I write a dish was good, it means that it was prepared well and I enjoyed it. It does not mean it was spectacular nor “inspiring.”  A “good” dish may have also been prepared well, but I just did not care for the taste (taste, as stated, is subjective).

 

My DW and friends’ dishes, according to them, were also okay (although, the dish my friend really liked with the pig cheeks may have been here and not served the other night – I apologize, I did not put it down in my notes, and have since forgotten).

 

One thing I did put down in my notes is that it was near an Irish bar that was playing a soccer match and many people were yelling when goals were scored or missed.  There was also the unpleasant odor of (rotting) fish in the air.

 

Photo Update: I will be uploading and working on the photos from my camera today and home to get a few up by tomorrow.  For purposes of this review, I will probably post raw photos (no editing) in order to streamline the process and more quickly provide all of you voyeurs something to look at.

 

Coming Up . . . . The Vatican and A Walking Tour of Rome

Edited September 14 by Travel R

[Travel R]

“Disappointment is a sign that you have dared to dream. Don’t let it discourage you; let it fuel your determination to turn your dreams into reality.”

[Tony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within (1991)]

[1bighund]

In Italy for  those seeking a reasonably priced place to stay and something out of the ordinary…consider a convent/monastery stay !  My wife and I stay in them whenever we can.  They are very good for those who need single beds, often with 3-4 beds.  We first booked through monasterystays.com but for our next trip we booked directly

 

No religious requirement to stay there.

Edited September 14 by 1bighund

[Travel R]

21 hours ago, 1bighund said:

In Italy for  those seeking a reasonably priced place to stay and something out of the ordinary…consider a convent/monastery stay !  My wife and I stay in them whenever we can.  They are very good for those who need single beds, often with 3-4 beds.  We first booked through monasterystays.com but for our next trip we booked directly

 

No religious requirement to stay there.

 

Wow, that sounds like a pretty cool experience.  When researching one of the churches for my Walking Tour it mentioned that the attached convent rented rooms for travelers and I was wondering what it would be like.  Thanks for sharing!

[Travel R]

DAY 4: THE LONG TREK: VATICAN AND WALKING TOUR OF ROME

[Travel R]

1. Vatican City . . . . We Almost Missed the Tour !!!!

 

One of the activities I was looking forward to doing was having breakfast in the Vatican. How cool (and solemn) would that be?  However, the Vatican decided that instead of feeding the tour groups, they would open up their own restaurant to increase their profits.  Our tour of the Vatican + Breakfast (through Walks of Italy) was cancelled and replaced with just the tour (at a discount), and we agreed.

 

Tip: You can get tickets to the Vatican yourself without a tour and have breakfast there, if you would like.   Although I could play the part of a Tour Guide through any of the Ancient Roman sites in Rome, hiring a third party has its benefits, like skip the line entry and allowing my voice some rest.  However, in the case of the Vatican, I would not be qualified, especially with the religious aspect (I am not Catholic).  [In hindsight, much of the tour (which concluded prior to entering St. Peters) included a lot of art, which I could have discussed.]

 

The later meeting time allowed us (we believed) to enjoy the breakfast at the hotel. Although we ordered quick items (e.g., cereal and coffee), the service was slow.  Then we asked the concierge to call for a cab and they could not get an answer for at least 15 minutes.  We then tried Uber to no effect, then Uber Black, but it took 12 minutes to get to us.  By the time we arrived at our meeting spot (the cab also dropped us off about 2 blocks from where we had thought we told him) it was a full 15 minutes past our meeting time.  Luckily (and they made it seem like they were doing us a big favor), they let us join the group which was about 5 feet away where the Guide was giving a lecture on the Sistine Chapel (Guides are not allowed to talk within it).

 

We were given headsets and began to listen.  Besides the Guide (Sev) having an American accent, he was very an archeologist and very knowledgeable about all the sites and artifacts within the Vatican compound. I did not detect one mistake and not only cited dates by year, but also sometimes by day (I was impressed), although I do disagree on one of his religious embellishments (I do not think theology was his strong suit). As mentioned in an earlier post, although guides with English as a second language could be very good, I do prefer English-speaking American Guides.

 

After concluding the discussion on Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel we walked about 2 or 3 blocks to the entranceway for tours (it only took about 10 minutes to make our way through).  Once we made our way through, we met in a large anti-chamber where he gave us time to go to the rest room and purchase water (there were vending machines distributing water for 1 Euro coins). [I only saw one more water closet during the tour, and he did not offer us the chance to use it.]

 

The tour and all we saw were fascinating. The knowledgeable guide took us through various courtyards and museums of the Vatican (there are 54 in total).  There were many artifacts on display from ancient Rome and Greece, however the collection is eclectic in that there was no rhyme or reason for where items were placed.  Some of the pieces on display were amazing subconsciously emphasizing the reach of the Vatican and the size of its treasury. The architecture within the Vatican is also wonderful.  The highlights of the day, of course, were the Raphael Rooms, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Cathedral. The Guide took time to explain each to us in detail (Sistine Chapel, as noted, was discussed prior to entry).  Not a major attraction (to some), but the Maps room was of interest. 

 

The Pio Clementtino Museum held some fascinating statues (also make sure you look at the amazing floor), and although our guide did not mention it, at the center of the room is the porphyry basin (the “bathtub”), which is one of the most expensive single items in the Vatican, valued at over $2 Billion USD because of its history and the rarity of stone it is made from.

 

I have waited years to see these sites adorned by the Masters.  The Raphael Room and Sistine Chapel did not disappoint.  Absolutely incredible.  The tour concluded by taking us through a “special” passage to Saint Peters.  We were then allowed to go into Saint Peters ourselves. If you wanted to go to the top there are stairs and an elevator (separate entry fee for both), and you are asked to check your bags. [There is a rest room in this area.]  Although I would highly recommend a Tour Guide for your first perusal through Vatican City, I would more likely come back without a guide for my second visit and wander around a bit more and maybe see some of the other museums that had eluded us during this initial visit.

 

Unfortunately, due to time constraints (Pantheon and lunch reservations) we only spent a few minutes in Saint Peters, it would have been nice to spend more time there – maybe next time.  After our brief visit we began our walk to our next destination (Piazza Navona).

[Travel R]

Tips and Hints for Visiting the Vatican:

 

·       You cannot take photos within the Sistine Chapel (even the secret passageway)

·       Shoulders and knees must be covered in St. Peters (the rest of the Vatican did not require coverings).  My DW brought a light shawl with her. However, if you did not have one, they did provide them for you.  Some people did argue about wearing them – be respectful: shut up, take it, wear it, then discard it after your visit. [I wore pants with zip-off bottoms to be sure.]

·       There is no Air Conditioning in most places, so take water and a fan (neck fans work great).

·       The Pope usually makes an appearance on Wednesdays and can appear anytime between 9 to 10:30.  However, people will start lining up at 7:30 AM (or earlier).

·       The Vatican is closed on Sundays (except for the last Sunday of the month); also be aware that there are additional dates (e.g., holidays) that the Vatican is closed, or may be unexpectedly closed for special occasions.

·       The Vatican is a major religious site, so be respectful and a holy site to over a Billion people around the world.

·       The Vatican is its own sovereign nation (there is a post office if you want to send yourself mail with a Vatican postmark). They also have their own “army,” which is performed by a special unit of the Swiss Guard. [No, the uniforms were not designed by Michelangelo.]

·       There is a separate line to enter St. Peters and you do not need to purchase tickets (a tour does provide a quick entry). If you do go, get there early, since it can get long . . . . very, very long.

·       You cannot ENTER the Vatican’s “Secret” Archives without proper authorization, which is usually only provided to known scholars and even then it is not easy to obtain access. The archives shown in “Angels and Demons” were not filmed in the Vatican, but about a mile away in Biblioteca Angelica, which is located near Piazza Navona. [Tip: You can visit this library, the first public library in Europe (it is spectacular), but visitors are restricted to a limited section.]

·       Perform some research prior to going on the following:

          o   Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel

          o   Raphael and the Raphael Rooms (at least the “School of Athens”)

          o   Building, architecture, and history of St. Peters and the Vatican

          o   Not to sound blasphemous, but for some interesting information, conduct a search on the “dark side of the Vatican.” There are some interesting stories to be sure, and maybe follow-up with Vatican and World War II.

          o   The difference between a Basilica, Cathedral, Church, and Sanctuary (and the origin of the basilica].  FYI – St. Peters is not a Cathedral and the only city to have two Cathedrals is not Rome, but Dublin, Ireland.

 

Disappointments:  I guess the first disappointment (of the day) was missing the beginning of the lecture on Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel. [Really the first was spending the extra $ on Uber Black, but it is what it is.] Although we did pass through a section of the Vatican building that contained artwork, I am not sure if it was the Pinacoteca Vaticana, which holds a Caravaggio. If so, I did not see his work (“Entombment of Christ”), which would have been nice.  The biggest disappointments, however, were not seeing Michelangelo’s Pieta (they did replace it with a copy while it is being fitted with new protective glass) and Bernini’s Baldachin (which is boarded up and you can only see the very top) at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

 

No, the disappointments have not in any way ruined our trip.  The best laid plans of man and mice  . . . . . . there is no such thing as a perfect vacation where there are not at least a few glitches, bumps, and disappointments. It's how you deal with hem that matters.  Being late for the Vatican was a little stressful, but it gave us all a nice adrenaline rush.  I did not expect to see the Caravaggio, and I knew a few weeks before travelling that the Pieta and Baldachin would be sight-unseen. However, it was a nice surprise that they at least had a copy of the Pieta for all to behold (and supposedly cast from the original).  It gives me yet another motive to come back to Rome and visit the Vatican.

Edited Sunday at 05:53 PM by Travel R

[Travel R]

A little bit off topic, but I love history and besides providing the Walking Tour of Rome based on my knowledge of Ancient Rome, I enjoy history and for an event this week at work I led a Walking Tour of Hoboken, NJ. Hoboken is a fascinating town boasting the birthplace of Frank Sinatra and Baseball as well as the home to the very first brewery in the US (long gone) and much more.

 

For those of you coming to NY/NJ for a cruise (especially out of Bayonne / Port Liberty) and looking for someplace different to explore instead of the usual haunts in New York City, may I suggest Hoboken. It is a short ferry ride right across the river from NYC or about 30 minutes from Bayonne by car or taxi.

 

Edited Sunday at 06:09 PM by Travel R

[Panhandle Couple]

One question about the Viva, and maybe you didn't notice with a port intensive cruise.

 

Do they provide the paddles and balls for pickleball?

We have an upcoming TA, with lots of sea days, and would like to play pickleball, but don't want to waste the space and weight bring our own gear.

 

TIA.

[Travel R]

2 hours ago, Panhandle Couple said:

One question about the Viva, and maybe you didn't notice with a port intensive cruise.

 

Do they provide the paddles and balls for pickleball?

We have an upcoming TA, with lots of sea days, and would like to play pickleball, but don't want to waste the space and weight bring our own gear.

 

TIA.

 

Sorry, we did not get a chance to even get up to the sports deck on this cruise. I believe I had read that they do supply the equipment, but I am not certain.  I used to play Paddle Tennis, but never played pickleball, but it looks like fun.