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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Rome to Barcelona on Viking Sky - Rome late Dec. 2018 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Rome to Barcelona on Viking Sky - Rome late Dec. 2018

After overcoming a health scare, we were off on another great adventure. We flew overnight to Frankfurt on Lufthansa, then to Rome & spent 2 nights in a wonderful but inexpensive place in the beautiful Trastevere part of Rome. The overnight flight was good; wheelchair/connection service in Frankfurt and the flight to Rome were bad. (The secret is to say you can't walk, not just that you need a wheelchair. Carts and wheelchairs are used, depending on your answer. We waited an hour for a cart.) I loved Trastevere & Rome, but those smokers in Italy - ugh! Just about EVERYONE smokes, all the time, everywhere. But everything looked festive post-Christmas, as Europeans celebrate until Epiphany/Three Kings Day (Jan. 6 this year) and holiday decorations were everywhere. Temps were in the 50's - good for sightseeing. It was 6 hours later than in DC, with sunrise coming around 7 or 8 and darkness 5 or 6. On Dec. 30 we took a train to the port of Civitavecchia to board the Viking Sky. The next day we took a pretty good Viking-included tour to Rome. Then at 6 the ship departed for Naples. We celebrated New Year's Eve on board with music, dancing, drinks, and a balloon drop at midnight. I woke up the next morning and we were approaching the port of Naples in partial darkness. I added another lighthouse sighting to my list. The sunrise was incredible; the city quiet. I spent the morning sightseeing on my own using public transportation & then Howard and I enjoyed a special Viking New Year's Day brunch. Then came an included tour of Naples. It wasn't great, but since little was open, it was adequate. Naples is gritty and dirty, and traffic is horrible. It's also not the safest city in the world - but then neither is Rome. At least I had my new SCOTTeVEST to make me feel safer. But Naples is wonderful for photography, with lots to see and enjoy if you just take its less desirable features in stride.
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Howard went out into Civitavecchia while I toured Rome.  He particularly liked the big Civi market. That evening, we sailed.
Howard went out into Civitavecchia while I toured Rome. He particularly liked the big Civi market. That evening, we sailed.
Fun to be on a ship New Year's Eve.  Viking had 2 parties.  We chose the rock & roll one.
Fun to be on a ship New Year's Eve. Viking had 2 parties. We chose the rock & roll one.
Killing time, waiting until midnight!
Killing time, waiting until midnight!
Balloons came down  at midnight
Balloons came down at midnight
Ruth in the balloons
Ruth in the balloons
Soon there was nothing left but the mess and the memories
Soon there was nothing left but the mess and the memories
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