photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
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.
previous pagepages 1 2 3 4 5 ALL next page
Flew LH to FF, then Rome, trained to Trastevere area. Cabbed to wonderful Hanky Suite (middle bldg).
Flew LH to FF, then Rome, trained to Trastevere area. Cabbed to wonderful Hanky Suite (middle bldg).		 Loved being in Trastevere, and loved exploring at night.
Loved being in Trastevere, and loved exploring at night.		 But there was graffiti everywhere, and everyone smoked - so many people smoked.
But there was graffiti everywhere, and everyone smoked - so many people smoked.		 First dinner in Rome - next to Hanky at Rione 13
First dinner in Rome - next to Hanky at Rione 13		 Santa Maria Basilica - happened onto a Mass
Santa Maria Basilica - happened onto a Mass		 Ceiling was impressive
Ceiling was impressive
Hymns were translated into different languages.
Hymns were translated into different languages. 		Sta Maria Trastevere clocktower
Sta Maria Trastevere clocktower		 View from Hanky Suite 4:30pm as dusk falls
View from Hanky Suite 4:30pm as dusk falls		 Bought tram tickets here, block from Hanky
Bought tram tickets here, block from Hanky		 Trastevere street stars.
Trastevere street stars.		 Trastevere or Rome church center city
Trastevere or Rome church center city
Trastevere street - more
Trastevere street - more		 Hanky was in condo with tiny, old elevator
Hanky was in condo with tiny, old elevator		 Nativity scene in Piazza San Cosimato
Nativity scene in Piazza San Cosimato		 We took a tram 5 minutes & found this view from the Campidoglio
We took a tram 5 minutes & found this view from the Campidoglio		 We found that McDonalds has much more than hamburgers in Italy!
We found that McDonalds has much more than hamburgers in Italy!		 Ruth took the tram later to find Largo di Torre Argentina
Ruth took the tram later to find Largo di Torre Argentina
Rome cats stay here in a sanctuary. Rome has no kill law.
Rome cats stay here in a sanctuary. Rome has no kill law. 		One of the residents
One of the residents		 Sanctuary office is open in afternoons
Sanctuary office is open in afternoons		 Campidoglio
Campidoglio		 One small part of the huge Vittorio Emanuele Monument
One small part of the huge Vittorio Emanuele Monument 		Roadside shrine by tram, across from Ministero Istruzione
Roadside shrine by tram, across from Ministero Istruzione
Twin churches near Vittorio Monument
Twin churches near Vittorio Monument		 Campidoglio's Palazzo Nuovo with clocktower. For view head to right.
Campidoglio's Palazzo Nuovo with clocktower. For view head to right. 		Palazzo Nuovo with headless statue
Palazzo Nuovo with headless statue		 Arch, center city Rome
Arch, center city Rome		 Long, very historic steps up to Aracoeli
Long, very historic steps up to Aracoeli		 Found this amusing, on way up to river
Found this amusing, on way up to river
Ruth took a bus & walked to Gianicolo Hill for this awesome sunset.
Ruth took a bus & walked to Gianicolo Hill for this awesome sunset.		 Gianicolo Hill - at least 9 domes plus Vittoriano
Gianicolo Hill - at least 9 domes plus Vittoriano		 On G hill is this fake lighthouse - present to Rome from Italians living in Argentina
On G hill is this fake lighthouse - present to Rome from Italians living in Argentina		 After 2nd night in Rome, took train to Civitavecchia. Here's Moby Tommy & another ferry.
After 2nd night in Rome, took train to Civitavecchia. Here's Moby Tommy & another ferry.		 Boarded Viking Sky. This fake lighthouse was outside.
Boarded Viking Sky. This fake lighthouse was outside. 		Two sets of reindeer were in & around the ship
Two sets of reindeer were in & around the ship
Gingerbread decorations in living room
Gingerbread decorations in living room		 Next morning awoke to some new decorations. It was New Year's Eve.
Next morning awoke to some new decorations. It was New Year's Eve. 		I took the included tour to/in Rome. Coach stopped in nice store on highway. Slot machines were in use.
I took the included tour to/in Rome. Coach stopped in nice store on highway. Slot machines were in use. 		Viking Sky atrium
Viking Sky atrium		 Coach stopped at Circus Maximus. Coaches not allowed now in center city; glad saw this when we could.
Coach stopped at Circus Maximus. Coaches not allowed now in center city; glad saw this when we could. 		Tour was good; had never seen the Baths of Caracalla before. Snapped pic from coach.
Tour was good; had never seen the Baths of Caracalla before. Snapped pic from coach.
Great tour company, but disliked name.
Great tour company, but disliked name. 		Had free time at St. Peter's Square. I explored quickly.
Had free time at St. Peter's Square. I explored quickly.		 Bridge over Tiber near Vatican.
Bridge over Tiber near Vatican.		 Castel Sant Angelo
Castel Sant Angelo		 Love locks near Vatican - very European
Love locks near Vatican - very European		 Vatican
Vatican
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
previous pagepages 1 2 3 4 5 ALL next page

comment | share
click on thumbnails for full image