World Tour Part IV

Sunday 26th May 2008 - Rome to Mediterranean

After breakfast we meet our driver Christian who is to take us the 2 hour drive to Civitavecchia. I won't mention the drive there as it is like all our other drives we just look at the scenery and not what's in front of us!!!!

Our huge ship comes into sight - its mammoth! Her gross tonnage is 109000 and length is 951 feet. She carries 2600 passengers and 1150 crew. It is amazing.

There are 3 other cruise ships in the harbour one being the old QE2. She is on her last voyage before being sent to Dubai as a floating hotel. We actually saw her and its sister ship the Queen Victoria in Sydney just before we left. We had no idea that we would see QE2 again.

Before long we are shown to our Stateroom. It is lovely with plenty of room and a lovely balcony. I think now we are really on HOLIDAYS! Our 6:30pm departure goes without any hitches and before long we are enjoying our 'sail away cocktail' Mucho Mango (whatever that is) but it was certainly delicious and after the 2nd one I didn't care where we were sailing to. We arranged to meet Jan and Barrie at 8pm for dinner and true to form it didn't disappoint.

Monday 27th May 2008 - Livorno, Italy

Today Nick was keen to spend the day on the ship so I decided that i'd like to go to Florence. I left at around 10:00am and caught the shuttle bus to the centre of town. From there I was given directions to the train station so I caught a bus there. I found the train station and brought my ticket to Florence. The train was fantastic and comfortable and air conditioned. I enjoyed looking out the window at the lovely little villages, scenery and countryside as the train was wizzing by. After about 2 1/2 hours I arrived in Florence. A beautiful Italian city with many historic buildings.

I left the train and and walked to a nearby information centre and from here I walked for about 40 minutes passing little streets and many shops. It was delightful. I began to get a little concerned as I knew it would take 2 1/2 hours to get back to Livorno and to the ship which was leaving at 5:30pm so I walked back to the train station and luckily a train was leaving at 2:00pm so I caught that train and again, enjoyed the little Tuscan valleys and scenery and small villages along the way.

I was back on board in plenty of time before sailing and was keen to share my days adventure with Nick and the others at dinner that night.