It's Catch Up Time Again

You might be asking where we have been since Livorno.  Well, let me tell you.  On Thursday, were back in Civitavecchia.  Since we were so uninspired by our visit there last week, we chose to stay on board and make it an easy day.  Mission accomplished!

Friday, we were back in Sorrento.  We took an Oceania excursion, The Wines of Pompeii & Neapolitan Cuisine.  The excursion started with a tender ride and then a long ride to the city of Pompeii.  We only drove past the site of the ruins and then through the unimpressive city until we came to the impressive winery, Bosco de' Medici.  I was hoping that Lorenzo il Magnifico would be there, but, alas, he was a no show 😉.  Unlike our last winery visit in Santorini, this was a lovely estate in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius.  We got a little tour before the wine tasting under a grape arbor.

The wines were unique and quite good and accompanied by a cheese plate and pasta.  We bought 2 bottles as a gift for Vitaliy, the head sommelier, since he has been so good to us.  He said he would use them for a tasting of Pompeii wines for his sommelier team.

The drive both ways was scenic and we made a photo stop on the way back.

That evening, as we sailed away and ate dinner, we had good views of the vog from Mt. Vesuvius, the sunset, and eventually the moon rising.

It all added up to a good day.

Saturday was a day at sea during which we were overwhelmed with wine, food and friendship.  It started with a lecture by Samantha Brown who is the host of a PBS travel show.  It was an interesting talk and we're excited that we'll be having dinner with her in a few days.  Then it turned bad with a bingo loss.  Oh well, you can't win them all.  Finally, the wining and dining began.  We attended our third wine lunch of the cruises, the new Gerard Bertrand lunch.  Gerard Bertrand is a biodynamic and organic wine maker from the Languedoc-Rousillon region of southern France.  We enjoyed the wines, which started with a unique rose and ended with a 75 year old dessert wine.  And, of course, the food was amazing.

After that lunch, it was time for a nap before our special evening meal.

What was so special?  We had dinner in the private dining room with not one, but 2 captains.  Captain Pavle Silic, the current captain, and Leo Lujak, who will be taking over for Pavle.  We've sailed with both previously and have developed great relationships with both (particularly Captain Leo).  Captain Leo had not been aware that we would be on board and, when he saw us a couple of nights ago, he was so excited that he even insisted on hugging Linda despite her cold.  He was also excited to see her walking so freely.  It was indeed a very special evening.

Today, Sunday, we were again anchored off of Santorini.  It was an 11:00 am arrival which did away with any thoughts of getting off early and walking up the stairs to Fira.  Instead, we had massages in the morning.  And, it was hot enough and crowded enough (with 3 other cruise ships in) that we decided to not get off of the ship.  Yet another relaxing day.  This should help Linda continue her recovery from that nasty cold.

Tomorrow, we'll be in Rhodes, Greece.

With such wonderful company at our dinner with the Captains, it was easy to adhere to Rule of Civility Number 62:

Speak not of doleful things in a time of mirth or at the table; speak not of melancholy things as death and wounds, and if others mention them change if you can the discourse tell not your dreams, but to your intimate friend.

Peace, blessings, and mirth,

Linda and Larry