Well now……..it was a rough night sailing and especially rough come time to anchor.  We were unable to anchor because the winds…..55+knots or 57+ mile per hour were wicked with pretty good sized swells….3 metres or 10 feet high.  It’s a big problem because if we anchor it means we would be tendering.  Not!!!  The ship’s captain attempted to have us dock somewhere else along the coast but as they say, “there was no room at the inn” so onward we proceed, bobbing along.  I have never been seasick in my life but I must admit I am feeling pretty nauseous.

Manarola is first stop on Cinque Terre, Veranazzi is second and  Monterosso is the last stop. 

We go from Livorno that is the port for Florence, (called Firenze in Italian ….on the Arno River) which is in Tuscany to the Cinque Terre which is in the Liguria.  

We passed by Camp Darvy,  a US military base near Livorno…..I never knew they had bases here.  The Medicis built a canal that connects Florence/Livorno to Pisa.  Pisa was originally on the coast but now is quite far inland.  In 1174 it completed.  It had been worked on by 3 different architects over a period of 200 years.

There is a huge marble industry  in this area that we travelled through.  You can see where they have quarried in the mountainsides…….the whole mountain is being cut away block by block. 

 La Spezia is a major naval base and port.

Cinque Terre means 5 villages or lands. Developed in Middle Ages ….1400s.  There 7000 kms of dry wall terraces, as long or longer than the Great Wall of China.  It is preserved as a world heritage centre.

All this info was on the ride there.  

As we are leaving La Spezia it is poring rain.  We are all hoping that it will clear before we get to the Manarola, the first village but it is just torrential. I so loved these villages and told everyone about it.  When we arrived we found no one could look around, take pictures and enjoy it.  We were all so soaked to the bone.  It was just miserable.  We never got to look around that first village.  Our guide made the decision to go take the ferry immediately.  We never got to visit the next one, Riomaggiore (I had visited previously) but went on to get off at Veranazzi.  When we got off the ferry(?), our guide was no where to be found.  What we found out later was that there were 4 passengers plus herself that were left behind because they were fully loaded.  This ferry incidentally carried 350-400 foot passengers.  I would never have guessed it but they just kept packing them on.  I am sure that there weren’t enough life jackets….maybe enough for 75.  When we arrived in Veranazzi atleast it had stopped raining but oh my were we cold.  When you are cold you feel miserable and can’t enjoy the town.  We stopped and had lunch….a great pepperoni pizza…..delicious and a salad with tomatoes and mozzarella …..yum!!!  Just as we were finishing, we found the guide and we were back in lineup for the ferry to the next town, Monterosso.  It was a lovely village but with cranky shop keepers.  That was the stop that we were to have lunch but we had had already.  Oh well!  I think the day was a bust.  All we wanted to do was get back to the ship and have a hot bath.  So disappointing for me.  On the previous visit to Cinque Terre, we walked through a tunnel to get to another town and also walked the “Walk of Love”.  The Walk of Love was a seaside walk along the cliffs where lovers had placed locks and notes proffessing their love.  Unfortunately that area was washed out the month after I was here in 2011 and still remains closed. I am so glad I Thad got to see it.  

Having been to Rome twice before so when there was a mess up with meeting our vans that were to take us into the city….a drive of around an hour and 15 min. each way, I chose to stay back.  I just went back to the ship to have a relaxing day doing not much of anything.  It was a must needed break.  Linda and 20+ others did go in.  They did Rome in 3 hours or less.  Too fast for this “cripple”.

It was a terrible rip off if you ask me.  There were supposed to be 5 vans to meet us……36 people.  Here we all are standing around in a group, no one saw any sign with “Pamela” written on it.  We then thought maybe they were at the entrance to the port so took the shuttle to the entrance.  We then hung around and waited.   Nothing.   We were to meet these vans at 7:45 with all leaving at 8 and now it is around 10:30.  Finally we got communication that they were at the pier waiting for us but would come to the entrance.  When they arrived there were only 3 vans.  They had sent 2 away so of course not all could ride in.  That’s when I chose not to go.  I also knew that the amount of time that we were to be in Rome was pushing it so to have it reduced a further 3 hours was going to be crazy.

Portofino is on the Bay of Liguria….is our first stop after leaving Rome where we left some of our passengers and picked up a new group.

Our tour us a boat tour of the Italian Riviera Out of Portofino.

Since 1933 Portifino and the coastline has been a regional park…a protected area. Another ruggedly beautiful coastline……with next to no houses.

 First stop was a beautiful bay with a monastery ….a two hour walk away from Portofino or the other closest town, San Roche. There are no roads. It is a very hard walk up the mountain, along the top and over. The monastery was built in 12th century. In the winter there are only three people living there because of the difficulty of getting I and out.

Camoglia is the next town.  It’s on the Bay of Paradise. Called the 1000 sailings.  There used to be 580 boats …..lmore than Hamburg, Germany

The houses are very tall and brightly coloured….the reasons are that it is less expensive because it is such a mountainous area and painted so the men, fisherman or sailors could recognized their homes from the sea as they were passing by.

Portofino is gorgeous as is Camoglia.  I would love to return to this area again.

As mentioned in the previous post, we docked in Naples as opposed to anchoring off Sorrento.  The reason being inclement weather…..which only occured during the night.  The day was beautiful and sunny, an absolutely gorgeous day.  It was perfect for visiting and viewing this spectacular coast of Italy.  Because we arrived in Naples instead of Sorrento, it was further to go so it looked like we not going be able to visit Positano, the one place I really wanted to see.  My friend Judie and husband Iain had stayed there for a week a couple of years ago and raved about it.  So you can imagine I was disappointed but, as it turned out, for an extra 7€ and cutting short our visit in Sorrento, we all got to see it.  Oh, it was well worth it.  Breathtaking scenery.  I had taken a boat ride along the Amalfi Coast from Salerno to Amalfi back in 2011.  That was oh so beautiful too but this, with a different point of view, driving along steep cliffs with hairpin turns on extremely narrow roads was, I would say, much more spectacular.  Apparently there are 24 plus lookout huts built along the cliffs to keep an eye out for pirates and such.  We did get to shop and look around Sorrento so it was a power shop for many.  Some bought leather jackets and purses and some linen clothing.  From there it was to the Lemon farm where Pam and Janie had stayed at a couple of years ago.  It was in a lovely location not far from Sorrento.  We were fed fresh homemade bread, mozzarella cheese, salami and proscruito.  And then came the limoncello in 3 different forms.  Oh my, there were some very happy people.  What a fabulous day we had!

I did not have a tour today so myself, Pam, Heather and the two Shellys hired a taxi to go to and from (with a 3 hour stay), Taormina.  Cost 200€ for the 5 of us.  I was here last year.   It is a absolutely beautiful town built on a hilltop like so many others in Italy.  This one is extra special though.  They were built on the tops of hill for protection.  It is just that more difficult to attack a place if that place is above you.  The first place that I wanted to see was the amphitheatre that I had heard was fully intact.  Last time no one had told me about it (and I hadn’t read any notes on it) until we were almost ready to catch the bus.  Well I got to see it this time.  Unfortunately, I had seen one in Alanya, Turkey that had marble seats built all the way to the top.  The stairs were rock too.  Not this one.  I would say that the rusted metal frames and cement steps were not from the 3rd century BC (Greek) to 2nd century AD (Roman).  What I will give credit to is the breathtaking views from it of Taormina and the Sicilian hillside.  Wow!!!  Again Taormina is one place that I would recommend to anyone …..to visit this lovely, lovely city on the hill.

Before leaving the ship, there was an announcement that they were expecting rain here today.  The cruise director also joked that if you take an umbrella that the pattern is tha it won’t rain.  I took my umbrella.  Just as we were getting into the cab to return to our ship, the skies opened up.  It absolutely poured buckets.  Then as we got back to port, it had stopped.  The timing was perfect.

Apparently they are expecting rough seas tonight so will not be dropping anchor in Sorrento but will be tying up in Naples. I wonder how that is going to affect our private tour tomorrow???

Paleokastritsa  and Caves Expedition.  Our tour will be about 4 hours. 

Marilyn and Diane are with me today.  Linda went to the Palaces of Corfu.

 There are two ships in port today…..us, the OceaniaRiviera and Costa Riviera….same names. What are the chances of that???  Greece is 51,000 sq. miles.  Corfu is the 5th largest island in the Med.   It is the most northerly and westerly of the Greek Islands. It is very well treed, unlike most of Greece that is barren…roads are not wide but well cared for.

80% of  Greece is covered by mountains.  Greece has the longest coastline in the world   1500 islands but only 400 are inhabited. Corfu is 60 by 40 kms.  We go from sea level to Bellavista …the mountain being 3000 ft high.  We drove through the village of Lakones….where there is the traffic light (I remember that from last time) cuz the street is max 3 metres wide and wanders….not in a straight line.  OMG!  You have to give these drivers credit let me tell you.

Oozo is  40% alcohol or 80 proof.   

The strait that seperates Corfu and Albania is only 1 nautical mile at its narrowest point….where a lot of people escaped the communist regime of Albania.

That concludes your geography leason for the day.  There was a great deal mentioned but it becomes a little tedious and difficult when you are trying to take pictures, enjoy the places you are visiting not to mention if you want to visit with your seat mate.

First we drove through Corfutown…..clean, neat and seemingly well cared for.  From there we went to the  6 bays of Paleokastritsa.  It is in the shape of a cloverleaf.  We explored the rugged shoreline by boat including sailing into some of these caves.   They are not very deep but very beautiful. There were lots little fish in the clear turquoise water.  After coming back to where we caught the boat, we had about 40 minutes of swimming in the clearest water you can ever imagine….so unlike our waters at home.  Then back onto the bus to drive up the mountain….switchbacks galore on this humongous bus which was almost running out of room on the corners before turning.  We arrived at the Bellavista for absolutely spectacular views of the bays of Paleokastritsa from where we had just come…..and Greek snacks and a choice of wines or oozo……  It is a wonderful place to visit.  I probably said the same thing the last time I was here in 2011.  I would love to come back here and stay for an extended period.  Yes I would recommend it.

This day was for me and a another few gals, was a relaxing day just wandering “the”street in this little town that is the port for the ancient location of Olympia.  Amazing that this extremely small town, had a dock (we were the only ship) whereas, Santorini that had 5 ships in port, did not.  We all had to anchor and tender in there…..not that it was a slow process.

I’m telling you I did nothing….no shopping at all cuz when I went to purchase something, I realized for the second day in a row, I had forgotten my money.  We did stop at a restaurant where the owner ran out to greet us implying that we were old friends that had finally returned to Katakalon).  I did manage to borrow a few €uros.  We had olives (which I dislike immensely), feta cheese (bread too) and Oozo, that liquorice tasting alcohol that is apparently wine flavoured with anise.  My……it is waaaay stronger than any wine I have ever tasted.

It is quite a long stay before leaving……until 7.  We only have to go as far as Corfu.  Not all that far.

I just thought I’d check the conversion of knots to kilometres per hour after I just read this morning that the winds yesterday were 90 km/hour.  I remember being told when we were on the ship, I think it was after leaving Hong Kong, that the winds were 60 knots/ hour.   That translates to 111 kms/hour.  No wonder it was really, really rough. 

This day, Tuesday October 4th, Linda and I had wanted to go on an excursion “Santorini by boat” but unfortunately it was already full way back when and so as an alternative we decided to go for “Volcanic Santorini”. I was apprehensive that either one of us could do it because everthing indicated that it was only for the very fit.  But……if you know anything about me, you know I will try with everything not to give in.  Well……both of us made it to the top and back.  Yeah for us!  We were huffing and puffing, sweat was dripping off my face and into my eyes.  Coming back down was equally  as difficult for me atleast…..because of knee issues.  It was an endurance test for sure.  I am so glad I had my walking poles.  There were three calderas to this island of Nea Kameni or “new burn” in English.  The last still being active with sulphur smoke escaping out of the cracks.  In this area there are hundred of “statues” created by tourists out of the rocks (which are plentiful).  Also in several areas, there were scientific gauges and whatnot so that they can determine when the next eruption will occur.  It was totally barren ….absolutely nothing for anything to exist on.  I think our guide said only rats, lizards, snakes and a few rabbits survive there because there is no water only that that is created by the humidity deposited under or between the cracks in rocks. It is an ugly environment…….the view though is quite spectacular.  

Also part of the tour was to stop near the “old burn” island as opposed to the new burn where one old hermit lives with his goats, to swim I n the sulphur pool.  I don’t think any of us realized that we had to either dive or climb down by ladder and then swim 50 metres to get to it.  Only three of us….all women chose to swim to it.  Again, I made it.  Yeah!

After we returned to the old port of Thira, we had a choice of riding up  to Fira the town via the trail by donkey (We looked at those poor animals and said no way),walk up this trail or we could take the cable cars.  We took the cable cars.  As we were getting off we realized that that was a mistake to venture there.  The lineup was horrendously long.  Upon seeing that we just couldn’t relax enough to really look around and/or shop.  We had something to eat…a smallish pizza that left a lot to be desired that we shared, an ice tea and Smirnoff Ice.  The bill…32€ or about $45+.  We then got in line to get back on the cable cars…….a ninety minute wait.  If there are many ships in port….(there were 5, most being bigger than us.  Probably with an excess of 10,000 passengers), I would advise against going up.  I would say never again.  I had been here before….in 2011.  It didn’t impress me this time as it did my first time.  I don’t need to come here again.