2 days in Rome then a Cruise September 3-10
ROME
We missed the Sistine Chapel when we visited Rome during our "courting" days, so we jumped at the chance to have a few days there before our cruise.
Sistine Chapel
We were warned we might need to queue for ages, but we weren't ready for a 1 mile long queue (see next 4 pictures)!!!
The pope changed the opening hours from 8:30 to 10am, so when we arrived at 9:50a, it hadn't even started moving yet. We got in at 11:20!!! You need to slog thru nearly 1/2 mile worth of museums before you get to the Chapel. But I thought it was all worth it (Lou's not so sure).
Cruise
Bizarrely we didn't recognise that "Costa Victoria" would be an Italian ship. Great food, but we had to suffer through 5 translations of everything!! (Italian, English, French, Spanish and German). At lunch we hardly ever found English speakers to sit with. Great itinerary though a lovely ship. Our first time with a balcony, so Lou was in heaven.
Port1 - Sicily
On the east side, hours from Palermo, we chose the expensive jeep tour to Etna. A frustrating slow convey of 12 jeeps, eventually got us to spectacular views of Etna. It was exciting to hear it degassing. We found out the next day, it erupted 2 hours after we left!!
Port2 - Tunis, Tunisia
A fun trip on our own exploring the old medina & negotiating with cabbies!
Port3 - Gabes, Tunisia
A fascinating trip to the edge of the Sahara for a camel ride. On route we passed Matmata, where troglodytes live in caves. Some Star Wars scenes were filmed near here (nearby is the town of Tatouine!!).
Port4 - Tripoli, Libya
Unfortunately it was Friday (holy day, so most shops were shut). But there was still enuff going on after Louise bailed back to the ship, I took an exciting 140 km/h taxi ride to the ancient Roman site of Sabratha.
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Port5 - Malta
September 8th is Victory Day in Malta, so most shops many sites were shut, but we were treated to boat races right beside the ship. And a fireworks display as we left!
