Fancy foods on the cruise

Lunch in Florence

We had a good lunch in Hotel Bernini Palace Firenze (Florence). I still cannot forget the desert that I shared with Roseanne who was in the same tour with us. The desert was so delicious. She already ate hers plus her husband’s and shared another one with me. No wonder she gained 11 pounds after she was on board the cruise for 2 weeks.

Barcelona, Spain - Monday, May 04

Before sunrise, Ruby Princess headed toward the cruise terminal. We met at Disembarkation Lounges at 5:45am and transferred to El Prat Airport at 8:00am for the flight 10:00am.
After 13 hours on the plane, we finally got home about 7:00pm. We were very tired for the long fly, but we really enjoyed this cruise vacation and will plan for next cruise trip soon.

Monte Carlo - Sunday, May 3

Although it is less than a square mile in size, Monaco is a sovereign state. But it is that same smallness which lends so much charm to the sun-washed Principality.
Before sunrise we arrived to the beautiful, famous harbor of Monte Carlo.
Ruby Princess was scheduled to anchor off Monte Carlo, France at 7:00am. Unfortunately for safety of the passengers and the vessel, Captain decided to abort the call due to adverse weather condition. Shortly before sunrise Ruby Princess edged her way heading was altered to port towards the final port Barcelona.
Today was our last day of our journey, so we have enough time to pack our baggage. Before our dinner, we placed our baggage outside our stateroom and enjoyed Farewell Variet Showtime at Princess Theater.

Livorno (for Florence & Pisa) Saturday, May 2

Italy’s third-largest seaport, Livorno serves as our gateway to the cities of Florence and Pisa. Livorno conducts a brisk trade in marble and alabaster, as well as artistic products from Florence. The jetty and harbor were rebuilt by Cosimo di Medici in 1571 to replace the port of Pisa, which had become choked with silt. We can still see the old 16th-century fortress and a ring of walls with bastions.
Places of Interest: The Duomo and Baptistery, Pitti Place, Uffizi Museum and Gallery, Museo Dell’opera, Accademia, Piazza Della Signoria, Church of Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Field of Miracles, Tuscan wineries, Lucca, San Gimignano, Volterra and Greve in Chianti………
Climate: The wettest months are March, October and November, and the dry season is April through September. Temperatures average 54 degrees F in the winter and 86 degrees F in the summer.

Pisa

Pisa – Although the city of Pisa seems rather small, it was once the mighty capital of a commercial republic. In the 11th century, Pisa competed with Genoa and Venice for Mediterranean trade, and played an important part in the First Crusade. The well-known buildings in Pisa are gathered around the “Field of Miracles,” the familiar trio of Cathedral, Baptistery and the Campanile of Bell Tower. This Campanile is the world-famous leaning Tower, now inclined 14 feet to one side due to the settling of the subsoil.

Florence

Florence is the jewel of the Renaissance. From the Piazzale Michelangelo there is a splendid panorama of the skyline. It is easy to pick out the pointed tower of the Palazzo vechio, and the Cathedral’s massive dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.





Florence is the jewel of the Renaissance. From the Piazzale Michelangelo there is a splendid panorama of the skyline. It is easy to pick out the pointed tower of the Palazzo vechio, and the Cathedral’s massive dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.

Civitavecchia (for Rome) Friday, May 1

Civitavecchia is our gateway to the Eternal City and has served as Rome’s seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city: the harbor fortifications were designed by Bernini and Michelangelo. Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2000 years. Rome is an inexhaustible feast.
Places of Interest: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, Church of St. Peter’s in Chains, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Piazza Novona, Tuscania, Villa Borghese……………
Climate: The weather in Rome during summer is hot, temperatures often exceeding 95 degrees at midday, and Romans tend to close up their businesses during August to take holidays in cooler spots. Mid-winter is mild, the average temperature in December hovering around 55 degrees. The best time in Rome is in the springtime.
Due to Labor’s Day on May 1st, the Vatican Museums (housing the Sistine Chapel) and Villa Borghese were closed. Some shops/stores were opened in Rome.
The drive between Civitavecchia and Rome is approximately 90 minutes each way, so we did not have enough time to see all the places.