We fell in love with Venice.  The ship stayed overnight and we added two nights before boarding.  We used public transportation and then the ship transfer to St. Marks followed by public transport.  Multiple day passes were easy and lower cost way of travelling.  Used a museum pass at Correr Museum that got us into Doge's Palace.  Ducked th pigeons and escaped without being covered in their poop.  Got to the islands in the lagoon and in one long day walked around Burano and Murano.  

Venice

Ship tour by bus to Salerno and then a motor launch up the Amalfi Coast.  Stopped in Amalfi and then with a guide toured Pompeii.  For those who don't want to be challenged by the famous and hairpin turning road the smalled ship up the coast worked for us.  Had read about Pompeii, but seeing it brought home how fragile and precious life is.  

Naples

See my comments about shore excursions/private trips.  All I can say is Rome, Rome, Rome!!!  Though the Vatican Museums were closed and the line too long to get past at St. Peters we saw so much and as a bonus was there in St. Peters Square for all of the post-canonization hoopla.    

Rome (Civitavecchia)

Monday meant most of the museums were closed in Florence.  So instead we took a ship excursion to Tuscan Hill Country.  Most of the day was just beautiful as we past field after field.  The sun was out and the sky blue.  But after a great lunch at a farmhouse served family style we hit torrential wind and rain.  So San Grimagno was just a test of survival. The town lost power so we took shelter in a small cafe to dry off and wait for the bus back to the ship.  

Florence (Livorno)

Ship tour took us to highlights of the city.  La Sagrada Familia though still unfinished reaches out to all.  A testament to one persons vision and imagination.  The tour also took us high above the city to get a great view.  Not enough time for me I would like to come back to see beautiful Barcelona  

Barcelona

Too short a stop, but did get to focus on Monastery and museums in Belem.  Also since this is last space for ports I will also cover the Azorees We took a tour to Crater Lake at the top of a winding road one could see the water filled (blue and green) heart of an old volcano.  

Lisbon

Took in a few ship shows when we weren't too tired from the extensive sightseeing days and even found the time to lose a little in the Casino.With only 1 day in Rome he saved us time and in fact we probably got to see twice as much as a ship tour.

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