WOW a million times wow! 9-26-14 on the Reflection

[jamona2311]

 

First century AD fast food stand. Served up hot in what now looks like flower pots, hha.

Not sure if you can read the writing on the wall to the right of the door, but this is a politician house and hes advertising himself. Kinda like billboard style.

Hey theres Travis! Thanks for organizing a wonderful day Travis!!

The house of someone wealthy. We were able to see a lot of it. Wow the frescos are amazing.

Outside courtyard of the same house.

[jamona2311]

A personal bath house??? Um yeah you got $$$

Bones. Not left over from the eruption. More likely from trying to find pompeii

Ruins found under the ruins of Pompeii

The mill for bread. But watch out for the little rocks that came off from the mill into the flour. Caused a lot of damage to the teeth we were told! eek

A water fountain that still works!

Oh and theres Sofi (Travis wife) walking into a house.

[jamona2311]

Oops my bad! hha I guess Sofi was walking into the bath houses. Look at the detail on the ceilings, still there after all this time and still so beautiful.

 

 

This always gets to me. They had no time!

 

 

 

Watcha looking for??? This will point the way......which means the next post will have some interesting pictures so just so you know if the minis are around....

[jamona2311]

And there it is! Notice all the chain link fences blocking the way. So much to see not available to us anymore..waaahhhhh

A menu of sorts....

 

A "blurry oops" bed of stone. Guess it meant they didnt want their guests to get too comfortable and hang around too long, hha.

 

The stairs across the street leading to what used to be an apartment building.

[jamona2311]

I know I know, its a lot of pictures but it was my most WOW visit of the trip. I promise Im almost finished here. Thanks for putting up with it, hha.

 

Me int the corner. I was really there!!!!

 

Our tour with Manuel was 2 hours but it all went by sooo fast it felt like 2 minutes. I wanted to stay and see and touch more! I knew there was more to be seen. Ive seen it in others pictures.

Now I understood why Cruisemom 42 says you could spend a whole day there. I know I certainly could have! I did see a lot of gates up everywhere. Is a lot of it closed off now???? I read somewhere that Pompeii is in terrible shape and falling apart because there is no money to take care of it, or they are just not making it a priority??? If this is true, I am heartbroken. I have to come back. I have to bring my daughter, Thea, who shares my excitement of anything Pompeii.

Regretfully we left as it was time to head back to the ship. I got a cute picture of Tony and we said goodbye.

[jamona2311]

Back on the Reflection, it was time to see the damage I did to my on board account.....hmmmm not bad. Its amazing what you dont spend when you have a drink package and a little on board credit. I was actully taking money home with me, which is a first!hehe

After a bit of balcony time with mom, we got ready for dinner and headed to our final dinner/ Speciality dinner of the cruise at Qsine. Oooooh this one I was really looking forward to. Everything looked so fun! From the food, to the funny glasses to the style of the restaurant its self.

When we walked in, one of the waiters escorted my mom ( as if she were royalty) to "the Queens Chair", hmmm whatever that meant lol. No, it was very nice and she loved the attention, Im just jealous cause what did that make me?? Certainly not the princess as I was forgotten in all of this attention to mom. Hha thats ok. I loved seeing her enjoy the special treatment.

Ordering on the iPad was fun but mom and I picked a lot of things. Our waitress said she would surprise us with some of moms choices and some of mine and some we chose the same. Ok, good idea. Too much food!!!!!! lol mom gave up after Ms Favorite and I was on my own to try the Painters Mingon. All together we had :

They started us off with some wonderful bread

A very good allbeit very blurry Lava Crab

Fried goat cheese salad. Also good

Tresveches was also good.

Sushi Lolipops. Mom had one but shes not big on sushi. I tried them all, I loooove sushi.

Spring rolls and slaw. Not our favorite. It was kinda dry and certainly not what I usually love about spring rolls.

[jamona2311]

I think this is called M's Favorite. It was fun and very good. Probably our favorite of the night. See all the little ceramic dishes. glasses, buckets, mini dutchoven and lots of other fun ways to present food? These were all filled with different Mediteranean type foods. Hummus, olives, spanikopita, so many things I just cant even remember them, but it was all good.

Painters mignon. I was on my own to try this as mom was saving herself for dessert. I nibbled on it just to try all the sauces and it was ok.

Even my coffee looks cool!

Moms dessert. Can anyone remember the name? I cant.

My dessert was listed as some kinda surprise. Since nothing else appealed to me I thought Id take a chance. I wasnt dissapointed, this was nummy!!

It was fun to get what we got, although the food wasnt the best. I was still happy that we tried it because for a least one time its a good expierence.Plus the staff was a lot of fun and the service was great!

Too tired to go out much I again sulk back to the room defeated by my age and exhaustion. Oh well, cant hurt to get a good nights sleep for the long journey home. Oooooh I hope there arent any more strikes going on!

[jamona2311]

Monday, October 6 Time to go home...well at least to Minneapolis

We woke up already in Civi. If it wasnt the end of our journey, I would be happy to be in Rome again. As it was, we wouldnt even see it as all we were doing was heading to the air port.

Good morning Civi

A Princess cruise ship in port with us.

 

Mom and I actually had breakfast together in OVC today and we were out of our room by 7:45.

Our group ( arranged by Travis and Sofi) was to meet by the Passport bar at 9. We had a 12:55 flight and this worked out good for us.

Soon enuf we were off of the ship and collecting our luggage. We all found our stuff very easily ( although they managed to break a wheel off of my brand new 4 wheel suit case) and we were on our way.

As we were leaving I was once again reminded of our wonderful community of CC friends as we saw them waiting for cabs or whatever and saying goodbye to all of them as we passed.

Our ride to FCO was bittersweet as we all chatted about our wonderful vacation and the memories we had made. I would truely miss all of the wonderful people we met. I adored every one of you. :D And I hope you are all doing well and settled in back home. Flufflypants, are you home yet? hha.

 

As far as our flights, everything went well other than arriving at Shipnol airport late we made our connecting flight just fine, in less than an hour. Although their security was determinded to find all that was electronic in my 2 carryons. Since I just thew it all together this was a pain in the butt to try to find everything for them. I think they put my bag through 5 times before they were satisfied. Just saying, if your ever at the Amsterdam airport. So wierd.

 

KLM had wonderful service and such a nice snack for such a short flight.

A yummy dutch cheese sandwich on some whole grain bread, plus cookies! Not bad for a 2 hour flight.

Flying over the Alps.

[jamona2311]

Delta was our flight from Amsterdam to Minnepolis and it was much more comfortable than Alitalia. We breezed though everything once we landed in MSP. I could have brought back a ton of wine and they could have cared less. We were welcomed back into the United States and that was that.

Curry chicken on a Delta flight.....not bad!

A warm sandwich and some gelato

17 days and it was over already?!?! How did this happen?

I savored every moment. I touched so many wonderful things and ate so much great food and consumed so much wine. I listened to all of the stories and history about everything and took over 3 thousand pictures and now it was over. I felt like I had finally become one with my ancestors and now I had to go back home and just be Gena, in a small farm town in the middle of SW Wisconsin. No amazing Greek food, no pink flowers flowing from everywhere you look, no ruins or beautiful coast lines. No Gratzi or Parakalo.

I am coming back more Greek and Italian than ever. I will try to keep all of this with me in my regular life. I know how to make Pastitiso. I can hunt down some Sicilian wine. I can read this trip report over and over again and relive the wonderful 17 days I had in Europe this Fall.

Thank you mom! I cant express enough how lucky and greatfull I feel to have had this expierence with you as we traveled back to our roots. xoxo

[Carnival Queen]

Browsing through your review and pics while at work - amazing!! Looking into Mediterranean cruise in 2016 - thinking probably May (as opposed to October). Like the 11 or 12 day itineraries, but having trouble deciding between the Greek Islands or Croatia and Malta . . . Rome and Venice and more of Italy are a given, but the other choices are the hard part!!

 

Seems from a quick review that you did mostly specialty restaurants? Wondering how the main dining room food was if you went at all. Also saw a mention of your comparison of Celebrity vs. Carnival - but never saw any more detail. We're seasoned Carnival cruisers, but are looking at Celebrity (or possibly RCCL) for this one - would love to hear your comparisons ;)

 

Would love any advice/input/suggestions you may have. Like the itineraries that start in Venice, Rome or Barcelona and end up in another. Then would probably do a couple of days before the cruise like you did.

 

Thanks again, and great review!!

[jamona2311]

And thats the end. :(

I hope you had a much fun reading it as I had putting it together.

Was it helpful? I hope so. Ask away if you have any questions! Id love to try to answer them. :D

Hmmmm What to do now???? Trip report over. No trips on the horizion. Im not sure what Ill do with myself. Maybe Ill have to start watching episodes of Walking Dead or something like everyone else does.....sigh...Id rather be planning a cruise vacation.

You can bet that when I do Ill be back! :D

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and a spectacular New Year!!!

~hugs~ Gena

[thon]

What a great trip report. Loved it!! We'll be taking our very first cruise soon on Reflection so I was particularly interested in all you had to say about the ship and your pics. Once again thanks.

[berkyvdr]

Enjoyed reading your review of your trip on the Reflection, same one we were on. We have so many of the same pictures and memories and reading your review allowed me to enjoy it again! Your observational skills are amazing and I loved all your comments.

 

And yes, having not climbed Vesuvius twice, I guess it just means we have to return to Italy but . . . other trips to go on first!

 

Merry Christmas to you and your mom and the rest of our cc friends!

 

Marianne

[amyscruising]

Thanks for taking me back. It was a trip I will never forget. I do not think we met but we toured with a few of the same people at some of our stops. Great photos! Safe travels where ever your next adventure takes you.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[General Max]

Enjoyed seeing many of the places we visited from a different perspective.

[jamona2311]

Enjoyed reading your review of your trip on the Reflection, same one we were on. We have so many of the same pictures and memories and reading your review allowed me to enjoy it again! Your observational skills are amazing and I loved all your comments.

 

And yes, having not climbed Vesuvius twice, I guess it just means we have to return to Italy but . . . other trips to go on first!

 

Merry Christmas to you and your mom and the rest of our cc friends!

 

Marianne

 

Hi Marianne!

So glad you stoped by to read the review! Yeah I just couldnt believe that mt Vesuvius was closed to you again! I wish you luck getting there on your next trip to Italy. Maybe Ill see you then too as I plan on spending more time ( probably on my own) in Pompeii. Having a guide was great but I want more than two hours!! :D

We had an amazing Christmas. Hope you did too :D

Gena

[jamona2311]

What a great trip report. Loved it!! We'll be taking our very first cruise soon on Reflection so I was particularly interested in all you had to say about the ship and your pics. Once again thanks.

 

Happy to hear you like it. :D The ship is amazing. Not possible to be dissapointed. hha. sure wish I was you right now ;). Youll have to let us know how you liked your first cruise but be warned its ADDICTING!!!!!!:D:eek:

[jamona2311]

Thanks for taking me back. It was a trip I will never forget. I do not think we met but we toured with a few of the same people at some of our stops. Great photos! Safe travels where ever your next adventure takes you.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

 

Thanks for reading! Its not hard to take good pictures on a trip like this, thats for sure!! :D Im sure you know what I mean.

To bad we really didnt get to meet. I think there should be roll call reunions! hha! That way we can all share our common and personal perspectives on the same journey.

 

Happy sailing

 

Gena

[jamona2311]

Enjoyed seeing many of the places we visited from a different perspective.

 

Hi General Max

Glad you enjoyed the review. I would love to see also what someone else would have to say about the same trip. Maybe you can do a review too?? hhe ;)

Gena

[jamona2311]

Browsing through your review and pics while at work - amazing!! Looking into Mediterranean cruise in 2016 - thinking probably May (as opposed to October). Like the 11 or 12 day itineraries, but having trouble deciding between the Greek Islands or Croatia and Malta . . . Rome and Venice and more of Italy are a given, but the other choices are the hard part!!

 

Seems from a quick review that you did mostly specialty restaurants? Wondering how the main dining room food was if you went at all. Also saw a mention of your comparison of Celebrity vs. Carnival - but never saw any more detail. We're seasoned Carnival cruisers, but are looking at Celebrity (or possibly RCCL) for this one - would love to hear your comparisons ;)

 

Would love any advice/input/suggestions you may have. Like the itineraries that start in Venice, Rome or Barcelona and end up in another. Then would probably do a couple of days before the cruise like you did.

 

Thanks again, and great review!!

 

Oh wow just found this post in the middle of my crazy last day of posting the review! Sorry bout that!:o

I did say I would do some comparisons but I never really wrote anything down when I was composing the review back in October-November.

Lets see here.....In the end I love them both. They are two very different kinds of crusing ( I think) one not better than the other, just different. There are definatly things that carnival does better, Like fun, entertaining, hillarious things to do on sea days. There was a lot about Carnival evening entertainment that I liked better too, although the arialists and stuff like that on Celebrity were very entertaining.

I did think Celebritys evening music numbers were kind of a snoozer.

Celebritys main dining room was decent and the waiters very attentive, I really did miss Carnival Chocolate Melting cake. Even Lawn Club Grilles Warm Chocolate Chip cookie, doesnt even come close. hhe. I think the food in the Main dining room was hit or miss but it can be on Carnival as well. And I didnt catch any waiters dancing on Celebrity :( :D. Hey I like it. Its fun!

Celebrity wins by a mile on ship decor to me. I do think Carnival is getting there cuz I thought the Sunshine was lovely.

I loved our room. The bathroom was great, the bed was great, the balcony...omg!! But our steward was blah. I missed towel animals a lot.

Overall I think Carnival is great at Carribbean cruises and the fun party atmosphere that comes with that kind of cruise and Celebrity was perfect for what I ( at least) would want for a European cruise. I myself was in a whole different place on this cruise and it was a perfect fit that way.

That is just a few things off the top of my head. If you have any specific things in mind that youre wondering about please let me know and I will try to answer.

:) Gena

[jamona2311]

Oh I also want to say if you can find a cruise beginning or ending in Venice grab it. I heard its an amazing expierence, one that isnt going to be available for long Im afraid.

Do spend some time before or after if you can. Theres soooo much information on CC to help you do this and you will enjoy your time much more. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about that part of the trip too. :D

[Carnival Queen]

Oh wow just found this post in the middle of my crazy last day of posting the review! Sorry bout that!:o

 

I did say I would do some comparisons but I never really wrote anything down when I was composing the review back in October-November.

 

Lets see here.....In the end I love them both. They are two very different kinds of crusing ( I think) one not better than the other, just different. There are definatly things that carnival does better, Like fun, entertaining, hillarious things to do on sea days. There was a lot about Carnival evening entertainment that I liked better too, although the arialists and stuff like that on Celebrity were very entertaining.

 

I did think Celebritys evening music numbers were kind of a snoozer.

 

Celebritys main dining room was decent and the waiters very attentive, I really did miss Carnival Chocolate Melting cake. Even Lawn Club Grilles Warm Chocolate Chip cookie, doesnt even come close. hhe. I think the food in the Main dining room was hit or miss but it can be on Carnival as well. And I didnt catch any waiters dancing on Celebrity :( :D. Hey I like it. Its fun!

 

Celebrity wins by a mile on ship decor to me. I do think Carnival is getting there cuz I thought the Sunshine was lovely.

 

I loved our room. The bathroom was great, the bed was great, the balcony...omg!! But our steward was blah. I missed towel animals a lot.

 

Overall I think Carnival is great at Carribbean cruises and the fun party atmosphere that comes with that kind of cruise and Celebrity was perfect for what I ( at least) would want for a European cruise. I myself was in a whole different place on this cruise and it was a perfect fit that way.

 

That is just a few things off the top of my head. If you have any specific things in mind that youre wondering about please let me know and I will try to answer.

 

:) Gena

 

Thanks so much for getting back to me Gena - and sounds right on the money! Looks like we'll try Celebrity or Royal for the Mediterranean cruise - still have to figure out which itinerary (mainly if additional ports will be Croatia & Malta or Greek Islands) . . .

[yvonneh]

Thank you for taking the time to write this review. I really enjoyed it a lot and enjoyed looking at your pictures as well. :)

It makes me excited for a 2015 trip to many of the same places.

Again, thank you!

Happy New Year!

Edited December 28, 2014 by yvonneh

[Mummble]

Thank you for taking all that time to post about your trip! I'm going on a similar cruise this coming October and cannot wait! Your photos and comments will certainly be used to help us plan.

[jamona2311]

Yvonneh and Mummble,

Thanks for taking the time to read my report! :D I am soooo jealous and soooo excited for you at the same time! hha Oh to be in the planning stages again.....ya know what they say, planning is half the fun!

Take care and enjoy your trips!

Gena