Emerald Princess Rome to Barcelona September 26 -October 3 2015 in photos and video

[Bimmer09]

We're on the move again

 

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These are ovens in what the guide called "a pizza shop"

 

 

The "Pizza Shop" was a three story building but missing the roof

 

 

Another fast food joint

 

 

 

People started excavating the site in 1738 and of course exposing it to the elements and souvenir hunters/plunderers so it's not exactly how it looked on it's last occupied day. Excavating ruins wasn't exactly a science back then but we have what we have and must be thankful for that much.

 

[homeinboca]

Great photos Norris...thanks again for sharing.

 

Ron

[TracieABD]

WHAT'S UP AHEAD?

 

ROME

 

Two days of walking the streets in beautiful weather

FOOD PORN Annie and Judy prepare yourselves

XXX COFFEE PORN at the famous Sant Eustachio

ROME walk at 5 a.m-dark empty streets

Sunsets

A beautiful morning in the FORUM

ROME from the roof of the Vittorio Emanuel edifice

Dining outdoors at night

 

CIVITAVECCHIA

 

Transfer from Hotel Albergo del Senato to the Port via ROME IN LIMO

Embarkation lunch

Beautiful sail away

Other ships in port

Crown Grill dinner

 

PALERMO

 

Sabatini breakfast

City and beach tour (lots of TRASH PORN on the video)

MDR woes

Formal night

 

SALERNO

 

Excursion to HERCULANEUM ruins

Princess Theater show

 

LIVORNO

 

Excursion to Florence- Accademia, Uffizi, PONTE VECCHIO

 

SEA DAY (Tuesday)

 

Photos and video of RAIN

Pub Lunch

$10 watch sale

Princess Theater show

CC Meet and Greet

 

GENOA

 

Excursion to CINQUE TERRE

Boat trip

Train trip

Bus trip

Walking tour

Ancovy and Sea Bass PORN

Photos and video of Costa Concordia

 

SEA DAY

Biblical rain

Cancelled port

Another $10 watch sale!

Crew talent show

 

BARCELONA

 

Big rainstorm at docking

4 hour guided tour of SAGRADA FAMILIA and PARC GUELL

TAPAS PORN

Panoramic view of Barcelona from MONTJUIC

Tour of LA PEDRERA and CASA BATTILO

Morning walking tour in the dark down Las Ramblas before the city wakes

 

Along the way, life on the EMERALD PRINCESS

 

Norris

 

I am just going to go ahead and assume that coffee porn if for me! Don't bother to correct me if I am wrong... Just let a girl dream. :rolleyes:

[rdsqrl]

I wouldn't have missed Ercolano! How fun that you got different photos than I did, even in such a small place. I will say that one of the perks of going in December was that there were no crowds to speak of (certainly not in Ercolano, which I guess is not as popular as Pompeii), so the photo-taking is easier. And I don't recall our guide even needing to use the ear-piece thingies -- we were a small group, who nearly had the place to ourselves. And, of course, no bright September sunlight, either. I liked the overcast we had; it seemed to set an appropriate mood (I believe that's called making lemonade -- out of the lemons we didn't see because they don't bloom in December).

 

I'm regretful we've left my beloved Roma behind. Now I challenge you to show me a Florence I like better (been there; done that; didn't like it as much as Rome).

 

And, you know, food. When was our last meal?

[Bimmer09]

I am just going to go ahead and assume that coffee porn if for me! Don't bother to correct me if I am wrong... Just let a girl dream. :rolleyes:

 

Yes. You hit the nail on the head Tracie!

 

Dreams are good.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I wouldn't have missed Ercolano! How fun that you got different photos than I did, even in such a small place. I will say that one of the perks of going in December was that there were no crowds to speak of (certainly not in Ercolano, which I guess is not as popular as Pompeii), so the photo-taking is easier. And I don't recall our guide even needing to use the ear-piece thingies -- we were a small group, who nearly had the place to ourselves. And, of course, no bright September sunlight, either. I liked the overcast we had; it seemed to set an appropriate mood (I believe that's called making lemonade -- out of the lemons we didn't see because they don't bloom in December).

 

I'm regretful we've left my beloved Roma behind. Now I challenge you to show me a Florence I like better (been there; done that; didn't like it as much as Rome).

 

And, you know, food. When was our last meal?

 

Annie more Ercolano photos coming up.

 

I doubt if there's a writer or photographer on Earth who can make Florence more interesting or beautiful than Rome. Florence had little time to make a big first impression on me.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

As a measure of how many more photos of Ercolano there are still to come I can say that we are just over half way through the 120 shots. Why so many? Well we don't know if we will ever be there again. Next time we are in the Naples area we will probably want to visit Capri, or Naples itself or do the excursion we were going to do after Herculaneum. We had booked 2 excursions for today with just an hour between the ruins and a boat ride over to Amalfi where we would have time to browse the town and have lunch. Before we sailed we canceled the 2 nd one thinking we would be too rushed so after the ruins we will head back to the ship and relax before sail away.

 

If you are bored with the ruins come back in about 10 posts by me or scroll quickly through them.

 

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It had been thought that most of the population were able to escape the eruption.

It devastated Pompeii, directly in it's line of fire on the first day (believed to be August 24th at 1 pm 79AD) but didn't hit Ercolano until the next evening.

Within the last century though 300 skeletons were found together on what would have been the beach.

 

We'll go down the steep metal stairs to the lowest level to look at those next...

[Bimmer09]

We're going to the lowest level of the site at Herculaneum.

 

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To get down here we used a lot of these

 

 

[CruzinNoony]

Norris, I am enjoying your review so much. We have been to Pompeii 3 times and after seeing your fantastic photos, we will go to Ercolano next time. :D

[Solar Yellow]

Annie more Ercolano photos coming up.

 

I doubt if there's a writer or photographer on Earth who can make Florence more interesting or beautiful than Rome. Florence had little time to make a big first impression on me.

 

Norris

 

Ha! I figured by now there would be a firestorm of posts from people telling you Florence is better than Rome. Guess I'll be the first. The first time I was there, we had an overnight stop in Livorno. We rented a car, stopped in Lucca and Pisa, and then stayed in Florence instead of going back to the ship. I think staying overnight helped us fall in love with Florence. Rome is great, but I love how walkable Florence is and I find it cleaner and more manageable than Rome. It has its share of history and art, too.

 

We have returned for a pre- and post-cruise stay including trips into the Tuscan countryside to visit Siena, San Gimignano, Cinque Terre, Bologne, etc. The surrounding areas are another strong draw for Florence. You owe it to yourself to spend more time there!

 

But I digress. Please continue... ;)

[jtagphillycruiser]

I'm a lover of Florence.

 

Joanne

[Matcodixon]

Hi Norris,

I have read a few of your fantastic cruise reviews in the past but it has been a while since I stumbled on one from you. I knew that you were going to take this cruise from reading a past review but had forgotten when and had not been looking for it.

That said, this is the best one yet, from what I have seen so far. You set the bar very high. Only Sailor Jack comes close from what I have seen.

Truly Italy is a special place and we hope to return some day. Your latest photos are amazing and the videos add a nice touch. Looking forward to following this to its completion. Thanks for all of the work you put into this. I hope someday we will meet, perhaps on another cruise.

 

Dixon:cool:

Edited October 22, 2015 by Matcodixon

[hockeyguru32]

If you are bored with the ruins come back in about 10 posts by me or scroll quickly through them.

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Bored? Really Norris, how can anyone be board with history and especially with your pictures and words on this review? I say take away their cake and let me eat their cake! Sorry wrong country. Ok I say When in Rome!!!! Ahhhhh that`s much better.

 

Continue on my good sir

[Pmorton3360]

Hope you are having some of the lovely weather we're enjoying a little south of you.

I was thinking of doing Ercolano bright and early by train and Naples the rest of the day. We dock in Naples. Or would we be short changing Naples.

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I am enjoying your review so much. We have been to Pompeii 3 times and after seeing your fantastic photos, we will go to Ercolano next time. :D

 

Happy to see you here and I'm glad you are enjoying the read.

 

Yes,after 3 Pompeiis you owe Ercolano a visit.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Ha! I figured by now there would be a firestorm of posts from people telling you Florence is better than Rome. Guess I'll be the first. The first time I was there, we had an overnight stop in Livorno. We rented a car, stopped in Lucca and Pisa, and then stayed in Florence instead of going back to the ship. I think staying overnight helped us fall in love with Florence. Rome is great, but I love how walkable Florence is and I find it cleaner and more manageable than Rome. It has its share of history and art, too.

 

We have returned for a pre- and post-cruise stay including trips into the Tuscan countryside to visit Siena, San Gimignano, Cinque Terre, Bologne, etc. The surrounding areas are another strong draw for Florence. You owe it to yourself to spend more time there!

But I digress. Please continue... ;)

 

I highlighted in red...yes we do owe Florence more than a ship-tour visit AND we have to drive through Tuscany on the back roads

 

We will see Italy again and skip the Uffizi etc. when it comes to Florence.

 

Feel free to pop in whenever-great to see you here.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hi Norris,

I have read a few of your fantastic cruise reviews in the past but it has been a while since I stumbled on one from you. I knew that you were going to take this cruise from reading a past review but had forgotten when and had not been looking for it.

That said, this is the best one yet, from what I have seen so far. You set the bar very high. Only Sailor Jack comes close from what I have seen.

Truly Italy is a special place and we hope to return some day. Your latest photos are amazing and the videos add a nice touch. Looking forward to following this to its completion. Thanks for all of the work you put into this. I hope someday we will meet, perhaps on another cruise.

 

Dixon:cool:

 

Dixon- great to see you here.

 

This will be my longest review-no doubt about that. I have written about 230 posts in 2 weeks but am only at 11 am on day 4 of 11 days....

 

Thanks for the kind words. It's good to know it's being read all the way through.

 

More coming up.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hope you are having some of the lovely weather we're enjoying a little south of you.

I was thinking of doing Ercolano bright and early by train and Naples the rest of the day. We dock in Naples. Or would we be short changing Naples.

 

Well we've shortchanged Naples twice already and haven't lost any sleep.

 

Naples has plenty to offer but we were drawn to the ruins having been in Pompeii.

 

Without a guide you could easily get in and out of Ercolano in 2 early morning hours on site using the audio guides for rent.

 

We'll be back to Italy that much we know. We'll see Naples for sure.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The people who huddled on the beach at Ercolano were subjected to estimated temperatures (by Vulcanologists) of 500 Deg C or 930 deg F and would have died instantly.

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That's what was waiting behind these doors- I didn't show you all the chambers but they all told the same story.

 

[greenie082756]

Norris as usual you are an excellent story teller and picture taker along with Carol!

I just found this today (eyes lowered) and am only on page 4 of 19.

 

I am so looking forward to it and the photos of the churches made my eyes and heart sing. So beautiful!

 

I know that when I keep reading I will be wanting to see this for myself. :)

 

Thanks for sharing!! :D

[Bimmer09]

Intrepid explorer caught on camera...

 

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Interior decorating

 

 



 



 

[Bimmer09]

Norris as usual you are an excellent story teller and picture taker along with Carol!

I just found this today (eyes lowered) and am only on page 4 of 19.

 

I am so looking forward to it and the photos of the churches made my eyes and heart sing. So beautiful!

 

I know that when I keep reading I will be wanting to see this for myself. :)

 

Thanks for sharing!! :D

 

Hi- this review has been on the front page of CC for over two weeks-I see you are suitably ashamed at just finding it today....but better LATE than Never!

You are in for a long read but don't race to catch up. I am a long way from finishing it.

 

There will be a quiz.....absorb the detail. Enjoy those churches. Savor the sights.

 

And thanks for joining us here!!

 

Norris

[March Babe]

I have been a lurker, but no more. This is truly a wonderful read. We spent 2 weeks in Italy several years ago and revisited some areas during a Med Cruise. I really want to return since there is so much more to see. Keep the pics and comments coming. You are a remarkable writer.

[Bimmer09]

I have been a lurker, but no more. This is truly a wonderful read. We spent 2 weeks in Italy several years ago and revisited some areas during a Med Cruise. I really want to return since there is so much more to see. Keep the pics and comments coming. You are a remarkable writer.

 

Thanks for the kind words and particularly for coming out of the shadows to say them!

 

The pics and comments will keep coming-having started this I have to keep going until my plane leaves the ground in Barcelona.

 

I'm glad you decided to join us here.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

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We are crossing back over the bridge to leave the site

 

 

Next I'll show you the facilities outside before we get back on the bus to the Emerald Princess.