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

[ccv]

Thank you for all the beautiful pictures of the churches. The pictures show much brighter interior than I recall. Did your processing enhanced the lighting?

 

C

[jlf1]

Norris,

 

Your dinner pictures are a day late..............but I'm sure that they will be worth waiting for.

 

Judy

[Bimmer09]

So glad to follow your trip again, love the detail you put into your story. We are in Rome next Sep at the conclusion of a 24 day cruise so am really interested in your Rome stories and as we haven't yet booked a hotel, your comments on your hotel and location will be valuable.

Thanks for your time.

Pat

 

Thanks Pat-will detail the hotel towards the end of day 2. If you are a good walker ( I am, Carol not so much) you can be at the Vatican. Castel Sant Angelo,

Victor Emmanuel, Colosseum, Forum, Trevi and Spanish Steps within 30 minutes

walking along beautiful ancient streets full of character. Trevi, S Steps and the great Piazza Navona are within 10 mins. The churches you saw were 2 minutes.

The Pantheon was about 20 yards from my lovely hotel (ask Annie!!) It is a stunning creation...who knew they could make concrete 2,000 years ago?!!

 

Much more to come....

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Maybe it is just my computer screen, but, I looked a couple of times and I certainly didn't see them. Fantastic pictures one and all.

 

You are too kind-but there are white blow-outs (no detail) from the sun in them.

But the sky was so dramatic I had to share them. It wasn't an "everyday sky".

 

Thanks for the comments!

 

I'm not going to say things will only get better.....but they will.

 

Norris, sitting on the Motherlode of photos

[Bimmer09]

Wonderful review, photos are great. Looking forward to the rest of your review.

 

Jimbri-thanks for the comment.

 

It makes all this worthwhile when people comment or ask questions.

 

This will be a long ride....hang in there!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Pictures are out of this world great. Thanks for posting.....:):):)

 

Bob

 

Bob-there's always a seat waiting for you in my reviews-and an open bar (albeit imaginary)

 

Keep checking back as there is a lot I want to share.

 

Now-where's Colocruiser? Jimmy V? Pam?

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Thank you for all the beautiful pictures of the churches. The pictures show much brighter interior than I recall. Did your processing enhanced the lighting?

 

C

 

Yes, I wanted you to see what I saw-the details that were too dark in the photo in auto mode. I use the "shadows" control in Lightroom to make those dark corners visible.

 

Thanks for stopping by-and don't be a stranger!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

 

Your dinner pictures are a day late..............but I'm sure that they will be worth waiting for.

 

Judy

 

Judy-wait no longer. I had a long drive out to Michigan today but have them ready to load. Call Annie rdsqrl[/ and tell her to hurry before the food gets cold....

 

Norris

Edited October 8, 2015 by Bimmer09

[Bimmer09]

[/url]

 

So we are shown into a small room with just 5 tables, away from the hubbub of the main dining room (shown above). Most of the diners already there are American-maybe 10 people.

 

The waiter comes, professionally dressed, welcoming. Takes our drinks orders- a Prosecco for Carol and a half bottle of Pino Grigio for me. A basket of crusty bread arrives and I get to work on it. It was defenseless.

 

Rather that tell you what we ate I'll show you....

 

Carol

 

Artichoke -"so fresh, perfectly cooked"

 

 

Norris

 

Lightly fried anchovies of the gods!

 

 

Carol

 

Caccio e peppe (spaghetti with peccorino cheese and pepper PLUS black truffles!!

She saw Anthony Bourdain rave about this when in Rome so had to try it.

 

 

Norris

 

When I see the two words Spaghetti and Carbonara together-it's a done deal.

Bring me some. The waiter brought me some extra parmesan cheese as he obviously knows me from somewhere.

 

 

More to come...

 

Norris, drooling.

[Bimmer09]

Carol

 

Salmon with a simple fresh salad. Tomatoes like we are not used to...divine flavor bombs.

 

[/url]

 

Norris

 

Veal saltimboca-a favorite, especially with garlic mashed potatoes

 

 

You could say I enjoyed it....

 

Carol

 

Strawberry Tiramisu

 

 

Norris

 

When in Rome (or anywhere) Sambuca Romana and an espresso.

 

 

Our waiter was superb- always keeping an eye out for us while attending to 10 other people. Never missed a step.

 

The food? We were both so hungry we would have eaten our napkins dipped in olive oil...but we hadn't lost our faculties and each bite was savored and remarked upon. We shared bites. Words like yummy, dee-lishus,aaaaamazing and OMG! were bantered. No dish failed to reach a high bar-way beyond our expectations. I'll be reviewing them on Tripadvisor for sure.

 

We tipped the waiter 15 Euros as he deserved it.

 

The bill was 139E (notice there is a charge for bread (pane)

 

 

During the time we had been dining the rain had gone from drizzle to torrential back to drizzle then nothing. Great timing!!

 

We strolled the short way back through a sparsely populated Pantheon Square and decided that 10 pm would be a good bedtime after the long journey and busy day we had.

 

The maid had closed the shutters on the window and pulled the heavy curtains.

 

We slept in pitch black silence- a cavernous DEEP SLEEP...

 

What a day!!

 

Norris who would wake at 4.30 and go wandering at 5 a.m

[jlf1]

Norris,

 

I'm having pasta tonight but it sure won't be like your meal. The pictures are so vivid that I can taste the dishes from here.

 

I have to get back to Italy one day.

 

Thank you for sharing.

 

Judy

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

 

I'm having pasta tonight but it sure won't be like your meal. The pictures are so vivid that I can taste the dishes from here.

 

I have to get back to Italy one day.

 

Thank you for sharing.

 

Judy

 

Judy- you and me both. Carol is in love with Italy too. Such a unique country when it comes to art and history-and the food is simple and so tasty!

 

Glad you enjoyed the first of the Food Porn. More to come.

 

Norris

[Bruinboy]

Norris, I had an epiphany this evening while dining at an Italian restaurant here in Omaha. I decided, after reading this review and your previous review on your Caribbean cruise, that I will choose future cruises based upon two factors ... one, a place I have never sailed before and two, at least one cruise in my lifetime with Carol and Norris. I'm not sure which would be more fun.

 

Thanks for sharing the joys, and the challenges, of your travel with us.

[Starfish10]

Norris, I'm really enjoying your review. Carol has the most beautiful smile. You inspire us to do more. Love the pics. Thank you for sharing.

[donswife]

Well so far this review is dripping gasoline on a smoldering fire...I would really like to get to Italy and the Mediterranean, but probably not until we can afford to fly business class. Maybe when the kid is done with college!

[rdsqrl]

*swooning*

anchovies!

cacio e pepe!

veal!

salmon!

You've hit the heights . . . and it's only the first meal.

 

I loved the two rooftop photos that included a focal point of bright artificial light coming from interiors. I think the first one came from a ground-floor restaurant on the square; the other looked like an apartment window/doorway overlooking a rooftop terrace? Anyway, the drama of the sky combined with the monochome gray buildings and then that one bright pop of light -- amazing. Hope you can figure out which ones I'm talking about . . .

[ar1950]

-but there are white blow-outs (no detail) from the sun in them.

But the sky was so dramatic I had to share them. It wasn't an "everyday sky"

Norris, sitting on the Motherlode of photos

 

I did notice that (lighting can be tricky), but, some folks use that as an enhancement to what they are highlighting. Your dramatic sky is exactly that. Love your commentary and photos. You may see flaws (we are sometimes are our own worst critics), however, we weren't there, you were. We are just fortunate to be tagging along with your review and great photos. Thank you for doing this review! :cool:

Edited October 9, 2015 by ar1950

[Fan of cruising]

Hi Norris. I'm new to both cruising and cruise critic. Husband and I are booked for Mediterranean 14 day Barcelona to Athens next year and seeing your story, I can't wait. Just sorry that Rome won't be at the beginning or end for us.

 

Your canon takes some great photos. I can relate to the volume. Had 2000 photos to weed thru after our first cruise last year (Baltic).

 

Looking forward to more of your review.

[RNGALNG]

Here's hoping the FBI doesn't come knocking on your door! Need more food porn! Thanks for taking us all on your journey!

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I had an epiphany this evening while dining at an Italian restaurant here in Omaha. I decided, after reading this review and your previous review on your Caribbean cruise, that I will choose future cruises based upon two factors ... one, a place I have never sailed before and two, at least one cruise in my lifetime with Carol and Norris. I'm not sure which would be more fun.

 

Thanks for sharing the joys, and the challenges, of your travel with us.

 

Well I hope we can meet up on a cruise someday-we don't take many though so that lessens the odds. I wouldn't say we are fun- I can't remember the last time I shouted Yippee! or Let's Party or fired a six-gun over the piano player's head in a saloon when he was trying to play Oh Susanna....it's been a while.

 

But yes, visiting new and interesting places is amazing-especially in Europe. Our next cruise is Celebrity Silhouette but that's the Caribbean and we only do those islands for the sun in January to escape Chicago. They are not Rome or Barcelona-not even in their dreams.

 

Keep reading!

 

When I look at my photos in Lightroom, as I have to work on them just before I post, I am excited to show you what we saw. My head is spinning with anticipation at sharing these...but Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I'm really enjoying your review. Carol has the most beautiful smile. You inspire us to do more. Love the pics. Thank you for sharing.

 

Thanks for the compliments!

 

I see you seldom post-so double thanks!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Well so far this review is dripping gasoline on a smoldering fire...I would really like to get to Italy and the Mediterranean, but probably not until we can afford to fly business class. Maybe when the kid is done with college!

 

Well we've flown to Europe in Business Class and in Economy Plus on this trip and in Economy at the back of the plane where the people with the chickens in cages stand the whole way and Business is better by a long way. However tiresome the flight over is- I don't sleep in Economy Plus and the seats were designed on the cheap- once daylight comes and I look down and see Italy or Germany-all that is in the past. After the first quadruple espresso we are good to go...

 

It's so worth suffering some discomfort for 9 hours.

 

I hope you do it!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

*swooning*

anchovies!

cacio e pepe!

veal!

salmon!

You've hit the heights . . . and it's only the first meal.

 

I loved the two rooftop photos that included a focal point of bright artificial light coming from interiors. I think the first one came from a ground-floor restaurant on the square; the other looked like an apartment window/doorway overlooking a rooftop terrace? Anyway, the drama of the sky combined with the monochome gray buildings and then that one bright pop of light -- amazing. Hope you can figure out which ones I'm talking about . . .

 

Annie-our first meal was a great one-the best I have had in Italy in these last two visits.

 

Without looking at the photos I know the "pops of light" you refer too as I noticed them in Lightroom. They add to the atmosphere, no doubt.

 

More food coming up each day-every serious meal (i.e. not usually breakfast) is captured.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I did notice that (lighting can be tricky), but, some folks use that as an enhancement to what they are highlighting. Your dramatic sky is exactly that. Love your commentary and photos. You may see flaws (we are sometimes are our own worst critics), however, we weren't there, you were. We are just fortunate to be tagging along with your review and great photos. Thank you for doing this review! :cool:

 

Ar I am happing that you are tagging along!

 

I have managed to get pics from all 4 cameras (3 of mine and Carol's) into Lightroom for repair so I have about 2,000 now and most are usable.

 

I have only covered the first day so far-10 more to go, 7 of them on the ship.

 

Yikes!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hi Norris. I'm new to both cruising and cruise critic. Husband and I are booked for Mediterranean 14 day Barcelona to Athens next year and seeing your story, I can't wait. Just sorry that Rome won't be at the beginning or end for us.

 

Your canon takes some great photos. I can relate to the volume. Had 2000 photos to weed thru after our first cruise last year (Baltic).

 

Looking forward to more of your review.

 

A new face! Thanks for reading along.

 

Plan at least two days in the amazing city of Barcelona!!!

 

You can do Rome in the future. It is a must-see city and then some!

 

My Canon is a great tool considering it is the bottom of the line. A great investment.

Lightroom software really helps.

 

Norris