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

[SOLIVITA LADY]

Another great review from Norris. We are on the 22 day Royal TA in April which will end in Rome where we will spend 3 days. One of our sights this time is the forum so your pictures and descriptions were very appreciated.

 

I'm sure as you proceed we will find other tidbits to add to my cruise binder for our trip.

 

Thanks so much for doing these reviews including restaurant info and food porn:)

 

Jackie

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk HD

[Bimmer09]

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Having taking all our photos it was time to ride the elevator back down to where the endless marble steps began.

 

**The elevator ride costs 7Euros and they don't take credit cards.

 

There's a big taxi rank just across the street to the Right as you leave. A 6E ride and we were back at the hotel.

 

Carol was ready for a nap but I needed to sit and relax so I walked the short distance to Sant Eustachio Square....

 

 

Heaven. Bliss. Nirvana. La Dolce Vita. Call it what you will but I was LIVING IT!

 

It was nice to sit and rest my feet and my mind, just watching everyday life pass by in a shady Rome square.

 

It occurred to me that I was going on a cruise tomorrow-checked my watch. By this time tomorrow I'll be at the Tradewinds bar with a beer. It also occurred to me that if I suddenly got an Emergency E Mail from Princess saying "sorry, your cruise has been cancelled, here's a full refund" I would have said "Hey Princess, no problem, man. It's cool" and ordered another beer. We could have spent half the week in Rome and then half in Barcelona.

 

Rome is that special.

 

Those of you who have been will fully understand.

 

Had I been sitting by the pool in Ft. Lauderdale waiting to sail to St. Thomas my reaction would not have been the same.

 

The plan for the rest of the day was a simple one...

 

Drinks at the Terrace Bar on the roof of the hotel.

Sunset watching.

Dinner outdoors.

Sleep.

 

The ship would be boarding next day at 1 p.m and we had RIL picking us up at 11 a.m so plenty of time to pack in the morning after coffee.

 

Back at the hotel we listened to some great buskers in the square. Two violins and a guitar.

 

 

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Another great review from Norris. We are on the 22 day Royal TA in April which will end in Rome where we will spend 3 days. One of our sights this time is the forum so your pictures and descriptions were very appreciated.

 

I'm sure as you proceed we will find other tidbits to add to my cruise binder for our trip.

 

Thanks so much for doing these reviews including restaurant info and food porn:)

 

Jackie

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk HD

 

Jackie! I had hoped you'd find this work in progress. Always good to see you.

You made MAJOR contributions to my Ocean Princess review.

 

Yes tidbits will appear as we go along.

 

Some more FOOD PORN coming along later today.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Here's a video of our day so far

 

[YOUTUBE]JSx9CZbWELo[/YOUTUBE]

 

Next up....

 

Rooftop bar revealed

Sunset

Dinner-first meal in 12 Hours. Yikes!!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

No matter what hotel we stay in if there's a Rooftop bar then that is my favorite part of the hotel.

 

You go to the end of the corridor on the 6th floor and look for this sign and staircase.

 

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Up the steps to the roof....

 

 

There are tables both sides of the big sun umbrellas. We like to sit near the wall that offers a view down onto the square below.

 

This is Florestan, our genial waiter who speaks good English.

 

 

 

A beer costs 7 Euros and can be charged to your room. Complimentary nachos and olives, grown on the trees on the roof, are a nice touch.

 

 

The Pantheon is close by...

 



 

...and the Vittorio Emmanuele II Monument is visible in the distance

 

[DMCruiser]

Norris, I am one of your many "lurkers", but now it's time to comment. Your pictures of Rome are simply wonderful. We have been to Rome many times but have never captured the city like you! We love Italy and hope to return next spring. Next fall, we are on the Crown to Hawaii!! Look forward to your continuing review, thanks for sharing.:D

[Bimmer09]

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Carol at her sunset watching station

 

 

 

Which brings us to-sunset over Rome....

[2pbears]

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Carol at her sunset watching station

 

 

 

Which brings us to-sunset over Rome....

 

Ahhh! The Albergo Del Senato roof top bar.......one of our favorite spots in Rome.:)

[jtagphillycruiser]

Fantastic photos of Rome. I love a good rooftop bar as well. I'm eager to hear about your Livorno port. Did you go to Florence?

 

Joanne

[Bimmer09]

Ahhh! The Albergo Del Senato roof top bar.......one of our favorite spots in Rome.:)

 

It's a great hotel but the bar is the icing on the cake.

 

Thanks for stopping by 2pbears!

 

When did you last stay there? We have only been there in late September-and it's always full. Staff can't be beat-especially Mauro who is there most often in the evenings.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I am one of your many "lurkers", but now it's time to comment. Your pictures of Rome are simply wonderful. We have been to Rome many times but have never captured the city like you! We love Italy and hope to return next spring. Next fall, we are on the Crown to Hawaii!! Look forward to your continuing review, thanks for sharing.:D

 

Thanks for the compliments on the photos -I really appreciate that.

 

We now love Italy but don't know when we will be back at this point. There's a chance we will just have one cruise next year (January-Celebrity) and hopefully spend our summer week in Germany if we get tickets to the Bayreuth Festival.

The desire to return to Italy is strong of course.

 

Have been on the Crown but never Hawaii. We can only take 7 day cruises while we are working.

 

I am glad you stopped by-it's always nice to see new screen names join the familiar in these reviews.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Fantastic photos of Rome. I love a good rooftop bar as well. I'm eager to hear about your Livorno port. Did you go to Florence?

 

Joanne

 

Joanne, thanks for popping in again! Rooftop bars rule- we have one in our Barcelona Hotel too. (I pick the hotels)

 

Yes-we did go to Florence and there's a wealth of material from that 11 hour day.

Accademia, Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio....good lunch too.

 

I can't wait to share it with you-but I'm a slave to the timeline so I must.(boo!!)

 

Norris

[rdsqrl]

Must go back to del Senato; must go to rooftop bar. Can't believe I missed it (maybe it was closed in early December. . . . yeah, that's my story).

 

Another photo with fantastic lighting -- that top one of the sunset bunch. Plus, I love searching out all the hidden -- and not so hidden; look at that enormous one!) rooftop terraces.

 

Getting hungry . . . . when do we stop drinking beer and go have dinner??!!

 

[Bimmer09]

Must go back to del Senato; must go to rooftop bar. Can't believe I missed it (maybe it was closed in early December. . . . yeah, that's my story).

 

Another photo with fantastic lighting -- that top one of the sunset bunch. Plus, I love searching out all the hidden -- and not so hidden; look at that enormous one!) rooftop terraces.

 

Getting hungry . . . . when do we stop drinking beer and go have dinner??!!

 

 

Annie the only thing holding us back from dinner is the sun. And the beer. Oh, and the olives and the relaxed ambiance of the terrace.

 

By the time the sun sets we will have been without food (there's nowhere to eat in Rome and the food's rubbish) for 11 hours so we are really looking forward to dinner.

 

Eat a cracker .....

 

Yes, those rooftop apartments and their beacons of light=magical setting.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

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With the sun now gone somewhere else to set it was time to make our way to dinner.

 

[Bimmer09]

A year ago we had asked Ferruccio at the front desk for a restaurant recommendation and he gave us Virginiae. We like it-simple food cooked well and the waiter we had was superb. It is down a couple of side streets off Piazzo Navona and quiet as it sits away from a cluster of eateries, which on this Friday night were stuffed with patrons.

 

I asked Mauro on the front desk to call ahead and have them reserve a table outside.

 

We left Piazza della Rotunda for the 15 minute stroll. The square is well served by outdoor restaurants-maybe 400 people sitting outside around a small square, eating and drinking which is appropriate in restaurants. Past gelato shops and couples strolling along in the warm (mid 70's) night air.

 

We pass through the gigantic hub of Piazza Navona where there is an art sale going on (my mind flashed forward to the art auctions on Princess) and see the tarot card readers set up on the narrow streets beyond. All the shops are open-clothes, handbags, cosmetics, gelato, food and drinks to go. Pizzas-of course.

The air is filled with the smell of food.

 

I imagine no one is home watching TV-everyone spills into the street at night to walk, to dine, to be part of "the scene". I hear snatches from dozens of languages. Lots of Brits and Americans too.

 

Carol wanted to bring a map but I was in homing pigeon mode.

 

Gradually the noise lessened and I knew we were close...

 

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There inside was Silvano our waiter from one year ago. I went in and announced our arrival and he grabbed the menus and walked back out with me. I said "you don't remember me but we ate here one year ago". He looked at both the smiling Carol and I..."Signori I see so many people". He took a good long look at me and asked "are you the one that wrote that long glowing review on Tripadvisor?"

"Si !" He burst into a huge smile and grabbed my hand and gave me one of those manly handshakes that looks like we are arm wrestling.

 

Off to a great start!

 

During the course of the meal he told us that their business was up 30% over last year and that he'd never seen so many tourists in the city as this past year.

He also mentioned at one point that his grandmother was in the kitchen tonight and took Carol off to meet her while I guarded my cameras and my half bottle of Pinot Grigio. Carol was charmed by the old lady and came back radiant.

 

* Virginiae is simple "like mamma used to make" cooking and plating. The food is not as refined and crafted as last night's Da Fortunato. We will clean our plates however and not suffer any sticker shock. It is quiet and not touristy due to it's location near the end of a very narrow street. The service if it is Silvano is warm friendly and efficient. He speaks 5 languages-English very well.

 

I am a soup guy. My mother in N. Ireland was always making big pots of soup that perfumed the kitchen for hours. So when I saw minestrone I had to order me some.

 

We're going to need a bigger bowl...

 

 

Luckily there was a basket of crusty Italian bread to mop up the bowl which showed no evidence that there had been soup in it my the time I was done with my mopping. Simple, delicious food.

 

Across the table Carol was enjoying her antipasto plate

 

 

Pasta course and this is going to seem like Deja Vu....

 

Norris and his go-to spaghetti alla carbonara

 

 

And Carol had to have some more Caccio e Pepe

 

 

Clean bowls. The Italians do spaghetti well-who knew? My wine was sliding down nicely too. I have yet to order a bottle of wine in Italy and be disappointed.

 

We relax between courses, watching the couples stroll by. There has to be a gelato shop nearby as everyone is licking some delicious goodness as they pass.

[Bimmer09]

Just like the night before I ordered a favorite-Veal Saltimbocca

 

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It didn't come with any vegetables but as my middle name is Potato Silvano brought me a plate of fried potatoes.

 

 

Carol's choice-veal scallopini with lemon sauce

 

 

Carol makes trip notes on her iPhone while I set upon my sambuca and espresso

 

 

Carol's Creme Catalan

 

 

A belly-busting meal. Very tasty and satisfying. Service as expected. Cost was E95. There's usually nowhere to add a tip on the credit card receipts so it's a good idea to have some cash on hand.

 

* When sitting at an outdoor cafe with people walking close by it's a good idea to loop the handle of any bags you might have (in my case a camera bag) around the leg of your chair to prevent a passer-by reaching down and taking it.

 

We said our goodbyes and thanks to Silvano and set out on the walk home.

 

Norris

[SOLIVITA LADY]

I've added the Virginiae to our list of restaurants which is growing. I'll need to pay excess baggage (me) on the flight home;)

 

Jackie

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk HD

[jlf1]

Norris,

 

I think that I need to go to my favourite Italian restaurant here at home tonight to recreate that meal. Well maybe 75%.

 

Wonderful again.

 

Judy

[Bimmer09]

I've added the Virginiae to our list of restaurants which is growing. I'll need to pay excess baggage (me) on the flight home;)

 

Jackie

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk HD

 

Jackie, if you do go and Silvano isn't visible outside, go inside and if he's there tell him you'd like to have him serve you. The table we sat at wasn't covered by him but I asked him to serve us-no problem!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

 

I think that I need to go to my favourite Italian restaurant here at home tonight to recreate that meal. Well maybe 75%.

 

Wonderful again.

 

Judy

 

Glad you enjoyed Judy.

 

I've tended to shy away from Italian food back in the USA and I certainly shied away from Sabatini's on the ship.

 

I've now eaten in Venice, Rome, Florence and Monterosso- licked all those plates clean.

 

The next food porn you'll see is cooked in a galley...

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

We walked home via Piazza Navona

 

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The Four Rivers Statue by Bernini

 

 

Then past the Gelato shop

 

 

To Pantheon Square

 

 

And finally home to our hotel

 

 

We did some preliminary packing before going to bed.

 

Norris

[2pbears]

It's a great hotel but the bar is the icing on the cake.

 

Thanks for stopping by 2pbears!

 

When did you last stay there? We have only been there in late September-and it's always full. Staff can't be beat-especially Mauro who is there most often in the evenings.

 

Norris

 

We were there in mid September this year. Last year we were there in July. It is a lovely hotel and we look forward to our next visit.

 

Thanks for this wonderful review and pictures. We will be in Barcelona for two days on our May, 2016 cruise so I am particularly looking forward to that part of your review. We were just in Cinque Terre in September so I will enjoy a stroll down memory lane there as well.

[Bimmer09]

While we are sleeping soundly in the hotel for the last time, here's a short video from our dinner. It's a shortened clip as I am having a lot of trouble with iMovie today-I have already used 3 hours of the day trying to overcome it and am not out of the woods yet. While I'm in the woods (and the weeds) I can confirm that, yes-the bears do do that here.

 

 

[YOUTUBE]usD6wFastoE[/YOUTUBE]

 

Ok so we'll skip forward to September 26th-the next morning and the day we have to leave Rome and take up residence on the Emerald Princess.

 

We are awake and have had breakfast...Carol's fruit plate followed her cheese and meats platter

 

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Next stop....

 

 

I go inside and there is our waitress

 

 

Carol scores this!

 

 

Suitable energized and with the strength of ten men (good coffee!!) we are walking back to the hotel. Here's the Pantheon. 9 a.m and it has just opened.

Very few people inside....

 

Let's take a look shall we?

 

We shall

[Bimmer09]

There's no admission charge at the Pantheon and unless there's a service happening you can go in when you feel like it.

 

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