LIVE Italy Land trip then 10 days on Pride, Oct 18-29 to Greece, Turkey, Sicily and more Italy with ninjacat123!

[ninjacat123]

4 minutes ago, princess76021 said:

We were there in September (last year) there were just a few people there.  Our pictures looked like we were the only ones and no it wasn't early in the morning!!

Hugs from Texas

From what I have heard this summer has been brutally heavy with tourists. I thought by now the crowds would have dissipated but no!

[IntrepidFromDC]

2 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

From what I have heard this summer has been brutally heavy with tourists. I thought by now the crowds would have dissipated but no!

Everyone's trying to beat the $8 ETIAS fee and processing just around the corner, no doubt.  😁 🏴‍☠️

[ninjacat123]

11 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

Everyone's trying to beat the $8 ETIAS fee and processing just around the corner, no doubt.  😁 🏴‍☠️

You could buy 2 Aperol spritz for that!!🤣

[ninjacat123]

Woke up at 7 to get ready for our Vatican Museum & St Peter Basilica. Giachina, the sweet Italian Gma brought bfast to our room at 7:15. She looked perfectly put together, just like my mom🥰. We had chocolate and berry jam croissants with juice and cappuccino.

[ninjacat123]

Our Italian Gma called us a taxi and we made it to our tour meeting spot. I booked this Skip-the-line tour with Made in Rome tours through TA and I’m so glad I did! Guliano was a perfect guide with 30 people in our group. Initially we would stop and hear his narrative but in the Vatican Museum, we wore over the ear transmitters which helped catch everything which helped immensely with the crowds.

[ninjacat123]

The Vatican Museum was great but my favorite was St Peter’s Basilica! So beautiful, ornate and reverent. Our guide took us through everything but the Basilica. He talked us though it then said we could stay as long as we liked. Here are some pics from Vatican Museum.

[ninjacat123]

There were special stairs that we took to the Sistine Chapel (which was awesome but stuffy with all the crowds) then we took another special connection to the Basilica, bypassing the line ups to get in. Not allowed to take pics in Sistine so here are som Basilica pics.

[ninjacat123]

There was a mass in the Basilica and the man’s voice was great!

 

 

[ninjacat123]

After our tour we needed sustenance so we walked to Clementine’s. Had caccio pepe and prosciutto with melon. Our waitress could have been a model!

[ninjacat123]

Walked to Sister Maria’s for our tickets to hear the Pope speak tomorrow morning. Chatted with a nice couple from NH. Got our tickets and instructions for the next day. It doesn’t get us any special privileges and I don’t want to wait from 7am till the Popemobile arrives at 9. Im thinking we will get to the Vatican at 8:30 via taxi and see what happens.

[kleibo]

23 hours ago, Ciaranaman said:

Limoncello...I LOVE limoncello.  I will get to Italy one day and it will be solely for limoncello!

~Bernadette

Very cheap lemoncello at the airport when you go home  Not fancy bottles, but cheap - full bottle $15.

[Haljo1935]

@carsasticWe have Trastevere on our list for our trip later this month, so glad to hear you enjoyed it.🙂

Edited October 17, 2023 by Haljo1935
Additional comment

[erby2283]

I was always in awe when I walked into the different Basilica's in Rome.  The shear size and height of the ceilings in not something that can be captured in a picture. Let me see if I can find one I took on my last cruise with someone standing in the picture at the bottom - it gives somewhat of a reference. 
 

Edit: yes, I had the pictures on my phone still. The size is just mind blowing when you’re there. 

Edited October 17, 2023 by erby2283

[ninjacat123]

Sat on the balcony of our room with a glass of wine. Nice to chill!

[ninjacat123]

34 minutes ago, erby2283 said:

I was always in awe when I walked into the different Basilica's in Rome.  The shear size and height of the ceilings in not something that can be captured in a picture. Let me see if I can find one I took on my last cruise with someone standing in the picture at the bottom - it gives somewhat of a reference. 
 

Edit: yes, I had the pictures on my phone still. The size is just mind blowing when you’re there. 

The crowd made it difficult to get great shots like this. Thx for posting ❣️

[erby2283]

1 minute ago, ninjacat123 said:

The crowd made it difficult to get great shots like this. Thx for posting ❣️

You're welcome.  This was actually the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. 🙂

[ninjacat123]

Now at La fata Ignorante, a swanky rooftop restaurant!

[ninjacat123]

1 hour ago, kleibo said:

Very cheap lemoncello at the airport when you go home  Not fancy bottles, but cheap - full bottle $15.

Good to know!! I’m now addicted 😜

[ninjacat123]

21 minutes ago, erby2283 said:

You're welcome.  This was actually the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. 🙂

Funny! The priest in training said they did a tour of “St Paul behind the walls” which I told Craig sounded like a Dr Suess book🤪

[cellfree]

@ninjacat123have to tell you, you two take the best selfies ever! Glad you are having such a wonderful time, am enjoying your pre-cruise trip. Currently sitting in EWK awaiting flight to FCO, then shuttle to the Pride. See you there!

[ninjacat123]

OMG!! Dinner was devine❣️We started off with beef carpaccio and slices of portobello mushrooms, and panko encrusted shrimp. Then gnocchi with octopus ragu and beef cheeks with potato supreme. Sooooo good!! We are stuffed!! Best meal this trip so far!👍

[ninjacat123]

34 minutes ago, cellfree said:

@ninjacat123have to tell you, you two take the best selfies ever! Glad you are having such a wonderful time, am enjoying your pre-cruise trip. Currently sitting in EWK awaiting flight to FCO, then shuttle to the Pride. See you there!

Yippie!! Looking forward to 2 sea days!! Safe travels and see you on board😁👍

[princess76021]

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

Good to know!! I’m now addicted 😜

And it's medicinal!!!

It aids in digestion!!

enjoy !!

Hugs from Texas

 

[purpleally]

On 10/16/2023 at 12:45 PM, ninjacat123 said:

So back at the B&B, we are sitting out on our covered balcony with a glass of wine. Here are the pics I promised earlier.

Heaven!

[purpleally]

I am enjoying your trip very much.  Glad I’ve done the Rome thing on a pilgrimage with our church - the thought of being in those crowds 🤦‍♀️. But, your bnb, balcony, and restaurant pictures…I’m in!