Rome to Venice cruise

Played for service and Fr Leon very friendly – he is American and sings everything including the Gospel. Only 17 in church. We managed the psalm OK although Debbie and Phillipa did not arrive early enough to practise it with Bill. I dashed off at the end. John Williams asked me to park further back which I said was no problem although I do worry about the bollards! Dennis kindly took us to East Croydon and we got the train straight away to Gatwick. The British Airways plane was a basic one but the crew were friendly and we go wraps to eat – no entertainment. Arrived on time and got the train to Termini which is a nightmare. First a minicab  driver tried to get involved and then at the taxi so-called queue a driver swept us off to an unmarked car with no meter. We got there OK but then he wanted E35. I think we gave him 30 but in the course of it all a 50 euro note has gone! All very annoying. Fraterna Domus is ideal with a comfortable room and we were given a very nice dinner which was very kind. The lay sisters are so nice.

Monday we had a good breakfast and set off for San Agostino where St Monica is buried and there is a fine Caravaggio. A priest’s funeral was due that morning. At St Luigi dei Francesci the 3 Caravaggios are wonderful. We then went to Piazza Navona and on to the English college where we saw the lovely chapel and met James by chance  who used to be servers council with Liz. We bought a CD of the schola cantorum. We returned the way we came this time seeing St Ivo and St Eustace and having a coffee. A good lunch and then a sleep. At 3 went to St Sopra di Minerva and got cottas – mine at De Ritis and Liz’s at Consalgno. I did a sketch of Bernini’s elephant. We walked to the river taking in a couple of Baroque churches and walked along and I did a couple of sketches. Bought wine in the supermarket and bus tickets. Excellent dinner – large confirmation group with their priest from Metz, Eastern France had been at St Peter’s for 7 a.m. Mass.

Tuesday woke 3 a.m. and dropped off again. Breakfast at 7.30, The cost very reasonable. It is an Italian order dedicated to hospitality. On 70 bus just after 8 a.m. to the station and got 9.12 a.m. train with a couple from Phoenix, Arizona Tony and Jody. Arrived at Civitavecchia just after 10.30 and waited with a large group for bus to cruise terminal where we changed onto a coach. We finally got on board at 12.30 p.m. Our stateroom is very nice with a balcony this time – upper Promenade deck. We booked our excursions – the only one we could not get was the Dalmatia cruise which is a smaller tour but we are on the waiting list.  Good Mariners lunch and met a couple from Napier. The company gave us $200 each because of works on the Crow’s Nest! Mass at 5 p.m. after the usual drill. The priest is quite different with a great sense of humour and even asked us for our opinions. He used a different version too and sang well. He said this cruise could be our journey to Emmaus so I said I was reading a book on that and had been there. A lady said we’re not going there are we? We signed up for the spa for the whole cruise and really enjoyed it before dinner. Adagio are good (violin and piano) and the show was good.  There are 450 from Australia/New Zealand aboard!

Wednesday. Breakfast in our room and I went to Mass at 8 am. Had a lovely swim and spa and sauna. Passed Stromboli and then straits of Messina. Docked at 12 and went through town up hill to Christo de Re – great view. Cathedral and fountains and campanile are impressive. Had a long chat to couple from London, Ontario. Afternoon tea with a nice man from Eindhoven Watched 2 episodes of Poldark. Did some sketching. Magician Devlin  was good and Damien did a Beatles tribute in the iano bar. Had strawberry champagne cocktail.

Thursday. Malta. Up early for the wonderful views as we came into the Grand Harbour at Valetta and breakfast in our room. We took the lift up to the Barezza gardens as James had suggested and found that the pro-Cathedral was closed for the visit of the Grand prior of the Knights. We visited St Paul’s shipwreck church (a hidden gem) and the interesting National Museum of Archaeology. Liz got photos of the President and Prime Minister arriving for the Mass and we visited several churches S Barbara, St Francis (fine organ) and Our Lady of Victory where we met the Da Cruzes from South Norwood! James picked us up and we went to their lovely old house for coffee and a look round the little town Bahar ic Caghag then on to Mdina a truly lovely medieval town where we had tea and cake with a stunning view. Then on to Marsaxlokk fishing village where we again ran into the Da Cruzes. Then back to the ship and went on the top. Mass and then the spa. Discovered our wine bought in Rome has a cork and is fizzy!  The singer at the show was Toni Moore – she sometimes got a real belter of a note which was too loud but she certainly can sing! Her Doris Day and Barbra Streisand tributes worked well but less happy with pulling around “There’s a place for us”! Missed Adagio again as we had a dip before dinner in the Lido.

Friday. Woken by steward with breakfast as clocks went forward an hour. To Mass and priest used EP of reconciliation – I remarked that our Muslim friends from the Sea of Galilee were very much with me as we heard of the feeding of the 5000. Had a swim and spa then to Mariner’s luncheon where we sat with Jody and Tony from Arizona.  I made movies of all the photos so far. Liz did the walk for cancer 5km and I sketched. I went to the Dutch royal tea and met a honeymoon couple from Newcastle Oz Lucy and Daniel and a couple from Melbourne Mel and Robert – very pleasant. Liz went for her pamper session. Had another sauna and spa and then dressed up for dinner. With sat with a military man we had met on cruise to Alaska and a couple from Boston. The show of singers and dancers Stage and screen was excellent and enjoyed the piano bar with Sinatra songs.

Saturday sailed into Argostoli in brilliant sunshine – the weather remains excellent! After breakfast we strolled along the waterfront and visited 2 Orthodox churches and Mass in Italian in the Catholic church attended by 2 Italian ladies who live in the town. Also encountered the priest from the ship. He is from Milwaukee and does 2 cruises a year. We had excellent coffee at the café on the shore near the bus station and I did a sketch. We then walked back and had local beer at the internet café. After afternoon tea with Mel and Robert to the spa. 5 p.m. Mass was well attended. Dinner followed by Adagio and then David Howarth piano show. 

Sunday a beautiful view over Corfu Old Town although the new port is a quite a distance away. We joined our tour after an initial panic as I had gone to the loo and not picked up bag and hat from the lounge! Ann and Paul had quite rightly said it was excellent and the panoramic views were great and a very good guide Elena. We stopped for coffee at Lakones with a wonderful of Paleokastritsa beach and bay so I did a sketch. Then down the mountain to Corfu Old Town where we visited the wonderful Byzantine museum in an old church, the church of the Pantocreator, St Spiridon (baptism just finished) but we somehow missed the cathedral. Coach back to the ship and we left at 4. Tea  then spa. Liz went for spa treatment and I took some photos of leaving Corfu and did some reading. After dinner enjoyed Adagio and the magician and Tony Warren were the show. She got some off notes!

Monday What felt like an expensive day in Dubrovnik! Took a lovely scenic boat ride from the ship round the coast to the old harbour and then a guided stroll along the main street with a guide. We then visited the old synagogue and the Dominican monastery which had some fine paintings and manuscripts and a huge church. A wonderful Veneziano Crucifixion and some horrid modern glass and paintings! Coffee in the square and then walked up to the cable car meeting various folk including Tony. The trip was expensive but well worth it with spectacular views and we enjoyed beer and cake sin the restaurant chatting to a couple from Virginia who go to Mass. Walked back through the narrow streets to the coach leaving around 5. I suppose £3 each for a museum is not too bad . Spa then barbecue on Lido deck – long queue but nice. Lovely desserts. I went to listen to adagio and sketched them and then we very much enjoyed the local Croatian folk music and dancing and sketched them.

Tuesday arrived at Kotor Montenegro via the narrowest fjord in Southern Europe on another lovely day. I thought Mass was at 8 a.m. but in fact it was at 5 p.m.! Had a very pleasant walk round the old city including the cathedral and several fine churches and on the walls. Did some sketches and had coffee. 2 swims and spas including the sail away and had a rest. Some Adagio and Liz did some embroidery. We saw Goronwy Thom the juggling comedian at both shows in the middle of which we had our excellent meal at the Pinnacle with prosecco and steaks. I had lobster bisque and delicious chocolates with coffee.

Wednesday by tender to Korcula for a walking tour with a good guide. Saw the outside of Marco Polo’s house although it’s not certain he came from there. The cathedral is small but has a fine Tintoretto. The town museum had interesting sections on shipbuilding and the old kitchen on the top floor. Best of all the icon museum was the hall of the old brotherhood and All Saints church had the candle stands for the processions. We had coffee and then visited  the Abbey museum which has fine vestments and art works. Did not do any sketches. The tenders were being much rocked about by the wind. Spa after lunch and Mass at 5. A lady collapsed at communion time but seemed OK. Listened to violinist – pianist not there. The show was 2 duets and dancers with the band and all work hard. Did some movies.

Thursday arrived in Split and took the tour to Salona at Solin. An early Christian burial site and Roman town with Christian basilica and the second oldest Domus Ecclesia hidden church (oldest is in Syria) up to first floor and then enclosed stairs to a basement. Heard about white week and candidates in candida wearing white for a week after baptism. Bishop St Domnio was buried there after martyrdom under Diocletian. It was St George’s day who was also martyred under Diocletian.

On to Trogir a charming little town and the guide was excellent. We visited the charming cathedral and heard 4 men singing a cappella in the loggia and bought their CD. Could not get coffee as electricity had failed. The Gallery of Ivan Mestrovic sculptor and friend of Rodin – some fine works and a nice setting. The coach took us back into Split and we visited the cathedral, crypt and baptistery which used to be the temple of Jupiter in Diocletian’s palace. The cathedral was very disappointing and we walked back to the ship for late lunch and spa. After Mass formal night and we sat with a nice couple from St Louis Missouri and a couple from Canberra. Had surf and turf and tiramisu. A most enjoyable meal and my library tie attracted comments! BB King blues show awful so went to listen to Adagio – a different pianist. They are from Rumania. Much enjoyed the marriage game show won by Ozzies married 56 years.