MONDAY, 4 JULY 2011 - CIVITAVECCHIA, ITALY
Civitavecchia (a port not pronounceable by any but the most educated Americans) is the sea port for cruise ships visiting Roma (which is either the city of Rome or Gypsies depending on the context). Cruise ships and ferries came in and out all day, but we were greeted as we entered the small harbor by Disney Magic. The thematic cruise ship now is sailing Europe, bringing happy princesses and princes to culture but mostly providing child care for young couples who want to take cruises. Oddly enough, across the harbor from THE MOUSE was TWEETY BIRD on the stack of a different cruise ship. Make of this what you will.
With a little planning, we chose not to buy the $299 per person (!) full day excursion to Rome but instead just walked 5 minutes to the nearby port commuter line train station and purchased 9 euro round trip tickets to Rome. The tickets were all inclusive of buses and the two metro lines. Quite a bargain except for the filthy trains with opaque windows. The carriages looked like the Italians have not washed them or provided much maintenance since taking delivery, but the trains operated on schedule. Unfortunately, the schedule was not what was what was on the brochure included with the transit passes or what we obtained online prior to the trip. Not much of a problem as it turned out, but we almost went to Naples via Regionale Espresso (or something like that) before I got concerned that the return train from Rome's huge station looked too clean and went to ask a conductor who sent us to a train that looked like a garbage heap.
Rome is still a big hoot, even with the confused crowds and oppressive heat. We visited St. Peters with only a short wait for a bunch of uniformed guys making believe they were doing security, then on the way to the Pantheon found a lovely church without tourists. (I told people on the ship after we returned that it was called, "Basilica della Crema Pistachio", but it turned out to be St. Ignacius de Loyola.) We walked many kilometers, saw the Trevi Fountain (but didn't throw any coins in it because returning to Rome will need to be when there are fewer tour groups named "11"), and hiked extensively through the plazas and Roman ruins areas. We took many pictures, but it was hard to crop out all the tourists taking each other's pictures. We found a train car on the way back, by the way, where the window opened about 2 inches, and I was able to see some pretty scenery which included a flying school.
Great day. We were still sailing SE around Sardinia now slowing down around the NE corner which will be sheltered from the strong wind. Gotta run now for a fast lunch and then a visit to my 132nd or so new "country", but who's counting, and it's not even the one I expected....
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