On to Mallorca, Spain...

On the way to Cuevas del Drach,

our bus drove past the Catedral De Palma De Mallorca...

Not bad for a moving bus, eh?!!!

On the way to the Cuevas...we made a compulsory stop at a jewelry shop

featuring the Mallorca pearls!

I was pretty excited until I realized they're manufactured pearls...

Yep...just call me a jewelry snob!!!

Besides...I'm really not the pearl wearing type...

(except for my beautiful black pearl ring TheChief bought for me

in Princeville, Kauai!!!)

Right next door to the pearl shop was a cheesy souvenir shop...

but the real interest for me was this magnificent tree trunk

out front of the store...

The Cuevas del Drach was absolutely breathtaking...

it is one of the largest underground lakes in the world.

Unfortunately, my photos don't do them justice at all...

we really weren't supposed to take any photos at all...

Surreptitiously...I did the hip raise and click move with no flash of course...

but wasn't all that successful...

Upon entering we walked down a pathway to the center of the cave

to a small amphitheater.

When all were seated, the lights went out and small boats came out

from inside the caves...lit with strings of lights.  

In the second boat was a quartet of musicians playing classical music.

The boats circled around continuously playing...at the end of the concert

there was a light show designed to imitate the sunrise over the lake.

Such a lovely experience... 

So sorry I wasn't able to photograph this...

(even though the site information said photos without flash was allowed...

the Cuevas guides were quite adamant that we cease and desist)

When we got back on the ship, we saw a submarine leaving port!!!

Looking down on the port while preparing to sail...

More of Ajaccio, Corsica!!!

There was still time left when we finished our tour and got back to the port...

Soooo....

We took a walk around the area!

The island was filled with charming architecture...

...charming little streets...

...and lots of boats!!!

Towards the end of our walk, we found ourselves by the 

Citadelle, Ajaccio de Corsica...

...a beautiful structure that promises protection for the shoreline...

The Citadel dates back to 1492, when the town was founded.

Many historians have indicated that young Napoleon used to go and 

watch the changing of the guard.  It is also said that when Napoleon

was fighting to keep control of France, he never managed to take over the Citadel.

It is also said that after his final failed attempt to take it over, 

he and his family were forced into exile to the island of St. Helena.

A couple of Citadel inmates getting their exercise...

More charming architecture...

...charming streets, and little plazas.

 And finally...back to the port...and back on board!!!

All Aboard!!!

Mariner of the Seas...

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line...

Embarkation point...

Civitivecchia...

Room's good...

there's coffee...

and a balcony....

Now...let's get this show on the road!!!

Nice view...

1st stop....

Ajaccio, Corsica!!!

...an afternoon farmer's market...

A walk along the dock...

Then we took an open air bus tour of the island...

which consisted of a round trip to the end of the island and back!

Once we got to the end of the island we saw these rows and rows of blue bags....

no explanations as to what they were ...or about what they might be protecting...

they were everywhere...

Up close and personal...and I still don't know what it is!!!

Then there was this pier of sorts...

again...no explanation as to it's use...

no boats tied up...

just a great photo op!!!

There was a light house...

on an island across the water...

On the way back to the port...there was this cemetery...

...then back to port!!!

Rome at Night....

What could be more fun than a night tour of Rome???

Our first stop was the Fountain Trevi...

But first there was a bit of a hike to get there...

through narrow streets...

past open air food stands...

and into the courtyard crowd...

The lights took on a magical halo...

Still crowded...the Fountain Trevi...

(with a little help from Lightroom)

On the way back, some of the street vendors were selling

this cool light thingy...

"When the moon hits your eye

like a big pizza pie...

That's amore!!!"

Dean Martin

(Click on the song!)

The one problem with our night tour...

the bus driver drove past the sights at a 30mph clip!!!

Hard to get a good pic of the colosseum by moonlight!!!

We did stop at the Piazza Navona to see the Four Rivers Fountain by Bernini...

Unfortunately...the fountain had no lighting at all...

so no photos of the fountain...

but there was this cool street scene....

I think next time we'll check out Rome at night on our own!!!

Wandering in Rome...

Thirty+ years ago I had the good fortune to travel 

to Europe on my own...

one of my stops was Rome...where I searched out Bernini's sculpture...

The Ecstasy of Santa Theresa...

When I was in college, I started out as an art major 

(I changed my major a couple of times!)

and was mesmerized by this sculpture in my art history class...

When we were in Rome in the fall, one of my goals was to find this church again...

If you're planning a visit to Rome...be sure to visit 

the Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria.

This sunburst style is a frequent theme in Bernini's altars...

Since when did they start using electric candles???

It's no wonder these churches usually took hundreds of years to complete...

just look at the detail!!!

 When in Rome you have to visit the colosseum...

I think it's a law or something!!!

After the colosseum...a little wine...a little pasta...a little more wine...

(my apologies to TheChief...I didn't mean to cut you in half darlin'!)

Tiffany made friends with MoMo...our fabulous waiter!!!

On to Rome and then Across the Atlantic!!!

And on our first full day in Rome...we headed out to Ancient Ostia...

a large archeological site where the harbour city of ancient Rome was located.

Ostia means "mouth" and of course, Ancient Ostia was at one time, 

located at the mouth of the River Tiber.

Our group...ready for the day...come rain or shine!!!

Yep...you guessed it...Rain!!!

Natalie...a two fisted umbrella whiz!!!

The ancient road into Ostia...

If you notice the walls on the right....the guide took us 

into the the buildings which at one time housed gladiators...

we had to duck significantly when going in

and the guide's comment was...

"If you're thinking Russel Crowe, you'd be wrong...

think more along the lines of Danny DeVito!"

Apparently, the gladiators were not particularly ripped...

This area included shops, an exercise field, and of course, the beloved Roman baths...

Shop doors on the road in town....

Our friend Pat...and one half of the couple

who talked us into this trip!!!

TheChief!!!  Ever the gentleman, relieved me of

the umbrella that was rusted, looked like it was found in a dump, 

and was sold to us by a street vendor for $5!!!

(Moral of the story:  When in Rome...do as the Romans do...

DON'T buy umbrellas from street vendors!!!)

  

Anyone up for the theater???

Mosaic floors...I don't know what the elephant signified, but the

second mosaic was in front of a storefront, or restaurant front!!!

A grander view of the theater...

Decorations (?) along the walkway to by the theater...