Drove to Montecatini-Terme and exchanged cars for a little white Fiat with standard transmission. Melody was thrilled! We made it to the hotel just as the choir was arriving! You can

Drove through the beautiful countryside on the way to Hotel Leon Blanco. This hotel in Tuscony was once a nobleman’s home on the city square in the early 14th century. It is a completely walled city and cars must park outside the city walls. Imagine Melody and the SUV driving through VERY narrow streets to get to the hotel to check in. Luckily it was 11 PM and streets were empty. She parked the car outside after this terrific or should I say also terrifying driving. Next day we explored the city. Found out that the residents once started to build towers on their homes. At one there were many, but only five are left. It seems the rush to get a taller one than the neighbors that a lot of them were not built adequately. The church had beautiful large pictures of bible stories frescoed on the walls. People watching was fun! View out the window down the valley made me want to become a bird and fly away! Beautiful

View from hotel window

Stayed at Hotel Forre di Cala Piccola. This is the area where folks from Rome came to vacation. Imagine Montecito, CA and Oprah and Prince Harry having homes dotted in hillsides with curvy roads leading straight into the Mediterranean Sea. Our hotel had a tower that was used as a lookout point. If trouble came by sea, a fire was lit to warn the other towers along the coast to f danger. There were about 14 people there at the most the two days we were there. I expect they could host many more as there were three meals available, an infinity pool with bartender and life guard

We lounged around in the perfect weather and fresh air for two days. Out view from the bedroom was of hillsides, houses, the next tower, and the sea. There were grapes growing along the edge of our balcony. It was beautiful, quiet and peaceful. The staff was just what you would expect if you were royalty

Got our car for the next part of the trip. Got upgraded. From a Fiat to an ……. Alpha Romero SUV!!!!!! Bright shiny blue. Melody got us out of downtown Rome expertly. SUV was huge with two tiny women in it. We decided to go to see Bellini’s garden before we left Rome. We rented a golf cart and Melody got to drive something smaller for a while. We stopped for picnic lunch in a garden spot by a statue of Da Vinci. Pretty hsrden

Got up to 139 mph on the Italian autobahn! We headed for a natural spa area that had a waterfall of 95 degree water. The waterfall had carved out individual pools as it cascaded down. We got there about five pm and it was cooling off so the experience was delightful. People of all ages, a family excursion.

Rode the hop on and hop off bus around Rome and had a tour of the coliseum. Had a good guide. Lots of information. Hot. I thought if I was a person about to be eaten by a lion and they put me out there first, I would be dead by heat before the lion got me.

Woke up to find Melody had arrived. Went down to eat. Enjoyed the pastries she bought in from her day in Paris. Went back up and took a nap. Jet lag. Had a 3:00 tour of the Vatican. There were eight of us. Our guide was fabulous and knew ways to get us around without getting jammed up by the other gillion tourists. Hot weather. 90’s. Good tour. I

Ride on train was short and the hotel was near the station. It was on a side street near bus transportation. I took a nap and had a walk around. Found a grocery store and bought a salad and sandwich for supper on my balcony.

Watched an English movie and slept. Melody got to the room sometime during the night . She arranged a long layover in Paris.

Colinda’s BIRTHDAY !!! This was a happy/sad day. Happy for her birthday and sad because this was the day I left the ship. We started celebrating the night before and Olivia and Erin promised to whop it up all day and night to make sure she had a very special day The ship was in the harbor with many other ships. Civitavecchia is as close as ships can get to Rome. Colinda walked with me to the train station and I sang her my birthday song with special lyrics just for her. Then I was tearful as she walked back to the bus. This part of the fabulous trip was over for me. I am so glad we did it together. I hope you have a friend like her. 72 years! Train trip to Rome and a quick taxi ride to my hotel. Granddaughter Melody will arrive in the middle of the night for part two of my travel adventures.

Back in Italy for the next 19 days! Last full day on ship. Sorrento is the lemon capital of Italy. Lemons everywhere on everything. Free sips of lemoncello! Went up and down shopping streets. Colinda found a candy shop that had a chocolate fountain in the window. Of course we went straight in! Great chocolate and guess what? My favorite candy all my life…lemon drops. These have a core of lemoncello! Whooeeee! Must be shopped out. No new dresses. Could not have gotten it into my crammed suitcase anyway.

Colinda wowed us( Olivia, Erin, and me) by packing up all my stuff for next trip I had decided on in less than four minutes. I never could have done that. Spent the day saying goodbye and getting emotionally ready to end this fabulous ship. The crew has become near to my heart as well as my fellow travelers. I did not have to say goodbye to my new friend Anne as she lives in Oceano!!’ Here are a few random pictures just for fun.