Jen and Jerry's Excellent Adventure

 Sorrento and Pompeii, Italy                                                                      Wednesday, April 27, 2022 (editor addition: History of Mount Vesuvius  and interactive tour of some of the archeological sites:                 We are enthralled by the opening of spring in Italy.   Having two days in a row of bright sunshine and temps in upper 60s and low 70s just makes it all the better.   We hope that spring is popping out in your backyards and neighborhoods in similar spectacular splendor!                 Today we were treated to a picturesque bus ride along e Amalfi coastline, one of the most scenic drives in the world.   Not only do we have vistas over the coast, but we weave into and out of lengthy tunnels and then—pow—right there in the distance is the looming Mt. Vesuvius which dominates the skyline with its two pointed peaks and deep crater in the middle, evidence of the top literally blown off.   It is thought that “the volcano” as it is referenced, was about

Messina, Sicily, Italy                                                                                    Tuesday, April 26, 2022                Welcome to the Land of the Godfather!   Sicily is a triangular-shaped island just off the tip of the boot of Italy.   You’ve heard Sicily in the news as it is where Mt. Etna is and she has many volcanic eruptions, most recently two months ago.   Today was clear enough that we could see her in the distance (see photos) and look for the smoke rising from her.   Sicily is also known for her citrus groves from where she gets some of her most memorable liqueurs and gelatos.   But it is the people and the countryside that stay in one’s heart!   Genial, raucous, coffee-anytime-of-the-day, pasta-loving, and family-oriented.   Even in fiction, Francis Ford Coppola was able to direct a series of movies that depicted the culture. Our tour was a tracing of two film sites for the Godfather.   Neither of us have seen the movies.   We just wanted to see

  Crotone, Italy    Link to Google Earth                                                      Monday, April 25, 2022                Today is Day #126 of 196 for our ATW tour.   Originally ATW meant Around The World.   Now, we’ve claimed that it means All The Way to New York City in July.   Jerry and I continue to feel very grateful for this unique opportunity to live on a ship, see new sights, eat luscious meals, have our laundry done for us, and enjoy visiting with others whose lives are unique and whose stories are vast.   Then there’s the invitation to play bridge as often as we wish and the daily writing assignments with attached photos.   How can life get any better???   THANK YOU to each of you who take time to read and follow us AND who are helping to take care of the details that allow us to be away.   We look forward to seeing you in a few months.                 We are gradually making our way to Rome for Jerry’s birthday on Thursday the 28 th .   Today we are back in Italy

 Tirana and Kruja, Albania                                                                         Sunday, April 27, 2022                Happy Easter again!   The Orthodox churches celebrate Easter later than others because they follow a different calendar.   In the city of Tirana you will see Easter eggs on the light poles—like we decorate light poles for Christmas—with “Happy Easter” in Albanian.                 Another early breakfast so that we could start boarding the bus by 8:20.   In fact, this tour was popular enough that there were TWO large buses who drove in tandem but whose walking groups tried to split up for timing and space issues.   The port, Durres for this adventure, has nothing to do with the shore excursion as the capital of Tirana and the former capital of Kruja are well inland.                The tour organizers on our ship had warned us that Albania is new to the tourist industry and to be aware that guides may have accents that may be difficult to understand

  Kotor, Montenegro  (link to Google Earth)                                                      Saturday, April 23, 2022                Here’s another one for your “CAN’T MISS” list.                You will find photos of our sailing into Kotor through the southern-most fjord in Europe but they can't do it justice.  You will have to visit and you should come in by sea.  Just sayin.  We had been prepped for this most excellent destination, the cruise director came on the PA system and talked us through some of it by sharing stories and legends, and still we were surprised and absolutely dazzled.  Thankfully, the low hanging clouds never really produced; instead, they added their contrasts to the magical feel.                 We will include a small map that may give you some orientation to the fjords and to the mountains that tower over the harbors.  Lone monasteries can be seen a great distance up the mountains from civilization. Watch James Bond’s Casino Royale to see it as a mov