Port for Rome

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy  14 April 11

Here in this summer resort for the Romans, street life is very active in the mornings before the 2 PM siesta so common throughout the Latin countries.  A huge open air market dominates the upper portion of the main pedestrian street and it was surprising how busy it was there at 11 AM.  Fresh fish, cheeses, cold cuts, bread and really good looking produce, not to mention the adjacent flea market selling K-Mart like quality clothing, hardware, etc.  The thought occurred to buy some bread, cold cuts and cheese along with a small bottle of wine and bring them back to the ship for lunch but the overwhelming attraction of another real pizza was the deciding lunch factor.

Probably 60% of the ship went to Rome for the day.  How can you not like Rome?  The ship offered outrageously priced tours plus a transfer only for $94.00.  Some people opted to take the train for 13 Euro round trip which is what we would have done had we been so inclined.  We’d never seen Civitavecchia before so the time was spent here wandering the streets and finding a lunch spot.  One huge problem here and probably throughout Italy is that EVERYONE smokes.  We went into one cafe where the proprietor was concurrently making a cappuccino and lighting his cigarette.  Sidewalks are littered with cigarette butts and, quite frankly, at close proximation, these folks stink of old smoke in their clothes.

The town itself is pleasant enough even though the season has yet to begin.  There is a lovely promenade walk along the oceanfront that is currently under construction (although nobody was constructing on a Thursday), a pedestrian zone/shopping area with some upscale and not so upscale shops but a minimal amount of outdoor, sit-down cafes so common in other parts of Italy.  We could not find a place to have coffee on our second trip to town in the afternoon, other than sitting next to chain smokers.  Lunch consisted of a pizza at double the cost of the Herculaneum pizzas, a very fine tossed salad and local beer and wine.

Gina and I were discussing this morning our favorite parts of this odyssey.  We both came to the conclusion that eating the local foods in a local setting tops the list.  It doesn’t matter if it’s Sydney, Papua New Guinea or Safaga, Egypt.  You can only see so many ruins, cathedrals and botanical gardens before they all run together.  People and food give the best flavor even if they smoke.

They’ve just announced the 2013 World Cruise and it looks like something I’d be interested in doing.  Anyone want to come along????

Joe Wagg