Port of Napoli

Carolina's Notes

Sorrento and Pompeii

I was totally exhausted this morning and was reluctant to go on our scheduled tour but am very glad I powered through because it was an excellent tour. Our tour guide was very good today, which always makes a big difference. Our port was Naples, which immediately makes me think of the mafia. A few hours before we arrived the BBC broke the news that nine officers in Naples were arrested in connection with a drug trafficking ring. This explained why it took us an extra hour than usual to be cleared at the port; they were short staffed. We bypassed the actual city of Naples on our tour (Sarah and John confirmed that the mafia is alive and well there). Instead we had about an hour drive through the region of Naples on our way to Sorrento, which really had beautiful views of the countryside, bay, and the isle of Capri. Some facts I learned along the way: pizza is ordered by the meter and the largest pizza they could make in their ovens is 9 feet and the locals eat pasta daily but eat the best pasta only on Sundays.

Our first stop was the center of Sorrento, where we had a brief demonstration on how to make inlaid wooden furniture design. We had some free time and walked around, had a cappuccino, and bought some souvenirs. Next stop was my favorite; the lemon/orange/olive farm was awesome. It was very beautiful and interesting. Lunch was delicious. Because Jimi and I don't drink, John and Susan ended up drinking one bottle of wine each and a healthy dose of Limoncello. I egged them on to finish the wine so they wouldn't waste it. It was entertaining!

The last stop was Pompeii, which was buried under 20 feet of ash and then another 20 feet of vegetation. The city was destroyed in 79 AD and rediscovered at the end of the 16th century. The red light district in 79 AD was well marked with flying penises pointing in the direction of the area. Once there, you would walk in and point to the fresco of the service that you desired. Of the 2 hours we were there and loads of history relayed to us; that is probably all I will remember. We had dinner at the French restaurant again and I may or may not have inadvertently offended some lesbians. Good Night!


Susan's Notes

Sorrento and Pompeii

If I die and reincarnate, instead of coming back like a golden retriever like I have always said. I want to come back as someone who lives in Sorrento, Italy. I have never seen larger lemons than the ones on the farm we visited for lunch. Among the thousand year old olive trees, we listened to Gina showing us how they make olive oil and Rosa showed us how to braid fresh mozzerala. Our lunch started with different kinds of cheese, sun dried tomato, salami, and olive spread on bread. After this they brought us a bowl of pasta that we washed down with mild white wine. For dessert we had cake soaked with Limoncello.

On to Pompeii. 2/3rds of the ancient city is still buried under ash from when Vesuvius erupted. It took awhile to understand the layout of the city but after awhile the very fact that is still exists is amazing. Two things stuck out: 1 the bakery and 2 the many red light districts marked by the most unusual artifact ever; I recommend you plug in Pompeii in your google search box to understand more. Upon arrival back at the ship, we were pleased to find out that Carolina passed the first CPA exam and vowed to make her study her for her next one tomorrow. After a dinner of French fries, Zoe went to the tree top kids club. This left the adults to go back to the French restaurant. We had a wonderful dinner and lively conversation. We were all very tired and were thankful that tomorrow the ship is at sea all day so we can rest. I spent a few losing moments at the casino and the returned from rest.

Sarah's Notes – FIAT = Fix It Again Tony

OK, so this is probably only funny to me because my childhood best friend in MI had a father named Tony and he worked for Fiat and they are also super Italian. 

Today we were in Naples;  this was one of the numerous funny things our tour guide said while on our tour of the town.  The guides names er…nicknames were Vito and Bruno.  Let me just mention that Naples is  like stepping into the scene of The Godfather.  Nine Police Officers were arrested yesterday on drug trafficking related gang charges in the city, so you get my point.  Could explain why when John went to the ships front desk to ask about a camera shop in town he could walk to because he and Zoe broke our EXPENSIVE camera lens she told him “I don’t advise you go for a run in town or even out of the port”.

Our tour was pretty low key.  We basically boarded a bus and drove throughout the town as Vito told us about certain things.  All in all it was a great tour to take with a child.  Vito even called out NCL for charging us “adult ticket prices” for Zoe.  So our excursion yesterday and our one on Saturday in Palma are free for her!  HOORAY! 

            Side note:  Our bus was a new charter bus, which is used by the Naples Soccer Team.  Vito told us to ignore the people waving at us because they more than likely thought we were the soccer team.  We had several waves.  I think I was the only one that found this amusing.
 
So where was I?  Ah yes, the tour.  So we drove around, stopped a few times for pictures (GRRRR…for people that had cameras, if she wasn’t so cute and he didn’t make such precious babies I think I may have killed them both) and then stopped at a bar for a beer or Gelato, which was included in the tour.  Zoe slept throughout most of the tour.  Of course she woke up for the most important part of the tour.  This was her second dessert in less than 3 hours.  Hell, we are on vacation and she is with her daddy, Uncle Jimi and Carolina who have MAD sweet teeth.  So  we are running with it.  She will get back on a normal eating schedule when we get home.  As long as she keeps eating a substantial meal of pasta or anything Italian (She told us she wants to live in Italy…..go figure) we are happy.

We got back to the ship and ended up taking a small trip to the waterslide and the pool.  Zoe has already informed us that Grammy and Gumpy need a slide at their pool.  I have a feeling she’ll work on that when we get home.  She ate a dinner of French fries (*insert Parents of the Year award here*) and then ended up at her second most favorite place – The Tree Top Kids Club (after a shower, of course)!

We said our goodbyes as our child ran away from us, without a care in the world her parents were leaving her and headed to Le Bistro, the French Restaurant with the “adults”.  If you were an outsider looking in you would think a bunch of 14 year olds were sitting at the table.  We practiced our best manners but occasionally our mouths spoke before they thought.  This happens to me frequently so I felt right in place, minus the Versace place setting that sat in front of me with ladybugs and butterflies on it.  Who does that?  Only Versace!

Dinner ended without us offending too many people (did I mention my mom and dad were sitting with us?) and we all headed our separate ways.  Jimi and Carolina to bed, Aunt Carolina needs at least 10 hours of sleep so we can continue on with our witty comments and Jimi just needs sleep; the kid always has.  My mom and dad; a different story, my dad was headed to bed and my mom snuck (once again) to the Casino.  When we  get back we are taking her to Gamblers Anonymous.  And John and I ended up at the piano bar with the Brit who only knows Billy Joel and Paul Anka songs for the second night in a row.  He is pretty decent and we were taking advantage of the Kids Club time we had. 

Today was a great day.  It was nice to have dinner that didn’t involve a buffet and to spend time as adults.  I am thinking of kidnapping Moon’s favorite Kids Club Counselors and taking them home with me.  

Tomorrow:  Day at Sea.
 
John's Notes;

A day or two ago I was flipping through the channels on the television and saw that nine police officers were arrested in Naples for drug trafficking and being associated with the mafia.  Welcome to Naples, eh?  As our ship arrived in port I diligently tried to repair our camera lens that Zoe accidentally broke in hopes that I could get a photo of the city.  Needless to say the camera is still broke and probably in worse shape than before I attempted my repair job.

The rest of our group took off for a day trip that involved eating cheese, watching the production of olive oil, and the consumption of bottles of wine from two of the  members.  The Gee’s relaxed on board for a while went down the slide approximately another twenty times and then prepared for our bus tour, which turned out to be not as “lame” as Aunt Lina said it would be… 

Our guide Vito and driver Bruno were pretty nice guys, quite possibly even pretty nice wise guys too (get it), they drove us all over the city and showed us many important sites.  Personally I enjoyed Vito’s take on illegal immigration and how the children should be punished for being delinquents.  Zoe had her cheeked pinched by every guy we passed and while we enjoyed a Peroni at a waterside bar she enjoyed yet more ice cream.  Our short tour was completed with a quick recipe for some type of crazy lemon drink that I will only share with those who ask.  Thanks Vito!  Forget about  it… 

For dinner we were treated to the French restaurant were I was quickly reminded that my bread must be placed on the “bread plate” and not on the main plate in front of me, thanks Carolina.  Dinner was good, the dessert was even better, and then we were even able to have the restaurant more to our selves after Miss Manners didn’t assess her surroundings.

The night ended sitting at a lounge bar having a beer, listening to a Brit sing Billy Joel on a piano with the silhouettes of strippers danced in the background. 

Zoe's Notes:

I just want to quiz Uncle Jimi – What is the name of the main river that runs through Rome? 
I know!
 
Today I got to go on the waterslide again.  I even got to eat more pasta and ice cream.  I went on a big tour bus and saw Naples and had even more dessert.  Mommy and daddy brought me back to the hotel and I ate French fries for dinner and then went to the kids club.  I want to live in Italy, except I miss Kendall, Aunt Caryn, and Grammy and Gumpy.  A lot.  I love my family but I want us all to be together.  Maybe they could move to Italy!!!   I think they would like it.