Livorno/Pisa

After Florence  we drove to Pisa to climb the tower. They sell tickets up 20 days before the date and they go really fast so make sure you get on there right when they start selling. You have to pick the time you are going and my time slot was filled up so I picked the one after. They sell in 15 minute increments. Here is the link below where I bought mine. 

Pre-reserve and buy tickets

Lucky for us we got them and climbed the almost 300 steps to the top of the 55 meter tall bell tower. You will actually feel wobbly walking into the main room and going up the stairs. It was a bucket list wish and I did it. Then of course we had to go take the "I'm holding up the tower" and I have the "tower between my fingers" picture. Oh and one more quick stop before we get back to the ship. The best gelato shop in town. We each got a gelato and hopped back on the minibus to get back to the ship. It was an amazing day and can't wait for tomorrow for Rome with the same company.

Up close and personal

The infamous Tower of Pisa

Climbing the stairs

At the top

View from the top

The mandatory pose

My touristy photos

Please don't let me fall.

Rome/Colisseum/Trevi Fountain/Pantheon

We have another day with Rome in Limo  to see  the Colisseum, the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and other city sites.  We have a minibus with 8 people and our driver Nik,  and head out to the Pantheon in the early morning where the streets are quiet, with not too many tourists out. We visit the Pantheon and the church close by, and picked up a dozen rosaries at the souvenir table for co-workers and friends. It had the Popes pictures on one side, the Vatican on the other, and when you opened them up smelled like roses. A quick walk over to Trevi fountain to take some photos, and throw our coins in. Tradition is not for "Good Luck" but "To ensure your return to Rome".  Then we drive through the Beverly Hills of Rome before heading over to the Colisseum. 

 

Best tip ever # Pre buy your tickets online for anything that you can. 

Definitely pre-buy your tickets, otherwise you will have to stand in a really long line to buy them. Our driver dropped us off right in front and we stood in the shortest line for reservations, and turned them in for tickets. This is  the height of the tourist season so everywhere is super crowded. Once we got in we went to the top and circled around taking photos, and then went to the lower level to take photos. Because we had limited time I had all ready down loaded the "Rick Steve's Euro guide " app, and listened to it before I even went there. It helped me explain to my family what we were looking at. We came out, and our driver pulled up to whisk us away to the next destination, but first a quick lunch. We went to a small pizza place that was really reasonably priced  and actually my husband said it was his favorite. 

Trevi fountain

 

Rome/The Vatican/St. Peters Basilica/The Sistine Chapel

 Once we had lunch we were on our way  to the Vatican, and chose to take the private guide for the Vatican, otherwise we would never get through it all in 2 and 1/2 hours. We also pre-ordered our tickets on line, and turned them in for the real tickets, and she got us on our way. She knew her history and was able to get us through the whole thing in our time frame. First, she explained what we were going to see before we go in, because you aren't supposed to talk in there. The Sistine Chapel is amazing, and you are not allowed to take pictures or video. Being the busiest time of the tourist season, I don't have to tell you how that worked out. Every 5 minutes or so I would hear over the speakers, "Silencio...grazie" ( Not sure how you spell that) and everyone would quiet down for ...oh, about 30 seconds then back to normal level. One of the highlights is that we got to walk through the "Holy Door" into the Basilica which is only open once every 25 years.  Rome for a day was a whirlwind and we had a great experience ......RomeinLimo 

Tickets for the Vatican

Naples/ Positano

This is our 3rd tour with Rome in Limo and our 5th day of full excursions and are all pretty wiped out. 

Here is the link to our excursion. 

RomeinLimo

We woke up and walked out to thunder, lightening and pouring rain. Our driver was a little late but we eventually found him, and poured into the minivan for another adventurous  day. The first 2 minivans had the tall head room, and Nik's even had wifi. This one didn't have either, but we are all okay with it. 

There are 8 of us this time , 2 in front , 3 in the middle, and 3 in the back. The driver decided to go to Positano first since it was further away, and possibly not raining there. And he was right so we are glad we took his advice. So up the mountain along a scenic beautiful drive looking down on Sorrento with the most beautiful views, but no where to pull over, so we missed that photo-op, but do pull over on the other side of the Amalfi coast, which is more towering cliffs and ocean views down to the other side.  I don't know how many hairpin curves there are, but I thought I heard the number 75, we arrive in a tiny seaport village. There we  walk down small narrow steep alleyways through boutiques and art gallery's, and end up at the beach. We are there for I think about one and a half hour  to shop and take photos. My daughter buys a cute white dress which seems to the theme in all the clothing stores, and some limoncello candies (my husband must of tried them in the store because he is a sucker for anything he samples)  and lemon granita/slushy  to cool down as it is starting to get warm again. We head back to the mini bus to make our way down the hair pin curves to Sorrento. Also, I finally bring my selfie stick so my face isn't so big in the corner.

Restaurant in Positano

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