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Allure of the Seas Mediterranean Cruise

July 9, 2015

Allure of the Seas Mediterranean Cruise

After 4 days in Rome, we headed to the port of Civitavecchia (about an hour outside of Rome) to get on the Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas ship. The ports of call on this cruise were Naples, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Provence(marseilles), France; Florence/pisa(laspezia), Italy; and back to Rome (civitavecchia), Italy;

Naples, Italy:
Shore Excursion to: Sorrento, Positano, Pompeii

Bay of Sorrento

Enjoying the view of Sorrento, Italy

The Streets of Sorrento

Sorrento was this cute little town on the coast of Italy over the Naples Bay. It had a tiny beach, a lot of shops on narrow streets and home of the famous inlaid artwork. While in Sorrento, I stumbled upon a shop called Siniscalchi where these guys was crafting leather shoes. I had to take this chance to get my own handmade leather shoes!

Handmade Siniscalchi Sandals from Sorrento

Then, we traveled along to coast to a small town carved out of the hills along the Amalfi Coast, Positano. This is the city of the stairs! A lot of stairs to go down and climb but totally worth the beautiful beach and scenery!

Positano, Italy

Positano Beach in Italy

Beautiful flowers cover all houses in Positano, Italy

Family in Positano

Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius in the background

When they discovered the remains of Pompeii they found these shapes in the ashes that were once humans and animals. They made a cast out of that and now they have humans and animals in their last moments

Crouching man or women of Pompeii

In Pompeii they had different shops set up. This was a bakery or bread shop.

Pompeii Room in House

This is a mosaic of a dog that was found in the doorway of a house. It says “beware of dog”

Pompeii Ruin

Barcelona, Spain:
We decided not to do a shore excursion in Barcelona and just decided to walk around the city! Barcelona was filled with beautiful architecture and a lot of sangria!

Barcelona, Sain

Barcelona Architect Guadi’s work

Barcelona, Spain

Palma De Mallorca, Spain
Shore Excursion: Drach Caves
The Drach caves hosts the largest underground lake. It was pretty incredible to see!

Hubby looking good in Spain

Drach Cave in Spain

I thought this looked like bacon! lol

Drach Caves

Provence(Marseilles), France
Shore Excursion: Panoramic Marseilles & Aix en Provence. Had a blast wondering the streets and shopping in Aix en Provence.

Family in Provence(Marseilles), France

Provence(Marseilles), France

France with my Sisters!

My sister Alexa is a wonderful photographer!

Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur Aix-en-Provenc

Marseille, France

old port of Marseille, France

Aix En Provence, France

Josh trying his first Crepe!

Aix En Provence, France

Pisa, Italy
We made our way to see the leaning tower of Pisa. It is still leaning. A lot of people where there as you could imagine but it was cool to see something you have always heard about!

Leaning tower of Pisa

Leaning sisters…

Florence, Italy
Home of the Statue of David. We just so happened to land in Florence on June 24th, Festival of San Giovanni. That was a busy day in Florence! TONS of people and streets closed. Next time I go to Florence, I will choose a different day.

Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence

Florence, Italy

Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence

One of my highlights of the entire trip was getting to see the real Statue of David!

I loved getting to see some of Michelangelo’s unfinished works. It is amazing how he could take a solid piece of marble and carve out his visions!

Around the Ship:
Here are a collection of some of our time enjoying what the Allure of the Seas has to offer! We absolutely love this ship! We were apart of the first sailing and then we came back when we heard the ship would be in the Mediterranean!

My sister Alexa on the Florider

My little sister Lauren wiping out!

Husband and I at dinner

My sister Nicole knocked off Karaoke on her bucket list! She always makes me cry when I hear her sing!

On the other hand… My other two sisters can’t keep a tune! But still are fun to watch!

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Travel

When in Rome….

June 30, 2015

When in Rome….

I was blessed to have spent this past week in Rome with my husband, 4 sisters, Dad & his girlfriend. Ate a lot of margarita pizza, wine and knocked items off the bucket list!

Here are a few highlights from ROMA:

Colosseum
Construction began in 70 AD
Construction ended in 80 AD
Built By: Vespasian, Titus

Colosseum at Night
We were blessed to have the opportunity to do a nighttime private tour of the Colosseum where we were allowed to go into the underground layers to see how the show was run.

Pantheon
Built in 126 AD
Built For: Roman Temple
Now used for: Catholic Church. Two Rome Kings are buried there as well as Raphael’s Tomb
• The best preserved Ancient Roman Building. It is also the World’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.

Altare della Patria
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Altare della Patria also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II or “Il Vittoriano” is a monument built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy, located in Rome, Italy. Also hosts the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Sisters: Caroline, Nicole, Alexa, Lauren (Left to Right)

Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. It stands 40 metres above the Forum Romanum, looking down upon it on one side, and upon the Circus Maximus on the other.

Old apartment buildings in Ancient Rome

Old tiles found in the Palatine Hill

Roman Forum
Once the center of Rome around which the city developed, the Roman Forum was for centuries the hub of activity for commercial affairs, public speeches, and the meting out of justice in the form of criminal trials.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina in the Roman Forum

Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum

Temple of Vespasian and Titus in the Roman Forum

Jewish Catacombs
The Jewish Catacombs are ancient catacombs, underground burial places of which there are at least forty, some discovered only in recent decades. The Jewish Catacombs date back to the 2nd & 3rd BC.

Jewish Catacombs in Rome

Exploring the Jewish Catacombs

The Streets of Rome
Exploring this romantic architectural ancient city.

Husband (Josh) and I

My sister Alexa

Falling in love more and more any day

Lauren, Nicole, Dad (John), Me and Alexa (From left to right)

Rooftop dinner in Rome

Enjoying some wine with my hubby

Via Condotti Street in Rome

St. Angelo Bridge

Spanish Steps
Widest Steps in all of Europe

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps

Castel Sant’Angelo
Mausoleum of Hadrian
Built in 123-139 AD
Built by/for: Hadrian

Vatican
World’s Smallest Country
Founded: February 11, 1929

Family Private Tour of the Vatican After Hours. We were actually there with Reese Witherspoon!

St. Peter’s Basilica was designed by Michelangelo

Niccoline Chapel is tucked inside the Tower of Innocent III, on the second floor of the Palazzo Vaticano. It is especially notable for its fresco paintings by Fra Angelico (1447–1451)