Chicago to Civitavecchia Italy

  Civitavecchia, Lazio, Italy
Friday, September 12, 2008

Sept 12 - Chicago Ill to Frankfurt Germany and Civitavecchia Italy - Thur and Friday and maybe Saturday- we are really confused!! Carol and I were up early, Charlie following, Bob came by and after we all talked and 'discussed' my packing Bob headed out, and Charlie loaded us up for the Chicago O'Hare Airport. We were plenty early but good cause there was lots of traffic. We said our goodbys and he returned to meet Bob at the trade show. In to get our bags checked and everyone was so helpful. Then we settled down to wait.

Connie at the Chicago OHare airport

Carol ready to leave Chicago

The plane was on time, large and full, 260 passengers.  Leg space was minimal and we kept dropping things on the floor and had to be a contortionist to pick them up. It was pouring rain when we left Chicago at about 3PM. I tried to sleep- no luck but did doze a bit - Carol watched 2 movies and we ate everything they handed us! 1st class had a 4* Meal and I think economy (us) had a -4*!! But it was edible and we did eat it all. By the time we got to Frankfort Germany (5:43 AM) we were both a bit rummy and laughing a lot.  And it is pouring rain and very foggy here too. We both had a bit of water in our bottles and didn't realize we had to do security again-they took mine and Carols 2 small bottles had about 2 inches of water in them so we stood there and drank them! On into the LARGE terminal where we walked a long ways to our connection to Rome.   We are off at 7:30 Am towards, but not to, Rome!  This flight segment is on Lufthansa and what a difference from United, where we had Nurse Ratchett for our 'hostess', and the entire staff seemed unfriendly; On United no one smiled or talked. On the Lufthansa flight we had 4 delightful hostesses! Also a young German boy-about 17, very self assured, a character, who sat in front of Carol. He asked her for the time---'How much is your clock?'  We all got a laugh out of him. Carol complimented him on his fedora type hat as we left and got everyone laughing-they had been teasing him about it! We were in clouds all the way to Rome Airport Italy, but dry when we landed. A long confusing walk to baggage area and a long time before any bags were out-and we had been the very last people off the plane.  Got them, asked where Customs was, and ran into the group from Oceania Cruises, who, after collecting a few more people, put all our bags on a trolley and marched us right out the door without going through customs, to a very nice van that held about 16 people. There were at least 8 white-gloved employees there to pick us up and get everything to the ship-which was an hour away in Civitavecchia. It was a nice ride though it did begin raining again! I am disappointed that we do not go into Rome, but we will have lots to see.

Carol getting ready to boarad ship

We arrived at the ship after a very interesting circuitous drive along what appears to be an old fort, or bastion, or something.

looking down at the dock

Checked in and onto the ship -though we would not get into our room till after 2:30. We walked around - had an unbelievable buffet lunch, met 2 women from Vancouver Island Canada.

More of the Pool deck

Layed out by the pool,

Connie trying out a chair

Carol relaxing

went to a meeting about the ship, tried to get some sleep- We have not had any since Thur night and then neither of us got much due to excitement.

Pool area and stage

The cruise director, talking about the food, made the comment that 'That many came on the ship as guests and left as cargo!!!' After that lunch we felt like cargo already. Next was the disaster drill - Hope we don't need to use that information. Back to the room and Carol has fallen asleep - will have to wake her so we can go eat again. We sail at 8 tonight but will dock in a different place than expected as we have a severe wind storm in the area and the Captain wants to dock in a sheltered cove. It is warm out, but very windy now as it begins to get dark. We have a TV with a camera on our ship and we can see the sky darkening. We are both so tired we are giddy - Carol was even talking about missing supper - so you know how tired she is!  Our room is not very big-a bit smaller than the dorm room I had at college. We dressed in skirts and down to dinner, the buffet place we had been at this noon, and tried to be more reasonable this time-It was working till we got to the dessert-we shared several and had a couple of non shared ones! This can't go on!!!! Walked out on the windy deck for a minute and then to our room, where Carol was in bed asleep before I even sat down to type!! A long time since Chicago and we have to be up at 7AM tomorrow. Sleeping in this bed was funny -felt like a long time ago when I would drink and go home to bed, shut my eyes and feel the room was moving!!