Italy and Greece

Day 10 - Monday, September 17, 2001

With the usual continental breakfast we started the day out with our luggage by the door at 7:30.

We got on the bus this morning at 8:30 and we had another of the extra excursions. We went to see the Amalfi Coast.

Some people got bus sick as the road was all hairpins and straight down views of the cliffs and the sea, very much like US 1 on the California coast. Very spectacular views. We went halfway and turned around and went back to Sorrento.

We took the time to give our bus driver the deserved tip (for taking care of the luggage every day, helping us off the bus, etc). We have also given a tip to every guide we have had in our excursions.

Before we left the area we went to a working farm and it was OK. We saw the animals, had a very light lunch, tomatoes in oil, piece of prepared toast and two types of cheese they make there.

They spoke to us about how they made olive oil. Olive trees and grapes all over the place. Then they showed us how they made their two cheeses. Mozzarella and another.

After lunch we got back on our bus to go across the bottom of Italy (Naples to Bari). The ride was hard as we had now rotated to the back of the bus and we have seats with very little leg room.

One stop 2 hours into the trip for the potty. Their roadside areas are nice with full meals, pizza, and all sort of things to purchase.

We then crossed the mountains of Italy and the east side is flat and very dry, where they grow olives and grapes. What a difference from the west side which is mountainous and wet with lots of vegetation.

We got to Bari and drove through town - they have a soccer team in the first division - so it is a large city and seaport.

We parked, waited for our guide to check us in, and then the bus drove right to this craft, one of the SuperFast Ferries.

We entered and were given our room keys, went to reception, who told us how to get to our room. The room is the same size as the Carnival ships we had taken on the West Coast of Mexico.

Unfortunately, the toilet was very dirty. So I was very indignant and got them to clean it right away. We were also missing some towels. Now we have more than we need.

We wandered around the ship and then had some wine with the group before dinner at 8 PM Greece time.

Dinner was asparagus soup, coleslaw salad, turkey, french fried potatoes and okra. Bread and another small bottle of wine. Just as we were finishing dinner the boat left port at 9PM Greece time.

We went to the stern of the boat and saw our departure from the dock on our way to the Greek port of Patras.

There was fireworks above the city, we did not know if our tour guide, Michael, had it for us or whether the Italians were celebrating our leaving (JOKE).



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