It’s hard to believe that it is already day three of our Adriatic cruise. The Voyager of the Seas has been a great ship, and Royal Caribbean truly is a class above the competition. We left Venice just as we were beginning to sit for dinner. The views of Saint Marc’s Square as we headed down the Grande Canal on our way out to sea were breathtaking. That night, after dinner, we were bushed after not sleeping the entire night before so we went to bed early.
When we awoke to breakfast in bed (room service at 7:15 a.m.) on day two, we were in Koper, Slovenia. We met a family while in Venice who told us that there was nothing to see in Slovenia, and we would be better off staying on the ship. I am so glad that we did not listen to her. We booked a tour called Panoramic Koper, and it took us through the town of Izola to the town of Piran. It was a perfect, post-card worthy fishing village on the Adriatic. No hustle and bustle, just the enjoyment of life. Then we headed through the gorgeous beach resort town of Portoroz on our way to Padna. When we arrived in Padna, the villagers had created culinary delights for us to taste. The town itself looks like time has stood still for the past 200 years. It was like we stepped back in time. After Padna, we headed back to the port in Koper, all along the way listening to the guide give us the history of the region. We walked around the town of Koper, which was mostly closed due to it being a Sunday, and then headed back aboard the ship.
Last night, we saw the Broadway Show on the main stage then gambled until it was time for the Captain’s Meet and Greet. That event was packed, probably because they were giving out free glasses champagne. We mixed a few rum and Cokes with the Cuban rum we snuck on board, and just relaxed most of the night. The ship has two movie channels with some hit movies that I have never seen, so whenever I am in the room, I throw one on. I’ve been one month without American television, and the TV I do have in Campomarino has no volume because the satellite dish needs adjusting. So essentially the TV is a picture box.
Today we woke up in Ravenna, Italy (add yawn here). After one month in Italy spending my afternoons in a nicer beach town area, this industrial port town is not wowing me. We got off the ship, walked along the water’s edge, decided not to pay the $50 transport fee into the town (a town that lacks historical importance), and got back on the boat. We tanned by the pool and hit up the hot tub. For lunch, we didn’t want to head to the buffet, and 35 days of Italian food have left me wanting something different. We found that something in Johnny Rockets. There’s one on the ship. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t eaten anything remotely close to a hamburger in more than a month, probably closer to two, or what, but it was absolutely delicious. All we had to pay was a $4.95 cover fee to get in, and we could eat as much as we wanted. I had a double cheeseburger with bacon and a fried egg added to it. The food was delicious, and Johnny Rockets gets my stamp of approval for a burger. This was my first time ever eating at one.
Tomorrow we will be in Bari and Alberobello, then on Wednesday we will head to Dubrovnik, Croatia. I will try to post at least some photos tomorrow of Bari and Alberobello, otherwise I likely won’t have access until I’m back in Venice on Friday.
