Our Mediterranean cruise, June-July 2007

that was abruptly interrupted after our ship hit a rock


Pat and Jim, new couple on our ship
with Dino and Laura who invited us to join them
RJ and Lise, another newbe couple to the cruise
Denise and Alex with our somnelier

Having some fun this 1st night on the ship
It's Pat and Jim's anniversary
what a surprise
I'm very happy too

of course full moon
and all it promises
with my partner
with laura and Dino

on our 1st walk that was also our last:(
anniversary celebration
1st day at sea
that became the last scheduled one:(

busy reading
Dress-up night
first and last:(
no one is sitting with their spouse

French tradition
how fun
Alex with Sue and Laura
Pat with Joel and RJ

DSCN5723.jpg
DSCN5724.jpg
Sue with Dino and Alex
Frank with Laura and Denise

and so on
and so forth
you get the idea
right?

Never a moment of bordom
the captain before the disaster
the morning of
Villefranche in the brumes

Approaching France
breakfast at peace
such a promising cruise
beautiful coast line

we are getting ready
to start our first excursion
and last scheduled
into Villefranche

back from Monaco
after the train ride
getting into?
bye peaceful France

back on the tender
going back to the ship
moments before the disaster
bye beautiful harbor

totally unsuspecting what's to come
happy and unsuspecting
DSCN5886.jpg
DSCN5887.jpg

DSCN5888.jpg
DSCN5889.jpg
DSCN5890.jpg
DSCN5891.jpg

the ship is getting closer to the rocks
it happens now
and instead of going to Livorno
we spend the day at sea going to Rome

Hopes are high
we only missed Livorno and Florence and Pizza
but the rest of the cruise is still ahead
so we thought

so we are celebrating
and getting to Rome on the 4th of july
and it's my birthday
celebrated a day later

as we are now bus travellers
and hopes are less high
but hey we are on vacation
with our friends

stuck in Rome's harbor
Civitavecchia
for 5 days
5 days!

an hour or more away from Rome
so we took a bus to Florence
another to Sorrento and Pompei
and of course Rome

while using our cabin
as our confy hotel room
leaving the harbor by bus
one can see this castle

the castle of Civitavecchia
and many other boats
which came and went
everyday

while we were strended
in Civitavecchia
at the port of Rome
celebrating our 29th anniversary

with our friends on the ship
having breakfast
served right on our balcony
beats other hotels

at least we didn't have to use these life boats
and we were safe
however some sail boats
as tiny as these

or as big as these
were freer than us
to go as they pleased
while we slept in Civitavecchia

in a beautiful cabin
by the sea
not so bad
while our friends were still there

but the last day has come
and we are saying goodbye
on the deck
dancing

and drinking
and celebrating
one last time
before we debark

and take a long ride
on a train to Venice
dance with me
my dear

one last dance
thanking our divers who worked so hard
saying bye to our neighbors
and the passing ships

that can all move
and go to their destinations
but not us
but Celebrity is good to us

they promise
to take us next year
on a new voyage
this time with no harm

so here is our last supper with Victoria serving us as always
and the liquor guy
and all of us
a bit concerned

but we still have each other:)