Day 14...Italy Day!

Day 14, June 28th: 

Italy Day!

Today is called Italy Day on the ship!  That means today was full of meetings and inter-port lecturers giving speeches and advice about what to do in Rome and Naples.  I just kinda didn’t go to any of them, but I did watch the mandatory ones from the comfort of my room.  Since everyone can’t fit in the Union, they broadcast everything held in the Union over the television system.  We had our pre-port meeting as always tonight as well.  It was kinda cool, but I still don’t feel like Italy is going to be here in less than 7 hours!  Tonight for dinner, we had all Italian food (4 pastas, 2 different types of garlic bread, tiramisu, spinach lasagna, chicken cacciatore, ministrone soup and salad.  It was pretty good.  I can’t wait to explore all of the real Italian food!  BTW this girl on the ship today asked how order Italian food in Italy!  “If you want Italian food in Italy, do you just ask for food?”  Wow!!!!  See what we have to deal with on this ship!  You all think it is fun and games…yeah, what about the stupid people that we can’t throw overboard.  (That’s why we have stupid questions that people over hear on each set of announcements each day!!!!!!!!)  Anyways…just letting you know that I will not be posting very much on the blog over the next few days.  I am not taking my computer with me, but I may send in a quick update from my Blackberry if I can.  It is going to be FUN!!!!!! and AMAZING!!!!!!  I can’t wait!  Later guys…

P.S.    Ohh BTW…so today was our first laundry day since we left Halifax!  And guess what…we don’t get it back until after Italy!!!!  But they failed to tell us this!!!  I put all of my clothes for the last 15 days in the laundry, so I am kinda running on fumes in terms of clothes.  I guess I may be doing what Pa (my grandfather) suggested: wear your underwear 4 days by flipping it inside out and then turn them around.  We will have to see!  This may be very interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Basic Outline of Schedule for Italy:

June 29th:  Take train from ship to Rome, explore Rome, hostel in Rome for the night
June 30th:  Vatican in the morning, explore Rome, plane to Venice in late evening, hostel in Venice
July 1st:  Explore Venice, Hostel in Venice
July 2nd:  Explore Venice, plane to Naples in the late evening, hostel in Naples
July 3rd:  Train to Pompeii, explore Pompeii, return to ship for the night in Naples
July 4th: Capri (Details TBD), return to ship for the night in Naples
July 5th: Explore Naples, On-board time is 6pm, depart Italy at 8pm

Noon Report for June 28th:

190 NM since Barcelona, 250 NM to Civitavecchia, average of 13.67 knots since Barcelona, distance to nearest land is 84 NM NW from Sardenga Island (Italy), sea depth is 8,202 ft, sea swells are .3 ft, water temperature is 69.8 degrees, air temperature is 71.6 degrees, sunset 21:00, sunrise 05:40, currently +6 hrs from EST.