Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy - April 1, 2008

Having only one day (really only a few hours) to see Rome and wanting to see as much as possible, we had to come up with a time saving, whirlwind of a plan. After much research, the following is what we decided upon.

Civitavecchia is the closest port on a Mediterranean cruise to get to Rome. From there its about an hour train ride into Rome. To get to the train station, you simply exit the port entrance and while keeping the sea to your right, continue along the street parallel to the coastline. It will take you to the train station, a yellow-orange building, in about 3-4 blocks. We each purchased a B.I.R.G. ticket for 9,00E. This is good for a round-trip to Rome as well as unlimited access to the subway and buses within Rome. The ticket must be validated (date/time stamped) in a yellow machine before boarding as a conductor can impose a fine for an unvalidated ticket.

With the Colosseum area slated as our first stop, we took the train to the Piramide station. This is a transfer point to the Metro B line. One stop away is the Circo Massimo stop. We opted to get off here instead of the Colosseo stop because the walk is downhill (as opposed to uphill from the second stop) to the Palatine Hill ticket booth where the lines to purchase attraction tickets are MUCH shorter. One ticket for 11,00E is good for admission to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. If you are going to be in Rome for an extended number of days there is a Roma Pass available for 23,00E. This provides free or reduced admission to over 40 monuments, museums, and archaeological sites.

Our first attraction was the Colosseum, an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city - the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman Engineering. Its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus. Originally capable of seating around 80,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. It has been estimated that about 500,000 people and over a million wild animals died in the Colosseum games. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine. Renovation work is in progress to preserve what is left of this magnificent structure.

Our next stop was Palatine Hill which is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome. This is also one of the most ancient parts of the city. It is thought that Rome has its origins on the Palatine Hill. Recent excavations have shown that people have lived on the site since approximately 1000 B.C. According to Roman mythology, the Palatine hill was where Romulus and Remus were found by a female wolf that kept them alive. After which, according to this legend, a shepherd named Faustulus found the infants, and with his wife Acca Larentia raised the children. Later when they were older, Romulus chose this site to build the city of Rome.

We then continued through the Roman Forum which is located in a valley that is between the Palatine hill and the Capitoline hill. The Forum was the public space in the middle of a Roman city. A gathering place of great social significance, it was often the scene of diverse activities including political discussions, meetings, etc. The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic center. It was expanded to include temples, a senate house and law courts. Much of the forum has been destroyed. Columns and stone blocks are all that remain of some temples. The arch of Titus and the arch of Septimius Severus still stand and are in good shape. On the west side of the Forum we passed by some other monuments which will have to wait until another visit to further explore.

We couldn't visit Italy without sampling some gelato. On our way to the Trevi Fountain, we stopped at San Crispino which some guide books say has the best in Rome. After enjoying a sampler dish of four flavors of gelato, we made our way to the Trevi Fountain. This is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. This impressive monument dominates the small Trevi square located in the Quirinale district. The water at the bottom of the fountain represents the sea. Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain. Of course we had to do this, in hopes of someday returning to this beautiful city.

Next on our agenda was the Vatican Museum. The Vatican Museum, inside the Vatican City, is one of the greatest museums in the world, since they display works from the immense collection built up by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries. The museum has works of art of painters including Michelangelo, Raphael and Fra Angelico. Pope Julius II founded the museums in the 16th century. Our plan of attack was to take the metro line A from the Barberini stop located near the Trevi Fountain to the Ottaviano stop which is a short distance from the Vatican City. We found virtually no line at the ticket window in the afternoon where as it can be at least an hour wait to purchase the 14,00E ticket in the morning. After perusing the many breathtaking sculptures, paintings (on the walls and ceilings), tapestries, and mosaics, we came to what is probably the best know exhibit in the museum - the Sistine Chapel. From 1508 to 1512 Michelangelo painstakingly worked on the ceiling of this masterpiece. Unfortunately, no photography is permitted in here.

Near the back of the Sistine Chapel on the right side we took the quick way to St. Peter's Basilica. This can only be taken if no bags have been checked at the entrance of the Vatican. We went through a door and down some steps to emerge inside the secured area of St. Peter's, the most prominent building inside the Vatican City. Its dome is a dominant feature of the skyline of Rome. Probably the largest church in Christianity, it covers an area of 5.7 acres and has a capacity of over 60,000 people. It occupies a "unique position" as one of the holiest sites and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom. Catholic Tradition holds that Saint Peter's tomb is below the altar of the basilica. For this reason, many Popes, starting with the first ones, have been buried here. On most Wednesday afternoons, the current Pope addresses the crowd from a balcony overlooking the huge courtyard.

Since we actually had a little time left before we needed to catch the train back to Civitavecchia, we decided that relaxing for a while would be nice. We found a little sidewalk cafe and enjoyed some authentic pizza. The San Pietro station was a short distance away. We ended up on a very crowded commuter train which gave opportunity to mingle with the locals. All in all it was an extremely exciting, eventful, and exhausting day.

Below is a video encapsulating much of what we experienced. See if you recognize the Italian music mix we included.

Barcelona, Spain - March 29-30, 2008

After a very long overnight flight and what seemed like an even longer hike through Heathrow Int'l, we were finally in Barcelona. The first order of business - getting Euros from the ATM. The first one we found was out of order which is common. We finally found another one in a bit of an obscure place so make sure you ask if you need one.

Cabs are quite expensive here so we opted to pack a little lighter and take the bus. For 3,90E you can find an "express" bus which takes you directly to plaça Catalunya which is the main plaza in the tourist area. The subway can be accessed from here.

This is a very cosmopolitan city and one of the most popular to visit in Europe. As a result true bargains are difficult to find. Hotels (hostals) book up early so it's wise to make reservations asap. Staying on or around Las Ramblas, the main tourist drag, can be expensive and noisy so choose if you want to be among the action or not.

Even though we personally waited a little late to reserve, we were fortunate enough to find a quad room (very rare in Europe) for a reasonable price just off of Las Ramblas at the Hostal Mare Nostrum. Our room had 4 single beds, a private bath, a small balcony, and included an adequate continental breakfast, luggage storage after check-out, and free internet.

Upon arrival at plaça Catalunya we decided to walk down Las Ramblas for the ambience which was challenging but enjoyable getting through the crowd. Our good friends, Mike and Alice, arrived earlier in the day and had already checked us in. Luckily we were able to reach them via 2-way radios to find our way through the crowds and growing dusk to the hostal. We grabbed a quick bite and hit the hay as we were all exhausted.

After a great night's sleep and a relaxing breakfast we were ready to see the sights. Since we only had a few hours before embarking on the Norwegian Jade, we could only choose a couple of the many things to see. The weather was beautiful so we opted for outdoor sights. We headed down Las Ramblas toward the Christopher Columbus statue. There were many living "statues" encountered along the way. This is a great place to people watch.

From here we decided to take the subway to Park Guell which was designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. It contains many beautiful mosaic works that Gaudi fashioned including the much photographed mosaic dragon. With its location being high on a hill it has wonderful views of much of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. It was a perfect place to spend strolling on a sunny day.

It was easy and convenient to use the subway system in Barcelona. Installed just before the 1992 Olympics, we found it to be very cheap, clean, and modern. There are electronic maps with lights in each car so you always know where you are at. For those who are there long enough, there is also a hop on/hop off bus service that many people we met had good things to say about.

Please enjoy our video below set to the music of Los Lonely Boys.

Come Fall for Cumberland Falls

On our way home from a recent weekend trip down south, we stopped at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park about 15 miles west of Corbin, Kentucky. Wherever you travel in Kentucky, you are never far from one of it's 52 State Parks. Nearly 8 million people visit Kentucky State Parks each year. Each park has it's own unique attributes ranging from winding caves and enchanting woodlands, to shorelines and majestic mountains.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Known as the "Niagra of the South", the waterfall forms a 125-foot wide curtain that plunges 70 feet into a boulder-strewn gorge below. Visible only on a clear night during a full moon, the mist of Cumberland Falls creates the magic of the moonbow. This unique phenomenon appears nowhere else in the Western Hemisphere. The schedule for this event can be found by visiting Kentucky State Park website at http://www.parks.ky.gov/.

There are 12 marked hiking trails at Cumberland Falls State Park ranging from the Laurel Trail (1/4-mile) to the Moonbow Trail (10.8 - mile). We took Trail #9 - the Eagle Falls Trail (1.5 - miles). Trail # 9 is the only trail leading to Eagle Falls. Much of this trail follows the cliff line, so hikers should use extreme caution , watching their step at all times. Parents hiking with children should keep them near their sides. The Eagle Falls Trail offers some of the best views of the falls.

About 1/2 mile from the trail head, there is a short trail leading to an overlook that views the Cumberland River gorge below the falls. There is also a historic Civilian Conservation Corps shelter at the overlook. After crossing a small seasonal stream, Trail #9 becomes a loop. To the right, the trail proceeds to Eagle Falls. At the one-mile point, a spur trail takes you down the river. This is the trail hikers should take to view Eagle Falls. Note that during high water, this lower section of the trail may be under water. The upper trail follows Eagle Creek upstream and then crosses a ridge to complete the loop. This is a very rugged section of the trail.

Even though the water level at Eagle Falls was low the day of our hike, it was still well worth making the hike. The weather was a perfect 72 degrees and the sun was shining brightly. The fall color was simple beautiful.

Since we love hiking, we wanted to leave you with some important hiking tips:

• When planning your hike, remember that the terrain is not flat. A mile of trail and a city sidewalk are not the same.
• Plan your hike so you will be back before dark. Many park trails are bordered by cliffs which make hiking after dark very dangerous. Remember that it may get darker faster in the forest.
• Carry an ample supply of water. There are no drinking water sources along the trails. Even on cool days, you are still going to need water, especially when hiking up hill.
• It is suggested that you not hike alone. The buddy system is always best. If you are planning on hiking alone, you should always let someone else know your hiking plans. Many cell phones cannot pick up service in these hiking areas.
• Proper foot wear is always suggested.