9 and 10 October—Civitavecchia and A Sea Day

eylarson

5 days ago

2 min read

9 October—Civitavecchia is the port down about 90 minutes away from Rome. Since we’ve both been there and will be there again in January we skipped the bus ride and stayed in town. It is anchored by a large, still active naval fort, a Ferris wheel and a cathedral dedicated to St Francis. The last was closed. We stopped at a grocery store just to see what it looked like. There were three other ships in town and it appeared that a larger number elected to pass on the bus ride and walk along the street leading to the fort. We saw a statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga arrived in Civitavecchia on 18 October 1615 as part of a diplomatic mission sent to travel to Rome and meet Pope Paul V, to request Permission for Christian missionaries to enter Japan and establish a commercial treaty between Japan and New Spain (Mexico), He had already crossed the Pacific Ocean, visited Mexico, then crossed the Atlantic Ocean before reaching Italy — an extraordinary journey for the era.

Tonight was Scarlet Night on the ship, A Virgin Voyages version of a block party that moves from location to location gathering revelers along the way. In better weather it ends on the pool deck, but last night it was relocated to the theater. It was jammed with people and we gave in and retired.

10 October—Sea Day with usual trip to the gym, some breakfast that we shared with four women from Wichita, KS, where I was station in 1973-75. Hit the sun deck while Dolly tried her lock at the casino. Finally driven inside by the wind and clouds.