Having spent a beautiful day exploring together with my family in Fiera di Primiero on Sunday 9th August, Dad drove down to Bologna early on Monday, hairpin bends, narrow roads edged with mountains (you get the picture!), breathtaking scenery and a thunder storm on our arrival! We continued south on the Tuesday afternoon and arrived in the busy port of Civitavecchia near Rome in the late afternoon and found the hotel and decided to try out the restaurant as it specialised in locally caught seafood and fish.
After joining the ship for a seven night cruise at Civitavecchia (the port of Rome), our first stop was at Livorno, Italy where we travelled inland to Florence. It was great to go back and enjoy the beauty and history of the city.
We then travelled to Cannes in France and went ashore by tender (one of the ships many lifeboats) into the small port. It was great to explore the old part of the town and visit the market and practise our French.
From Cannes we made the trip to Palma, Majorca, we only had four hours in the port so had a short time to walk around before it was time to leave for Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona was an interesting mix of old and new with some beautiful buildings and interesting sites. We left the main tourist area and had a search for a quieter restaurant. I plucked up the courage and sampled a local paella which I shared with my Mum it was delicious.
Following Barcelona we had a day at sea to rest and relax before arriving in Naples, Italy on Tuesday 18th Aug. We had all been looking forward to this stop as we were to see the ancient city of Pompeii. I had read about the site and was curious to see the excavations and get a feel for the way the city must have been back before the eruption in 79AD. It was both interesting and a little unnerving at the same time, especially when we got to see the artefacts and plaster casts of the remains.
We arrived back at Civitavecchia on the 19th and then travelled in to Rome for the last couple of days. It was lovely to walk around at our own pace and explore a little more of the city.
It was fabulous to spend a little time with my family, relaxing, celebrating birthdays and enjoying exploring the languages, arts and culture.
I missed my train back to Glasgow on Friday afternoon, we were delayed at Rome airport two hours and I had to drive back quite late, which was exhausting, as I had a recital in Edinburgh on Saturday (the header picture is me just before the concert), but I’m now back in Glasgow and raring to go, batteries recharged and feeling energised for the start of the new term and my final year as an undergraduate.
Wonderful entryforyour travel journey. In coming years, you will appreciate the time it took to jot it down. Meanwhile, thanks for sharing this.
Thanks Dianne, I wrote the first part of the post last week but the Internet on the boat gobbled up the post because of the pictures I loaded, luckily I’d done the text in notebook so it didn’t take so long this evening ☺️. You’d be surprised how often I refer back to blog posts to remind me when I’m writing biographies for concerts and trying to remember dates of previous events, so glad I kept it up now.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos of Italy. It is such a wonderful place to visit. We went there last year and loved it!!
The people are so lovely and patient with me practising my beginners Italian on them, I’m quite good at ordering food now 😀. The beauty of each region is quite unique I love it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
WOW … your photos really give a great idea of the places you visited. It was almost like a Travel Brochure. I’m so envious of your opportunities, but am enjoying the fun through your pictures and blog. So glad you’re sharing it all with us here at the blog.
Thanks Cheryl, I thought of you a couple of times there, you would love the art shops and ideas. I got some great ideas to update my home made pictures. It was a special birthday for my Mum and Matt’s 25th the following day, just a wonderful treat.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely pictures.
Thank you Thomas ☺️.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Looks like a fantastic vacation with the family. The photos are beautifully done. Great family photo too. New look (?) looks good on you.
Nice to see you back, Charlotte.
Darlene
Just a bit of a tan ☺️, impossible to keep up in Glasgow lol. My winter woollies will be coming out soon.
It’s good to be back, a busy year ahead.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful trip, it’s great to be able to go ashore at the different stops, and get a feel for the places, if only for a short while. I bet you enjoyed all the different cities, especially Barcelona.
I absolutely loved this break, every time we went ashore Matt’s phone log said we walked around ten miles, we crammed so much in, making sure we tried local foods, and got off the beaten tracks, although Dad took a wrong turn in Palma which gets a bit scary when you’re told the boat will leave without you if you’re late!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hello Charlotte, thanks for share this nice picts, you are really fabulous, Best wishes for this new year, hope to meet you again. All the best for you !
Hello ☺️ it was a really interesting seven weeks, I learnt such a lot, not just the vocal coaching but the culture, atmosphere, my photos don’t do the places we visited justice. Au revoir 😀,
My best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely travel !!! The paella looks so good!
It was so tasty, very intense flavour, my Mum ordered a tomato and tuna salad but couldn’t resist helping me out to eat it all. I’m so lucky my parents still take us away with them ☺️.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a fun vacation – all the sites I hope to see someday. And so much better to do it with your family! It looks like you had great fun – loved the Statues picture – and hope you get some rest while you are settling in at school again.
I can so recommend that vacation, although if you have time the two week tour sounded brilliant.
I’m not known as Cinderella for nothing I start to get sleepy before 11pm 😄. I was so ready for the break from singing, as I really made the most of the five week opera course. I’ve had to turn down a number of wonderful opportunities this end of summer/autumn season so that I can pace myself so I know what you mean, thank you for looking out for me.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful photos, lovely post. Get some rest!
Thank you ☺️. I have had a bit of a rest, whilst catching up with all my laundry!
All the best
Charlotte
Nice Photos !!
Especially the statues,
Where Matt( i think ),
Is The Hercules,
Holding The Invisible Globe !!
Thanks for sharing Angel Charlotte Hoather.
I thought Matt was being Atlas. Good pics, Charlotte. We’re off to Italy next year; you’ve whetted my appetite.
The Pick Man, you are right, i mean to say Atlas.
Thanks Angel The Pick Man.
☺️ Matt will be so happy you both noticed, makes me wish I’d struck up a Roman goddess like Venus. Next time.
Best wishes
Charlotte
There I was thinking Matt was larking around but now I see he was taking things seriously lol 😆.
You will love Italy Terry, which part are you going to?
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte, for the beautiful pics! I feel like I was right there with you! I especially liked the Ponte Vechio in Florence which is an important element in Dan Brown’s latest book, “Inferno” (yes, I am a fan — a guilty pleasure!). Michael
Florence is a beautiful City. I love Tom Hanks in Dan Brown’s movies, he’s very believable and multi-dimensional. Let me know how ‘Inferno’ is.
Bert wishes
Charlotte
Terrific photos. looks like a rewarding summer.
Thanks John, it’s been a wonderful summer and it’s filled me full of beans ☺️.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Love that expression.
Looks like you had a divine time at some lovely places. Welcome home!
Thanks Cindy it’s good to be back, been organising my home all weekend.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful, and great to see you having fun with your family in Italy. What a blessing the Lord is allowing you to have. Continue to thank the Lord, and as the Apostle Paul said, when in Rome, act like the Romans, who had great faith.
You’re amazing! A young lady with a multitude of talents . . . you sing, write & you’re a great photographer! This shows that you can be anybody or anything you want to be. Paul.chong33@gmail.com
Rome was a beautiful City to visit, I found it very enriching. People were lovely and the food was great.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What wonderful photos! They take me back to our cruise from Barcelona throughout Italy and Croatia with a stop in Nice. Thanks so much for sharing.
That sounds like a brilliant holiday I’m glad I brought back a few of your happy memories.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beatiful post Charlotte! 🙂
Thank you ☺️ I had so many lovely photos to choose from.
Best wishes
Charlotte
A bouquet of Sweet smiles nicely mingling with History,Romance,Architecture,Gastronomy;you had it all,dear Charlotte!
Hugs,Doda 🙂 xxx
Hugs right back to you Doda 😀.
Best wishes
Charlotte
★🌟 ☀xxx
What a fun holiday, Charlotte! I love cruises, but I have only been on transatlantic ones so far. Someday I will go on a Mediterranean one. I would have been tempted to burst into song in that arena too! Best wishes for your final year!
Best regards,
Cate
Thanks Cate, you would love it. Best wishes to you and your family too ☺️
Charlotte
How fun and beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome, thank you Colleen.
My best wishes
Charlotte
What a great trip. Did you go to the cathedral in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia?
No time to Andrew, but I’d love to visit the cathedral maybe I’ll get a chance to go back.
Bert wishes
Charlotte
Yay! Boats! Cake all around! Does it feel odd being on a ship for long stretches of time? Can you tell that you’re on the water? Did you buy any souvenirs…like a mug or keychain or a container of dirt? Italian food is my favorite. I’d like to visit Italy because I heard they have the real good stuff. “Waiter…I would like extra cheese on EvErYtHiNg!” haha 🙂
You hardly notice you’re on a boat, I like to walk around the boat and look over at the sea. I bought a rosary for a friend. I love Italian food too but the paella was super.
Lots of cheese 😋.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Great pics and I enjoyed seeing all these places I hope to visit one day. I am sure you are also enjoying the temporary tan!
As for you plans, I think you are spot-on. Sometimes it is better to recharge and concentrate on a few things instead of constantly trying to do everything and burning yourself out.
Here is to another productive year!
I’m a factor 30 girl so you can guess how hot it was that I tanned at all ☺️. You would love it on the Mediterranean.
Thanks Steve I hope so.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What beautiful pictures! I’m glad that you had such a nice holiday. I wish you the best in your final year of study! xx
Thanks Elizabeth ☺️.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Looks like you and the family had a great time touring Italy. I so loved your photographs. Now, refreshed and renewed, back to dear old Scottish weather and the final year. What is it the Americans say? – Confidence is High!
Thanks John, it’s surprisingly nice weather in Glasgow this past week, although it’s threatening to rain right at the moment.
Hope you’re well.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely photos! What a packed and busy holiday – I hope you are refreshed if not rested! I love the black dress with the gold decoration in that last photo – you look gorgeous! Best of luck with the new term, Charlotte!
Thanks Clare, I enjoyed the concert. I’m ready to start back to work now ☺️.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
I wish you all the best for this last year at college Clare x
Wonderful photos, Charlotte!
Thanks it’s easy to photograph such lovely places, have you visited Europe? You would love it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
NOt yet, but it is on my to-do list for sure!
Fabulous photos, fabulous holiday and you look fabulous as always😀 looking forward to seeing you on your next visit xxx
Thanks Gill, see you soon ☺️.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Glad you’ve had a marvellous summer, Charlotte. All the best for your final undergrad year and I’m sure, a step closer to a most promising future. FYI, Pavel Kolesnikov is coming to my city Calgary in Sept. for an open air public concert to mark another Honens Piano Competition, which he won in 2012.
Thanks Arti, will you have snow? I’d love to visit Calgary.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Great series of photos ~ your smile gives away the fun you had and the beauty you saw during your travels. I especially like the first shot of ‘your type of house’ that was a bit funny as I could see it 🙂 Cheers!
I so wanted to go into that lovely home ☺️ we all had a great time. Cheers Randall!
Best wishes
Charlotte
Even when you are ‘relaxing’ you are packing in the miles. I’m looking forward to your next term too.
What wonderful photos. Looks so lovely.