HAPPY HALLOWEEEN!  We hope you had a great Halloween.  We learned that Halloween is not as big a deal outside the US.

Today was a much better day adventure wise.  We docked on time at Livorno, Italy and took a short cab ride to the train station.  The train ride was about and hour and half to Florence.  In Florence we caught an open air double decker tour bus for an incredible tour of the city.  We stopped at the Dumo a Romanesque cathedral which dates back to the 12th century.  You can climb to the top of the dome and get a great view of the city from the top.  We made it to the top of the dome inside - but not to the very top.  The Dumo houses the Tintoretto’s magnificent painting of the Last Supper.  After eating a little pizza we took the bus outside the city up a mountain side so we could get incredible views of the city. 

We also stopped at the museum that housed the original David statue by Michelangelo.  I was stunned at how BIG the "David" is.  I am also amazed at how many bicycles and scooters there are here.  There also seems to be a contest to see who can drive the smallest car or ride on the smallest bus.

Then on to Pisa.  We decided to walk from the train station about a mile to  the "Field of Miracles" which is where the leaning tower of Pisa is located.  The walk was almost as incredible as seeing the tower.  When we rounded the corner and I first saw the leaning tower - it took my breath.  I was a little surprised at how small it actually is.   It was a little overcast today - but several times the sun peeked out so I could experience the "Tuscan Sun".  It is so incredible here.  I wish I could come back and bring each of you!

Tomorrow we will drop anchor in the port of Villefranche, France.  We will not actually dock - but anchor near the shore and then tender in by small boat.  We are only in the port for eight hours - so we are not sure how much we will venture out side of Villefranche.  Then on Sunday we begin our journey home which is eight and a half hour flight from Barcelona to Atlanta.  We will conquer a six hour time change and drive three hours home.  We hope to be back in the office early next week.

Our Internet service is questionable after tonight - so it may be Monday before we can give you the final few days of blogs.

After today, we can definitely say that we are adventure travelers.  Every challenge we could imagine occurred.  We were suppose to be docked in the port of Civitavecchia, Italy at 7 AM.  Our plan was to walk five blocks and catch a 7:30 train to Rome.  Easy enough right?  Well due to 8 to 9 foot seas and high winds, we were not able to dock until after 8 AM and the next train was 9:40.  We arrived in Rome around 11AM only to learn that the city was shut down due to a strike of the teachers and students.  There were thousands of them protesting in the streets - shutting down the main roads in Rome.  We diverted to plan B and took the Metro to Trevi Fountain and on the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel.  We did a little shopping and ate panini’s for lunch.  We then took the metro back to catch our train only to learn that the entire electronic board system - which tells you what platform the trains are - was down.  There are over 30 trains at this station.  After much confusion we found our train platform.  But the trains were all off schedule and we had two train loads of people waiting for one train.   We have NEVER been so packed on a train.  But we were so HAPPY to be on the train - that it did not matter that we had to stand - packed like sardines for the hour and half train ride.

The rain held off until the train ride back.  Even though it was tremendously challenging battling all the unexpected adventures that seem to continue and continue - in addition to not being able to speak the language or read the signs - we had a great time.   We tossed coins in the Trevi Fountain which is suppose to bring us back to Rome.  The fountain was so incredible.  After lunch we went on to Vatican City.  The pictures will speak for themselves - it was more than words can describe.  Truly a very moving experience.

Tomorrow, we head to Florence and then hopefully on to Pisa.  We will be docking in Livorno and will have to take a train to Florence.  This is the gateway to the Tuscan region and the part I have been most excited about.  With a little luck - we will have a great day of travel and have great images to share with you tomorrow.

    We had another long day of touring.  First we went to Pompeii, a Roman resort buried by volcanic ash.  We saw the city’s baths, villas and theatres.  It was amazing how well preserved the frescoes and mosaic inlaid floors were.  Plaster casts mark the positions of the fallen, who were swiftly overcome by the ashes.  This once flourishing Civilization, was buried for 1,700 years under 20 feet of ash and pumice.

We then traveled by car to Sorrento a cliff top town.  This village has amazing views of the sea.  The flower filled main street and the Corso Italia, lined with boutiques.  Sorrento reminded me very much of Provence, France.  It was simply a photographers dream.  I am in creative overload!  A couple of points about the images posted…  The padlocks are an interesting tradition.  We stopped just outside of Sorrento at a cliff side overlook of the sea.  This is apparently a popular place to get engaged.  Once you become engaged here, you place a pad lock on the fence with your names and date of engagement written on the pad locks and you throw the keys into the sea.  For lunch today we ate at one of the beautiful outdoor cafes.  We had pizza and lasagna and of course we drank COKE.  For dessert we had more Gelata.

Everyone is SO nice.  I am surprised how closely they are following the US election.  Of course, DeWayne is enjoying their interest very much in our National election.  It is another reminder of how fortunate we are in the US and how we truly lead the world with every decision we make.

Tomorrow - Rome.  We travel by Rome by train and tour the Vatican and Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum.  Another busy day of travel and photographing.

  I thought Barcelona  was incredible; but it just keeps getting better.  We simply stepped back in time again today in Malta.   There are three small islands that make up the Republic of Malta.  These islands have long had the attention of the world, from days of crusading knights to World War II action, all due to Malta’s strategic location.  Malta’s islands are positioned in the Mediterranean, just south of Sicily, a point that commands access not only to Europe but to Northern Africa and the Middle East as well.

There are cars here but the streets are VERY narrow.  The preferred means of transportation is still horse and buggy.  You feel very safe here until you spot the Bomb Disposal truck.  It is a reminder that you are never as safe as you think.  The cathedral pictured here is St. John’s Co-Cathedral.  There are lots of open air markets where people shop and eat.  Of course, we had to pause for some Gelato.  It was great, but not as good as Brewsters!  The fort/castle looking structure out in the water is where the movies Gladiator and Troy was filmed. DeWayne took a picture of me on our bed in our cabin.  Everyone complains how small the cabins and beds are on the cruise ship.  Not really sure what they mean?  As you can tell, the artwork on the ship is beautiful.

This country is also know for hand made lace and the Maltic Cross.  Of course, I had to buy a little of both.  Tonight we travel to Naples, Italy.  Our hope is to catch a train to Pompeii but we have learned there may be a transportation strike tomorrow, which may cause us to change our agenda somewhat.  I am looking forward to seeing Pompeii so I hope we can figure out a way around the strike. Ahhh…the adventures of travel.

Today was the day we get to catch up on sleep and fight jet lag from an eight and half hour flight.  We are 5 hours ahead of all of you back home.  We really enjoyed Barcelona yesterday.  I would certainly love to spend more time in this beautiful city.  Today we were able to explore our ship - the Norwegian Gem.  It is a new ship just under a year old.  It comes complete with watersides and a rock climbing wall - in addition to all the other fun cruise ship stuff.

I wanted to share a few more pictures from Barcelona I took yesterday.  Tomorrow we will be docking in Valetta, Malta a small island off the cost of Italy.  It is a beautiful island filled with fishing villages.  I will have beautiful pictures from there tomorrow.

We were able to attend yesterday a Sunday morning mass at the Cathedral in Barcelona.  This was a beautiful, breathtaking place.  The arch looks like Paris - but it is much smaller.

If you are a little nervous about being on a big boat - you are comforted by doing an emergency drill - where you are shown how to evacuate the ship in case it sinks.  That certainly calms your nerves.  DeWayne thinks is is a ploy to sell more alcohol.

What a beautiful day here in Barcelona.  It is 9:49 am here 4 AM at home.  It is sunny and 65 degrees.  Our flight was wonderful and we are on a city tour now of Barcelona.  We saw already the Olympic stadium.  You remember that Barcelona hosted the Olympics prior to Atlanta in 1992.

We saw our ship as the plane approached and will be boarding soon.

Wanted to share a few pictures and let all of you know we are here safe and sound.  WOW it is So beautiful!

  Thanks to beautiful weather we have been able to extend our beach sessions this year.  The cooler weather allows a bug(almost)free environment and some of the most incredible sunsets I have seen in years.  This beautiful family are definitely Lori Grice super fans.  This year’s portrait goals were to create two fine are pieces for their home.  They wanted a five year oil of their daughter and a watercolor of the family.  The family portrait will become the centerpiece of their home.  This portrait is really breathtaking.  It exceeded all of our expectations and theirs and I think it will yours also.  The beauty, love and joy this family shares radiates in this watercolor.

Every day one of you tell me how much you dream of having a Lori Grice Fine Art piece in your home.  There is NO reason you can not have one.  We will work with you to make it a reality. 

Here are a few of my favorites from the day at the beach - in additional to the breathtaking fine art portrait.