Europe Day 19 of 59, Capri

Day 19 represents our final full day on the cruise as well as the completion of the first third of this trip. We awoke off the shore of Capri, as an island off the coast of Italy just outside the gulf of Napoli. The people of this area make a point of calling it, "Napoli," not "Naples." They are aware that there is a Naples, Florida and do not want to be associated with it. Seriously. These were Antonio's very words.

This is Capri.

And this is Capri. One thing that makes many of these Italian islands unique is that they're limestone, which makes for some very different and beautiful topography.

Atop Capri is a castle which is owned by Mr. Gerber, of Gerber baby food. Why wouldn't he buy Capri's central castle? He lives THERE.

One of the main attractions of Capri is the Blue Grotto, a fairly unique sea cave. We signed up for the Blue Grotto tour, which meant another early morning.

We boarded a small boat which took us to the opening of the Blue Grotto. Doesn't look like much, eh?

Then each couple boarded a small rowboat. Guys, not young guys, sit in the rowboats and come at you like street vendors. "Hey-a, I take-a you! I take-a you into the grotto, yes-a?" You lay on your back to get into that opening (the picture stunk and is not included, and as soon as you can sit up and turn around...

You see why it is called the Blue Grotto? Sunlight plus perfectly clear Mediterranean water equals natural beauty.

I took many, many pictures. A natural hue of blue you're unlikely to see anywhere else in nature.

I said I took many pictures.

Barbie enjoyed the Blue Grotto enough to show her joy in a pose. I loved it as well.

The boat which took us to the Blue Grotto took us to the town instead of back to the boat. From there, you take a funicular up to the town atop the space between the peaks.

And once up there, you turn and take a picture of where you were.

We went walking through the town, which is nothing but shops, restaurants and hotels. Barbie's goal was to visit three luxury hotels.

First, Grand Hotel Quisisana. A gorgeous hotel.

I might as well share this. We walked over to the pool to see the view and we could not see much of the bay. And then, as we walked back to the hotel, a stunningly beautiful woman chose to remove her bikini top as we walked by. She was, one might say, without flaw. Those of you massively disappointed in me for not taking a picture are reminded that you are looking at the internet at this moment and if you really, really want to see toplessness, well, there are a jillion options at your fingertips. Back to Capri.

We walked over to Hotel Luna. (Did I mention that google maps on the iPhone guided us to each hotel with ease? No? I didn't? Believe when I say that would have found nothing without the iPhone.) They asked if we'd like to have a drink on their veranda. Would you say no?

The view from the Hotel Luna veranda. Remember those rock outcroppings for later. Seriously. Remember them.

Then we walked over to Hotel la Scalinatella. It was beautiful as well.

The Scalinatella lobby.

The Scalinatella bar.

From the Scalinatella veranda, I was able to get a picture of the Hotel Luna. Fifteen minutes earlier we were sipping Pellegrino right THERE.

On the way back to the boat, Barbie got some gelato. For the first time this trip, I passed. She let me taste this and I almost changed my mind. But lunch was waiting for me on board.

On the tender, returning home. We realized that SeaDream One truly is home now. Oh. And you can assume the finger is saying MINE, not THERE.

This is HOME for one more day.

After lunch, it was pool time. I was convinced that this would be the last picture of the day.

Then the Aussies came home and jumped into the pool in their clothes. You see, we had 60 Australian Subaru dealers on this cruise with us. They kept to themselves with many of their own excurions planned, which is why you had not heard of them before. Seriously. This has got to be the last pic of the day, no?

No, the captain had a surprise. Remember these outcroppings that we saw while sipping mineral water?

See the gap between the rocks? No question where we're headed.

After we passed through the gap, I jogged from the front of the top deck to the rear, and snapped this pic. You can see the trail of the ship.

Seriously. We went through THERE.

Barbie took this one. A beautiful Mediterranean sunset.

We ate dinner with the same couples that joined us for Barbie's birthday dinner. We truly enjoyed their company and sincerely consider them to be our friends. I took one last picture.

Ian and Hollins. Two great guys. Ian is wearing flip flops for medical reasons, but I personally think it looks brilliant. As great as this cruise was, it was made even better by the people we met on board.