Just pulling memories from choppy notes I kept - Sat night we went into VL not ONE person there - Tony took a pix - pretty lonely! Actually hardly anyone in VL most nights second week and the bartenders were lonely!!!- drinks are $7 a drink and I had several people comment they would not pay that charge to be in the lounge - We ate Saturday night with our friends from CA so nice to see them!! I think I already told you about going to the Cathedral in Livorno Sunday for high Mass - that was an experience! We ate Sunday night with Betty, Priscilla and John in Compass Rose and had a great night. Every meal we had was wonderful so not going to go into detail on the food. Service was very good and staff as nice as ever! I think I had the filet with sauteed spinach and onion rings almost every night - also had Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita most nights - Monday we walked into Civitavecchia, had no expectations, and ended up having a very very nice day. We left the ship around 10 am and got back by 3 pm - had wonderful lunch at some local place. Betty stopped by our cabin that afternoon and we chatted and tried to fill her in on previous week. That night Tony and I ate in LaVeranda, it was packed, food very very good, we went to casino and I won $90 in slot machine after the 3rd try - cashed out and booked spa appt next morning - SS Shadow was next to us in many of second week ports. Tuesday we went to Capri and cabbed to Anacapri - wish we had had more time there - I really liked it and weather was perfect we had been to Capri but first time all the way to the top - what views!! - staff mentioned how quiet this week was compared to last - I think this was the day we discovered computers were down - dinner in CR I think with our CA friends (I didn't write this down but we ate with them 3 times) VL and casino quiet - Wednesday took ship shuttle to Taormina - pretty town to just walk and take cappucino breaks - Thursday sea day YEAH!!! Had a facial, very warm day pool and grill packed had never seen it so busy - they served grilled rib eyes, prawns, you name it delicious - ate with staff members that night (Philip and Vivian a cruise consultant who has worked for both Rad and SS so fun to ask her questions she feels Rad should go all inclusive said it makes such a difference with socialization in lounges as if we don't know that huh??) - Friday Rhodes so easy to do from ship - walked around and had lunch - perfect weather again - Saturday we toured Ephesus with Denise's guide who was outstanding - John, Priscilla, Betty, we were picked up at 8:30 am and back by 4:30 - had many laughs all day (John and Tony in comedic form) and great way to end the cruise - dinner with Betty last night at table next to J and P and friends - Betty called around 6 pm to say good bye and planned to eat in her room - I told her she must be crazy eat in your room the last night????!!!! Tony into the casino - Betty and I hugged good bye around 10:30 as had to go back and put luggage in hall - yuk!!! Hotel had cab waiting for us at 10 am in terminal and went right to hotel - check in took an hr as there were radisson buses waiting to drop people - we just stayed in line and chatted with people but, of course, the wait made some very cranky - we got our room immediately and it was gorgeous - our dinner Sunday night was ten minute walk from hotel, Italian, outstanding, have name if anyone wants it for visit to Athens had homemade ravioli with ham, peas in cream sauce soooooo yummy Tony had veal chop done in balsamic sauce and shared bottle of Syrah - great way to end a vacation - regrets? We wish we had stayed in Rome a few extra nights pre cruise instead of just 2 - not long enough - we were told that the comment cards are read in detail so I worked on filling mine out and giving credit to some wonderful people - Luis remembered us from WC as did a few others - saw a few passengers second week act demeaning to staff members - that makes my blood boil as there is no need to be abrupt or rude to the staff in front of others- most of the staff are so gentle that it is painful to watch them get chewed out - as my cranky father would say "Be a pompous a#@ with no class" or people who just like to complain - we were gone a total of 18 nights and the time flew by - I cannot imagine how much fun Mush will be with so many LCT'ers going - Betty I know you were nervous about your return flight and sorry it was a hassle - that does put a damper on the return - more later if I realize I have forgotten stuff - Joanna