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Italy is Calling
  • Deb Horrocks
  • Sharon Menne
  • Enrae Lanfredi
  • Deb Horrocks
  • Sharon Menne
  • Enrae Lanfredi

Italy is Calling

A 10-day adventure by Deb, Sharon & Enrae Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 28, 2025
  • Italy is Calling
    2

    Flying The Friendly Skies

    October 28 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F

    Lunch in Dulles Airport, onboard and we will be in Rome in only eight and a half short hours!

  • Italy is Calling

    Hello, Rome!

    October 29 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Our transfer drivers met us right on time at the airport and took us all in two vans to our rooms at the Inn at the Spanish Steps. Driving in Rome is no easy task, with lots of traffic, narrow streets and very odd cross streets going every which way. I don’t know how it’s determined who goes next and where they can turn. But we arrived safely and were greeted by a staff that was overly anxious to please.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Off to see the city

    October 29 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    The weather in Rome was absolutely perfect.
    Enrae & Tony were off to the excursion they had planned, and to visit with Tony’s family.
    Lisa, Rob and Sharon opted to enjoy the area around the Spanish Steps enjoying a Tea Room and dining Al Fresco at a Cafe. Jeannie, Dan and I took a tour of the City on the upper deck of the Big Red Hop On Hop Off bus, did a little shopping and tackled the Spanish Steps. Sharon, Lisa & Rob went to dinner after naps while I opted for take out and more nap time.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Hop on, Stay on, Shop, Walk

    October 29 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Riding through the city of Rome we enjoyed the architecture, statues and fountains. We saw the Circus Maximus where the chariot races were run, the Coliseum right smack dab in the middle of the city and we passed by Vatican City. Dan found his own personal shop and I found Hertz. Jeannie? A purse for a very lucky little girl! We descended the Spanish Steps, watched “chestnuts being roasted on an open fire” and returned to our rooms.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Onboard the Viking Star

    October 30 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 66 °F

    Left Rome this afternoon and arrived at the ship’s terminal and to a grand welcome with glasses of champagne, life jacket demonstration and directly to the bar. Our bartender will surely remember us all week. His name is “Krishna, as in Hari Krishna”, so Dan decided we will be calling him Harry this week. A few drinks, a quick change for dinner and off we went to our reservation at the Chef’s Table. The chef’s 5 course menu included selections from England with the appropriate wine pairings. Grabbing a nightcap for the rooms were we’re off to unpack and call it an evening.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Vatican City

    October 30 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 66 °F

    After a beautiful breakfast in a quaint breakfast room off the Rooftop Garden we headed to our tour of Vatican City. We learned that Michelangelo was not only a painter, but also a sculptor and an architect. And that Roman statues are sculptured wearing clothes while Greeks are nude. Visiting the amazing beauty of the Basilica there was a Mass in session. We were able to visit the gift shop and have our purchases blessed before returning to the Inn, going out for lunch and taking the Inn’s ancient elevator to the lounge, where we waited for our transport to the Viking Star.Read more

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    1

    Sicily

    October 31 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    We arrived at port in Messina, the third largest city in Sicily. We woke to a rainbow from our balcony and had a quick breakfast before heading out for the day. Messina was destroyed in 1908 when simultaneous earthquake and tsunami killed 60,000 people in 35 seconds. We boarded our motor coach to our first stop, Taormina, an ancient fort between the Ionian Sea and Mt Etna. We enjoyed spectacular views, statues, the second oldest Roman Theater and shops along the narrow street.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Sorrento’s Pride

    October 31, Tyrrhenian Sea ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    Locals from this area are very proud. Of everything. They are proud of their vegetables and the rich soil in which they are grown. Of their soccer teams, so much that earthquake monitoring much be shut down during their games. Of the organic wheat which makes the best breads, pizza & pasta. Originally pasta would be dried by the sun. Today it takes up to two weeks to dry. They have a very personal relationship with food. When an Italian prepares a meal they are not just cooking. They are saying “I love you”. There are over 300 types of tomatoes with Roma the worst. The best, San Marzano and the Sorrento is best with mozzarella.
    Mozzarella is so good due to the milk from small cows with blue eyes. They are proud of their green olives, their fish, mussels and the red and pink tuna that they are allowed to catch in this region. And they are obsessed with coffee. We walked around Sorrento which is a tiny, very expensive area. We shopped, we ate, we admired the churches, clock tower and our driver’s skill while navigating the extremely narrow streets.    Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Limoncello

    November 1 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Our trip to Sorrento was a lot of Limoncello. Limoncello, limoncello cream, limoncello cream with chocolate, limoncello cookies, candies and sugar. Yes, we sampled, shopped, went to the Limoncello factory and shopped some more. I enjoyed a lemon soda and at lunch complimentary cookies and limoncello followed our meal. And my evening cocktail? Limoncello Spritz.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Mount Etna

    November 1 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Well, we didn’t get to top of Mount Etna, but we were in the clouds. “Mt Etna” means no flames. Really? The latest eruption to date was June 2, 2025, just 5 months ago. We had a wonderful lunch before heading back down, and down and down the narrow winding road to the ship.Read more

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    1

    Viking Cooking Class

    November 1, Tyrrhenian Sea ⋅ 🌙 68 °F

    Dan and I did not have dinner with our group, but instead joined 10 other guest at Viking’s Kitchen Table for a cooking class. We were all assigned our jobs of chopping, dicing, mashing, mixing and zesting. The Executive Pastry Chef taught us how to make merengue and we each had to use the pastry bag. My little tiny snowman came out pretty good for never ever holding a pastry bag. The first course was Dan’s precisely diced Salmon Tartar, followed by Duck Breast and carrot purée. Dessert was chef’s meringues placed on raspberry sauce, covered with cream and fruit. The welcome sparkling wine was followed by different wines to match the three courses. Being able to keep our aprons and hats, we proudly wore them to the lounge and our staterooms.
    Sadly, I was not in the restaurant to photograph everyone’s food. The mushy ice cream was all that was left when they remembered to take photos.    Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Crotone and Ceraudo Winery

    November 2 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    We had a leisurely morning, sleeping in and enjoying breakfast before our afternoon excursion to the Ceraudo property where they produce wine and olive oil. Crotone has about 65 residents. Their wind turbines produce much of the electricity for this region. They are famous for their olive oil, smoked cheese and wine. They spice everything but the milk.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Ceraudo Winery

    November 2 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    The Cerdeau Winery was built in 1600. There is a small chapel on the property as well as a restaurant. Some of the oldest olive trees are “Century Trees” The olives of century trees are collected by covering the tree with a net, shaking the tree from the top, collecting the olives in a basket. From the basket they go into a machine which removes the leaves and then the olives are washed and the olive oil goes into production. We were then given a demonstration of the wine production. We enjoyed a tasting of their wines with a lunch of various breads, meats and cheeses. Their gift shop was extremely small. They were completely out of olive oil. The production of olive oil was delayed because of a mosquito that came from Africa. Being an organic company it took a while to destroy the insects before processing. They have received the Michelin Green Star.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Lobster Night

    November 2, Ionian Sea ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Back on the ship we all met in the lounge for a pre-dinner cocktail. Tonight was lobster night. Some of went to the World Cafe for the buffet while some went to The Restaurant. We met after dinner in the ship’s theater to enjoy the show before heading to our staterooms.Read more

  • Italy is Calling

    Trulli Houses

    November 3 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Today we went to Alberobella, the capital city of the Provence of Bari to see the Trullo houses. Initially the homes were built by farmers who could not afford to pay taxes on a home. So they built temporary homes in a cylindrical shape of limestone, not using mortar, with a fake cone shaped roof so they could easily be dismantled if need be. Today the permanent structures are used as residences, shops and restaurants. We enjoyed lunch in one, visited the neighborhood church and did a bit of shopping.Read more

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    3

    Monday evening on ship

    November 3, Adriatic Sea ⋅ 🌬 64 °F

    After returning to the ship I went to the spa for an absolutely wonderful facial while the others went to the World Cafe for a leisurely dinner. After my facial I also grabbed food from the buffet.

  • Italy is Calling

    Croatia is Gorgeous

    November 4 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F

    Croatia has 4 million people. Aluminum was the main production until 30 years ago. But it turned the water black so now the mail production is wind and olive oil.

  • Italy is Calling

    Our Viking Star Home

    November 4 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    Sharon and I had a nice breakfast on the ship. Resting my knee, I explored the ship and its art and beauty while the others visited the Krka Waterfalls.

  • Italy is Calling

    Croatia’s Waterfalls

    November 4 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Krka National Park is home to beautiful waterfalls and forest. The foliage was colorful and while I stayed onboard I received lots of pictures to share.

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