We are up and out of the apartment by 9am, just as planned. For some reason the dumb GPS has us going through hill and dale to get to Civitavecchia. Huh? we are essentially retracing our route to Pitigliano – up the steep, switch back roads, then off to Viterbo instead of Pitigliano. We’d just shake our heads and say whatever, except for the weather is horrendous! There are torrential downpours and localized flooding, and we feel like we are back in Asheville on Swannanoa River road,, just with crazy drivers trying to pass us on narrow roads. Argh. But, Ed manages perfectly – masterly driving through the running water and getting us to the Europcar in Civitavecchia with no problems.
We pull into the rental car lot – which is now a pay lot – and tell the attendant we have a rental. She directs us to a space close to the exit, where there is this huge bunny sitting there eating something. I took a picture,because it was so bizarre, but for some reason, it didn’t save to the phone. Equally bizarre!
Parked, locked and left for Monday morning check in, we drag our cases across the street to the shuttle depot – which has totally changed since last year. It’s now on the other side of the parking lot. Not that it matters, it’s still an easy walk, if you don’t count the many tour guide/taxi drivers waiting outside the drop off for fares. They are quite rude, and don’t even acknowledge your existence or bother to move out of our way as we head toward the shuttle. (Clearly they don’t know who they are dealing with! I can only be so nice when people are blocking our way, and they truly don’t want to deal with my shoulders and elbows. I’m legendary for knocking people out of our way when they are being ornery and obstinate!)
We manage to make it through the gauntlet and onto the waiting shuttle for the ship. It’s still really early, so we know we’ll have a wait, but better being here than not. As it turns out, we only have to cool our heels for about 45 minutes – and there is coffee here – so we aren’t complaining. We check in and are on the ship before noon, have our first meal – sushi for me – I’m a happy camper – then wander the ship, getting our specialty dining reservations and organizing our tours, etc.
As it turns out, the ship had a really rough morning. The winds and seas were so high, they couldn’t dock until 9:00am (they were scheduled to dock at 4am). Sadly they had to sit outside the port bobbing like a rubber ducky until the port allowed them in. We can believe it because even now, the waves are breaking over the sea wall by the port building!
Pretty creepy! Because the seas are so rough, and the winds so strong, after the muster drill, the captain announces we will not be sailing today, and will miss Sardinia, because it is just not safe (he uses the word “comfortable”) out there on the open seas. We’re disappointed, because we’ve not been to this port in Sardinia, but also happy, because it does not look like a pleasant evening at sea. So, we settle into our suite – thank you Victoria for the upgrade! – and thank our lucky stars for a smooth, just like hotel, evening on the Pursuit.
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