Last day, Saturday:
After anchoring off shore of Sorrento overnight, we took a quick hop to Capri, an island just a bit further offshore the coast of Italy. It took less than an hour to reposition the boat, and I went ashore about 10 a.m.
Capri is a tourist trap and jet-set stop, so it was quite crowded and chock-full of upscale shops: Ferragamo, Hermes, and the like. There's not much on waterfront, but you take a funicula (sp?) up to the main town, another charming warren of tiny pathways going off in all directions.
I stopped in a bookshop because I had finished both novels I had brought with me. It reminded me of the bookstores in Paris: the Europeans read true literature rather than the trashy page-turners we prefer in the states (usually about serial killers or espionage). Very little lurid cover art like we find in our local Borders.
Had an Italian iced coffee in a cafe in the charming main plaza before returning to the ship. Had lunch, took a quick dip, and napped. [Edit: added a pic of the plaza below]
Remember my desire to get out to the bow sprit? This was our last day on board, and I was starting to worry that I'd never get the chance to ask the captain for permission (I was kinda lookin' forward to getting on my knees in front of him to beg if I had to!).
But while I was having my after-nap coffee, the Captain came on the P.A. system to announce that he had decided to do something against the rules: he would allow our group out to the bow sprit between the hours of 3 and 5p, in groups of 5 and accompanied by his first mate.
So my wish was granted. I waited til about 4 then went to the front of the ship, which was perfect timing: I got to go out by myself (and the first mate, a cute young Scot). The railings around bow sprits are angled outwards for some reason, and this allows you to lean on them hanging out over the water, and you can't see any sign of the ship up, down, left or right of you. It really does feel like you're flying high over the water. I spread my arms and shouted the requisite "I'm queen of the world!" I had about 15 minutes out there by myself.
I profusely thanked the Captain afterwards and told him it had been a dream of mine to do that. He said he hadn't allowed it for over a year, but he was so happy with our group that all he needed was the right conditions, calm seas during the daytime with not too strong a wind.
During the cocktail hour, Travelpride had the last tea-dance with open bar and took a group photo by the pool. I stood next to the French magician who I had a crush on, and had my arm around his waist. Such a thrill.
The late-night entertainment on Saturday, the last day of the cruise, was a short encore by Miss Coco Peru, then the French magician's stage act, then a gay stand-up comic. Coco told the story of her recent marriage in Spain to this Spanish hunk (and I mean hunk, I had seen pictures). Her bit was funny and touching.... and true. She really did marry him just a few weeks prior.
The magician's act combined magic with dance, pretty amazing.
After the show I met her to take the picture she had promised me earlier. I received it yesterday and (with DavidinHartford's help), here it is!
I asked permission to post this and the picture taken of us after I had given him the Ariel pendant. His manager told me that they preferred that I didn't post any pictures of him out of drag, so I'm keep that one as my private little treasure.
While we were sleeping, the ship made the journey to the port outside Rome, and the next day we were up early to depart for the hour-long bus ride there. I was not ready to leave the ship, I felt like throwing a tantrum and make them carry me off kicking and screaming.
A week later and I'm still falling asleep by walking around the ship in my mind. I miss it, viscerally!
I went to a hotel to spend a couple days in Rome, but I won't be adding that experience here, basically because I didn't like Rome much (sorry to Luigi and all my Italian friends). So that's the end of my report.
Again, sorry I wasn't able to keep this up while still on board.
