A brief sojourn on the Explorer of the Seas in the Mediterranean
Caroline holding Mount Stromboli out of the Tyrrhenian Sea. After completing a transatlantic cruise on the Explorer of the Seas from Florida to Barcelona, we stayed on the ship for an extra 9 days to visit stops in France, Croatia, and Montenegro before ending in Ravenna, Italy. Back to backs, as they are referred to in cruise lingo, are a blast when you get to stay in the same room. No packing and unpacking, easy embarkation, and you know your way around the ship already! We are comped $6 in casino credits per cruise. We generally pool our credits with friends (Randy and Sue) and split any profits. This time... score! We arrived in Villefranche-sur-Mer (France), near Nice, and set out on a long walk. Caroline had completed this hike on a previous trip, but I was nursing a calf injury back then and had to turn around after a mile. This time, we hiked the entire 10.3 miles in 4 hours! Next, we stopped in La Spezia, Italy. Our goal was to hike the trail along the coast, lea...