So you want to go on a Mediterranean Cruise for 10 days. You want to visit places such as Venice, Rome and Sorrento. OK……. You look over all the shore excursions offered by the cruise line – yawn!!! The groups are too big, the busses are too big, you can’t hear the tour guide and for sure the Sistine Chapel will be bumper to bumper people. Not what I would call a great experience! Right? A few of my favorite experiences would be:
- Venice – Get lost in the maze of the city without a guide, since after all, you really cannot get lost; or take a Vaporetto to Burrano for lunch and sit among the brightly colored buildings and quaint canals.
- Rome – Visit the Sistine Chapel before or after hours when no one else is there or for a thrill, take a Vespa or Segway Tour through the streets of Rome.
- Athens – Enjoy an evening drink at the top of the Grand Bretagne Hotel as you gaze across the city rooftops to the incredible fully lit Acropolis – very surreal!
- Sorrento – Take the public bus to Positano for lunch on the beach or pre-book a fabulous cooking class or drop by a deli and then “picnic”.
Experiential travel has challenged me, enlightened me and taken me outside of my comfort zone. Through it though, I’ve learned patience, tolerance and to laugh at myself! More examples of other destinations to come in future blogs.