Saturday, Oct 4. Pre-Cruise day 1

At Leonardo Da Vinci Airport we had our passports stamped, picked up our suitcases and took the train from the airport to, traveling by rail through driving rain, falling temperatures, and high winds to the Civitavecchia train station. We dragged our luggage to the Hotel Miramare (E120/night, with a room with a spectacular view that overlooked the Mediterranean.) where we were told a tropical storm from Africa had blown in. Just what we wanted for our vacation!

As you can see from the photos, the weather was not being kind to us. In the third photo, the Hotel Miramare (where we stayed) is in the middle. Our room was in the bottom right. One floor up from ground floor (1st floor.)

After settling into the hotel, we wandered thru a cold (11 degrees C, 50F), wet, windy Civitavecchia, saw a wedding party exiting the main cathedral, then took a bus to Tarquenia, a beautiful walled city that features Etruscan ruins. Tarquinia, was one of 12 Etruscan cities, and later became a Roman colony. There we visited the Museo Archeologico, located in Tarquinia's main square, which is also the entrance to the town. The museum has one of Italy's best collections of Etruscan relics, including Etruscan sarcophagi and statues. We explored narrow streets, and from the top of the wall that surrounds the small, quiet, quaint town, took pictures of the lovely green countryside stretched out before us.

That evening we dined by the seaside in an unpretentious little Bar where I enjoyed the best ensalada mista (mixed salad) of the trip-lettuce, tomatoes, egg, olives, tuna and corn! Unique but tasty! (In Italy, Bars are small restaurants, providing beverages and food.)

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