Today we transitioned from the hotel in Rome to the ship in Civitavecchia. Before we left the hotel, however, we wanted to stop at a Bancomat for some euros .. because of the weekend, the machines were out of money. so we were able to cobble together enough between the four ofd us to pay the driver taking us to the ship in Civitavecchia, drop our luggage at the ship, and walk into Civitavecchia in search of a less-used Bancomat and perhaps a few bottles of Amarone to have at the next few dinners. Well, as we walked past shuttered businesses in the wind and drizzle, we realized that Liberation Day closures were country-wide! Nothing was open ... for blocks and blocks and blocks ... I decided to wait under a portico, partially sheltered from the elements while Joey searched. Finally Joey happened on an open market and found a single bottle of Amarone and two bancomats that some available euros. We headed back to the ship with our bounty, found our stateroom, and - ugh. The smallest balcony cabin we have ever encountered!!! a third of the size of closets we've ever seen, and three - count'em, three - drawers for clothes. Of course I went to Customer Relations to see if we could upgrade to a suite, but none were available. Drats. Lillie and Art signed up for the suites right from the beginning, so they didn't have the same issues. They also had a different dining room. On top of that, we were assigned for the first night a dinner time after 8:30 PM, and if you know us at all, we eat earlier than that! But we were seated at a table with other lovely guests and had lovely conversations all round.

Then back to the cabin to try and find places to store everything ...

More tomorrow!