We found time to get away from Our Sun Home and on July 28 we arrived at the port of Cannes, France where we boarded the Royal Clipper.  The cruise was put together by Bare Necessities and we highly recommend them!  We spent the next 7 nights cruising the Mediterranean Sea nude.  We stopped at various ports and took various tours to see amazing historical sights.  

And what a boat the Royal Clipper is, it took us all week to really know our way around it. Each time we walked around we used a new stairway. During the cruise we tried several couples massage, social (group) massage, and yoga classes. All were neat experiences, and very enjoyable. The food on the ship was wonderful with luxurious accommodations all around, and an attentive crew. There were a little over 200 passengers aboard the ship.  The ship had three pools (filled with saltwater) and one had a glass bottom.  This provided those downstairs with an interesting view!.

We sailed to Rome the first day out. Actually motored - it was too calm all week to truly sail much. No need for anti-nausea medicines! Just a gentle constant rocking. And ROME. We were in ROME! Spent a day and a half. Turn a corner, there's a 3000 year old obelisk. Turn another corner, there's the 2000 year old Pantheon, turn another corner, there's a fountain , another corner the Roman Senate.

Our tour guide, Guiseppe, was incredible. Knew the Roman history, the Catholic History and everything in between in depth. Also knew where to stop us in the shade away from the crowds for his explanations, the time to day to visit which spots to avoid the greater crowds. Lunch at Novano square, then the huge coliseum. It's only in such disrepair from ancient people helping themselves to the beautiful marble and digging holes in the walls to retrieve the iron braces inside to use in weaponry. And from the nearby Roman Forum you can see 2,000 years of history in one view. Then there's the Vatican and St. Peters, the Sistine chapel, and more Michelangelo sculptures - the Pieta, Moses. Absolutely stunning where ever you look. Next day, the port of Sorrento and on to Pompeii. What an incredible huge city, uncovered after the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius 2000 years ago. Fascinating. We only got a teaser of a few hours, but another place you could spend a week. Next day, Livorno . By this time we were "toured out" and couldn't face the hour bus ride to Florence for only a couple of hours there, so we wandered a town that's not very touristy with 3 other couples from the boat, ate pizza at a cafe. Last day, Portofino. The best port was saved for last. What a picture postcard city. We hiked to a castle, shopped, ate more pizza (no wonder I gained weight!) then went back to the boat to swim in the sea. Great last day.

We got used to being hot and sweaty all day and looking forward to getting back to the boat and taking our clothes off and jumping in the clear blue water. 

Nothing beats a cruise in the nude!

We met so many wonderful people from all across the US. One gal about Judy's age had breast cancer recently and the same reconstructive surgery. She is Judy's new sister. We've had some of our new friends come and visit us and had a fun time reliving moments on the cruise.

All the flowers, the churches, the museums, the stores, the ports, the ships, more than could be described.  We are already talking about what we'd like to do on our "next" European trip!!!