One of the cool opportunities in Madison is the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. We’re here during their annual butterfly event and we have our own personal tour guide. Nancy is on the staff and walked us through the conservatory and gardens as well as a behind the scenes tour introducing us to staff, volunteers, and even a fellow dancer along the way. She was able to tell us wonderful stories about the background of the gardens, the butterflies, the Chilhuly inspired glass sculpture, the incredible kaleidoscope, the Thai sala and more. It was a wonderful way to experience one of Madison’s treasures!
It was an incredible experience to actually walk the streets of Pompeii, once a bustling resort town in the Roman Empire until 79 AD when an apocalyptic explosion buried it under 20 feet of volcanic ash. Archeological excavations since the 19th Century continue to reveal evidence of a thriving community.
Once the largest cruise ship in the world, Allure of the Seas will be our home for the next seven nights as we cruise the Western Mediterranean and explore the eighteen decks of this behemoth.
Our recent travel misadventures seriously curtailed our time in Rome pre-cruise but we did get to visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel before making the trip to Civitavecchi for an overnight in the port city of Rome preparatory to departing on Allure of the Seas tomorrow.
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