Saturday, October 9, 2010
Aix en Provence
We saved the best for last! When signing up for shore excursions, we had no idea what to do while in France. The tour director recommended Aix en Provence - Cezanne, so we complied.
It was wonderful; the best tour we took on the entire trip.
First of all, it's pronounced: EX. Cezanne is the French impressionist painter who lived and painted in Aix, and the first thing we did upon arriving was visit his studio. No photos were allowed, but I'll describe it as a large, high-ceiling, gray and austere room. Many of his props were there, such as vases and jars, plus a window looking out onto his favorite mountain. He was also known to talk to his favorite olive tree. After the tour, we did some shopping at the small gift shop and used the "facilities" which was an experience in itself.
Back on the bus for a tour through the old town and church. Our guide was very French - and very good! We thoroughly enjoyed her narratives.
We were also allowed about an hour for lunch and spent that time in the flea market across from the restaurant where we were to have our meal. Larry met the local police who were patrolling the area and traded patches. I discovered a confectionary store and we took pictures and purchased some small treats. Just looking through the window was a treat. I was very impressed with the window displays. This was a pleasant contrast to Italy's lack of cleanliness as well. Everything seemed fresh, green and CLEAN.
Lunch: we had red wine, tomato and mozzarella salad, leg of lamb with mashed potatoes and chocolate lava cake for dessert. And, then we had to go back to the ship and eat dinner!
It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and we look forward to returning.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Florence
Florence is the shopping capital of Italy and we wanted to be sure to get in our share.
Today's driver was kind of a dud. He had his own agenda and it didn't match ours, so there was something of a battle of wills going on.
He first took us to Pisa so we could get our traditional pictures of us holding up the leaning tower. Now, Larry has been there before, so I thought for sure he'd know how to take that shot.
Unfortunately, one picture has my hands underneath the tower, another couple show them nowhere near the tower. We'll just have to go back sometime and have a redo. The pictures I took of him, however - are just right!
The driver then took us to and through Lucca, because he likes the place I guess. Finally Claudia made it very clear to him that we: 1. needed a restroom break, preferably before noon, wanted at least 2 hours for shopping, and wanted all the other stuff on the travel agency's brochure as well. He reluctantly agreed and we proceeded.
The cruise ship's shopping director had made a big deal about Florence and its shopping, so we headed out to try and find all the shops she'd recommended. Lucky for me, the trek took us along the river area so Larry could take pictures to his heart's content.
The Gold Corner was indeed a lovely store. And expensive! Italian Love's did have wine and vinegar samplings, the flea market was amazing, and I got a genuine Italian leather handbag at a factory outlet. Softness is the key to quality - and it IS soft!
Back at the meeting rendezvous we discovered an injured and bandaged Elly. She took a fall against one of the many stone walls because of the uneven cobblestone streets and walkways.
She then fell on her knee. Medics took her to the hospital for treatment (where they recommended an overnight stay). No Way! Cruise ships don't wait, so she and Bev simply walked out. No one there understood English, either. They spent that night's dinner in their room, but she was doing quite well the following day, if not a lot more sore.
We did make it back to the ship on time - and got ourselves ready for dinner. Our waiter was bored if we didn't show up at our table, so we couldn't disappoint him. Plus, that food was always delicious!
Roma
Our shore expeditions in Rome and Florence were through a private company, Roman Strolls.
Drivers picked us up from the ship and we divided our group into two mini buses; we were with Jim, Claudia and Walter Harris.
Our driver was amazing. He knew every side street, every detour and the fastest ways to get us there. No hesitation on his part - ever. Narrow and crowded street? No problem! We likened it to an E-Ticket Ride for sure. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride tamed in comparison. Wherever we needed to go, he got us there in record time!
Rosanna met us at the Vatican with our tickets. She was an excellent guide and she had lived for years in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe before going back to Italy. We also loved her sense of humor!
So, we saw the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and all the major places one is supposed to see "when in Rome".
Some thoughts: the "gladiators" at the Coliseum are pretty cheesy. Their costumes look like they got them at a Halloween store - fake muscles and all! We'd want our pictures taken with one of those??? Italy could be a lot cleaner. Graffiti is everywhere. Rosanna said they invented it in Italy. She said they invented a lot of things in Italy.
A highlight for the group was the interaction with the Swiss Guards at the Vatican. They exchanged patches and had pictures taken together. They never pose for pictures with tourists unless they're children, so the IPA members were indeed honored.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
On to Croatia
We left Venice, after experiencing their fall high tides in San Marco Square. Finding Larry's favorite glass factory of 40 years ago was a highlight, although it's only a storefront now. The factory moved to a nearby island. Loved their jewelry.
Split, Croatia, was not meant to be. The seas were rocking and rolling - and so was our ship. The captain wisely decided to bypass Split and head for Dubrovnik a day early. I personally found the ship's movement to be rather soothing - and had a great night's sleep.
The shore expedition to Cavtat and Old Town Dubrovnik had an exciting beginning. It was a very short distance from the ship to the tour bus, but we all got thoroughly soaked. And, just as we left the ship, there was an incredible bolt of lightning just in front of us.
Our tour guide had her own opinion, however, stating that thunder and lightning really indicated the storm was passing over. She was right! By the time we got to Cavtat, we were shedding our extra layers and getting ready to enjoy the resort town, just south of Dubrovnik.
Larry and I opted to take a hike around the peninsula and it was beautiful. An hour later, we boarded the bus again - this time for Old Town Dubrovnik. We walked around and around and tried to find some jewelry to buy. I did get an inexpensive necklace, but we decided the red coral finery could be easily made from bead store components at a much lower cost.
I believe we probably raced up to the buffet when we finally made it back to the ship. Their spaghetti was delicious - as well as the bread, desserts, etc.
From 4-6 P.M. we usually made our way to the Crystal Room for wine and appetizers with the other members of the Captain's Club.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Arrival in Venice
The approach and arrival into Venice is a VERY BIG DEAL. We spent two hours on the top deck with our cameras at the ready to make sure we didn't miss a thing. Italian drinks were served; Italian music was played and we anxiously anticipated the first sighting of the city of canals.
Venice is made up of approximately 40 islands, connected by many many bridges. Gondolas are one form of transportation, although a very expensive one. The group chose to take a water taxi from the ship to San Marco Square and back again. We still had much of the afternoon and the early part of evening.
Hunger made it necessary to find a restaurant, preferably one we'd all enjoy. We found one that offered pizza and decided it would work for everyone. We ate (lasagne and tiramisu for dessert) and then window shopped in the area. Their window displays are awesome!
Day at Sea
The itinerary for our day at sea was impressive. We received an invitation to visit the ship's bridge and have a tour. Ours was the first group. Immediately following was a wine tasting seminar down in the Grand Restaurant. This was for those of us who were in the Elite Class. While it lasted, Larry and I were determined to maximize the experience!
Benefits included numerous special invitations to various functions. One was a backstage tour of the theater; exclusive access to Michael's Club and the Crystal Room, a "Captain's" appreciation luncheon, complete with entertainment, and an elegant tea in the specialty restaurant. It was impossible to do it all, but we tried.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Pompeii Revisited
How could I have neglected our visit to Pompeii??? They continue to uncover and discover new things and it's amazing. My most vivid memory, however, is the allergy attack I had there. It was an endless bout of sneezing and nose-blowing from start to finish. I must be allergic to old stuff!
We were interested in finding out how so many things are not that different than what we have now. They had bakeries, houses of ill repute, pets, gardens, rich, poor. It's all monochromatic now, but they did have color back then. Some of it can even still be seen. Larry had visited 40 years ago and showed our guide his old book. She said she had the same one, only in a different color.
Monday, Day 2, was our first Sea Day. We were invited to tour the kitchen area and see how and where all that delicious food is prepared.
I can honestly say that there was very little down-time aboard the ship. They tried their very best to keep us all entertained and busy.
Larry checked out the workout area and it had a view that is pretty impossible to beat. Imagine working out on machines that give you a view of the Mediterranean Sea! Very cool!
I really don't remember what we did for the rest of the day; probably tried to orient ourselves with the ship. At the end of the 12 days we were still trying to do that!
Tuesday, Day 3, was our first shore excursion to Pompeii and its ancient ruins. We took a bus and first visited a cameo factory. I'd had no idea they were carved from seashells! Too bad they didn't allow us more time to shop. When faced with hundreds of possibilities, I usually end up getting - NOTHING! Maybe next time...
In the afternoon we took the city shuttle to the port city of Salerno to look around. It was a local holiday, St. Matthew's Day, most of the shops were closed. We did find the church eventually and it was spectacular, especially the crypts downstairs. Larry also contacted a local police station and exchanged greetings.
That night was our Specialty Dining Event at the Murano Restaurant. Jim and Claudia hosted our group and we dined in style. Elegant and Delicious. Many of us had the "Surf and Turf" with a cheese appetizer (under a lattice bread basket) and a seafood bisque that was poured into our bowls from a teapot. The waiters had a lot of fun watching our reactions to that.
For our dessert, Jim and Claudia ordered Grand Marnier Souffle for all of us. YUM!
Mediterranean Cruise on Celebrity Century
We now have our first cruise under our belts and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Twelve nights of sailing that began and ended in Barcelona, Spain. The flight from Sacramento took us first to Salt Lake City, then to Atlanta and ended in Barcelona. We were traveling East, so gained hours as we went.
Upon our arrival it was time for a bus tour of the city. The day was beautiful and so was the city.
We went up to the hills where the Olympics were held and got a fantastic panoramic view, then visited the Gaudi church, which is still under construction. They figure it has another 25 or so years to go until completion. Seeing it, we could understand why. It truly is a work of art! And, a project that can't be rushed. We also visited the older part of town and were entertained by several groups of acrobats. They formed human pyramids like we'd never seen before. The two groups we saw didn't "quite" make it to the very top, but it was still very impressive. They clasped hands and demonstrated "strength in numbers". Each successive layer climbed up the backs and shoulders of the layers before it, until one small climber reached the very top. It made us very nervous to see the strain on the faces of the lower layers of the pyramid.
Finally we boarded the ship and made our way to the cabin. There were eleven in our group of mostly IPA (International Police Association) members, plus Jim Harris's brother, Walter.
We found ourselves in the Concierge Class with membership in the Captain's Club and Elite Status. Jim and Claudia (traveling companions and our travel agents) received a special deal where they could choose a first-time cruise couple to receive a one-time offer to upgrade. Yes, we were interested - and spent the entire cruise trying to do all it offered. We knew that we'd turn into pumpkins again as soon as the cruise ended, so were going to enjoy it while we could.
And, we certainly did!
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