Random Thoughts

This was a good cruise. We had been to all the ports except Tenerife previously but we enjoyed visiting again.  I thoroughly enjoyed he sea days.  Mah Jongg every day!  The food in Blu was not as good as on previous cruises but I did not go hungry!  We had a great time in the 2 speciality restaurants we went to.

Barcelona is one of my favorite places and I was impressed at how much work had been completed at the  Sagrada Familia.  The Flaminco show was excellent and the Font Magica was spectacular!

Our time in Villefranche was really special because Alexandria, Ursula and Wilhelm came to spend the day with us.  They are really very amazing people that we feel very blessed to have at friends.

Our day in Cinque Terre was very nice.  We were so happy to see that Vernazza  has been rebuilt.  You would never know the mud slide happened.

We had a good time in Rome but the weather did not cooperate!

It was good to see Bill and Liz Handy.  Wish we could have spent some more time with them but it just didn't work out.

Charlie started the cruise in pretty good spirits.  As the cruise progressed, he seemed more confused and angry.  It's so sad to see some one who used to be so happy and articulate slide further in to this awful disease.  I don't know what our future travel plans will be but I sure can't complain.......we've seen more of the world than most people.  I really appreciated the help Pam and Mike gave me.  I don't think I could have done it without them.

Celebrity Reflection

The Reflection is the newest Solstice Class ship.  It was inaugurated in October 2012.  

Martini Bar.  Had to have a French Martini!

Captain Apostolic Bouzakis at the Cruise Critic meeting.

Pre dinner drinks in the Ensemble 

Lounge with Mike and Pam and Shirley and John Dawson.

  Dinner in Qsinne on embarkation.  A lot of fun and good food.

 Blu

 Pam and Mike from our balcony

The Reflection is a beautiful ship.  Our cabin stewardess was excellent.  It holds over 3000 passengers but it doesn't feel crowded.  

Rome, Italy

Monday, April 27th

Disembarking went fairly smoothly.  There was a small mix up regarding our transfer and our van was about an hour late but no big deal!  We arrived at our hotel, Casa Valdese, about 10AM.  Our rooms were not ready so we decided to get something to eat and walk to the Vatican.

  Bridge over the Tibér River close to the Vatican

  The dome of St. Peter's

  The Pope doesn't live there any more!

  Stopped to check out a local market on our way back to the hotel.

We were able to check in when we returned to the hotel.  Pam and Mike decided to go out again and follow a Rick Steves walk.  We decided to just hang out and then have an early dinner.  Unfortunately, early in Rome is different than my early!!  We went out about 5:30 only to find all the close restaurants would not reopen until 7:30!! Our hotel recommended a restaurant a short walk away and we had an excellent dinner.  It started to rain pretty heavily as we finished dinner but we had no choice but to walk back to the hotel.  We arraigned looking 

Tuesday, April 28th

 This morning we took the Metro to the Colosseum.

We had booked a tour of the Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill thru Walks Of Italy.  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate.  The day was overcast with periods of rain. Because of the rain, we were not able to access the underground tunnels.  Our guide did the best she could and we did get an opportunity to learn a lot and did have access to parts of the Colosseum not available without a tour.

ENJOY A VIP TOUR OF THE COLOSSEUM UNDERGROUND, ARENA FLOOR & THIRD TIER.

Feel the fear and hear the roars of the crowd above you as you descend to the Colosseum underground, walking in the footsteps of gladiators who waited here to be hoisted onto the floor. As you tour the tunnels, your guide will tell you about the true life of a gladiator, far different to that which you see in films. You’ll be settled into their skin before our next stop then – the arena floor. Walk out onto the stage upon which the fighting took place and be blown away by the most impressive view of the Colosseum (seen by so few!)

Our special access doesn’t end there though. You’ll follow your expert guide away from the crowds and chaos of general access areas and up to the third tier level. From here you’ll encounter stunning views over the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You’ll also find some peace and quiet no matter how busy the day, so your guide can fill you in on some of the most fascinating tales of the Colosseum.

Since the weather was so bad, Charlie and I decided to head back to the hotel.  Pam and Mike decided to continue on for the rest of the tour to the Forum and Palatine Hill.  They got lucky and the rain stopped.

We had an early dinner(late lunch) at a little restaurant close to the hotel.  Again,an excellent meal and good wine!!  After dinner, we headed for the best Gellato in Rome!  I've never tasted anything like it!  It was wonderful!!                   

Then it was back to the hotel to pack up everything and get ready for an early pick up to take us to the airport for our flights home.

Livorno, Italy

Sunday, April 26th

Today, we are taking a full day tour to Cinque Terre that Mike arranged thru Papillon Services.

Seemingly suspended between sea and sky, Cinque Terre is sure to be a tour you will never forget. Set against lush green hills rising dramatically from the sea, the “Five Lands” will charm you with their cheery colours and the feel of old world fishing villages, and the surrounding terrain will take your breath away.

In Cinque Terre there are no cars and no noise; nature steals the scene.

Our first stop was in Portovenere. This village is not an actual village in Cinque  Terre but it very pretty.

• 
  

From Portovenere, we boarded the ferry to Cinque Terre.  We did not get off the ferry in Riomaggiore as the main reason to get off would have been to walk the Via dell'Amore to the next village (Manarola).  Unfortunately, this beautiful walk is still closed.

 Boarding the ferry

 View of Manarola from the ferry

 Glass of wine in Manarola that cost 2€ in 2011 now cost 5€.  Guess that is the cost of rebuilding.

Charlie and I were in Cinque Terre one day before the devastating mudslides in October 2011.  We had lunch in the beautiful village of Vernazza.  Hopefully, our return will show us a vibrant village once again.

This is how it looked the day after the mud slides.

 How it looked today..

 Vernazza looks the same as it did before the mudslides.  How is village has been restored is amazing!

 Restaurant where we had lunch in 2011 has been completely restored.  It looks beautiful.

  Street was completely covering with mud.....several feet deep.

We boarded the ferry again to the last village...Monterosso al Mare. Charlie and I did not visit this village the last time we were here.

Approaching Monterosso from the ferry

  Lunch at a very good Italian restaurant overlooking the water

  YUMMY !!!

Then it was back to the ship after another long day. We had a good day and we were happy to see the recovery in our favorite village. Busy night tonight getting ready to disembark in the morning.

Villefranche, France

Saturday, April 25th

Today will be another fairly lazy day.  We plan to take the train in to Nice and just spend the day wandering around.  Charlie and I were there a few years ago on an organized tour and we did not get much time to spend in this very pretty city.  I especially enjoyed walking thru the Flower Market.  Hope to have a nice lunch with some good french wine....maybe even STEAK TARTARE!

We had a nice surprise just before we left home.  Our friend from Germany, Alexandra Risnes, called us and said that she and her parents would try to meet us in Nice and spend the day with us.  Got an email on the ship....our friends are coming!!!

Charlie and I got off on the first tender in Villefranche.  Pam and Mike decided to take the day off and just go in later and walk around Villefranche.  We headed to the train station and caught the train in to Nice.

              

  Villefranche Harbour from the tender

  Waiting for the train to Nice

  Breakfast with Alexandra, Wilhelm and Ursula at the Nice Flower Market.  They drove all night and haven't had any sleep.  It was so wonderful to see them!

  Beautiful flowers

We went back to our friend's hotel.  Their room still wasn't ready but we just sat around and had a good visit.  Ursula took a little nap!

We went to a little French restaurant close to their hotel.  We had a wonderful dinner and I had my Steak Tartare!

  

Even though Alexandra, Wilhelm and Ursula were so tired, they insisted on taking the train back to Villefranche and walk us to the tender dock.

We had a wonderful day with wonderful friends.

Barcelona, Spain. Day #2

Friday, April 24th

This morning we have reservations for Sagrada Familia. We purchsed these tickets on line.  If you do not have a reservation you can spend a very long time standing in line to purchase admission.  Charlie and I toured this Gaudi masterpiece several years ago and we are anxious to see the progress toward completion.                                                                                   

The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is a work on a grand scale which was begun on 19 March 1882 from a project by the diocesan architect Francisco de Paula del   Villar (1828-1901). At the end of 1883 Gaudí was commissioned to carry on the works, a task which he did not abandon until his death in 1926. Since then different architects have continued the work after his original idea.                                                                        

The building is in the centre of Barcelona, and over the years it has become one of the most universal signs of identity of the city and the country. It is visited by millions of people every year and many more study its architectural and religious content. 

It has always been an expiatory church, which means that since the outset, 133 years ago now, it has been built from donations. Gaudí himself said: "The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people." The building is still going on and could be finished some time in the first third of the 21st century.

   

Detail of the roof in the nave. Gaudí designed the columns to mirror trees and branches.

   Antonio Gaudi                                                  

                                                                                                                 

We were quite surprised by how much had been completed since we were last here about 10 years ago. Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 Pope Benedict XVIconsecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica, as distinct from a cathedralwhich must be the seat of a bishop.

After our tour, we took a taxi to LaRambla with a plan for Tapas and Sangria.  We were not disappointed!!