Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
We drove to Montreal and hopped on a Swiss Air flight to Barcelona Spain, with a quick little stop in Zurich Switzerland. On the plane, we had a hint of what the next two weeks held in store, with chocolate filled croissants, and complimentary little bars of Swiss chocolate.
Janice and I took a cab from the airport to our hotel, checked in, and looked forward to exploring Barcelona over the next three days. The Barcelona airport, by the way ... awesome. Perhaps a recent Olympics or World's Fair must have infused the city with some beautiful new upgrades ...
Thursday
Janice and I walked down to Port Vell, taking in Colon Square and the Columbus statue. Jet Lag had me up around midnight, so I took advantage of the computer in the lobby to surf the net for a while. My first impressions of Barcelona and this part of Europe ... nice architecture. They seem to care more here about structures not only being useful, but appealing. One can tell that style is more of a priority here than than in North America.
Friday
We scouted out a bar for breakfast, and enjoyed some great espresso. Jan and I then purchased two day passes for the "Hop On - Hop Off" sightseeing bus. These busses had 3 or 4 routes around Barcelona that allowed you to get on and off anytime to see many of the city's best attractions. Montjuic is a large hill in Barcelona that has a castle at the top. We got off the bus and ventured up to take a look at the castle via a tram. It was a little rainy, but not too bad ... from the tram we had some nice views of the city.
Upon returning from the castle, we got back on the bus ... our next stop was Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. This huge unfinished church is amazing in it's design. Gaudi's creativity and imagination are truly showcased well here. Janice and I took an elevator to the top and then walked back down the spiral stairs. It was a wonderful excursion ... outstanding, unique and fantastic.
Later that day we enjoyed some pizza at one of the many outdoor cafes. That evening we took in the Magic Fountain. This event of water, music and light was first performed on May 19, 1929 during the Great Universal Exhibition. It was fun ... coloured lights, music and a fountain that danced ... nice!
Before we called it a night, we enjoyed some more pizza on our way back to the hotel.
In the lobby, we overheard a few British guests troubled by flight wrinkles ... a volcano in Iceland was wreaking havoc for many travelling by plane. We were actually pretty lucky with our timing ... we landed and made it to our destination before the volcano caused it's problems.
Saturday
Had a lovely breakfast at the hotel, then it was back on the bus, and a ride up to Mount Tibidabo. In this section of Barcelona is another wonderful find ... Parc Guell. This large park is a garden complex with architectural elements and wonderful mosaic tile works. Another great place to see work by Antoni Gaudi, this park was built between 1900 and 1914. We enjoyed lunch here before hopping back on the bus.
Our next Barcelona adventure was a stroll down La Rambla - a 1.2 kilometre pedestrian mall filled with vendors, performers, fruit stands, cafes and artists. Janice and I bought a picture as a reminder of our Barcelona visit ... The painting of one of Gaudi's famous buildings in the city.
A walk down this section is not complete without a visit to St. Joseph's Market ... one of the oldest and largest markets in Spain. This market has a plethora of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and a few cafes as well.
After our walk down La Rambla, we headed back to the hotel, freshened up and ventured out for dinner. We came across a bar / cafe that was filled with photos all over the walls. These pictures were mostly of the owner with European celebrities ... and one was hard pressed to find a bit of wall that did not have pictures. On our way back from diner we stopped at another cafe / bakery and indulged in some chocolate pastries. Europeans and pastries ... they really know their stuff in this department.
In the lobby of the hotel, a couple of stranded tourists were on the computers trying to find another way to get home. I was thankful that tomorrow's travelling for us involved a ship and not a plane.
Sunday
This was a transitional day for us. We were leaving Barcelona behind and boarding The Norwegian Jade for a seven day cruise around The Mediterranean. Barcelona was fantastic. It has wonderful architecture, spirit and style. It was a truly wonderful way to start our two weeks in Europe.
We boarded in the early afternoon. Janice and I had lunch and spent the Sunday exploring the ship. At 5 pm the ship was underway to our first port of call ... Monaco.
Monday
As we enjoyed breakfast at the outdoor restaurant on The Jade, we marvelled in our surroundings. We had docked in the port of Monaco, and all around us was this beautiful marina. In the distance, nestled on the side of the countryside was the busy little Mediterranean playground.
After breakfast we took a ferry to the downtown area and began wandering through the town. We explored the shopping district and found the world famous casino at Monte Carlo; saw The Hotel Paris and wandered some more. We found a gourmet food shop and picked up a little something, then enjoyed lunch at an outdoor cafe. Throughout the city, they were preparing for their upcoming Formula One race, so there were many barriers being put in place and protective fencing in areas.
This place was obviously a playground for the rich. The yachts, gambling, high end shops and well manicured gardens all spelled M O N E Y.
Later in the evening, back on board, we ended the day with dinner in the formal dining room and a Flamenco show at the ship's theatre. By 7 pm we had weighed anchor and were sailing toward our next port ... Livorno Italy. Ships this large can't just dock anywhere, and Livorno would be where we jump on a bus to visit Lucca & Pisa.
Tuesday
Bonjourno! ... welcome to Florence. We had signed up for three excursions and here was our first. After
, we were bussed to Lucca. This village was formed in Medieval times, and is one of the few places in the area untouched by the destructive forces of WWII. It had survived through the turmoils of the Roman Empire & The Neo Classic Period, and turned out to be a hidden gem for us.
Napoleon's sister lived here for many years and had a big influence on how the city developed. The village had 99 churches ... building a church back then was a status symbol for the rich and powerful. The composer Puccini was also from here. Pinocchio - originated in Tuscany, so many shops in the area carry little souvenirs of the little wooden boy.
The many narrow cobblestone streets were wonderful. The main method of transportation here is bicycles, as cars are not allowed (other than electric delivery and service vehicles). The application process to live within the the town walls is apparently quite the process.
We had a lovely lunch in another outdoor cafe here ... I had pizza & Jan had ravioli. We meandered through the narrow streets and rejoined our tour group ... next stop - Pisa.
The buses are not allowed too close to the Field Of Miracles, so our group had a little 10 minute walk from the bus. There is definitely no shortage of souvenir stands here... but I guess that's to be expected at just about any world famous tourist attraction. The Basilica / Cathedral were beautifully adorned with marble and wonderful carvings. To see The Leaning Tower in person was pretty cool to say the least. The artistry and adornment of these structures blew me away ... truly beautiful.
Wednesday, April 21st
The Norwegian Jade is docked in Civitavecchia, Rome and we are in for another day of amazing sights.
We spent the morning with our tour group enjoying the spectacle of The Colosseum, The Roman Forum, and excavations of ancient ruins. We all were treated to a lovely lunch including pasta and wine at a cafe by The River Tiber, and then it was on to Vatican City.
St. Peter's Basilica was astounding. The largest church in the world ... the sculptures, paintings and marble ... Michelangelo's Pieta - fantastic. There is so much here to see ... Janice and I found ourselves in awe by the scale and artistry throughout this massive church. I searched high and low for a popesicle ... no luck ... a little disappointed.
Thursday
Naples - our itinerary today included Sorrento in the morning and Pompeii in the afternoon. It was going to be another incredible day of wonderful travel experiences...
Our tour group boarded a bus and we were off on a ride along the cliffs that took us to the other side of The Gulf of Naples. Our tour guide had a wonderful Italian accent, and we were informed that we were going to have a wonderful excretion today. I'm pretty sure she meant excursion.
The homes here cling to the mountainsides, and people make use of every little bit of space. Those who grow (oranges, olives, grapes) often utilize vertical space wisely, stacking nets and frames upon each other.
Arriving in Sorrento, our group was given a tour of a store that made beautiful hand crafted furniture. Afterwards, we enjoyed some time to explore the nearby shops and cafes. Janice and I wandered through the narrow streets and came upon a little store that sold beautiful painted tiles ... we found one that we liked and bought it as a memento of our visit here.
After our group hooked back up, we toured a working farm. We watched and listened as they showed us how they baked bread in a stone oven, and made mozzarella cheese. The group was then treated to lunch that included salami, bruschetta, wine, pasta, and a taste of limoncello ... a wonderful lemon based liquor made in the area.
Next on the agenda ... Pompeii. I'd seen pictures of these excavations and looked forward to seeing these astonishing finds in person.
The chariot tracks in the cobble stone streets, the two thousand year old marble columns, the tile and stone ... here was a city covered by an eruption a long, long time ago. Pompeii was much larger than I imagined. Our group was led through the streets and told of how excavations will continue to unearth treasures for a quite some time. The cobblestone wasn't always flat and even in places ... this excursion would probably not be suited for anyone not mobile and in reasonable shape.
After the amazing tour, our bus took us back to the ship ... we passed by Mount Vesuvius along the way. It had been an incredible day.
Friday
Sea day ... today was a day of straight travel aboard The Jade. We had enjoyed smooth sailing all this way, but after passing through the strait between Sardegna and Corsica, the ship was sailing in rougher waters. Today would be a good day to slow down, explore the ship some more, and take things at a slower pace.
Janice and I enjoyed a little scrabble, and later in the day I discovered The Bridge Viewing Room. On the other two cruises I have been on, being able to see the bridge was pretty tough for most passengers, due to security concerns. On the Jade, they had a room, just behind the bridge, with a window ... passengers could see how crew ran the bridge. This area included two screens that showed computer controls and navigation - live.
It was nice to have this low key day ... a chance to catch our breath, and recharge as we headed for Palma.
Saturday
Our final port of call - Palma de Mallorca. Palma is a small city on the Spanish island of Majorca. From the dock, Janice and I hopped on a shuttle bus that took us closer to the downtown area. We explored the narrow car-less streets, wandering among the shops and cafes. It was nice to not have a structured tour today, and to have the freedom to just wander on our own.
We came across an open square and decided to stop at a restaurant for a little rest. We must have been at the right place at the right time, because the next thing you know, we were being entertained by colorful folk dancing musicians and dancers. The sound of castanets and a local band were a pleasant surprise for us. We enjoyed the Spanish music for about an hour, then wandered back toward the shuttle bus area. On the way back we came across another cathedral that Antoni Gaudi had a hand in ... beautiful.
Later that afternoon, I enjoyed the warm mediterrainian sunshine on the upper deck, while Janice indulged a little nap. The view of the islands were wonderful, as the ship left the port. Tomorrow morning we'ed pull in to the port of Barcelona and end our cruise ... then it was off to Madrid for the last three days of our European adventure.
Sunday
It had been a nice week aboard The Jade, but now it was on to the final destination of our European tour. After breakfast onboard, we grabbed a taxi and headed for the airport.
We were in Madrid by early afternoon. From the airport we headed for our hotel via taxi, and found that our hotel was near a major street that was closed for a celebration. Gran Via (Spanish for "Great Way") was celebrating 100 years with a huge concert. They closed off the street, and crowds were beginning to gather for the celebration. Our taxi had to detour around the fiesta.
After checking in, Janice and I went exploring among the nearby markets and restaurants in the area. As we wandered around, we came upon the concert at Gran Via. The crowd here was energetic and vibrant, and the music was lively.
The area around our hotel was truly beautiful ... the architecture at every turn was stunning. We had really chosen an excellent location for our stay in Madrid.
For lunch (and a pitcher of Sangria), we stopped at an outdoor cafe a couple of blocks away from the hotel, and the rest of the day slipped away quickly as we got to know the neighbourhood.
Monday
After enjoying breakfast at another outdoor cafe, we boarded another "Hop on - Hop off" tour bus. The
route took us past several historic buildings and statues, and once again we found ourselves marvelling at the architecture.
For supper we dined at a wonderful outdoor cafe at Plaza Mayor ... a huge central plaza in Madrid with several shops and cafes. Janice and wandered through the surrounding neighbourhoods, taking it all in ... enjoying the vibe and the scenery. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped a little bakery / cafe and enjoyed some pastry.
Tuesday
Today was a day to sleep in ... and that's ok. For breakfast, it was a toasted ham and cheese sandwich and espresso. This morning we walked to The Botanical Gardens. Here we found a beautiful assortment of plant life in a huge, well laid out park. After popping into a little cafe for lunch, we took the metro to Lago de la Casa de Campo ... a lovely little lake Janice and I took a walk around.
We returned to the hotel by subway, and I dropped by a department store to purchase some chocolate souvenirs for the folks back home. Supper today would be at another outdoor cafe, in a lovely plaza. Olives, sangria, lasagne, salad, bread ... with accordion music, and later on flamenco ... this was to be our last dinner in Europe, and what a nice way to finish things off ...
The last couple of days in Madrid were warm ... twenty eight degrees Celsius, making it a little hard to sleep, but if that's our biggest problem - life is pretty good.
The last couple of days in Madrid were warm ... twenty eight degrees Celsius, making it a little hard to sleep, but if that's our biggest problem - life is pretty good.
Wednesday
Time to go home. We were up before the sunrise and off to the airport, for a flight to Zurich, then on to Montreal. I didn't mind the drive back to Ottawa ... it was nice to be going home.
The last two weeks had been marvellous. Janice and I had seen sights that we would remember for a lifetime. We had been blessed with good weather, no travel snags, and a nice mix of organized tours and freedom to explore on our own. It was a wonderful trip ... but it was nice to come home ...
follow the link to view pics-
