New York

What a fitting finish to a wonderful cruise. We arrived at the entrance to the New York harbor area right at sunrise, and then sailed up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty. It gives a whole different meaning to welcome home, and really makes you thankful for what you have. It was a beautiful day with temperatures reaching into the 70’s with clear skies, which made for a superb day in the Big Apple.

Given the size of Manhattan, we knew that there was no way that we would be able to do the city justice in our 7-8 hours available, so Sharon and I decided that because we docked right at the foot of 50th St., we would concentrate on Midtown. Leaving the ship shortly after 9am we were off, walking down 50th St. toward Rockefeller Plaza. The docks are off of 12th Ave., and the Plaza was at the corner of 50th and 5th Ave. Oh, by the way, the blocks going in that direction? They are really LONG! It actually is a little over a mile walk.

But we made it, and once there decided to take the tour to the “Top of the Rock”, which is the top of the Rockefeller Building. From the top you have an excellent view of the city. After coming down from there, we walked around the underground there and had lunch at a Subway. After that we saw the plaza where the ice skating rink is during the winter.

Then it was off to Central Park, a mere 7 blocks away, but they were short blocks so the walk only took us about 15 minutes. Once there we decided to rest our feet and take a horse drawn carriage ride through the park. We saw most of the park during the tour and felt the money spent was well worth it. Given the size of the park, it’s one of the better ways to see it.

By now the time was approaching 1:30 and we both were getting pretty tired, so we decided to start back toward the ship. About half way there we popped into a TGIFridays and rested a bit over a couple of beers. Then it was off again arriving back at the ship around 2:45.

It really was a fantastic day in the city and an excellent end to a wonderful cruise. We left shortly after 5pm and will arrive in Ft. Lauderdale Thursday morning around 7am. Once we get off the ship it’s over to the Amtrak station and headed home. I hope that all who have been reading this blog have enjoyed traveling along with us and reading about the many ports that we visited. Next up is a 63 day round trip cruise out of Los Angeles, going down through the French Polynesian Islands to Australia and New Zealand, and on the way back making a three island stop in Hawaii.

Until then, CHEERS!

Hamilton Bermuda

Hamilton Bermuda

Waking up to blue skies and bright sun is worthy of a Starbucks latte. But being on a cruise ship small enough to dock at pier 6 right downtown Hamilton, PRICELESS!!

What a beautiful island and city. It’s squeaky clean with trash cans on every corner and some in between, they are actually used. Courtesy is treasured and you will be greeted with a Good Morning or Good Day by most everyone and you are expected to reply. The people are extremely friendly and most willing to assist you.

We were off the ship just before 9am and headed off to the post office two blocks away. We mailed off a couple of post cards, and purchased a couple of commemorative blocks for the grandkids collection. From there we walked toward the local bus terminal and passed by the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity which is one of today’s pictures. At the bus terminal we purchased two all day passes at $12 per person, and then boarded bus 7 for the botanical gardens.

What a lovely garden to visit. There were many different varieties of plants in bloom and we managed to spend almost 3 hours there taking pictures. One of the many flowers we saw is the second picture featured today.

We originally had thought about taking a bus out to the Royal Dockyard where the larger cruise ships have to dock, but after spending so much time at the gardens we really didn’t have enough time left to get there and back by our 3:30 all aboard time, so we hopped another bus that went down along the South Shore so that we could see some of the beaches Bermuda is so famous for.

Arriving back in downtown, we got off the bus and did a little window shopping. As expected, everything is expensive on the island so we didn’t buy anything other than some postcards. But it was an enjoyable walk and it was right across the street from the ship.

Leaving Bermuda we have a sea day tomorrow and arrive in New York’s Manhattan piers around 7am Monday. Then it’s two days at sea before our arrival at Ft. Lauderdale where we board our train back to DC. While the cruise has been wonderful, 50 days is a long time and we are looking forward to returning home.

Cheers!

Ponta Delgada Azores

Ponta Delgada Azores

After a leisurely cruise of around 900 miles from Lisbon, we arrived at Ponta Delgada to a partly cloudy sky and temperatures in the mid 60’s. While there were some very dark clouds in the distance, they soon went away and the day turned out to be great. For those who haven’t been here in a while you will be pleasantly surprised. They have built a brand new docking area that puts you a short five minute stroll from the ship to the main avenue of the city. It’s really a very nice facility and well thought out.

We didn’t really have any plans today so we hung around the ship for a while and didn’t go into town until 10am. We walked down the avenue toward the old fort and found the post office so Sharon could send off postcards to the grandkids. It’s about half the cost of mailing on the ship so that is what we try to do in each port.

We walked past the Praca Goncalo Velho Cabral which is the main square of the town. It features a statue of Velho who is credited with the islands discovery. The statue gazes out to the sea and behind the statue are the three arches of the city gates. Looking through the gates is the Largo de Matriz square home to the City Hall and Sao Sebastiao Church. Continuing along the avenue toward the fort, we found the local mini train offering various routes around the city. The cost is only 4.5 Euros per person for each of 5-6 different routes. Each one starts at a different time. We were there for the 10:30 historical tour. This tour took us around the old section of the city and down several of the very narrow side streets and around the lower part of the city. Lasting about 45 minutes it was well worth while to get a feel of the city for those who have never been here. We then wandered about through some of the pedestrian areas stopping at a small café for a local beer, and then another stop for postcards. After that we slowly made our way back to the ship and were back onboard around 2:30.

Next up is a four day transit to Hamilton Burmuda arriving there April 25. Some of the happenings along the way is a Mariners reception followed by a brunch on April 22, and a “Behind the Scenes” tour on April 24 of Deck 4 where the main galley is. We will see the galley, where the stores are kept, the pastry shop and other kitchen areas and where the crew eats. It should be quite interesting and I will try and get a lot of photos of the area and post them up online after our return.

I haven’t been very good about keeping up with the gifts that HAL have given us, so here is an updated list so far:

Very nice heavy fleece jackets
Umbrellas
A four port USB hub with a clock
Luggage straps and tags
An ID holder
A necklace and cufflinks
Journal Book

Cheers

Lisbon Portugal

With temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and an overcast sky, we arrived in Lisbon shortly after 8am and the ship was cleared around 8:30am. Based on an article we had read in Travel Tips newsletter we had booked a private all day walking tour of the city by a local resident. At only 50 Euros for 1-6 people (total, not per person) we didn’t quite know what to expect but the price was certainly reasonable. Through emails our guide (Alice Moura) had told us where to meet her which we near the city center.

A word of warning for those cruising to Lisbon. The center of the city is about 1.5 miles away and the ship does not provide a shuttle. To get from the ship and out of the terminal is about 200-250 yards. Once outside you will be met by taxi drivers trying to sell you a tour with them. When we asked about a taxi into the city we were told it would be 10-12 Euros. If you walk about two blocks straight away from the terminal, you can catch a bus or train into the city. We opted for the train which was 1.20 Euros per person and took about 10 minutes.

At the end of the day Alice suggested a taxi back to the ship. When we told her what we were told in the morning she said that it should only be around 5 Euros. Sure enough, a taxi back in a metered taxi was 5.45 Euros. I’m not sure if we were simply given the wrong information, or perhaps the cost to somewhere else within the city or what. But I do suggest checking very carefully.

I have to say that Alice was simply delightful. A young lady very passionate about her city, she is very knowledgeable and very flexible about where to take you. We did go to three different churches including the main cathedral, but we primarily spent most of the day walking around the old part of the city. Because we had mentioned that we were avid photographers she concentrated on showing us several places for good views of the city and river, along with some very photographic buildings and plazas.

Around 1pm we stopped for a light lunch at a restaurant run by a Circus Clown School that was only open for lunch. The restaurant was terrific with a wonderful view overlooking the river and very reasonably priced. The picture today is the entranceway to the restaurant and Alice.

Even though we had some light rain on and off all day, it was an excellent tour. It was very tiring as the city does have a lot of hills, and I would not recommend it for anyone with limited mobility.

If you don’t mind a lot of walking, I highly recommend a tour by her.

Tomorrow is a very necessary rest day, and then we dock at Ponta Delgada Azores. Cheers!!

Cadiz Spain

We were supposed to leave Malta at 6pm and arrive in Cadiz at 8am this morning. Because of some mechanical problems we didn’t leave Malta until after midnight. The Captain did what he could and put the pedal to the metal, and we managed to dock around 9am this morning. Not bad in making up around 5 hours of time over the two day transit.

Temperatures today were in the low 60’s with a 9-10mph wind occasionally gusting to near 20mph. It was a partly cloudy day, and while we did get a couple of passing sprinkles of rain, all in all it was a pretty good day.

After getting a detailed map from the local tourist agent, we decided to take one of the walking tours of the city and chose the one going into the old part of the city (primarily because that would get us to the main post office so Sharon could buy stamps for the grandkids).

The docking was fantastic as we were right at the city. Directly out from the cruise dock was the Plaza de Espana with a large monument to the Cadiz Constitution. It was quite a beautiful area with flowers and trees. We also saw wild parrots again similar to what we saw in the Canary Islands, and I chose a picture of one for today’s blog just to prove that I really did see them.

Continuing on our walk we saw the San Francisco Church, the Museum of Cadiz, Mora Palace, San Pablo Church, Old Roman Dry Salting Factory, Central Market, Santiago Church, and stopped for lunch at the Plaza de Cathedral which is very close to the post office.

After lunch we continued our walk passing other churches and various homes of local well known people, and finally finding ourselves back where we started.

Talking with others from the ship that took the hop on bus they were very disappointed. They said it only goes around the outer edge of the city, and didn’t stop where it was supposed to stop. The city is very walkable if you are up for it, as it’s only about 1 mile from the dock to the furthest point away. In the old town area the streets are typically cobblestone so a good pair of walking shoes should be worn.

Tomorrow we are in Lisbon and have booked a walking tour with a guide that will be showing us the city. The weather reports say that there may be some light rain but I have my fingers crossed that it will clear up.

Until tomorrow, Cheers!

Valetta Malta

Wheeee, Poseidon must have been restless yesterday and especially last night. The wind was blowing at 30+ knots, and the waves were reaching 12-15 feet which made for a sleepless night for Sharon. When we docked at Valetta, the temperature was at 61 degrees with dark overcast skies. The wind was still quite brisk and shortly after picking up our guide a light rain started and it stayed with us off and on all day. But, we did not let that deter us from enjoying the sights of the area.

We managed to cram in a lot today, starting off with the Vilhena Palace and then moving on to Mdina where we walked the streets and saw St Pauls Cathedral and the Auberge de Provence (now called the Museum of Archaeology). From there it was another fantastic lunch at a local restaurant then off to the Hypogeum which is an underground burial site from the 16th century and finishing up with the Inquisitors Palace.

It should be noted that the Hypogeum does cost (I’m not sure how much as it was included in our tour), but tickets must be purchased online. To protect the site, they only run a tour every hour on the hour, and only allow 10 people per tour. They typically are booked at least two months in advance so you can not just walk up and get in.

Next up is two wonderful relaxing days at sea and then we arrive at Cadiz Spain.

Until then, Cheers!

Santorini, Greece

The God’s of sun and blue skies looked favorably upon us once again today. The seas were almost like a sheet of glass and with the bright blue sky it was almost impossible to see the horizon. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to see one of the prettiest islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

Upon arrival we first stopped near the ferry docks to off-load passengers taking ship tours. Once they were off, the ship moved over toward the area where the cable car was to reach the top of the mountain and get to the town. After tendering in and riding the cable car to the top, we met our private tour guide Nicko, and were off on our adventure.

It should be noted that there really isn’t any “tourist” things to see on Santorini. What it does offer is spectacular views and beautiful whitewashed buildings, and over 500 blue domed churches. Our tour actually consisted of driving all over the island, through the various small villages, and stopping every now and then for pictures. Eventually we found ourselves at the highest point on the island where the clouds actually swilled around us as we stood there.

What we did get the chance to see was the blue domed church that dominates most pictures that you see of Santorini. In an area where tour buses can’t get to, our private van could and we were able to capture that same picture, which is featured with this blog.

Lunch today was near the islands international airport, and right on the ocean. While a bit expensive, the meal was great and well worth it.

The cable car ride was very nice, and in our opinion better than walking or taking the donkeys up the side of the mountain. Be aware however that the cost of the cable car was 4 Euros each way per person. At no point did the ship ever inform us of the cost so while we expected that there would be a charge we didn’t expect quite that much. But, the ride is nice and you can get some really great pictures along the way.

Tomorrow is a much needed day of rest and then we dock at Valetta Malta. Until then, Cheers!!

Kusadasi/Ephesus Turkey

Whooppieeee! Today dawned bright and sunny with temperatures around 60 degrees, and getting warmer! With a clear blue sky the day was going to be great. We met our tour guide at 9am just outside the port terminal and were off for Ephesus. Just 30 miles North Ephesus was established as a trading port and religious center 3000 years ago. Found while laying track for a railroad, it is the Aegean’s best preserved ancient city. Only about 20% has been uncovered, but was can be seen it is easy to envision life as it was 2000 years ago.

While there, we also saw the Basilica of St. John, the House of Mary, the remains of the Temple of Diana, and the terrace houses. I can honestly say that if you ever visit this area Ephesus is a must see. Plan on spending a couple of hours minimum and it’s best if you have a knowledgeable guide with you.

By now it was lunch time so we stopped at a small local restaurant where we had a delicious home cooked lunch. It definitely was not a place that a typical tourist would find and was located along a very narrow road in the middle of the city.

On our way back towards the port we did make a stop at a ceramic factory to see how they are made in this area. It was very interesting to see how they are all hand painted so no two pieces are ever exactly the same. They are however very close. When you see the finished product you can readily appreciate the amount of time involved in creating each piece.

All in all we had a most enjoyable tour and our guide was fantastic. Tomorrow we are in Santorini. With luck we will have wonderful weather once again.

Cheers!

Sevastopol Ukraine

Once again we woke to sunny skies and temperatures around 60 degrees. A great day for taking a tour of Sevastopol. For those who may not know, Sevastopol was established by Catherine II after Russia gained control of the region in 1783. The harbor was fortified and the Russian Black Sea Naval Fleet came to the port in 1804. Today it still remains primarily a military city, and the Russian Fleet still has ships docked here.

After meeting our guide, we were off to the East and the city of Bakhchisarai to see the Khan’s Palace, which was begun in the 16th century, and now houses the Museum of History. While there we were able to see the palace and suites, the state council and courtroom, the harem, the palace mosque, and mausoleum. Also located there is Fountain of Tears which was built in 1764.

After spending some time at the palace, it was back toward Sevastopol, where we stopped at the Jewish Welfare Center which provides support for about 4000 jews living in the city. At that point, the tour went downhill. Because of possible miscommunication between the tour operator and us when it was booked, we assumed that because they asked for US dollars for the tour that we would be able to use them or Euros for lunch. As it turned out that was not the case. We were told by our guide that she didn’t know of a restaurant in the city that would take anything but local currency.

At that point we decided that we would cut the tour short after visiting one more area, the Panorama Museum, which recalls the 349 day defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. I can recommend this museum for anyone who decides to visit the city.

Beware however that most of these tourist places do require a entry fee and it must be paid with local currency, and there is a small fee as well for using the toilets in these places. We are quite upset at our tour operator who did not inform us of these extra fees or that fact that they only accepted local currency. There are some small kiosks around the city that will accept US dollars or Euros, but any “government” run institution will not.

My personal opinion is that they are still struggling to get out from under the old Russian regime and while prices seem to be quite reasonable, be prepared.

Tomorrow is a rest day at sea thankfully, and then it’s back to Turkey and the cities of Kusadasi and Ephesus.

Cheers!

Varna, Bulgaria

We arrived in Varna at 8am to a clear and sunny sky (YEA!!). Varna is the second largest city in Bulgaria, and sit’s on the eastern coast on the Black Sea. Modern Varna is fast becoming the gateway to the Bulgarian resort area as they struggle with the trials of becoming an independent nation. While there isn’t really a lot to see in Varna, to stroll around the city and see the people and how they live can be interesting.

We had another private tour booked and met our guide and driver outside the port terminal. The first place we went was outside the city to an area of ruins. These ruins are of unknown origin and are somewhat unique. The area consists of beach type sand complete with seashells, and numerous rock formations that appear to be collapsed columns suggesting a city/town environment. We were told that several geologists have visited the site and studied it but still have not confirmed it’s origin.

From there we went to the Aladja Monastery which provides a fascinating look at a traditional religious retreat. The monastery is a collection of cave dwellings that were carved from the limestone cliff face. Originally approximately 100 monks lived there until hunted down by the Turks and killed. It was very interesting walking through the dwellings and trying to imagine what life was like for the monks that lived there.

From there it was off to the remains of the Roman Thermae or Baths. Built in the 2nd century it was quite intriguing trying to imagine what the original structure looked like. It is a very large area and was one of the largest baths built.

After visiting a few other areas of the city, it was time for lunch. Once again, it was taken at one of the local restaurants where tourists rarely find. Located on the oldest street in the city, it was very nice and the food was superb. The picture today is from inside the restaurant.

As a general note, the prices of things in Varna appear to be very reasonable. We tasted some local wine at the restaurant and enjoyed it very much. I asked where we could purchase a bottle, and they took me around the corner to a very small grocery type store where I bought two bottles of it for about $3.75 per bottle.

Tomorrow we are in Sevastopol Ukraine. I have hopes that we have time to see the Russian submarine pens during our tour there but there may not be enough time to get there.

Until tomorrow, Cheers!!

Istanbul Turkey

Istanbul, a city on two continents; Europe and Asia. When approaching the city you can’t mistake it for another. The unforgettable domes and minarets of more than 135 mosques rise through the landscape along the Bosporus Strait. Twelve major civilizations have ruled, and their legacy is imprinted upon the city.

The most famous mosque is the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet (the Blue Mosque). It gets its name from the 21,403 azure colored tiles on the walls creating the illusion that the air is blue. The 16 balconies on its six minarets honor the 16 sultans of the empire.

Right next door is the Hippodrome, inspired by Rome’s Circus Maximus, and was the most important place in the city. Beneath the whole thing is the Roman-era Aqueduct of Valens, also known as the Basilica Cistern. Nearby is the Ibrahim Pasa Palace.

A short walk away is the Suliemaniye Mosque and the Great Mausoleum of Sulieman. Last but not least is the Topkapi Palace which served as home to the sultans and the royal court until the mid-19th century.

And of course no visit to Istanbul can be called complete without a trip to the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.

The weather was cool, remaining around 58 degrees with a brisk wind, and early afternoon there was a quick rain shower. Another delightful lunch was had at a local restaurant down one of the small alleyways where a lot of the local workers frequent.

We are off on our way up the Bosporus Strait toward the Black Sea and tomorrow we will visit Varna Bulgaria.

Cheers!

Athens Greece

Sorry about not posting yesterday, but given it was a sea day, and after three intensive port days in a row, we vegetated.

On to Athens. First, let me say that one day in Athens does not even begin to touch on things to see. We had a private tour booked and were picked up at the dock at 8am as soon as we got off the ship. In order to beat the crowds we headed directly into Athens and the Acropolis. Arriving there at around 8:20 we were some of the first people to go in. And was it ever worth it. We spent about 45 minutes there and by the time we left, it was already getting quite crowded and talking with others from the ship who got there later, it got really packed later in the day.

In addition to the Acropolis, in the same area is the Propylea (the huge entry gate), the Temple of Athena Nike, the Roman Agora of Athens, and the Parthenon. Words cannot describe the sights you see here. Suffice it to say that the pictures you may have seen do not come close to doing it justice.

In addition to the Acropolis area, while traveling around we saw the Temple of Zeus and went into the Archaeological Museum, which housed numerous artifacts from all over Greece.

Once again we had a fantastic lunch at a small local restaurant that locals go to and was recommended by our guide. Fortunately he went in with us and made some suggestions for lunch and assisted interpreting for us as the staff there spoke very little English.

After lunch we made a quick stop by the Plaka (one of the main shopping areas) where we picked up some excellent Greek olive oil and a bottle of wine.

One interesting thing we noted about Athens was the number of what we thought were stray dogs wandering around, even in the Acropolis. When we asked our guide about them, we found out that they are fully supported by the city. They capture them, spay and neuter them and then release them. After that the city feeds them and takes care of their vet needs. Talk about a dogs life!!

Tomorrow we arrive in Istanbul around 4pm

Naples Italy

Yea! We got a break today, and the sun was out all day and the temperature reached the mid 60’s! With just a few white clouds around, it was a “picture perfect” day. Our tour guide was waiting for us on the pier after we docked this morning. The plan was to follow the coast line around to Sorrento, and making a stop at a couple of the smaller villages along the way, having lunch, then on the way back make a stop at Pompeii.

Leaving Naples behind we started out along the coast. The scenery was absolutely fabulous, and the sea was very calm and blue, and the mountains made a delightful backdrop. We made several photo stops along the way, passed through several small villages until we reached the village of Positano. We stopped there for about an hour so that we could walk around and look at the shops and churches there.

Carrying on from there we reached Sorrento around noon, and did a drive through the city. After a short tour of the city, we stopped at a local pizzeria for lunch, where we had a true Italian pizza. It was the best pizza we have ever had and now we are spoiled and probably will never by another commercial pizza in the US again.

After lunch we were off again heading back toward Naples and made a stop at Pompeii. Because we had to be back onboard by 4:30 we only had about an hour there which wasn’t even enough time. Pompeii is much larger than we thought and we barely saw a third of it before we had to leave. It was amazing to us the amount of work that has been accomplished in restoring the original city from the ashes. You could probably spend 3 hours or more there and still not see it all.

But we are back onboard and ready for a sea day tomorrow. It’s been a tiring three days of tours and we really can use the break. April 4th we hit Athens and start up again.

Cheers!

Roma, the name conjures up images of love, the coliseum, the forum, and of course Vatican City. On a day similar to yesterday, the day started out partly cloudy and as the day progressed, clouds began forming. By early afternoon there were a few scattered rain showers but nothing like we had the day before.

We met our driver at 7:30 and it was off to see Rome. By the time we arrived there, my first thoughts were thankfully we were not there during the height of tourist season. The traffic in Rome rivals Washington DC.

But, our trusty driver knew the city well, and managed to get us around without a lot of trouble, and we went to the Parthenon, the Vatican and saw the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum, the Forum, the Spanish Steps, the Catacombs, Trevi Fountain, and many other sights around the city. And we had another fantastic lunch at a small local café.

After a very long and tiring day we arrived back at the ship shortly after 6pm. Tomorrow is Naples, Pompeii, and a couple of other places for another long day.

Until then, Cheers.