Friday, May 14, 2010

Heading to Home Sweet Home...

Thursday, May 13, 2010 – At Sea – A rocky day for packing!
After a very rocky night, we packed, saw a nice goodbye video from the crew and champagne toast from the cruise director, played our last game for dollars and redeemed them for two sweatshirts and two t-shirts! Great loot!

Many sad goodbyes to our new passenger and crew friends. Dinner with friends and we had a nice crew farewell with Baked Alaska carried through the dining room.
Still up packing now at midnight…as we prepare for a memorable sail into the Hudson River very early tomorrow morning (6AM). We plan to rent a car, drop friends off at Newark Airport and head to Wilmington. Hard to believe 51 days have come and gone so quickly. And I still wonder at how easy it is to sail and visit so many diverse ports of call from one home. It is the best way to tour. Easy. Comfortable. Exciting.

The best joke from the comedian was about the passengers who booked a cruise FROM Ft. Lauderdale TO Ft. Lauderdale…AND it would take them 51 days.

But he does not understand the wonders you will experience during those incredible 51 days….but we do.
It’s been another trip of a lifetime. Thank you, Holland America and Preferred Travel, a member of the Ensemble Travel Group!

Sea day and BERMUDA

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 – Formal day at sea
Rocky seas, meeting with friends, games for dollars, took a nap!, walked two miles.
Another nice pillow gift from Holland America – a beautiful china collector’s plate of the Grand Voyage with the itinerary on a world map.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 – Hamilton, Bermuda!
We had a beautiful ½ hour tender ride in to Hamilton through the clear blue waters, passing the colorful homes and small islands. I had forgotten how beautiful the approach to the island can be.

We will be returning in September for a week’s cruise from NY on the Holland America VEENDAM ship – Sept 19-26. Consider joining us! And also for the special event: Joyce (owner of Preferred Travel) and Jeff will be married on September 23! We did some research for the big day, enjoyed a walking tour of Hamilton to the Sessions House with a private tour, watched the Supreme Court in session, visited the Department of Tourism, Heritage Museum, toured the Cathedral, found the library for free internet!, Perot post office, City Hall and various shops along Front Street. The town is pretty easy for walking, if you don’t mind a few hills. We saw the VEENDAM parked right in downtown Hamilton and thought ahead to our September trip!

Hamilton is the capitol of Bermuda. It is located on the north side of Hamilton Harbor, and is Bermuda's main port. Although there is a parish of the same name, the city of Hamilton is in the parish of Pembroke. The City is named after Sir Henry Hamilton, governor from 1778 to 1794. In spite of being the administrative capital of Bermuda, Hamilton only has a permanent population of approximately 1,800.

As the offshore domicile of many foreign companies, Bermuda has a highly developed international business economy. It is a financial exporter of financial services, primarily insurance, reinsurance, investment funds and special purpose vehicles (SPV). Finance and international business now constitute the largest sector of Bermuda's economy. The city is 185 acres in size, substantially more than when first established but still one of the smallest cities in the world. As a self-governing British colony, Bermuda is comprised of 181 small islands and islets connected by bridges and causeways that resemble a fishhook from the air. 
Bermuda is divided into nine parishes. Each parish is unique. St. George's captures the island's past with structures dating back to the 17th century. The pastel-colored buildings make up the government and shopping Mecca in Hamilton in Pembroke Parish.

Prior to July 31, 1972 Bermuda's currency was tied to the British Pound. Legal tender is now the Bermuda Dollar which is pegged to the US dollar on an equal (1 to 1) basis. This means that US currency is accepted at shops, restaurants and hotels at equal (face) value.

We toured the Anglican Cathedral of The Most Holy Trinity is on Church Street, between Cedar Avenue and Parliament Street. It is considered the most imposing edifice in Bermuda. Built on the site of Trinity Church, destroyed by an arsonist in the 1880s, it is Gothic in style. It was designed by Scottish architect William Hay of Edinburgh and built (work began in 1886) from a mix of Bermuda stone, Caen stone from France, Nova Scotia freestone and Scottish granite.

The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute is the world's first scientific institute to focus entirely on deep-water exploration and research. The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute is a pioneer in focusing on everything from marine biology to the technology of underwater exploration and deep-ocean ecology. The 3,000-plus shell collection is the world’s best. You will see the shrunken human heads showing gruesome effects of deep-water pressure. You can also hop aboard the world's first simulated deepwater submersible going down to the 12,500-foot base of the Bermuda Sea Mount. This will be our Ensemble Experience shore excursion for the group in September.

Sessions House is the Georgian-style building on Church Street. Built in 1817 when the City of Hamilton became the Capital of Bermuda, Sessions House is located on Parliament Hill. The Clock Tower was added in 1887 to commemorate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign. It serves as Bermuda's House of Assembly and Supreme Court, where they still wear the wigs in the courtroom!

Phoenix Clock is a famous city landmark on Reid Street. A Howard Post Clock, it was first imported from Boston, Massachusetts, in 1893 by merchant Duncan Doe, a watchmaker and jeweler. He advertised his craft via the ornate timepiece. It has been owned by the local Phoenix group of pharmacies for decades. For years, it was located on Queen Street before it was relocated to Reid Street. It runs via a pendulum and after not working for sometime, it was repaired in May 2009 by a craftsman from Massachusetts.

Horse drawn carriages are available for hire by visitors. Hamilton Trolley Train is a one hour tour of the City of Hamilton. It will drive past the famous Birdcage, Albouys Point, City Hall, the Bermuda National Gallery, the Anglican Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, and Fort Hamilton. The drive continues to the Botanical Gardens and Camden House, the official residence of the Premier of Bermuda.

Bermuda has more cars and motor vehicles per square mile than anywhere else in the world and too many people drive too fast and dangerously. Each family is allowed one car.

Very nice sailaway with commentary from Bermuda through the various straits.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Whales and dolphins

Saturday, May 8, 2010 – In the rough seas of the Atlantic
Rocking and rolling all night, we have 10 feet seas and swells so we are moving even as we stand still; we are facing a strong headwind. Green apples and crackers are available in all public areas of the ship.

Had an informative private galley tour of the crew area, where they dine and relax in their break room with several play stations and a tour of the refrigerated lockers, food preparation for bread, salads, meat locker – all on level four. We dine on level seven and eleven and they transport the food up in elevators to be plated on those respective floors.

I took a nap!!! 2-1/2 hours in the middle of the day. It was absolutely wonderful. Had a quick lunch with almost the entire ship in the buffet; the doors to the walking deck are closed since the waves and wind are high. Off to another dollar event (which was to be played outside but since we could not go out we were given a dollar for showing up!), to a lecture on Olive Oil and the characteristics of good/bad and uses, made a key chain in “arts and crafts” (crafts for all ages) and then worked in the stateroom. Laundry and buffet dinner and then a show by Thien Fu, who juggled and did levitation with a tennis racket.

“A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike.” – John Steinbeck

Sunday, May 9, 2010 - At Sea – Whales and dolphins! Happy Mother’s Day!
Morning church service with a guest clarinet player performing AMAZING GRACE and communion; pentathlon teams created for games over the next few days; breakfast in the dining room and I saw a whale spouting! Country Fair by the courtyard pool was a lot of fun – we had a limbo dancing booth, bouncing ping pong balls on the ping pong table into a plate of water, ball throwing to get the empty juice containers toppled, jewelry monte so you had to guess where the ring was, pin the tail on the shore excursion map, create a paper airplane out of brochure pages, guess the dice as the fall onto a board…each department had created a game and it was creative and fun.

Saw more dolphins and whales spouting as I walked two miles. Called home for Mother’s Day. Enjoyed relaxing in the wooden deck chairs and gazing out to sea; trying to take advantage of each moment left!!

Dinner with Norman, the Security Office. Melan, a group of young English opera singers performed. The consensus was they had good voices but their dresses were miniscule and out of place with the opera songs performed; gowns would have been more appropriate. Chocolate Dessert Extravanganza with lots of creative chocolate cakes and marcipan figurines! Yum!! Crew church service as at 11PM.

“Some journeys take us away from it all, to places no one knows us; some take us to where it seems we’ve always been. But whether we venture to a new part of town or to an entirely new culture, travel forever changes the boundaries of the world we once knew.” - Unknown

Monday, May 10, 2010 – At Sea – Cruising the still waters of the Atlantic
Grand Voyage Mariner’s Day (a celebration for all past passengers)

Calm and sunny day at sea playing games and reading in the deck chair.
Walked a mile. Had a nice brunch in the restaurant for all Mariners and received our Holland America ceramic tile; voted on landscape, people or architecture photos for the onboard contest; dinner with friends in the buffet; Larry Linkin, clarinet player, was superb and we bought one of his CDs. Lost electricity for a few minutes on the entire ship. Filipino Crew show at 11PM which was spectacular!

“A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.” - William Arthur Ward

Ponta Delgada AZORE Islands

Friday, May 7, 2010 – Ponta Delgada, on the island of San Miguel in the AZORE Islands, Portugal
Gray and misty upon arrival and then the sun burned through. The weather varies greatly on this small island – sunny in one area and foggy in another area only 10 miles away.

We would return to the Azores! They are represented in the Portuguese government and the island’s industries are fishing, dairy farming and cattle. Their flag is white and blue with a buzzard in the center and nine stars for the nine islands.

The University opened in 1995. There are hot springs on the island so they can prepare native dishes by cooking them in the earth for six hours. Japanese cedar trees were introduced to the island so they could cut the pliable wood to wrap the fresh oranges for shipping. When a boat was sited approaching the island, they would pick the oranges and wrap them in corn leaves and use donkeys to transport them to the ship.

50-60 cruise ships stop a year so they created a new cruise terminal as they are hoping for 80 ships this year.

I went on a tour, “A Taste of the Azores”, winding our way over the mountains, past the airport, to the west of the island to the small village of Sete Cidades (seven cities), which are dominated by an impressive five-mile-diameter caldera. In the crater lie two volcanic lakes, one green and the other blue. From the highest point, we could see nothing; it was too foggy. From the next level down, we could see the lakes but the sun was not shining to give it any color. We continued down and could see the green in the smaller lake as it reflects the trees at the side of the lake and the blue, which reflects the sky as it is deeper than the green lake.

Wandered around the small village and into the lovely small church in Sete Cidades; the homes have ceramic tiles of their patron saints over the front door. We also stopped at Santiago Lake and then enjoyed local wines and cheeses.

Gene went on a tour to the next largest city, Ribeira Grande, and to Fire Lake. They crossed the Pica da Barrosa mountains and stopped at a pineapple plantation. There are also passion fruit liquor factories and ceramic factories around the island.

The nearest continental land is 740 miles away, Cape Roco, Portugal. Settlement on the island was begun in the 1400s. During WWII, the islands of Lajes and Santo Maria were important air bases and centers of communication between the US and Europe.

Volcanic in nature, the islands rise steeply from the ocean and the shores are littered with rocks and pebbles. The houses are mostly white and black as they use volcanic stone for building. There are numerous steam vents (used for cooking also), boiling mud pools and hot springs of the Furnas Valley. The weather is temperate and the hills lush and green.

In the afternoon, we walked around Ponta Delgada and it was sunny when we started out, and then it rained. We found free WIFI at the Solmar shopping center and called home and worked. We found a beautiful church, the Parish Church of St. Joseph, in the Baroque style of the 18th century. There were beautiful gilded carvings, tiles, paintings and colored and inlaid marble work. We found the Forte de Sao Bras (fort) but could not enter as they are planning for a large festival in town this weekend. The walking streets, square and churches have been decorated; they must be colorful at night. There were thousands of lights on the facades of all the buildings and trees. We were told that many visitors come from Europe for this yearly festival.

Gosia, electrifying harpist, played an unique show of pop Celtic to Spanish Latin and British Classical music.

“Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.” - Spanish Proverb

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Lisbon and leaving continental Europe

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 – Lisbon – departing from Europe and heading home
Lisbon is positioned on seven low hills beside the north side of the Rio Tejo (Tagus) that once lured traders and settlers. On every visit, I enjoy it more and more. Today was a definite highlight and one that reminds me I need to return more often.

Overlooking the south bank of the Tagus River, a 752-foot figure representing Christ the Redeemer towers on a hilltop; this is very similar to the statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

At its heart are wide, tree-lined avenues graced by Art Nouveau buildings, mosaic pavement and street cafes. Seen from the river, it is an impressionist picture of low-rise ochre and pastel, punctuated by church towers and domes. The city is a mix of vibrant blue and white painted tiles, cobblestone laneways, wildly extravagant Manueline architecture, melancholy fado singing, funiculars, fun and more than a touch of the medieval.

We ventured off to the local train and a nice man assisted us in purchasing a 24-hour transportation ticket – the wrong one!! We had purchased a 24-hour ticket for round trip travel between two stops, which were easily walkable! Yech. There were six of us and we went to the customer service center and their first reaction was “Sorry, folks” but we gently persuaded them to refund our money and point us in the direction of the kiosk for the correct ticket.

On we went…on the bus and tram trying to get up to the Castelo do San Jorge, which we finally found four hours later! But we had fun getting there—a tram ride took us to the Royal Basilica da Estrela, the most outstanding 18th century monument in the city, which we were NOT looking for but we did have an interesting visit. It took 11 years to complete with large quantities of grey, pink and ochre marble, houses the Empire-style tomb of Queen Maria the 1st and there are imposing paintings on the sides of the altar. It was magnificent. After walking around the interior, a lady suddenly came up to us and asked us to follow her. In a back room there is a private and impressiveglass-enclosed nativity scene with more than 500 figures by sculptor Machado de Castro. We walked through the impressive gardens across the street from the church.

On the next tram we went to the end of the line, to realize we should have gotten off three stops earlier! So we get on another tram to re-trace our steps and finally found the castle.

Built in the 5th century by the Visigoths, enlarged by the Moors in the 9th century and then modified again in the 11th and 12th centuries when Lisbon was an important Muslin coastal city, the Castelo de Sao Jorge (castle) is now a flower garden. With incredible views of the city, there are several buildings to wander through, a wide wall to walk on, plus a museum and periscope in the Ulysses Tower. It became a Royal Palace but was destroyed in an earthquake in 1755. We ate lunch overlooking the city, seated beside the cannons; the view was impressive with the pastel-colored buildings and clear sky above.

The periscope: Legend has it that the city was founded by Ulysses. The tower, which was named after him and where the Royal Archive was kept in the old days, houses an optical system invented by Leonardo Da Vinci in the 16th century. It is the only one in Portugal and we were one of only 12 people to attend a show (given every half hour) giving a 360 degree view of the city in real time.

On a miniature bus (since the streets are narrow and cobblestone) we rode down the hill and continued on another bus and found our way to the Praca do Rossio, the center of the city, and Praca do Restauradores, both were large wide squares with tall monuments. Shops and cafes surrounded the squares and we rode the Ascensor da Gloria, a funicular/San Francisco-style tram for the fun of it - up and down - a round trip. The tram was probably from the 1950s (or older) with wooden slatted seats and took us up a steep path. There are several trams and funiculars in the city – some are like elevators (up/down in a building) and some are trams (up/down on steep hills).

We were six friends together – 3 men and 3 women – and here we had a slight encounter with two men who apparently were trying to get into a friend’s pocket. The other friend could see the would-be robber put his coat over his arm and work his way closer to the our friend, touching his arm and trying to appear like he was being pushed closer. Our friend hit him on the arm and the man jumped away. The accomplice went up to Gene and got closer and Gene elbowed him in the ribs and that man jumped back and started screaming at Gene. All this as we were boarding a bus. The driver must have seen it but said nothing – which was unnerving. But nothing was taken and no one was hurt. Other passengers have reported robberies, mostly in the larger cities we have visited on this itinerary, so we were extremely fortunate -- good to travel in people-packs and keep an eye out for each other.

We found our way to the Praca do Comercio (Black Horse Square), where the Pope will be preaching next Tuesday. They were busy setting up the TV cameras and scaffolding. The Royal Palace once stood here but was destroyed by an earthquake. It is 630 feet long and 581 feet wide – HUGE – and lined on three sides by classical buildings. One side boasts a 19th century Baroque triumphal arch and there is an equestrian statue of King Jose I (cast in bronze and the reason for the square also being known as Black Horse).

We ended the day in Belem, where the caravels sailed off to conquer the great unknown. Today this riverside precinct is known for their monument to the nation’s Age of Discovery. It is 171 feet tall and erected in 1960 on the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. It represents the prow of a ship with the prince pointing the way to a crowd of important figures.

We went to the Mosteiro (monastery) dos Jeronimos, an impressive masterpiece of Portugal’s power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. It was built in 1502 by King Manuel I to commemorate Vasco Da Gama’s voyage and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. It is incredibly beautiful and some passengers from the ship found out a boy’s choir from Newark, NJ was going to be singing there while on their tour to Spain and Portugal and were able to hear them sing – how great that must have been!!
It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nearby is the Torre de Belem, a Manueline tower built between 1515-1519 in the middle of the Tagus River to defend the river mouth and monastery. It now sits on the north shore as the earthquake in 1755 altered the course of the river! It is architectural gem; a Romanesque-Gothic structure with loggias like those in Veniced and small domes like those in Morocco. Facing the sea, there is a statue of Our Lady of Safe Homecoming.

I enjoyed an ice cream and we wandered around enjoying the bright sunshine and soaking up the atmosphere. This is our last port on the mainland Europe – hard to believe it will all be over soon.

We were docked under the 25 de Abril Bridge (named after their day of revolution), a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon to the municipality of Almada on the left bank of the Tagus River. It is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge – 7740 feet long, the 17th largest suspension bridge in the world.

Mike Goddard, a comedian entertained us. The Captain attended both shows so we knew we would enjoy the evening.

We took a quick walk by the marina near the ship to discover (too late!) wonderful restaurants with outdoor dining (heaters and blankets supplied when necessary) and free WIFI, which we discovered too late. Colorful sailaway from Europe

Received pillow gifts from the ship – luggage tags and straps with map of the world pattern.

“If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you’ll see obstacles.” – Jon Alama

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 – Venturing into the Atlantic Ocean
Gray and overcast all day with rocky seas, we slept late. Had a small group showing in the theatre of the DVD of the Batumi Georgia folk dancing, lunch with friends, chances to win more dollars at shuffleboard and ping pong, worked, “Young Queen Victoria” movie and dinner with friends, walked two miles.

Where do the hours go??
You tell others on land what you have done on the ship and it today may sound like a carefree or you’ve got to be kidding-type of day, but on the ship, it is all about friendships. The activities keep you young at heart. Many of the passengers are in wheelchairs or use walkers but they are still traveling. Travel is possible if you have the desire.

“Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go and you learn at once how big and precious it is.” - Anonymous

Thursday, May 6, 2010 – Sea day
Dolphin racing and I made it to the semi-finals!
Bocce ball, Stargazing at Sea lecture, production show entitled “Remember When”, Indonesian Tea with batik tablecloths and different sweets with rice and mango (Yum!), Virtual tour of the Bridge, lunch with friends, Haute Chocolate Trivia, walked two miles.
Donnie Abraham, singer from Ohio, was the entertainer. We enjoyed him last year also with this Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Kenny Rogers and BJ Thomas songs.

“Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Portugal countryside

Monday, May 3, 2010 – Sintra, Cabo do Boca, Cascais and Estoril, Portugal
We could not have asked for better weather for port day -- absolutely clear blue skies with breezes. And it was our Canadian friend’s birthday!

The local train to Sintra took about an hour, passing through the greener sections of the city and ancient aqueducts perched high on columns.

Sintra is in the mountains and is a Unesco World Heritage center, a storybook of pastel-hued manors folded in to luxuriant hills that roll down to the blue Atlantic. There are palaces with ivy-clad Rapunzel-esque turrets, nature-done-wild botanical gardens and forests strewn with megalithic granite boulders like giant’s marbles.

A smaller local bus transports you up a windy and steep cobblestone road to the Palacio Nacional Da Pena, a wacky confection of onion domes, Moorish keyhole gates, writhing stone snakes and crenellated towers in sherbet-bonbon pinks and lemons. Prussian architect Ludwig van Eschwege was commissioned in 1840 to build the Bavarian-Manueline epic palace (same architect as Neuschwanstein in Germany/the Disney castle as most people know it). Each room is a piece of kitschy art, extravagantly extraordinary with precious Meissen porcelain, trompe d’oeil murals and King Carlos’ unfinished nudes of buxom nymphs (the King was an artist). The ballroom has a chandelier holding 72 candles and there are four statues of Turks bearing electric candles. It was absolutely incredible and well worth the time and effort (meaning steep uphill climb). Once you arrive from the first public bus, there is a private bus to take you to the gates of the palace. There is also an elaborate garden with caves, grottos, fountains, lakes, walk paths and towers so you can easily spend the entire day here. The palace was last inhabited in 1910 by Don Manuel II.

The next site we visited was the Moorish Castle, an 8th century fortification conquered by Don Alonso Henriques. It was conceived as a vantage-point overlooking Lisbon, its surroundings and other adjacent towns. There is a cistern, archaeological site, Knight’s quarters, castle keep and granaries hollowed from the rock by the Moors for storing cereals; they were used as garbage containers from the Christian conquest (12th century) onward.

The Palacio Nacional de Sintra was formerly the Royal Palace. It was begun in the 15th century and added to the 16th century. Beautiful tiled walls, ceilings and floors made an exquisite example of the Portuguese

We boarded the local bus to Cabo da Roca, the most western point in Europe, with a sheer 450 foot cliff facing the sea, making it an ideal point to enjoy the sunset from this rugged windswept region. The roads were narrow and the scenery was rolling hills with the blue sea in the distance. We found our way to Cascais, a nice seaside town with walking streets, small inlets with beaches, marinas and a boardwalk that went all the way to the next town, Estoril, a holiday resort town on the outskirts of the busy city of Lisbon. LOVELY AREA and would be an ideal spot for your hotel while you explored the city, a short 20 minute train ride away.

It was perfect weather for a stroll; we found a large casino in Estoril and an old watch tower at the water’s edge. We took the fast train back to Lisbon and met my Portuguese friend (from my AFS year in Denmark in 1977-78) Miguel, and his wife Fatima and their two lovely daughters, Marta and Maria. They met us at the ship and we had a wonderful dinner talking about the last 28 years of our lives! I saw him last when I was backpacking around Europe and he was studying at the University in Lisbon; he is a managing director at a large bank in Lisbon -- Banco Popular. It was a great evening…another special moment when you realize how small the world really is; it takes some time and effort to find someone from your past but what a nice time you have with them when you do connect.

“What I admire in Columbus is not his having discovered a world, but his having gone to search for it on the faith of an opinion.” - Turgot

Portugal countryside

Monday, May 3, 2010 – Sintra, Cabo do Boca, Cascais and Estoril, Portugal
We could not have asked for better weather for port day -- absolutely clear blue skies with breezes. And it was our Canadian friend’s birthday!

The local train to Sintra took about an hour, passing through the greener sections of the city and ancient aqueducts perched high on columns.

Sintra is in the mountains and is a Unesco World Heritage center, a storybook of pastel-hued manors folded in to luxuriant hills that roll down to the blue Atlantic. There are palaces with ivy-clad Rapunzel-esque turrets, nature-done-wild botanical gardens and forests strewn with megalithic granite boulders like giant’s marbles.

A smaller local bus transports you up a windy and steep cobblestone road to the Palacio Nacional Da Pena, a wacky confection of onion domes, Moorish keyhole gates, writhing stone snakes and crenellated towers in sherbet-bonbon pinks and lemons. Prussian architect Ludwig van Eschwege was commissioned in 1840 to build the Bavarian-Manueline epic palace (same architect as Neuschwanstein in Germany/the Disney castle as most people know it). Each room is a piece of kitschy art, extravagantly extraordinary with precious Meissen porcelain, trompe d’oeil murals and King Carlos’ unfinished nudes of buxom nymphs (the King was an artist). The ballroom has a chandelier holding 72 candles and there are four statues of Turks bearing electric candles. It was absolutely incredible and well worth the time and effort (meaning steep uphill climb). Once you arrive from the first public bus, there is a private bus to take you to the gates of the palace. There is also an elaborate garden with caves, grottos, fountains, lakes, walk paths and towers so you can easily spend the entire day here. The palace was last inhabited in 1910 by Don Manuel II.

The next site we visited was the Moorish Castle, an 8th century fortification conquered by Don Alonso Henriques. It was conceived as a vantage-point overlooking Lisbon, its surroundings and other adjacent towns. There is a cistern, archaeological site, Knight’s quarters, castle keep and granaries hollowed from the rock by the Moors for storing cereals; they were used as garbage containers from the Christian conquest (12th century) onward.

The Palacio Nacional de Sintra was formerly the Royal Palace. It was begun in the 15th century and added to the 16th century. Beautiful tiled walls, ceilings and floors made an exquisite example of the Portuguese

We boarded the local bus to Cabo da Roca, the most western point in Europe, with a sheer 450 foot cliff facing the sea, making it an ideal point to enjoy the sunset from this rugged windswept region. The roads were narrow and the scenery was rolling hills with the blue sea in the distance. We found our way to Cascais, a nice seaside town with walking streets, small inlets with beaches, marinas and a boardwalk that went all the way to the next town, Estoril, a holiday resort town on the outskirts of the busy city of Lisbon. LOVELY AREA and would be an ideal spot for your hotel while you explored the city, a short 20 minute train ride away.

It was perfect weather for a stroll; we found a large casino in Estoril and an old watch tower at the water’s edge. We took the fast train back to Lisbon and met my Portuguese friend (from my AFS year in Denmark in 1977-78) Miguel, and his wife Fatima and their two lovely daughters, Marta and Maria. They met us at the ship and we had a wonderful dinner talking about the last 28 years of our lives! I saw him last when I was backpacking around Europe and he was studying at the University in Lisbon; he is a managing director at a large bank in Lisbon -- Banco Popular. It was a great evening…another special moment when you realize how small the world really is; it takes some time and effort to find someone from your past but what a nice time you have with them when you do connect.

“What I admire in Columbus is not his having discovered a world, but his having gone to search for it on the faith of an opinion.” - Turgot

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Seville Spain

Sunday, May 2, 2010 – Cadiz Spain for our private Ensemble tour to Seville
Beautiful sunny day – 80 degrees!

We met our guide at the port in Cadiz, Juan Antonio, at 8:45 and there were 26 of us headed to Seville (about 1+ hour away) - - along with an entire highway of motorcycle riders! There was a race today, similar to ours at Dover Downs, and the roads were full of motorcycles. We passed Jerez, where Spanish sherry is made. Saw fields of sunflowers, vegetables and wind mill farms and drove by some quaint towns with white picturesque churches perched high above the town.

In an hour+, we were in Seville and had a nice panoramic tour of Maria Luisa park, Palace of San Telmo, the old government buildings….we met another guide, Joachin, at the bullfight arena Maestranza built between 1760 and 1763 for a tour and visit to the chapel and museum. Then a walk through the old city streets to the Cathedral, the third largest in the world, behind only St. Peters in Rome and St. Paul’s in England, the largest and highest cathedral in Spain and the largest Gothic building in the world. Its construction began in 1401 on the grounds of the center mosque constructed during Arab occupation. The remains of Christopher Columbus are thought to be in the Cathedral. You can climb to the top of the Giralda, the minaret that dominates the skyline.

Most of the group continued on to the Alcazar (Royal Palace) built in the early 10th century and is one of the best examples of mudejar architecture in all of Spain. A few people had walking sticks with the chair attached so they could rest during the tour and they were told they were not allowed to sit in the castle UNLESS THE KING SAT FIRST. Well, he was nowhere in sight, not even in the building, yet they still were not able to sit.

I took a carriage ride with some members of the group (our surrey even had fringe on top!) and we passed Palacio de San Telmo (first naval academy and residence of the Bourbon Duke of Montpensier), rode through Maria Luisa park with its formal design, wild vegetation, sculptures, fountains and 1929 Exhibition buildings, the Plaza de America, Toro de Oro (Tower of Gold) with its 12 sides which were once covered in gold tiles to reflect the sunlight making the tower that more visible to control maritime traffic into the city, Hotel Alonso XIII (names for the king’s visit to the 1929 fair) and the Museum of Fine Arts (17th century Convento de la Merced). It was a gorgeous sunny Mother’s Day afternoon and the families were out enjoying the parks and walking streets. It was a very enjoyable ride.

We met the other group at the Robles Placentines restaurant for a nice tapas meal and we had three very special birthday cakes for the group members.

Back on the ship with ten minutes to spare we had a beautiful sailaway, dinner and entertainment. Reports were written and I crashed into bed.

“Seville is a pleasant city famous for oranges and women” – Lord Byron

In the Med

Friday, April 30, 2010 – In the Mediterranean Sea
Queen’s Day – Celebrating the official birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Wear orange! The translation of the royal family is House of Orange.

Attended several “dollar” events – bean bag toss, croquet, golf, football toss…hard to describe these events but suffice it to say they are silly and fun and a great way to meet others and win money for a Holland America t-shirt or sweatshirt. I can only imagine the activities and games played on the trans-Atlantic voyages in the past.

Lunch with friends, Dutch formal tea at 3:00 – wonderful way to try their specialties and enjoy a few moments with friends, nap in the sun on the top deck… I have to admit that only in the last few days have I taken time to look out to sea and enjoy the moment. The cruise has been busy and fun and you think it will last forever…then you realize you will be home in two weeks making dinner!

Formal attire for dinner and then Katzenjammer played – 4 Hands/1 Piano. We saw them last year and enjoyed them so much I bought their DVD this year.
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” - Samuel Johnson

“Having fun is not a diversion from a successful life; it is the pathway to it.” - Martha Beck

Saturday, May 1, 2010 – At Sea on the way to Spain
Our first breakfast in the dining room (think we prefer room service), lunch with friends, bocce ball, bean bag toss, and making a paper airplane to see who can throw it the farthest and attended a Culinary Arts presentation of crepes suzette with Andrew Shoots.
Who else do you know who would boast of such activities at age 51?? But when you are with friends, it does not matter what you do.

Options for the day:
“God Squad”: We have a Priest, Chaplain and Rabbi onboard and there was an interfaith dialog.
Speaker: “Phoenicians: Merchant Explorers”
Guest Chef: Andrew Shoots –who will be starring on the TLC Series “Chocolate Wars” on May 12; he re-opened the Russian Tea Room in NY as the Executive Pastry Chef and created the E. Guittard brand of chocolates.

Jaz Danion, a French entertainer was a juggler and comedian.

“Pick the day. Enjoy it – to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come…The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present – and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.” - Audrey Hepburn

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Valletta Malta and days at sea...trying to savor the moment

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 – At Sea
Up and worked, took a nap in the sun, played croquet and chipped golf to win some dollars, lunch with friends, working most of the day, hosting the cocktail party with the Captain, Hotel Manager, Beverage Manager, Hostess, Future Cruise Consultant…we were there over four hours!!! So we ate at 8:00PM/late dining at a table for 2 (which was very nice). We were seated near a couple from Oregon who have a llama ranch – oh, the things I now know about llama ranching. I would love to go to a show to see them graded (just like a dog show). Did you know their fur is called fiber and not wool, as the sheep farmers objected to them claiming it was “wool”?

“Every generalization is dangerous, especially this one.” – Mark Twain

Thursday, April 29, 2010 – VALLETTA, Malta – Brass Band send off and 8-cannon salute!
Incredible day with memories from our past trip – great weather!

Up early for a 7:00 sail in – one of the most beautiful and surreal arrivals you will ever experience. The sunlight was reflecting off of the old city walls – magical! Medieval walls surround the ship as you sail between two forts and the high city walls.

Malta is in the Mediterranean, only 60 miles west of Sicily and offers much variety for its size. We toured the old city and took the hop on-hop off bus around the northern part of the island. One round trip is three hours, if that gives you an idea of the size. Mdina, St. Paul’s Bay, Golden Bay, Rabat, Mosta, Sliema,, Floriana, Hagar Qim, Marsaxlokk Bay, Marsa, Tarxien and Dragonara were some of the sites we re-lived from the top deck of the double-decker bus. It was perfect weather for the open-air bus – breezy, sunny and I felt like we were in one of those advertisements showing the perfect weather for touring: “Come Join Us”!

Valletta is the capital city of Malta and a World Heritage site. It is nothing short of an open-air museum and a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago. Started in 1566, Valletta was completed, with its impressive bastions, forts and cathedral, in the astonishingly short time of 15 years. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta and has a population of 6,300.

The Maltese Cross is the symbol of the Knights Hospitaller. The cross is eight-pointed, having the form of the four “V” shared arms joined together at their tips, so that each arm has two points. Its design is based on crosses used since the First Crusade. The points of the cross are said to symbolize: loyalty, piety, frankness, bravery, glory and honor, contempt of death, helpfulness towards the poor and sick and respect for the church.

Malta is thought to have been inhabited since 5700 BC and was colonized by the Phoenicians in 1000 BC. Then the islands went in turn to the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and the Spanish, who handed them over to the Knights of the Order of St. John in a "perpetual lease" in 1533. This lasted until Napoleon seized control in 1798. The Maltese did not like the French, rebelled and received aid from Great Britain and became a British protectorate in 1900. Then became a part of the British Empire in 1814, then rebelled against the British in 1964 and was granted independence. In 1974 it become a republic under the British Commonwealth.

The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (to give their full name) formed long before their reign on Malta. The Order was originally established in 1085 as a community of monks responsible for looking after the sick at the Hospital of St. John in Jerusalem. They later became a military order, defending crusader territory in the Holy Lands and safeguarding the perilous route taken by medieval pilgrims. They were members of noble families; they came to Malta in 1530. They stayed here for 268 years transforming what they called “merely a rock of soft sandstone” into a flourishing island with mighty defenses. The Order of Malta has ambassadors or diplomatic representatives in more than 80 nations and enjoys Permanent Observer status at the UN General Assembly.

Onboard, the Paul Curmi Folkore Dancers presented “Ghonnella and the Peasant Show” but we were busy working on the internet in the departure hall. UNTIL THEY TURNED OFF THE COMPUTER IN THE SHOP – when all internet connections were disconnected but we found the Hard Rock Bar with WIFI near the ship.

For our 4:30 all aboard time, we had a Brass Band send off! And then as we passed the Upper Barracca Gardens, soldiers form-up under the arches of the battery for inspection and march to the cannons. They loaded the guns according to their traditional drill ceremony that dates back to the late 19th century and fired an eight- cannon salute in five second intervals as we sailed past!! Oh wow! In the afternoon sun, we sailed out between the old city walls -- very special moment.

For dinner, the La Fontaine restaurant was decorated with medieval brick wallpaper, the waiters and staff were in full costume as knights (I am constantly amazed at the time the crew spend in decorating and wearing period costumes for our evenings!). The menu had a nice selection of Maltese entrees also.

“All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own.” - Plutarch

Friday, April 30, 2010 – In the Mediterranean Sea
Queen’s Day – Celebrating the official birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Wear orange! The translation of the royal family is House of Orange.

Attended several “dollar” events – bean bag toss, croquet, golf, football toss…hard to describe these events but suffice it to say they are silly and fun and a great way to meet others and win money for a Holland America t-shirt or sweatshirt. I can only imagine the activities and games played on the trans-Atlantic voyages in the past.

Lunch with friends, Dutch formal tea at 3:00 – wonderful way to try their specialties and enjoy a few moments with friends, nap in the sun on the top deck… I have to admit that only in the last few days have I taken time to look out to sea and enjoy the moment. The cruise has been busy and fun and you think it will last forever…then you realize you will be home in two weeks making dinner!

Formal attire for dinner and then Katzenjammer played – 4 Hands/1 Piano. We saw them last year and enjoyed them so much I bought their DVD this year.
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” - Samuel Johnson

“Having fun is not a diversion from a successful life; it is the pathway to it.” - Martha Beck

Saturday, May 1, 2010 – At Sea on the way to Spain
Our first breakfast in the dining room (think we prefer room service), lunch with friends, bocce ball, bean bag toss, and making a paper airplane to see who can throw it the farthest and attended a Culinary Arts presentation of crepes suzette with Andrew Shoots.

Options for the day:
“God Squad”: We have a Priest, Chaplain and Rabbi onboard and there was an interfaith dialog.
Speaker: Phoenicians: Merchant Explorers
Guest Chef: Andrew Shoots –who will be starring on the TLC Series “Chocolate Wars” on May 12; he re-opened the Russian Tea Room in NY as the Executive Pastry Chef created the E. Guittard brand of chocolates.

Jaz Danion, a French entertainer was a juggler and comedian.

“Pick the day. Enjoy it – to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come…The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present – and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.” - Audrey Hepburn

Valletta Malta and days at sea...trying to savor the moment

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 – At Sea
Up and worked, took a nap in the sun, played croquet and chipped golf to win some dollars, lunch with friends, working most of the day, hosting the cocktail party with the Captain, Hotel Manager, Beverage Manager, Hostess, Future Cruise Consultant…we were there over four hours!!! So we ate at 8:00PM/late dining at a table for 2 (which was very nice). We were seated near a couple from Oregon who have a llama ranch – oh, the things I now know about llama ranching. I would love to go to a show to see them graded (just like a dog show). Did you know their fur is called fiber and not wool, as the sheep farmers objected to them claiming it was “wool”?

“Every generalization is dangerous, especially this one.” – Mark Twain

Thursday, April 29, 2010 – VALLETTA, Malta – Brass Band send off and 8-cannon salute!
Incredible day with memories from our past trip – great weather!

Up early for a 7:00 sail in – one of the most beautiful and surreal arrivals you will ever experience. The sunlight was reflecting off of the old city walls – magical! Medieval walls surround the ship as you sail between two forts and the high city walls.

Malta is in the Mediterranean, only 60 miles west of Sicily and offers much variety for its size. We toured the old city and took the hop on-hop off bus around the northern part of the island. One round trip is three hours, if that gives you an idea of the size. Mdina, St. Paul’s Bay, Golden Bay, Rabat, Mosta, Sliema,, Floriana, Hagar Qim, Marsaxlokk Bay, Marsa, Tarxien and Dragonara were some of the sites we re-lived from the top deck of the double-decker bus. It was perfect weather for the open-air bus – breezy, sunny and I felt like we were in one of those advertisements showing the perfect weather for touring: “Come Join Us”!

Valletta is the capital city of Malta and a World Heritage site. It is nothing short of an open-air museum and a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago. Started in 1566, Valletta was completed, with its impressive bastions, forts and cathedral, in the astonishingly short time of 15 years. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta and has a population of 6,300.

The Maltese Cross is the symbol of the Knights Hospitaller. The cross is eight-pointed, having the form of the four “V” shared arms joined together at their tips, so that each arm has two points. Its design is based on crosses used since the First Crusade. The points of the cross are said to symbolize: loyalty, piety, frankness, bravery, glory and honor, contempt of death, helpfulness towards the poor and sick and respect for the church.

Malta is thought to have been inhabited since 5700 BC and was colonized by the Phoenicians in 1000 BC. Then the islands went in turn to the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and the Spanish, who handed them over to the Knights of the Order of St. John in a "perpetual lease" in 1533. This lasted until Napoleon seized control in 1798. The Maltese did not like the French, rebelled and received aid from Great Britain and became a British protectorate in 1900. Then became a part of the British Empire in 1814, then rebelled against the British in 1964 and was granted independence. In 1974 it become a republic under the British Commonwealth.

The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (to give their full name) formed long before their reign on Malta. The Order was originally established in 1085 as a community of monks responsible for looking after the sick at the Hospital of St. John in Jerusalem. They later became a military order, defending crusader territory in the Holy Lands and safeguarding the perilous route taken by medieval pilgrims. They were members of noble families; they came to Malta in 1530. They stayed here for 268 years transforming what they called “merely a rock of soft sandstone” into a flourishing island with mighty defenses. The Order of Malta has ambassadors or diplomatic representatives in more than 80 nations and enjoys Permanent Observer status at the UN General Assembly.

Onboard, the Paul Curmi Folkore Dancers presented “Ghonnella and the Peasant Show” but we were busy working on the internet in the departure hall. UNTIL THEY TURNED OFF THE COMPUTER IN THE SHOP – when all internet connections were disconnected but we found the Hard Rock Bar with WIFI near the ship.

For our 4:30 all aboard time, we had a Brass Band send off! And then as we passed the Upper Barracca Gardens, soldiers form-up under the arches of the battery for inspection and march to the cannons. They loaded the guns according to their traditional drill ceremony that dates back to the late 19th century and fired an eight- cannon salute in five second intervals as we sailed past!! Oh wow! In the afternoon sun, we sailed out between the old city walls -- very special moment.

For dinner, the La Fontaine restaurant was decorated with medieval brick wallpaper, the waiters and staff were in full costume as knights (I am constantly amazed at the time the crew spend in decorating and wearing period costumes for our evenings!). The menu had a nice selection of Maltese entrees also.

“All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own.” - Plutarch

Friday, April 30, 2010 – In the Mediterranean Sea
Queen’s Day – Celebrating the official birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Wear orange! The translation of the royal family is House of Orange.

Attended several “dollar” events – bean bag toss, croquet, golf, football toss…hard to describe these events but suffice it to say they are silly and fun and a great way to meet others and win money for a Holland America t-shirt or sweatshirt. I can only imagine the activities and games played on the trans-Atlantic voyages in the past.

Lunch with friends, Dutch formal tea at 3:00 – wonderful way to try their specialties and enjoy a few moments with friends, nap in the sun on the top deck… I have to admit that only in the last few days have I taken time to look out to sea and enjoy the moment. The cruise has been busy and fun and you think it will last forever…then you realize you will be home in two weeks making dinner!

Formal attire for dinner and then Katzenjammer played – 4 Hands/1 Piano. We saw them last year and enjoyed them so much I bought their DVD this year.
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” - Samuel Johnson

“Having fun is not a diversion from a successful life; it is the pathway to it.” - Martha Beck

Saturday, May 1, 2010 – At Sea on the way to Spain
Our first breakfast in the dining room (think we prefer room service), lunch with friends, bocce ball, bean bag toss, and making a paper airplane to see who can throw it the farthest and attended a Culinary Arts presentation of crepes suzette with Andrew Shoots.

Options for the day:
“God Squad”: We have a Priest, Chaplain and Rabbi onboard and there was an interfaith dialog.
Speaker: Phoenicians: Merchant Explorers
Guest Chef: Andrew Shoots –who will be starring on the TLC Series “Chocolate Wars” on May 12; he re-opened the Russian Tea Room in NY as the Executive Pastry Chef created the E. Guittard brand of chocolates.

Jaz Danion, a French entertainer was a juggler and comedian.

“Pick the day. Enjoy it – to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come…The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present – and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.” - Audrey Hepburn