April 29, 2017. Horta Azores, Portugal on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

Thought we had been here before but as we walked around nothing seemed familiar. So we walked from one end of town up the step hills to the graveyards ( which are very cool) and back down to the waterfront. Very warm today 25 degree centigrade way over dressed.
We now have 6 days to cross the Atlantic. Hopefully it will be a good ride back. Will finalize our cruise when I get home to Canada. Oh can't wait to get back home yo the river. Thanks to all that commented to us.

April 28, 2017. Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

Well today we hooked up with a couple that we have been talking to for awhile now. They are from Florida and are Barbara and Jack. We all decided to see the Volcano and the town that lives in the crater of it. Got off the ship at 8:30 Bob negotiated a taxi for 3 hours for us and off we went. The land here is so lush and fertile. So pretty green green green hills and cows everywhere you look. We saw the town called " Sete Citades which means "The Seven Cities" and it's region is dominated by an impressive 5 mile wide caldera. But with in the crater lies 2 volcanic lakes, but one green and the other Blue. Today they were both green. Too many clouds for the sun to make it blue. We drove back along the coastline. We saw many whale watching spotters here. Whale watching is a big tourist attraction. On our sail away up in the crows nest we saw lots of blows from the whales a couple of the came partially out and only saw one tail flip.

April 25, 2017. On tour to Seville from Cadiz Spain on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

This is our second to last tour we are doing.  This was booked thru Cruise Critic.  We have a 7 hour tour to Seville to see the Palace where the King lives.  Bob & I have driven thru Seville but never have seen any of it.  It is a very beautiful city as many of the cities in Spain are.  We traveled on foot to see the Seville Square and the bontanical gardens.  Things are in full bloom here.  The Orange trees line the streets as well as the  Orleander trees in colors of whites and pinks.  The Jackaranda trees are all purple very pretty as well.

This is at the Seville Square.  Lots of pretty tiles mostly yellow and blue

The Palace is here and it was very Moorish  with Roman features as well

The farmers are on strike for more money and there musta been at least 50 farm trucks on strike.  They had lined the street for a long way.  

We also saw the Jewish section or square and the cathedral from the outside.  The line up to go in was too long, and we didn't have the time.  Back on the bus by 2:50 for the 1.5 hour drive home.

Next 2 days are sea days till we reach our last 2'ports in the Azores

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 23, 2017. 2nd day of Barcelona Spain on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

Another gorgeous day weather wise.  We did a lot of walking once again and the soles of my feet are just burning.  New tennis shoes when I get home.  I won't have time to get them in Florida when we e  off the ship, and head to Largo.  We plan to leave for Canada on Sunday sometime.

Today was a mass of people today another 4 ships in port one being the NCL with 4,000 plus passengers.   We unloaded yesterday 120 people and only 20 got on. So we are at maybe 400 passengers now that will do the crossing.  We have 3 more ports to see before we cross the Atlantic.  Looking forward to getting off this ship.  Way to old for us.  Just to many rude old people with walkers, canes, and hearing problems not too many wheelchairs, thank god. 

Today we walked a good 10 miles.  We saw everything.  Just could get over all the people here this weekend.  We saw the waterfront area, all the main streets.  Saw the famous Gaudi's Sagrada Familia yes it's still a work in progress.    We walked thru the Arc de Triomf.  Saw the 2 Gaudi's designer houses (see pictures). 

Tomorrow is a sea day.

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 22, 2017. Barcelona, Spain on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

What a beautiful sail in we had this afternoon.  We arrived Barcelona along with 5 other ships already here at 2:00 an hour early.  The sun is out and we are planning to walk the most famous pedestrian street in the city.  We are overnight here and have most of tomorrow to visit the waterfront.  They have a very good hop on hop off buss here as I remember the first time we were here.  So the free shuttle bus into town doesn't start till 3:00 and its 2:30 so we will wait.  Got long pants on a scarf and Bob yep he's in his shorts.  We want to be back on board by 6pm to grab a little dinner then see the culture show that starts at 7:00.  

Very busy on Las Rambas loads of people.  We went to the market as well.  As we were on our way back to the ship there was 3 ships leaving and a small a cruise ship as well as a ferry coming into port.  Very busy place.

Do you see what I see?

Love all the architecture here it's so special

Everywhere you look you see something special. 

We shall see what tomorrow will bring.  

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 21, 2017 Cagliari Sardinia Italy on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

Now we are on the island of Sardinia, in the southwest coast and the capital just happens to be Cagliari.  It is a very ancient city and dates back to the early 14 century.  We were off the ship very early once  again 8:05.  It was very chilly here until the sun warmed us up.  We started walking towards the top of the hill to see the old part of the city (the Castello) before all the tours and other people make it up here. We saw the old city walls along with the two 13 century white limestone towers.  We also visited a Botanical garden, many churches, the Palace, also a grand old Roman Amphitheater which is dyer need of repairs. Which was date back in the 2nd century AD and every corner you turned around was a garden.  Lots of green space here.  We had our 10,000 steps in by 11:00. Which was good cause I was freezing.  Just couldn't warm up today at all.  Back on the ship by 1:00 all aboard is 4:00 and we head for Barcelona and have a overnight there.  

Hope you can see all the white mice around this Kitty.  She had about a dozen under her.

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 20, 2017. Trapani, Sicily Italy on the Gran Mediterranean Cruise

We off the ship this morning by 8:30 and walked around this little peninsula to the Old part of the town.  They were just setting up all the cafè stands and hat stands.  Hats are big here.  We are located on the west coast of Sicily and Trapani serves as a fishing hot spot, wine and Olive producer and is also a major passageway to the nearby Egadi Islands and ferries running to Tunisia, Sardinia, and Pantelleria. 

We wondered the narrow streets and walked are butts off again to the other end of town 4 miles ahead.  There was a funicular we were planning on taking up this mountain to see the views but once we got there it had been stopped with people in it for over an hour.  We decided that we can't risk a break down again and us be late or miss the ship so we just took a few pictures of it and walked back via the waterfront another 4 mikes.  My feet really hurt but Bob had no sympathy for me......he was hurting as well his back.  Oh to be getting old.  Don't like it.  Anyway we got back on the ship by 2:00 had a salad for lunch then decided to go see the movie  " Lion" based on a true story.  Such a good movie recommend that to everyone.  Just bring a lot of tissue with you.  I cried all the way thorough it.  Happy tears and some sad tears.  We are so blessed in our lives.  It ended right at 5:00 and that was when we were sailing away.  We tomorrow is Cagliari Sardinia Italy.

They were very good.  We needed a pick me up for our walk back

The Funicular stopped once again

A .50 cent cafe mocha.  Even Bob liked it.  

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 19, 2017. Valletta Malta on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

We have been here before and knew to get up early and watch the sail in.  So Bob was up very early in the crows nest and I got up around 5:30 yes I know what you all are thinking and yes we are crazy.  But in Malta it's all about the views.  It's a walled city that was very much destroyed in WW11.  It has come back and there are beautiful monuments all over the city.  They said that whom ever conquered Malta would hold the Mediterranean.  As dawn broke we could see the harbor getting closer.  We heard that there are 5 ships in port today. We are on another tour with the Ensemble group today a walking tour, lunch, and a small boat ride.  Thank you Janet for adding us on the list.  Should be another great day.  There is a Costa Mega ship right behind us.  

We had a fabulous day today.  We drove to the other side of the harbor and visited the first inhabited town in Malta's historic creek.  We had some snacks and wine to get us threw the day.   We had a gondola ride  which our Captain was so so good. 85years old and still loving what he does.  He even sang to us.  After a nice tour of the harbor we walked up a hill and had some lunch. The soup was fantastic but the main meal I am sorry we just could not eat.  Stuffed octopus with some kind of fish......yuck sorry had to pass on this.  Then we got back on our ancient tour bus and went back to the ship.  The ship was leaving at 5:00 with a Canon Ball Salute.  8 canons went off as we departed.  We had our second sail away party today, and we had lots of fun.  It was a great day.  Tomorrow we are in Trapani Italy.

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 17, 2017. Athens Greece 2nd day on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

Well today we slept in until 7:30.  Felt so good.  Then we went for breaky getting tired of cereal and yougert.  Off the ship by 8:15 and off we went.  Today we are exploring the port of Piraeus.  The inside harbour is very pretty and it's just over the hill. The building here are showing there wear and tear here.  I guess the government just has no money to fix the older buildings up.  Such a shame.  They have a lot of money tied up in boats and yachts. The streets are lined with orange blossoms  and the smell is one of my favorites.  We had lunch a a very nice outdoor cafe and had our last pita gyros.  They are so good here. It was a lovely visit once again to Greece

Having lunch

Tomorrow is a well deserved sea day.  After 6 ports in a row.  And next day is Malta

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 16. Happy Easter in Athen Greece on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

We we walked out of the port at 8:15 and walked towards the metro station a mile away.  Got on the subway and went to the end of the green line.  We have been here many times and do something different or at least try to each time we are here.  After we went to the end of the line we decided to go walk up as close as we can get to the Acropolis where the Parthenon is.  We got to the gates and yep it was all  locked up.  We then decided to walk around the Plaka and the Market area.  Lots of people by this time.  We walked around for miles.  All I could smell is orange scent again.  Oh how I love that smell.  After about 2 hours of walking we sat down and had a great lunch at one of the outdoor cafe's along the Plaka.  We split a chicken melted cheese tomato sandwich on a pita with fries.  Did some wifi and then people watched. By this time it's 3:00 and time to get the metro back and back to the port of Piraeus.  We are here overnight and have all day tomorrow.  We had our 10,000. Steps in today by 12:09.  Another blessed day

Some of the beautiful church's around Athens.

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 15, 2017 Patmos Greece on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

Well we have another tender port this morning and it looks like to be a beautiful day. Had breakfast done by 7:10 waiting in our room till some tenders arrive. They have to use the islands tender boats this time. This island looks like your small typical Greek island with white houses spread thorough out the hills. A little history here is that a saint heard the voice of God and wrote the book of Revelation here. Hopefully we will find a local taverna and we will dance the Zorba dance while we sip on ouzo.
Well we took the local bus up to the Monastery way up on the hill. Walked all around the views were amazing. Then we wanted to go see the Holy Cave of Apocalypse. So we walked down the hill about 1 mike and there it was. A lot larger than I would of thought.m of coarse you can't get photos here. Iam not brave enough to just do it.
Then we walked back to town and had a cold beer called Mythos.

April 14, 2017 Heraklion, Crete, Greece on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

This is definitely a city than the villages we have been stopping at. It has been called many different names as well.  Heraklion is a very popular name in fact that is what is on the welcome sign.  We are docked in a ferry, container port.  Busy place.  I thought maybe we had been here before but now I am positive we have not.  We walked along the waterfront and it's getting to be quite warm.  The Fort of Koules, and the walled city is very old 16th century.  We walked up to the main city walk to find lots for sale.  Being good Friday they told us all the stores might be closed.  Lots of things open for us to see.  We stopped at a fountain at the top of the walking street.  It was built in 1628 when they brought the water into town from the foothills.  Today they still have snow on them.  It was a big celebration so Morasini built a fountain.  See picture,  we the decided to walk on the wall of the city.  Very thick blocks of stone to built this.  The top is very wide and lots of yellow daisy's up there. We got lots of step and stairs in again today

The famous fountain

The harbour from the fortresses 

On our way back there was massive people in the walking streets.  Everyone came out to drink in the bars and restaurants.  The fort inside was well done.   Tomorrow is another tender port and we are a yet another small village of Patmos.  There was a movie made in this town called My life in Ruins.

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 13, 2017 Gythion (Sparta) on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

Little history of this charming town.  Gythion was the Port for Sparta in the days of the Illiad and the Odessey and the small island of Kranaiin its harbour is the reported to be the place where Paris and Helen of Troy spent their first night together.  History here. Another tender here and we had our 10,000 steps in by 10:12.  The harbour is just beautiful.  We had a great lunch with fried calamari and Grilled Feta cheese.  Back on board by 4:00.  We love Greece

Artichokes in the market

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 12, 2017. Pylos Greece on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

So another small and charming village.  The highlight to see here is the Castle of Pylos.  This is another tender port.  So we got on the first tender and away we went.  We went along the harbour and as the road got narrower we thought there must be another access.  So we asked a local and she said the stairs.  So up we go.  It had looked like none had been up there in decades.  There's gotta be a better route.  Finally up to the top and for 3 euro we saw lots and spent at least an hour up there.  We then walked back to town and walked the few streets that they have.  It was another great day with the sun shinning?  Today at 6pm we are meeting our new hosts from Ensemble with a happy hour.  We have a tour with them in Malta.  

Bob and the entrance to the Castle

The view from the top

The church in the Fortress.

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 11, 2017. Zakinthos, Greece on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

 

This morning Bob decided that he wanted to climb the hill to see the old castle.  So that's where we headed.  After a lot of winning because of the steepness we finally arrived at our destination.  The view was worth the journey.  A couple of snap shots around the caste we went back down.  I think it was harder to go down than up. My knees told me so.  After coming down we walk thorough the streets of the town.  Stopped I'm for a cold local beer and Bob had ouzo .  A well deserved drink.  He also brought us a plate of. Feta, tomatoes, cucumbers,olives and bread.  It was perfect. This town must have a garbage strike going on because every corner we turn around we see over flowing garbage sure doesn't smell very good either.  W decided to walk around the harbor and ran into Gary one of our table mates.  He was checking out all the women her from a coffee shop. We sat and talked to him for awhile and he talked Bob into having a Baklava. .  The Harbour is lined with beautiful open cafe's.  The sun is out and I am defiantly over dressed. We stopped at a place for lunch on one of the side streets. We both had a gyros. And it was good.  The town is defiantly charming and the locals are very friendly.  On the other side of the island offers beaches, shipwrecks and caves. 

Postcard of the town and harbor and the mountain we climbed

Bob at the gate

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big

April 09, 2017. 2nd day in Venice Italy on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise

Well we rested a bit after yesterday and went out again this morning at 8:30. We walked into town the same way but being Palm Sunday there was so many people in the square. We sat on our bums and people watched for an hour. Forgot to tell you yesterday we were greeted by a mega MSC ship and this morning sometime after we left the ship a Costa Mega ship came into port. I have never seen so many rude people not moving out of the way. What I mean is they would walk down very narrow walkways 3 across and expect you to move for them. Go figure. Our legs and feet are hurting today so we are only walking 8 miles. Everyone smokes here. I mean everyone. Guess they haven't figured it out yet. We had great weather while visiting. Today was almost 80. Holland has really disappointed us this time. We have seen so many cut backs since our first cruise in 2012 with them. All the other ships when you are in port have flags up over the lido pool. Nope not us. I really don't like this ship. Too many old people. The staff are wonderful though.
Tomorrow is a Sea day then we're are in little islands in Greece. So long to the Cannoli, and hello to the Baklava.

April 08, 2017. Venice Italy overnight on the Grand Mediterranean Cruise.

 

Venice, one of the most romantic cities in the world.  It offers picturesque scenery, stunning architecture and classic artwork around every corner.  Arguably one of the most well know spectacles in the world is the Grand Canal.  Just about a half mile away from the city center lies Venice's main water thoroughfare and a very popular destination.  We are heading to the famous Rialto Bridge and San Marco Piazza.  The first Opera house was opened to the public here. Today we walked our butts off.  Seems like we did 20 miles but we only did 13 miles.  Mostly on flat cobblestones except when we crossed the canals.  We got up at 5:00 am to see our sail in.  IN THE DARK but it was nicely lined with lights.  We docked at 7:00 am and first ones off the ship by 7:30. We walked into Venice by the way of Rialto Bridge and onto San Marco.  Walked all around the area saw the Basilica of San Marco which is the symbol of Venice, Doge's Palace a very gothic palace, the Jewish Ghetto, Rialto bridge which is the oldest that crosses the Grand Canal.  We also saw the Bridge of Sighs which is where the prisoners would look out for the last time to Venice before being locked up or put to death.  We also took a water taxi to an island called Murano where we watched the glass blowers make horses and a pitcher.  This art trade has been taught by generations. We grab a bite to eat on our way back by the Rialto Bridge. Yes another piece of pizza.  We were getting pretty tired and so we headed walking back to the ship.  It was a long journey back or at least it felt like that.  We were back on board by 4:15.  Cold beer and a rest before we do dinner.

Another day tomorrow.  

This is the oldest bridge that crosses the Grand Canal.

Bob is pointing to the Bridge of Sighs

Basilica of San Marco in the square.  Tomorrow is day 2 we overnight here.

Cherish The Moments, Love Deeply, Dream Big