The ship was underway for two days after leaving Ft Lauderdale, and we made good time except for one little bit of excitement. Our first evening in Fla. we were at dinner and they made an announcement for blood donors to go to the medical center. We went back to our normal days at sea and in the middle of the first night things got very bumpy. I mean, we were rocking and crashing down at the bow. Around 9 am the capt made an announcement we had turned course to head to New Orleans and we would rendezvous with a helicopter about 11am. They closed all balconies on the port side on several floors and moved those people out of their cabins. Also they did not let anyone in the pool areas. Jim and I ended up in the upper deck area by the putting green and had a great view of the entire rescue. Our rocky travels were because we were basing right into the Wind and later when we turned the capt put out the stabilizers and we settled right down. Then we had our last sad night wandering the nightspots and looking at familiar faces.
Notes on Travel Continued
Before I left home I bought two silk jackets to wear for formal evenings. They are the greatest. I got them at Lind's Pharmacy in Freeland. First, they fold up flat and travel like a breeze. Second, they can go over a shell or anything else or they can be buttoned up and worn as a closed jacket. I bought a gold color and turquoise, but I am going back to get more if they have any left. They can go over a skirt or over a pair of black pants, and they are lightweight enough that even in the tropics they would work? I noticed that lots of women had great sparkly tops to go with trousers or skirts for dress up, and I know people rotated back through things just like I did. On this trip I did not have enough short sleeved things. My idea that it would be cold all the time was wrong. The temps were normally around 65, and even higher. We had one cold day out of 32! Gotta go, more later. The Whidbey Wagners.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
At Sea on the Way to Galveston
Hello all, we had a day in Ft Lauderdale and then set sail last evening around 5:30 for a two day trip through the Gulf of Mexico to Galveston. We continue to eat well and sleep well, although Jim and I miss our bed at home. I have packed two bags, getting ready for the early morning departure to Hobby Airport. Janice and I went to the Knit and Natter group this morning and someone says there will be between 500 and 700 kids on board this ship when it leaves Galveston tomorrow, all going to the Caribbean for Christmas! Wow, I am glad I leave for home before that hits! They'll probabaly have a great time, but keep things really busy around here. We love the fact that 900 people got off in Florida. Fewer people in the buffet line and also at dinner.
I am making notes on what not to forget when you go on a cruise. No matter where you go, no matter what the weather, take a hat. I took a beret and bought wool hat, but I needed a hat with a brim to keep the sun off my face. It was a surprise to me that I might need that, but I am always ready to learn. Seems simple, but I forgot one and I didn't find one to buy. Not the season, I guess. Also, take toothpaste. They did not have toothpaste for sale on the ship. We had to buy some weird brand in Italy,and it is not like home. Another thing I needed was Tylenol. We had a hard time finding plain Tylenol in Italy, and I got some strange pills that dissolved in water like lemon fizzy pills. I hated drinking that stuff. They sell four at a time in the ship store, but they cost an arm and a leg. Jim went down and got some from the medical office and they charged him a fee of $14 for the visit! If you regularly take any meds, take them along. They have them but they cost. I forgot my little bottle of liquid laundry soap, so I washed my bras in shampoo. That is OK but not as good as real stuff. I could get dry powder in the laundry, but I chose not to use that. Lots of learning going on here. I took too many clothes. When they say take out half, they mean it. It takes two days to get laundry done, or you can do it yourself if you take a couple of hours out of your day or night. I never remembered the soap when I was ashore and I didn't need a huge bottle. Next time! More later on about this. The Whidbey Wagners
I am making notes on what not to forget when you go on a cruise. No matter where you go, no matter what the weather, take a hat. I took a beret and bought wool hat, but I needed a hat with a brim to keep the sun off my face. It was a surprise to me that I might need that, but I am always ready to learn. Seems simple, but I forgot one and I didn't find one to buy. Not the season, I guess. Also, take toothpaste. They did not have toothpaste for sale on the ship. We had to buy some weird brand in Italy,and it is not like home. Another thing I needed was Tylenol. We had a hard time finding plain Tylenol in Italy, and I got some strange pills that dissolved in water like lemon fizzy pills. I hated drinking that stuff. They sell four at a time in the ship store, but they cost an arm and a leg. Jim went down and got some from the medical office and they charged him a fee of $14 for the visit! If you regularly take any meds, take them along. They have them but they cost. I forgot my little bottle of liquid laundry soap, so I washed my bras in shampoo. That is OK but not as good as real stuff. I could get dry powder in the laundry, but I chose not to use that. Lots of learning going on here. I took too many clothes. When they say take out half, they mean it. It takes two days to get laundry done, or you can do it yourself if you take a couple of hours out of your day or night. I never remembered the soap when I was ashore and I didn't need a huge bottle. Next time! More later on about this. The Whidbey Wagners
Monday, December 17, 2012
Grumbling and Editing
Hello Everybody, this is our fourth day at sea and some people are getting grumpy. The computers are slow-like a massive dial-up-with lots of people trying to get on all at once. Not only do we have the Internet lounge, but everyone has an Ipad and they log in from thier seats every where they sit. Everything seems overpowered , and we are 3000 miles out in the middle of the Atlantic, so I don't know what they expect. Since things are a little slow, I'll only stay on a little while. BTW, the Editing part of this blog is that I will soon go over the posts and correct all the spelling errors. Usually I am in line or in a hurry and things get on here fairly quickly. Also, I plan to add some things with photos as soon as I can figure out how to do that.
We are on the Anytime Eating Plan, so we can go in the dining rooms (2) at any time during the evening. We are excluded from one of the dining rooms as that is reserved for 6 and 8:15 for those who have recquested an eating reservations each night. So, we wander in around 6:30 each evening, and as we greet the MaitreD', I ask for a shared table with "nice" people. Now he knows me and promises the "Nice" people! Last night we ate with a couple from Slovenia. Slovenia is only 3 hrs across in any direction. It has 2 million people, and it has the same problems as other European nations. We are so interested in all our fellow passengers. The woman was absolutely beautiful, tiny, and spoke little English. She told us they had been on a Round the World cruise last year and they had an English teacher on board who gave classes. That got me going. Maybe Princess would like to hire me to teach English on board! And, give me a free cabin. Anyway, Slovenia has lots of spa resorts, Mariana said. Her husband told me they are leaving Galveston after 32 days to board a Carnival ship for 2 weeks in the Caribbean, and then changing again to go down into South America, finally finishing up back in Ft Lauderdale after 48 more days. They stay home in the summer months only. Her only complaint was that the music on the ship was not very good for dancing. We have a normal dance band, a Beatles era or 50-60's dance band, and on occasion a country western group, all in different spots every nite, so I don't know what she wants. We do not have a grand ballroom; maybe she wanted that. Anyway, we can be entertained. I am going to find out more about Slovenia.
Today Jim had on his Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival tee and a lady asked if he lived there, and when he said no, Whidbey Island, she said she lived in Coupeville. She and her husband had moved from New Jersey and love it on the island. And, we met a couple on a bus who are retiring and want to move out of California, and now await an invitation to visit us because they are very interested in Whidbey. Mike says I have to quit inviting people! Everytime we identify ourselves as coming from Whidbey, people say they have been to Whidbey or know it and want to go there.
We also have met people who tell us about the amazing trips they have taken all over the world. When we first started I was sure I would never need to go back on another cruise to the same areas, but now I understand why the Cruise Critic people were planning tours to areas outside Rome. They take this trip over and over and get to spend times in areas not in the immediate port area. Some people are so savvy, they know to tell the tour guide they only want to see the Bottecelli paintings in Rome, and the tourguide takes them to the churches that have those paintings, and no where else. Another group went to three Tuscan villages for wine tasting and a grand lunch. The tours will do anything you want and with a small group, it is not difficult. I told the driver I wanted to get some wine in France, so he pointed out a grocery store and told me to go there. Others told me about going to a winery where they would fill up a plastic jug with fresh wine for only 5 Euros. We have learned so much, I feel like I should have a notebook to write down the travel tips I learn on each outing and at each meal. One interesting fact is that few people we talk to have traveled on Norwegian. Did I say that before? Anyway, I wonder what the deal is with that. One couple told me Carnival was not loud or young because they only travel on Carnival after October and every young family has gone home, leaving old people.
Today and tomorrow at sea, and then we are in Ft Lauderdale for a day. We are going on an airboat ride in the Everglades. That's for Jim, since I am not very interested, but he thinks it will be cool. Hope we don't see too many alligators! Then we have two more days to reach Galveston. I am getting sad the trip will be over soon. I think I could stay on the ship for many more days and be happy. Who knew! Best to all, and more later. The Whidbey Wagners
We are on the Anytime Eating Plan, so we can go in the dining rooms (2) at any time during the evening. We are excluded from one of the dining rooms as that is reserved for 6 and 8:15 for those who have recquested an eating reservations each night. So, we wander in around 6:30 each evening, and as we greet the MaitreD', I ask for a shared table with "nice" people. Now he knows me and promises the "Nice" people! Last night we ate with a couple from Slovenia. Slovenia is only 3 hrs across in any direction. It has 2 million people, and it has the same problems as other European nations. We are so interested in all our fellow passengers. The woman was absolutely beautiful, tiny, and spoke little English. She told us they had been on a Round the World cruise last year and they had an English teacher on board who gave classes. That got me going. Maybe Princess would like to hire me to teach English on board! And, give me a free cabin. Anyway, Slovenia has lots of spa resorts, Mariana said. Her husband told me they are leaving Galveston after 32 days to board a Carnival ship for 2 weeks in the Caribbean, and then changing again to go down into South America, finally finishing up back in Ft Lauderdale after 48 more days. They stay home in the summer months only. Her only complaint was that the music on the ship was not very good for dancing. We have a normal dance band, a Beatles era or 50-60's dance band, and on occasion a country western group, all in different spots every nite, so I don't know what she wants. We do not have a grand ballroom; maybe she wanted that. Anyway, we can be entertained. I am going to find out more about Slovenia.
Today Jim had on his Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival tee and a lady asked if he lived there, and when he said no, Whidbey Island, she said she lived in Coupeville. She and her husband had moved from New Jersey and love it on the island. And, we met a couple on a bus who are retiring and want to move out of California, and now await an invitation to visit us because they are very interested in Whidbey. Mike says I have to quit inviting people! Everytime we identify ourselves as coming from Whidbey, people say they have been to Whidbey or know it and want to go there.
We also have met people who tell us about the amazing trips they have taken all over the world. When we first started I was sure I would never need to go back on another cruise to the same areas, but now I understand why the Cruise Critic people were planning tours to areas outside Rome. They take this trip over and over and get to spend times in areas not in the immediate port area. Some people are so savvy, they know to tell the tour guide they only want to see the Bottecelli paintings in Rome, and the tourguide takes them to the churches that have those paintings, and no where else. Another group went to three Tuscan villages for wine tasting and a grand lunch. The tours will do anything you want and with a small group, it is not difficult. I told the driver I wanted to get some wine in France, so he pointed out a grocery store and told me to go there. Others told me about going to a winery where they would fill up a plastic jug with fresh wine for only 5 Euros. We have learned so much, I feel like I should have a notebook to write down the travel tips I learn on each outing and at each meal. One interesting fact is that few people we talk to have traveled on Norwegian. Did I say that before? Anyway, I wonder what the deal is with that. One couple told me Carnival was not loud or young because they only travel on Carnival after October and every young family has gone home, leaving old people.
Today and tomorrow at sea, and then we are in Ft Lauderdale for a day. We are going on an airboat ride in the Everglades. That's for Jim, since I am not very interested, but he thinks it will be cool. Hope we don't see too many alligators! Then we have two more days to reach Galveston. I am getting sad the trip will be over soon. I think I could stay on the ship for many more days and be happy. Who knew! Best to all, and more later. The Whidbey Wagners
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Mid-Atlantic
Hello Everybody, in the middle of the Atlantic, I have plenty of time to catch up. We are on our 4th sea day, and so far I have been busy.
The Spa
I have not used the spa for massages, but I've had my nails done twice and yesterday I had my hair done, even my roots colored so I look like normal if I turn sideways! The girl who did my hair, finished the color and said, "Now, we have removed all the wisdom from your head!" Nice way of saying, white hair!!! I also had a facial. In the midst of this I asked many questions and learned that the spas on Holland America, Princess, Carnival, Etc-all those who are in the Carnival family-use the same spa company. They recruit all over the world. One girl told me they came to South Africa to her school and talked about working for the cruise lines. There is a rigorous interview and training program, and if you work for Disney, it is really a big deal for education because they include all the famous Disney happiness as part of their training. The main headquarters for the company is in London, so they fly everyone there and do training and then out to the ships. The hairdresser was going to be in Alaska in the fall, and she had been on four different cruise lines in three years, with short visits to Disney. She will be going out on the Royal Princess, the latest liner to launch, because she has been invited by her boss who will be running the spa on that ship. She did a good job except for the hair color in my ears, so I think she is being rewarded. They also told me the head of each department gets to hire his or her own crew, so if the Housekeeping guy is Phillipino, he will hire from that country, making it easier to communicate with his crew. Interesting. We have a Scottish captain and an Italian first mate. ??
Noro Virus
The ship is on red alert for the noro virus. We are not allowed to handle any food, everything is served to us. Makes the lines at the buffet go slower, and we see fewer servers. There is some complaining about that. It takes a while to get your coffee when you sit down for breakfast. We are eating breakfast in the buffet with all the variety, and that has slowed down the process. With the weather iffy outside, we don't have many people on deck, so we are all squashed inside. This is a huge ship, but finding a table with a view is a premium. We find people camping out in the buffet area, just sitting at tables reading their ipads or a book while people troll the aisles hoping someone will leave. That causes irritation. Sometimes the dining rooms are empty and other times they seem full. We can't tell if the virus has any impact on that or not. If you have symptoms, they demand you call 911 and get treatment from the ship's doc, and then you are quaranteened for 72 hours. I asked the girl at the spa and she said she has not heard of any crew members sick with the virus, but people refuse to call the clinic and spread it around to passengers. No one on our floor has appeared to be ill, but it is pretty quiet.
Entertainment.
We have this very old gentleman author who speaks everyday about ocean liners. He has written numerous books on ocean travel, including a book on the Titanic. He is entertaining, a great story teller and very popular. We also had lunch with the Bridge expert who gives a lecture every day or so and then runs a duplicate bridge game for passengers. He was very nice and told us Holland American does not pay for a Bridge expert, so he does get something from Princess, a room and other stuff? The floor shows in the theater are better than HAL, but the comics and others are equal. Good singers, violinists, etc. They have the equivalent of three bands on this ship, because they are playing all over every night. The library is a tiny room with only a few books. Wow, HAL excells there.
Photos
We are going to put together a video of slides and video I took on the trip to share with others. We have so manty photos and so many memories. The Med is filled with wonderful cities, and more antiquities than anyone can even grasp. The Acropolis is a highlight. Venice was magical. Barcelona is a redo-I fell in love with Gaudi (his church is inspired!)-a very different view than how many others feel. We learned lots about Portugal, and I would like to visit there again. Of course, Italy is on the list for another visit. I was disappointed we did not get to eat a real meal there. We had our lunch in Positano, but we didn't go to a restaurant because we did not have time. We ate pizza every time we had a quick lunch. The same was true for Greece. We ate the same thing everywhere. It was good but not as adventurous as I would have liked to have been. We did take photos of the food we ate, so you can all see what I am talking about.
The ship is rolling a little today, but not as bad as the first day at sea. It is warm, almost 70 degrees, and windy. Off to a lecture and then we will be reading, knitting and having another great meal! Think of us as we suffer through this. The Whidbey Wagners
The Spa
I have not used the spa for massages, but I've had my nails done twice and yesterday I had my hair done, even my roots colored so I look like normal if I turn sideways! The girl who did my hair, finished the color and said, "Now, we have removed all the wisdom from your head!" Nice way of saying, white hair!!! I also had a facial. In the midst of this I asked many questions and learned that the spas on Holland America, Princess, Carnival, Etc-all those who are in the Carnival family-use the same spa company. They recruit all over the world. One girl told me they came to South Africa to her school and talked about working for the cruise lines. There is a rigorous interview and training program, and if you work for Disney, it is really a big deal for education because they include all the famous Disney happiness as part of their training. The main headquarters for the company is in London, so they fly everyone there and do training and then out to the ships. The hairdresser was going to be in Alaska in the fall, and she had been on four different cruise lines in three years, with short visits to Disney. She will be going out on the Royal Princess, the latest liner to launch, because she has been invited by her boss who will be running the spa on that ship. She did a good job except for the hair color in my ears, so I think she is being rewarded. They also told me the head of each department gets to hire his or her own crew, so if the Housekeeping guy is Phillipino, he will hire from that country, making it easier to communicate with his crew. Interesting. We have a Scottish captain and an Italian first mate. ??
Noro Virus
The ship is on red alert for the noro virus. We are not allowed to handle any food, everything is served to us. Makes the lines at the buffet go slower, and we see fewer servers. There is some complaining about that. It takes a while to get your coffee when you sit down for breakfast. We are eating breakfast in the buffet with all the variety, and that has slowed down the process. With the weather iffy outside, we don't have many people on deck, so we are all squashed inside. This is a huge ship, but finding a table with a view is a premium. We find people camping out in the buffet area, just sitting at tables reading their ipads or a book while people troll the aisles hoping someone will leave. That causes irritation. Sometimes the dining rooms are empty and other times they seem full. We can't tell if the virus has any impact on that or not. If you have symptoms, they demand you call 911 and get treatment from the ship's doc, and then you are quaranteened for 72 hours. I asked the girl at the spa and she said she has not heard of any crew members sick with the virus, but people refuse to call the clinic and spread it around to passengers. No one on our floor has appeared to be ill, but it is pretty quiet.
Entertainment.
We have this very old gentleman author who speaks everyday about ocean liners. He has written numerous books on ocean travel, including a book on the Titanic. He is entertaining, a great story teller and very popular. We also had lunch with the Bridge expert who gives a lecture every day or so and then runs a duplicate bridge game for passengers. He was very nice and told us Holland American does not pay for a Bridge expert, so he does get something from Princess, a room and other stuff? The floor shows in the theater are better than HAL, but the comics and others are equal. Good singers, violinists, etc. They have the equivalent of three bands on this ship, because they are playing all over every night. The library is a tiny room with only a few books. Wow, HAL excells there.
Photos
We are going to put together a video of slides and video I took on the trip to share with others. We have so manty photos and so many memories. The Med is filled with wonderful cities, and more antiquities than anyone can even grasp. The Acropolis is a highlight. Venice was magical. Barcelona is a redo-I fell in love with Gaudi (his church is inspired!)-a very different view than how many others feel. We learned lots about Portugal, and I would like to visit there again. Of course, Italy is on the list for another visit. I was disappointed we did not get to eat a real meal there. We had our lunch in Positano, but we didn't go to a restaurant because we did not have time. We ate pizza every time we had a quick lunch. The same was true for Greece. We ate the same thing everywhere. It was good but not as adventurous as I would have liked to have been. We did take photos of the food we ate, so you can all see what I am talking about.
The ship is rolling a little today, but not as bad as the first day at sea. It is warm, almost 70 degrees, and windy. Off to a lecture and then we will be reading, knitting and having another great meal! Think of us as we suffer through this. The Whidbey Wagners
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Barcelona, Lisbon and Punta Delgada-Azores
Hello Everybody, I know I jumped off the internet and never talked about Barcelona. We were coming in to Lisbon and Jim rushed up to tell me we needed to go see the arrival, so off I went. We spend all our time running from onhe end of this ship to another. Oh, for the HAL days when the ship was 1/2 this size. We are way up in the bow and everything else is in the back or middle except for the theater. Anyway, back to Barcelona and the weather. It has been wonderful. We have not been cold except for a few days. Barcelona was sunny and warm-around 65 degrees. We sat outside and ate paella and enjoyed watching the crowds walk by in the Ramblas. We were entranced with the Sagradia De Familia, Gaudi's amazing work. Many comments were that the outside looks like a kid's project gone wrong, but the inside is inspired. I thought the whole thing was inspired. It spoke to me somehow, and I thought the inside was so spiritual. It is so wonderful and you could spend days in it, just seeing all aspects, but sadly it is not a working church. It was blessed by the Popoe and it is a Basilica, but they only hold special masses there on occasion. It is a tourist attraction only. Too bad! Barcelona was a wonderful city with handsome Catalans and wealthy looking streets and shops.
We went on a day tour with the ship's excursion dept, but we learned a lesson. We do so much better with another couple and taking taxis or the bus. Mike and Janice are willing to go out and about with us, actually Mike is leading the charge, and we have seen so much just on our own (note the ATV ride in Mykonos!). And, we save money. The ship tours are more and you have to stay in the huge group of 48. When we reached Lisbon, we decided to do our own thing. Right outside the terminal building was a taxi driver who spoke excellent English, and for 100 Euros he took us all over the city and gave us the history, political situation, and attitude of the Portugese people. He was as conservative as Mike, and we really laughed about their problems with immigration: the Rumanians. Lisbon is a great city, with wide streets and narrow streets, and neighborhoods. They have wonderful pastries, which we sampled, and lots of places to sit in outdoor cafes. It was a great day, and I can see us coming back to Lisbon, or Lisboa.
Today we were in the Azores. We loved the great terminal and the narrow streets for walking. All the streets are paved with small stone pavers of black and white and have designs in them. The crosswalks are in only white so you know exactly where to walk. They use their lava stone to build buildings and that makes lots of black and white buildings, too. The churches are well covered in gold as are all the churches in Europe. We ate pastries, bought a few more sourvenirs, and went back to the ship for a nap. Another cruise ship is parked in front of us, a FredOlson Cruise Liner. Wow, what a beautiful small ship. The Princess looks like a giant floating hotel and the other one is a yacht.
Tonight we leave for the US and will be at sea for six days. We've had some pitching days on the way to the Azores, and the little pills I take keep me happy and asleep! So, I may nap all the way to Florida. More when we get there. The Whidbey Wagners
We went on a day tour with the ship's excursion dept, but we learned a lesson. We do so much better with another couple and taking taxis or the bus. Mike and Janice are willing to go out and about with us, actually Mike is leading the charge, and we have seen so much just on our own (note the ATV ride in Mykonos!). And, we save money. The ship tours are more and you have to stay in the huge group of 48. When we reached Lisbon, we decided to do our own thing. Right outside the terminal building was a taxi driver who spoke excellent English, and for 100 Euros he took us all over the city and gave us the history, political situation, and attitude of the Portugese people. He was as conservative as Mike, and we really laughed about their problems with immigration: the Rumanians. Lisbon is a great city, with wide streets and narrow streets, and neighborhoods. They have wonderful pastries, which we sampled, and lots of places to sit in outdoor cafes. It was a great day, and I can see us coming back to Lisbon, or Lisboa.
Today we were in the Azores. We loved the great terminal and the narrow streets for walking. All the streets are paved with small stone pavers of black and white and have designs in them. The crosswalks are in only white so you know exactly where to walk. They use their lava stone to build buildings and that makes lots of black and white buildings, too. The churches are well covered in gold as are all the churches in Europe. We ate pastries, bought a few more sourvenirs, and went back to the ship for a nap. Another cruise ship is parked in front of us, a FredOlson Cruise Liner. Wow, what a beautiful small ship. The Princess looks like a giant floating hotel and the other one is a yacht.
Tonight we leave for the US and will be at sea for six days. We've had some pitching days on the way to the Azores, and the little pills I take keep me happy and asleep! So, I may nap all the way to Florida. More when we get there. The Whidbey Wagners
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Canne and Barcelona
Hello All, Canne and Monaco were not a disappointment. They are worth all the hype, looking exactly as you would expect. They had huge flocked Christmas trees decorating the square in front of the casino in Monte Carlo, and we went in the casino and looked around for 5 minutes, but the overall view of the luxury and fancy hotels and elaborate buildings is truly like the bodn movies. We also saw the beautiful beaches and marinas with biggggg yachts. The most exciting thing for Jim was all along the street as we walked in front of the Hotel de Paris and the casino: cars. Bentleys, Rolls, Faerraris, Jags, BMW's, Mercedes, you name it and we saw all the high priced toys. Our guide told us they park those out front just to get attention. That sounds like a great advertising campaign and we bought it. Barcelona later! Gotta go see Gibralter as it slides by. The Whidbey Wagners
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Rome and Livorno
Hello All, we had two days at sea for a great recovery time, although the seas were very bumpy, as the Captain says. He also says roly poly which I am sure is a nautical term we don't use nearly enough. The first night out, we rolled, pitched and banged our way around the end of the boot on the way to Rome. Finally, I got up and took a seasick pill, actually I took two, and then I spent the rest of the night and the next day sleeping. True, I finally woke around 5 for dinner. Mike and Janice told me they had been instructed to never take more than one pill in 24 hours! I survived, and the rolling the second night didn't bother me at all. Jim woke on Dec 5 at the Rome port with a little nagging tickle in his throat. We went off for the marathon trip to all sites Rome, including the Colliseum, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, Basilica of St Peter, the Trevi Fountain, other fountains, and sights. We were exhausted after that, my knees were giving out, and we woke this morning with Jim in full cold mode and me dragging around after him. So, we skipped Florence. It might seem like we made a bad decision, but the day would have been just like yesterday because they are cramming everything into one day, and Jim would have infected everybody in the van! We need to come back to Italy on a land trip to poke around Venice, Rome and Florence. I didn't think I would want to do that, but after this short trip, I am sure there are lots of things to see in more than one day. I got the information I want: I need to come back to Italy. Anyway, we are hoping to feel good enough tomorrow to go to Cannes and Barcelona the next day.
We continue to meet interesting people. I asked Jim what he was giving me for our 50th anniversary and he suggested a round the world cruise! So, since then I have been asking everyone if they have been on any of those kinds of cruises. Yesterday a gentleman from Surry, BC, told me he had met a woman who went on a leg of Round the World and she got an extra trip to Alaska because Holland America was trying to outbid Princess on the deal. Looks like we'll be doing some real bargain shopping! Before we set out on the world trip, we have to get across the Atlantic and we have to cross the Pacific to Hawaii in the spring. I may not like long sea days; we'll see. Anyway, our 50th isn't until 2016 so we can do some planning.
We learned so much yesterday. It makes sense, but I did not know we have two US ambassadors in Rome, one to Italy and one to the Vatican City! Also, the Knights of Malta have their own independent state here in Rome, a property close to the Vatican and to the Egyptian embassy ( to the Vatican). Michaelangelo had a very ribald sense of humor, too. More later on that. Signing off for now, The Whidbey Wagners
We continue to meet interesting people. I asked Jim what he was giving me for our 50th anniversary and he suggested a round the world cruise! So, since then I have been asking everyone if they have been on any of those kinds of cruises. Yesterday a gentleman from Surry, BC, told me he had met a woman who went on a leg of Round the World and she got an extra trip to Alaska because Holland America was trying to outbid Princess on the deal. Looks like we'll be doing some real bargain shopping! Before we set out on the world trip, we have to get across the Atlantic and we have to cross the Pacific to Hawaii in the spring. I may not like long sea days; we'll see. Anyway, our 50th isn't until 2016 so we can do some planning.
We learned so much yesterday. It makes sense, but I did not know we have two US ambassadors in Rome, one to Italy and one to the Vatican City! Also, the Knights of Malta have their own independent state here in Rome, a property close to the Vatican and to the Egyptian embassy ( to the Vatican). Michaelangelo had a very ribald sense of humor, too. More later on that. Signing off for now, The Whidbey Wagners
Monday, December 3, 2012
Venice, ETC.
Hello All, we are at sea, with lumpy or bumpy seas, as the Captain says, with fresh, very fresh wind! That means white caps and some rolling around. Not too bad right now, and no signs of sea sickness in anyone.
We arrived in Venice about 1PM day before yesterday, and we took a boat ride around the area. The boat did not go down the Grand Canal, so we missed out on that the first day, but we made up for it yesterday. We were out on the bow for our arrival and we had Italian tenors singing along while we cruised slowly in with tugs fore and aft. It was magical. Then we went for our boat ride, learning about the area. This is a fascinating city, and the first one I would like to visit for a week. We had a good night and then got up to strike out on our own into Venice. We jumped on the people mover to Piassi Roma, and then onto a vaporetto for the water trip down the Grand Canal. It was raining off and on and cold, and St Mark's Square was flooded so we had to walk on the elevated sidewalks, and we missed the Cathedral because they were having mass in there. Walking around and in and out of the narrow streets showed us fantastic high fashion clothes and jewelry. After pizza for lunch, Jim and I headed back to the ship. The rain was getting worse and we were cold; Janice and Mike went back to the square and got into the cathedral and said it was amazing. That means we have to come back here!! Today we meet the others on our Rome tour athe next Cruise Critic Meet and Greet. Too much food, too many places but the two days at sea will let us catch up with rest and relax. Tonight we go to the Crown Grill to celebrate the Connell's anniversary, 42 years. Nice place to celebrate. We are well and happy. Best to all, the Whidbey Wagners. P.S. When we returned to the ship afdter our Venice tour, the entire boat was decorated for Christmas!
We arrived in Venice about 1PM day before yesterday, and we took a boat ride around the area. The boat did not go down the Grand Canal, so we missed out on that the first day, but we made up for it yesterday. We were out on the bow for our arrival and we had Italian tenors singing along while we cruised slowly in with tugs fore and aft. It was magical. Then we went for our boat ride, learning about the area. This is a fascinating city, and the first one I would like to visit for a week. We had a good night and then got up to strike out on our own into Venice. We jumped on the people mover to Piassi Roma, and then onto a vaporetto for the water trip down the Grand Canal. It was raining off and on and cold, and St Mark's Square was flooded so we had to walk on the elevated sidewalks, and we missed the Cathedral because they were having mass in there. Walking around and in and out of the narrow streets showed us fantastic high fashion clothes and jewelry. After pizza for lunch, Jim and I headed back to the ship. The rain was getting worse and we were cold; Janice and Mike went back to the square and got into the cathedral and said it was amazing. That means we have to come back here!! Today we meet the others on our Rome tour athe next Cruise Critic Meet and Greet. Too much food, too many places but the two days at sea will let us catch up with rest and relax. Tonight we go to the Crown Grill to celebrate the Connell's anniversary, 42 years. Nice place to celebrate. We are well and happy. Best to all, the Whidbey Wagners. P.S. When we returned to the ship afdter our Venice tour, the entire boat was decorated for Christmas!
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