Barcelona Day Two - Updated

We awoke and headed to the lounge for breakfast.   Vantage has arranged for us to use the special lounge during our stay at the hotel.  Very nice feature.  We gathered our stuff and met the group and headed out for the morning tour.

Our bus drove around the city and the guide pointed out some of the buildings that Antoni Gaudi designed.

Next we drove to Park Guell.  When we visited Barcelona two years ago, this park was free for amy one to enjoy.  Now they have decided to charge you an entrance fee.  Some of the local people do not think this is fair so if you live close, you do not have to pay but the rest of the city residents have to pay to enjoy the park.  The park is typical Gaudi built.  Since we had been here before, I decided not to walk down to the bottom of the park and Bruce, another from our group, and I walked back toward the bus area.  We sat on a bench and talked until the group rejoined us.  Bruce and his wife Susan live in Bakersfield, CA.  This is their first Vantage cruise but have done a river cruise once before with Uniworld.

Our next stop was at La Sagrada Familia.   We have visited this Church many times and it is fun to see the progress being made.  It is said that it will be complete by 2026.  It was started in the late 1800's.  It is an amazing building.

This side of the building is the only side that Gaudi drew.  This is the Nativity Facade.  This facade is a triumph of life expressed through the birth of Jesus.  The building began in 1892 and is the one Gaudi left at the most advanced stage.  In 1926, before he died, he saw the St. Barnabas bell tower crowned.  The other three, dedicated to Jude, Simon and Matthew, were finished in 1930.

There are several sculptures on the facade that show the life of Jesus starting with the marriage of Mary and Joseph.  And continue throughout Jesus's life.

Once you enter the Church, you are greeted by this statue at the front of the Church.

 The stain glass windows are very different from what they think Gaudi would have designed.  They are very colorful and represent the seasons of the year by color.  Blue being winter and red and yellow is summer.  Or so they say.  The people are not sure that Gaudi would appreciate the changes.

Next we returned to the bus for the ride back to the hotel.  We grabbed a bite to eat in the lounge and then back to the room for a nap.

When we got up, we decided to take the Metro to La Ramblas.  On the way I stopped at the desk and asked about sending my stuff home.  Seems it would cost 285 Euros.  I said no thanks.  Will go to plan B.

Walked the Ramblas and went into the market.  When Bob edits his pictures, I will post some of the items you can buy.  Sheep head eye included, pig feet, all parts of the cow, etc.

Took the Metro back to the hotel and now catching up with the blog.  The plan is the have a drink in the lounge and then head out to dinner here near the hotel.  We will meet Frank and Judy in the lounge.  So I had better get ready.

We had drinks in the lounge with several of the other people who are traveling on Vantage.  Sharon and Herman from Washington State, Kay from Houston, Tx, Bruce and Susan from Bakersfield, CA, Maureen and Matt from Buffalo, NY, one other couple and Frank and Judy.  Lots of good stories and laughs.  I often think the local people must think Americans are strange.

We left the lounge around 7:30pm and walked to one of the local restaurants.  I had found it on the internet and so it looked good so we thought we would try it.  Casa de Tapas Canota.  We started to sit outside but Judy felt she was having a breathing problem so we went inside.  Bob and I ordered five different dishes which were all really good.  And the prices were also good.  Eating this way we do not over eat.  Which is something new to us.  We walked back to the hotel and headed back to our room.  We read a bit and then lights out.

Barcelona Day One

After checking into the hotel, Crowne Plaza Barcelona, we unpacked and I put together a pile of clothes I am going to send home so that my suitcase is much lighter.  I tended to overpack.  Something I do all the time.  Cannot seem to get it right.  Oh well.

We took a walk around this area of the city.  We have always stayed close to the port when we were here before.  This time it will take a Metro ride to the Ramblas.  Those who have visited Barcelona know that Las Ramblas is where the action is.  At any rate, we took our walk and stopped at a small cafe where we had some tapas for lunch.  We did sit outside as the weather was beautiful and they put the umbrella up so that we could sit in the shade.  Bob had not taken his hat so shade was important to us.

We returned to the hotel to take a short nap and then Judy called as they had just checked in.  Seems Vantage routed them from Washington Dulles to Zurich where they had at least two hour layover and then to Barcelona.  So they did not get to Barcelona until around 2pm.  We met them in the lobby and did some catching up.

Then entire group gathered at 6pm for a drink and some chatting and then Dagmar had a talk about what to expect here in Barcelona.  Then we all headed up to the restaurant here in the hotel for a welcome dinner.  Food was okay.  I guess typical restaurant food.  But we sat with Frank and Judy and had a very nice evening.

Returned to the room as we were the only two who were not jet lagged.  All the others had just flown in that day.  We read for a while and watched the BBC for some news updates.  Learned that Ricky Flowers won the Players.  Good for him.  Looks like it was an exciting finish.  We have not been in Ponte Vedra for the last few years during the tournament.  Maybe next year.

Lights out for the night.

Rest of the Cruise - Updated

Sorry I have not kept this blog up but internet was very expensive and slow.  So I am now going to tell about the rest of the cruise.  It was very relaxing.  A total of eight sea days.  Lots of things to do but we decided to just do our own things.  I did lots of cross stitching and Bob did lots of reading.  We did do our water exercises every day.  We had a light breakfast and then waited about one hour and then had the pool to ourselves most days.  The water was heated a bit but the air and winds were cool.  So not many people wanted to be in the water.  The problem was when you got out and had to get to the hot tub.  This was a cold walk and not many wanted to do it.  I was glad when we got to the ports and the sun was shining.  Made the walk a bit better.

We did a self tour in Lisbon.  Bob wanted to buy a waterproof watch and we found a small shop that had several for him to choose from.  Then we walked around a bit and back on the shuttle to the ship.  In the square we found these figures.  Not sure what they are suppose to be but we found them interesting.

In Cadiz, I did not get off but Bob took a walk around the city after lunch.  In Malaga we took the shuttle to the center of the city.  We wanted to have lunch at a place that Ante had recommended.  But it meant taking a taxi or bus and we decided to skip and just walk about the city.  We have been to all these ports before so no tour.  I returned to the ship by the shuttle and Bob stayed in town to do some more wandering.  And then in Alicante, neither of us got off the ship.  The walk just to the  end of the port was long and there was no shuttle.  So we just stayed on the ship.

Most nights we ate in one of the three special restaurants.  The last time we sailed with Celebrity, the dining in the main dining room was not so good and they tended to rush us as we were always a table for two.  So this time around, we pre booked our reservations.  That meant we only ate in the main dining room three times.  The last time we ate there we were with the group plus another couple from Florida that Jack and Barbara had met on a previous cruise.

Because we were such good customers, the last two times we ate in Murano, they treated us to special dinners.  The first was Steak Diane and then last night they prepared a seafood platter for us.  Two lobster tails, some shrimp, a couple of scallops, a piece of fish and some calamari.  All very good but too much for both of us.  Since we both had the same amount of food.  After dinner, we met with the Ponte Vedra group in the library and toasted our new found friends with a glass of port that Dan had brought on board.  The Ponte Vedra group are staying on for the next cruise.

This morning was disembarkation.  We had a light breakfast and finished packing the carry ons and went down to the Martini Bar to wait for our number to be called.  We decided to leave a little early and had a long line to go through passport control.  Then we collected our bags and got in another long line to wait for the taxi.  When we arrived at the hotel, we were met by Dagmar who is the Vantage City Rep.  Our room was ready and it is quite nice.  Much larger than the room we had on the Equinox.

So now we are waiting until the group arrives.  We were the first ones to arrive.  Might grab a light lunch and wander around the city.  We are in an area we are not familiar with.  They are offering a walk about at 3pm but we might head out before then.

Six Sea Days and then Azores

We sailed the Atlantic Ocean for six straight days and finally arrived here in the Azores.  The weather has been cool and some days rain.  But we have survived.  We got to swim everyday for at least one hour.  Yesterday, when we swam, we met two men from Ft. Lauderdale.  They are originally from Rhode Island and Boston.  Turns out Dan graduated from Johnson and Wales.  He told us about some of the classes he took.  Right now he is taking a year off to travel with his partner, Jeff.  Nice guys.  And Bob was happy to learn more about Johnson and Wales.  For those who don't know, Liz our oldest granddaughter, will be a freshman there in the fall.

We have eaten most nights in the special restaurants.  Only two nights in the main dining room.  Food is okay.  We are not starving.  But trying to watch what we eat so that the exercise we do is worth it.  We have eaten with Barbara and Jack, Dan and Brenda and Charlie and Martha two night.  We will eat with them again tonight as it is Charlie and Martha's 40th anniversary.

Today we just walked around town for about an hour and half.  Stopped at a local cafe for a coke and internet but this site was in the local language so I had to enter this back on the ship.  We do get some internet time but not enough for blogging.

Tomorrow we be the first of two more sea days and then we are in a port every day till Barcelona.  So until Lisbon, this will be the last entry.  Will try and post pictures after Bob edits them.

Embarkation and Day one

Monday was our embarkation day.  We started the day with breakfast in the hotel.  After breakfast we walked over to Publix to buy some wine to take on board and peanuts.  The Publix was right behind the hotel.  Then back to the hotel to pack our things and take the shuttle over to the ship.

The shuttle ride was interesting.  There were four couples on the shuttle.  The one couple that we talked with have decided not to have a home in the USA but travel year round.  They are taking our ship over to Spain and then spending about a month in Granada.  They like to stay in one place for several weeks to really get to know the area.  Can't remember if they told us when they will return to the USA.  They have several places they will visit first.  Including Iceland as they got a great rate on the return flight back to USA.  They have a mailbox in TN where one of their sons live.

Embarkation was a snap.  No one questioned our wine which maybe meant we could have brought on more than the two bottles.  But better safe than sorry.  The cabins were not ready so we sat in a lounge and I worked on my cross stitch project and Bob read.

Cabin was ready at 1:30 so up we came.  Cabin is quite small and not a great deal of storage but we are doing okay.  There are only two outlets by the desk area so we asked for an extension cord for my CPAP machine.  Rhea brought one that is longer than the cabin.  So I am able to sleep in the bed and not on the sofa.

Muster drill and upon our return to cabin, luggage had arrived.  We unpacked and put everything away.  Showered and dressed for dinner.  Tonight we joined Barbara Maple, Jack, Charlie, Martha, Don and Brenda for dinner in the Tuscan Grill.  Food is just okay.  Barbara Maple is our friend and real estate agent from Ponte Vedra.  And they are traveling with the other two couples.  Company was great and we all had a good evening.

After dinner we headed back to the cabin while the others headed to the martini bar.

Up this morning for breakfast in Lido where I had cottage cheese and fruit.  And tea.  Wandered around the pool deck for a bit and then down to front desk as Bob's card does not work the cabin door. Seems he had it too close to his cell phone.  They replaced it for him and we walked around the shops and casino while they made up the cabin.  Not catching up on blog.

Tonight is first of three formal nights.  We are having dinner in Murano which is a French restaurant.  Hope the food is better than last night.  Not that the food was bad,  just nothing special.  Maybe we are spoiled.   More later.  These sea days are quiet and not much to tell.

Day one - Drive to West Palm Beach

Up for breakfast at the Players Cafe.  Said goodbye to Mike and then returned to the house to finish packing and put the house in order.

We had to pick up the rental car at the Sawgrass Marriott by 1pm.  Turns out to be a Hyundai Tucson.  Not the greatest car but it served its purpose.  We packed up the car and started out by 2pm.  Our plan was to drive until we got tired or 5pm which ever came first.  So we made it to Vero Beach only to find out that every hotel in the area was booked.  Seemed there was a soccer tournament and a AKC dog show in the area.  And further down was a baseball game that the Mets were playing the Yankees which caused more hotels to be booked.  This was the first time we did not plan ahead and it will be the last time.  Finally found a Hampton Inn in West Palm Beach that we were able to book.  Last room.  So we checked in around 7 pm.

Decided to go out for dinner and Bob had looked up and found a Romeo's Italian that he felt looked good.  When we drove to where it should be on the map, we could not find it.  So we settled on a small pizza place.  Really a take out but they put in two tables inside and two outside.  So we ate there.  Food was good but the place itself was dumpy.  When we returned to the hotel, we asked the gal at the desk where Romeo's is.  She told us it is in the gas station.  Sort of glad we could not find it.

Up in the morning for breakfast which was slim pickings.  Then we packed up and headed south to the Ft. Lauderdale airport.  Returned the car and finally found the shuttle area.  We had to call the hotel for them to send the shuttle.  Our driver is from Haiti.  He returns there from time to time.  We checked into the hotel (Embassy Suites) and our room was ready.  So up we came and now I am catching up on the blog.  There will not be much to talk about until we get to the other side of the Atlantic.

Tonight we will attend the managers reception and might meet some of the cruisers from Cruise Critic that are staying here in this hotel.  But more on that later.  Now we are off to grab a quick lunch and then Bob will take his nap.

Update

So much as happened since the last posting.  We put our house in Plantation on the market after getting it ready.  This took some time as we needed to resurface the pool, change out the window with the broken seals, paint, etc.  But it finally went on the market but did not sell for six months.  Because of that, we had to cancel the Celebrity cruise and put off final payment of the river cruise until we were sure that the house had sold and closing was scheduled. 

We moved into our new house in January and made settlement on the old one in March.  Two mortgages is not fun especially since the second morgage is not on a beach or mountain home.  Just a house ten minutes away.  Oh well, things did work out and we rebooked the Celebrity cruise and all is right with the world.

Since this is a new blog spot, I will post on the old one and get readers to the new site.

Not sure how much I will be posting until we reach our first port of call which is Ponta Delgada, Azores.  We are scheduled to arrive there on the 4th of May. 

We leave for Ft. Lauderdale this Saturday.  We pick up our rental car and head south.  We board the ship on Monday noon.