 |
| Our cruise map from the tv in our stateroom - notice the little "loops" in the route? That's where the captain was killing time until the next port! We also went around a small volcanic island several times - Stromboli - off the North coast of Sicily. The little island's population is about 500. The volcano has erupted several times and is constantly active with mini eruptions.... the most recent eruption was in 2009. Imagine living there? |
 |
| Here's the volcanic island of Stromboli - we didn't see it until later in the trip, but since I mentioned it above... |
 |
| Yup, that's smoke coming from the volcano |
 |
| From our balcony as we circled around the island |
 |
| The little town on the volcanic island |
 |
| The ports of call |
Ok, so we started off this adventure in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. We spent two nights there in a cute little hotel called U232 - Craig got a great deal - the "romance package" that included a great room with a private balcony, a bottle of cava (like champagne), chocolates, breakfast buffet, a romantic dinner at Bardot restaurant (which was absolutely excellent) and included alcohol! It was fantastic!
 |
| Our room at U232 in Barcelona |
 |
| Our balcony |
 |
| Craig loved all the scooters on the roads and parked everywhere! |
 |
| A nice Gothic church in Barcelona |
 |
| Casa Battlo by Gaudi in Barcelona - he must have smoked some magic mushrooms, but he sure does have a unique perspective in design/architecture! Check out the virtual tour at: https://www.casabatllo.es/en/virtual-tour/ |
 |
| Everywhere you go in Barcelona you will see this cured meat hanging - a delicacy |
 |
| yummy shrimp tapas |
 |
| BEST DONUTS EVER!!!! Yum! |
 |
| Craig just "had" to get a picture of this store name. |
 |
| The narrow streets of old town - Barcelona |
 |
| Mortar damage in this square - Barcelona |
 |
| Gorgeous Barcelona Cathedral (aka The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia) constructed in the 13th and 15th centuries with the principal work done in the 14th century. |
 |
| Entrance up close - such gorgeous detail |
 |
| Inside |
 |
| The geese who supposedly guard the cathedral - they're in the beautiful inner courtyard |
 |
| Craig and the shrimp? |
 |
| Random slabs of beef being carted around the market |
 |
| Arc de Triomf in Barcelona - it was built as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair |
 |
| The interesting Catalonia past-time where Castellers build human towers - it's a competition for who can assemble (AND disassemble) the highest tower. The assembly is complete when all castellers have climbed to their designated places and the enxaneta climbs into place (person on top) and raises one hand with four fingers erect, in a gesture said to symbolize the stripes of the Catalan flag (they want to separate from the rest of Spain and you see the flags proudly displayed in balconies all over Barcelona). First the base is built (pinya) and then the rest get in place once the base is said to be strong enough... they build the top as quickly as possible to put as little strain on the people at the bottom! |
 |
| Interesting doll shop in old town Barcelona |
 |
| Intricate chocolate work displayed in store windows throughout Barcelona |
 |
| First tapas in our romance package dinner - a potato topped with squid |
 |
| Main course |
 |
| Dessert - they called it "ugly tortilla" - tasty though! |
Gaudi's magnificant cathedral in Barcelona - Sagrada Familia (Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family) - a large Roman Catholic church designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (1852 - 1926). Although still incomplete, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica (distinct from a cathedral), which must be the seat of a bishop. Construction commenced in 1882 and Gaudi became involved in 1883. Gaudi devoted his last years to the project. At the time of his death, at 73, in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Progression was slow as it relies on private donations and was also interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. The anticipated completion date is 2026.
 |
| The ceiling - said to be like nature, trees. Gaudi apparently spent a lot of time as a child in his family's garden. It truly is a unique structure. |
 |
| We went up in the Passion Tower - you have to book it in advance. The elevator only takes passengers up - you have to go down this incredible staircase to get back to the ground. |
Our Ship - the Norwegian Epic
1st sailed in June 2010
Weight: 155,873 tons
Length: 1081 feet
Passengers: 4100
Crew: 1708
Decks: 19
Bars & Lounges: 18
Restaurants: 14
We had a fantastic time on our huge floating city. We had the drink and dine package, so we enjoyed many cocktails - my favorite being the mango meltdown and Craig's the "gentlemen Jack and coke"....the specialty restaurants were awesome too! Cagney's steak house, Moderno the Brazilian churrascaria and Le Bistro, the French restaurant. Yum! I think my favorite was Moderno. Then there were the shows! They were the best shows we've ever seen on a cruise - this being our 4th cruise. We started with "Burn the floor" - a dancing extravaganza with high energy. Next was "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" (just like the movie)... it was hilarious and very well done! Craig enjoyed the costumes and seriously wants the costume below! lol We weren't allowed to take any pictures during the shows, so this is all I have (from the internet). The last show we went to was Cirque Dreams - it's in a tent-like room that is very intimate and during your dinner they have a full cirque show with contortionists, strong-men balancing and other shenanigans. Awesome shows!
 |
| Our ship from the first port of Cartagena, Spain |
 |
| Selfie of us and our ship in the background |
 |
| Craig going through the casino |
 |
| One of the MANY bars on ship |
 |
| Our cabin - Craig surprised me with a balcony - I was expecting an inside cabin! Size: 205-221 square feet. Balcony size: 54-70 square feet. |
 |
| Upper outdoor deck area complete with water slides. As much as I LOVE water slides, I did not partake in these ones because it really wasn't warm enough. People did, but I was cool outside with my dry clothes, so I chickened out - didn't want to freeze. |
 |
| View from deck 18 towards the back of the ship |
Day 2 on cruise- 1st stop - Cartagena, Spain (not Columbia)
Our first port was Cartagena. I didn't know what to expect. We enjoyed a leisurely walk through town at our own pace. Craig even managed to find a cheap place to get a quick haircut! A little shop by a Moroccan man.
 |
| Coastline of Cartagena as we sailed into port |
 |
| View of port as we sailed in |
 |
| A main square - a short walk from the port |
 |
| Beautiful banyan tree in a cute little square |
 |
| Craig's cheap 8 euro haircut |
 |
| In case anyone is interested in a haircut while in Cartagena, this is the place! |
 |
| Observation tower to get to Conception Castle |
 |
| That little part of the tower jetting out is where I was standing in the above picture. |
 |
| Beautiful peacock who hangs out at the castle |
 |
| We are getting fairly good at selfies with the camera! lol |
 |
| Roman Theatre - picture from the internet - wish we had found this spot for this great picture! |
 |
| The pier on our way back to the ship for lunch and a nap! |
 |
| St. Patty's Day - the day Mom was released from the hospital after 3 weeks! Woohoo! I think Craig was already drunk here. It's the only picture I have of the two of us in our green! |
 |
| Seafood buffet night! |
 |
| Interesting lamp outside one of the bars on ship! lol |
 |
| Craig about to enjoy his 32 oz. steak at Cagney's restaurant on ship! |
Day 4: Cagliari, Italy
 |
| The port of Cagliari |
 |
| Selfie of the port |
 |
| cute square - piazza (not pizza, but piazza) |
 |
| Craig liked these doors |
 |
| Aunt Judy, this one is for you of this chill-axed kitty cat (with no tail) who wasn't the least bit concerned I joined him on the bench. |
 |
| Elephant tower and St. Giuseppe Church - the tower isn't very pretty, but the staircase is crazy and it has great views. 3 Euros to go up, but it's worth it if you have the energy and bravery to climb it! |
 |
| Views from the top of Elephant Tower |
 |
| I love my little cubby holes in towers/forts/castles |
 |
| One of the many staircases in the tower |
 |
| Another great cubbyhole - don't worry Dad, there's a glass panel there! |
 |
| Another view from the tower |
 |
| Cubby hole pose |
 |
| See, I wasn't kidding, that staircase is steep! As Craig was taking the picture he was saying "you won't be able to tell how steep it is in the photo", but I think you can! |
 |
| View from tower of Cagliari |
 |
| Unzoomed photo from the top of the tower - same dome church as above photo (don't lean to heavily on that railing!) |
 |
| Inside the crypt at a church in Cagliari |
 |
| Love those narrow streets! |
 |
| Around Cagliari |
 |
| Beautiful shot of Cagliari as we leave port |
Day 6: Palermo
We did a guided walking tour here as well - Craig's a great guide, but sometimes the free walking tours can be interesting! It was a little dirty here in places, but we still enjoyed ourselves of course!
 |
| A market they had us walk through - some of the participants were not impressed, but that's what I love - seeing where the locals go - not just the touristy spots that are all shined up. |
 | |
| Palermo Cathedral - or Cathedral of the Assumption of Virgin Mary originally erected in 1185. It's had many different additions, alterations and restorations and therefore has many different architectural styles. |
|
 |
| Craig enjoying one of a few canoli's while in Italy - same cathedral as the above two pictures |
 |
| Gotta love those narrow streets |
 |
| Inside another church - I love the way the light is beaming in through the ceiling - a service was going on at the time, but they still allowed us in. |
 |
| Outside the above church in Piazza Pretoria is this beautiful fountain (first unveiled in 1575). Some locals still call it the fountain of shame (Fontana della Vergogna) due to all the nude statues. |
 |
| You see lots of churches in Europe! |
 |
| The not so pretty side of Palermo - like any city. |
 |
| Chillin' on ship |
 |
| Games area on ship |
 |
| Many afternoon naps were taken after exploring the ports - or just because! |
 |
| Craig was a little miffed at the size of his "lump crab cake" - lol |
 |
| Hmmm.... lobster! |
Day 8: Naples (Napoli) - we went to Pompeii
We arrived in Naples, but since we had already been here, the Amalfi Coast including Capri, we chose to do the Ruins of Pompeii tour and winery. Although it was a very rainy, miserable day, we still managed to have a fantastic tour. Pompeii was an ancient Roman town near Naples and about 8 km from Mt. Vesuvius. It was mostly destroyed and buried under 4-6 meters of volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD. Researchers believe the town was founded in the seventh or sixth century BC by the Oscans. At the time of its' destruction, it was estimated to have a population of 11,000 people. The site was lost for about 1500 years until its initial rediscovery in 1599. The objects were preserved for centuries because of the lack of exposure to air and moisture. During the excavation, plaster was used to fill in the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies. This allowed us to see the exact position the person (or dog) was in when he/she died. Pompeii has been a tourist destination for over 250 years and today is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is estimated to see approx. 2.5 million visitors per year!
 |
| The ruins of Pompeii - as you can see, a miserable day, but we were covered and fairly dry |
 |
| Original frescos and colours on the walls of these ancient homes |
 |
| Wonderfully preserved tile work |
 |
| A preserved shop on the main street |
 |
| The ruins from a good vantage point! It's HUGE and there's still a whole part (where we were standing) left to be discovered. |
 |
| An ancient Roman Jacuzzi? lol |
 |
| A rare moment where we could get a photo of the streets of Pompeii without any tourists in it! |
 |
| This is a bed in a brothel - seriously!? Talk about uncomfortable. Guess they weren't there for long! |
 |
| Not sure if the guide was pulling our leg, but this was a landmark on the ancient roadways indicating which way to the brothel! |
 |
| Some of the many artifacts rediscovered |
 |
| This poor dog did not meet a pleasant end. This is one of the plaster casts I mentioned earlier and some more artifacts. |
 |
| A small child - plaster cast - of his/her final moments |
 |
| After the Pompeii tour we were treated to lunch and, of course, wine at the Cantina del Vesuvio winery. Yum! |
 |
| Tomatoes SO fresh and delicious! |
 |
| Our pasta lunch |
 |
| The little area where we enjoyed our wine tasting and lunch |
Day 9: Civitavecchia (Rome port)
Since we have been to Rome, we decided to just wander around the port town of Civitavecchia
 |
| Some more beautiful chocolate work - for Easter |
 |
| Craig likes his little doors - "go pose by the little door"! lol |
 |
| Interesting trees |
 |
| Back on ship for more drinking - PLENTY of drinking was done. Need to detox! |
Day 10: Livorno (Pisa)
We could have taken a tour of Florence and Pisa together, but because we are holding out for you Kiki Gallant, we decided to just go to Pisa and have a leisurely day. We ended up coming across our American friends Carol and Wally from Florida and hung out with them for the day along with Denise - a single girl also from the U.S. It was a fantastic day!
 |
| At the Livorno train station. We met Wally & Carol there - they had walked to the train and we took the shuttle. |
 |
| Some pretty canola fields on the train ride to Pisa |
 |
| Cute little town of Pisa |
 |
| The Tower of Pisa - it actually looks like it's pretty straight here! Trust me, it's not! |
 |
| Carol and I trying to get that shot holding up the tower. I am very sad that we didn't get a good shot doing this... maybe we will have to go back!? Carol got a great shot while Craig & I were up in the tower! (see below) |
 |
| Good one Carol! |
 |
| The girls attempt - SO far off the mark - it's all the cameraman's fault! lol |
 |
| One of the bells in the Tower of Pisa |
 |
| Selfie in the tower |
 |
| View from the tower |
 |
| View from the tower |
 |
| It's not a very big space up there on the top of the tower! |
 |
| Inside the centre of the tower that holds the bells |
 |
| Love those narrow staircases! This is what we had to walk up (and down) - all 296 steps. Different sources say different numbers of steps - why? We should have counted! Some sources say 296 or 294. The tilt began during construction caused by an inadequate foundation on ground too soft on one side to properly support it. The tilt was partially corrected - from 5.5% to 3.99%. This means that the top of the tower is horizontally displaced 12 ft 10 inches from the centre. Work on the ground floor began in 1178 and took place over 199 years due to battles and construction issues. This time where construction was halted allowed for the foundation to settle, otherwise, the tower would likely have tumbled. |
.
 |
| Teeny church - Santa Maria della Spina - in Pisa by the Arno River |
 |
| We had a fabulous lunch in Pisa - most ate pizza, but I had this great calzone! Yum! |
