Europe & the Atlantic, Fall 2024

Our first stop was Grossmunster Church, finished in 1220. It was not open at 8:30 am so we moved on to the Rathaus…town hall which is built on the side of the river. We also saw the Fraumunster Church, and then Water Church which are across the river. We walked the Banhoffstrasse which is the ritzy shopping street. We saw Springle which is a famous confectionery shoppe. We ended at the river where we saw tour boats. We will save this for a sunny day. We walked back on the other side of the Banhoffstrasse to see the rest of the fancy shops. We walked back to the train station and then crossed the river again and explored some of the back street and the small local shops. Finally it was time to check in to our hotel. After claiming our luggage we settled in a bit before falling into bed. We slept ok but not soundly. After showering we walked around our neighborhood before deciding to eat at Swiss Chukchi. It was crowded but they seated us inside where we preferred. Our waiter suggested a raclatte and a fondue and both were delicious. It was a lovely way to spend a rainy evening. We explored a bit more before heading back. We did some computer work and the it was “goodnight”.

From the fall we drove to Stein am Rhine, a small town known for its preserved half-timbered medieval houses with painted facades. We had time to walk around and hear the stories behind the pictures. The St. George Monastery is here on the banks of the Rhine. We enjoyed looking at the elaborate rain spouts and signs on the buildings. We strolled by the river on our way back to the bus. The ride back to Zurich passed quickly, and by 6:30 we were scouting for a place for dinner. We decided on Vietnamese- Thai and enjoyed a lighter meal than last evening. After a lovely meal we navigated back to the hotel and we were taken on a real adventure. We ended up in areas we had not seen before but in the end we made it back. it was shower time and then journaling.

We decided to continue our walk. We made it to the other side of side of town and we found a beautiful vineyard. It belonged to the Hofkellerei, the Princely Cellars. We enjoyed our walk through the vineyard but it was getting warm and we needed ice cream. We did not realize how far we walked until we started back. We found the gelato shop and sat and people-watched as we enjoyed our treat. By the last bite we had decided we were ready to head back. Lichtenstein is beautiful with its snow covered peaks and castle on the mountain. It is the smallest country to border two countries and it is one of only a few countries to have no debt. Very wealthy! We were blessed by a bus that was leaving in 5 minutes. The Swiss are very precise and we were on our way. Today we used buses and this was new to us. The drivers were very helpful and you paid on the bus. We arrived in Sargon with 6 minutes til our train. We made it and the trip was quick. Back in Zurich we decided to have an early dinner at The Raclete Factory. It was delicious and we both cleaned our plates. Since it was still light we opted for a stroll on Lake Zurich. It was very busy with runners, walkers, bikers, and even argues……we saw what we were afraid would turn into a cat fight but two gentlemen broke it up. We enjoyed watching the sailboats maneuver and we were amazed at their skills. Around 8:30pm we made it to the hotel and shed our shoes. It was a great day!

After disembarking we headed to our hotel with the intention of getting our bags and seeing our room. When we arrived they handed us our keys and said our bags were in the room. We went up to find a lovely room with a/c. We grabbed our dirty clothes and headed to a laundromat. Our boat ticket works on the tram for the rest of the day so we took advantage. It was a fun experience and now we have all clean clothes. We took the tram back to the hotel and ditched the laundry but headed back out. It was a lovely night so we pick up deli salads and headed to the lake for a sunset picnic. After we ate we strolled along the side of the lake we did not see last evening. We felt like real Swiss folks as this is what we see them doing each evening. After dark we strolled back to the hotel and I enjoyed a soak in the tub. Journaling was next on the agenda and we were soon very sleepy!

We walked back the way we came and soon found our way to the train station. Again we did not wait long. This train was much fuller and we had to share seats. Ours was the first stop and the time went quickly. We loved Bern and it was an easy trip. We walked 6 miles so we decided to take a short rest before going to dinner. Tonight we skipped all the cheese that is Swiss cuisine and we went to Zentral Thai. The food was excellent and we did trivia as we finished our drinks. We strolled back to the hotel and realized it was after 9, time for my soak-in the tub. After journaling and some games for me and picture editing for Hugh we went to bed!

We were looking forward to the first race of the 2024 Cycling and Para-cycling World Championships. We had time for a quick rest before the event. We walked out of our hotel and thought we had missed the race as there were throngs of people everywhere. We walk toward the lake and found another throng at the race site. This was such a different race. It was hand-cycle men’s team relay. These were great athletes but poor USA finished 6th. After the race we decided to stay at the lake for sunset so we purchased all the things needed for a picnic, and found a spot among all the locals. We fit right in except we did not have wine in crystal glasses. We walked to the end of the lake and saw all the equipment and pop up eating places for the races. They last until the 26th and it is a big production with huge TV cranes, motorcycle photographers, and helicopters buzzing overhead. We headed back to the hotel and had time to pack, soak in the tub, and get some journaling done before turning in.

From this area we back tracked to the church we had seen earlier and the service was over so we went in. The loveliest feature of this church were the stained glass windows. From one church to another, we arrived at Basel Minster, one of the oldest structures in Basel. Built between 1019 and 1500 it is built of red sandstone with colorful tile roofs. This is a beautiful cathedral with gorgeous stained glass windows and arched ceiling. The square outside offered a beautiful view of the Rhine and we caught our first glance of our ship the AMACerto. We navigated down hill to the Middle Bridge which was built in the 13 th century. It is a pedestrian bridge today. From the bridge we could see the Three Kings Hotel which has been welcoming visitors continuously since the 13 th century and is one of the oldest hotels in Switzerland. From here we started our walk back to the train station. We arrived earlier than expected so we decided to go to the toy museum… we loved it, especially the bears! At the train station we claimed our bags and caught the tram to our ship. Checking in was a breeze and soon we were in our cabin unpacking. We went to the welcome cocktail party and met the staff and officers later in the afternoon. We made some new friends there and even more at the delicious dinner. Off on another adventure.

As we walked our guide explained the unique and iconic Freiburg streams. They were dry today as they are being cleaned but they have been a way of bringing water into the city since the 13th century when they played a crucial role in firefighting. We walked through Martins G ate, one of the two remaining gates from 1202. Our last stop as a group was the Whale House which is a brightly painted meeting house today. With our free time Hugh and I walked to the old Rathaus, 14th century, and also the new town hall, 1539. We also saw the other preserved gate that has a McDonalds sign on it. We made a stop at the Jack Wolfskin store on our way back to market square. We had time to go inside the cathedral before we headed back to the the bus. Back on board Hugh napped and I went to an abs class followed by a stretching class. We got ready for sip and sail and the overview of the tours that will be coming up. Then it was off to dinner followed by music and dancing. We went to bed happy but tired.

This church took centuries to build, 1015-1205. It is enormous and has a stunning astronomical clock that was built in 1843. After the cathedral we split up into groups. We stayed with Emelie and visited Petite France. In the Middle Ages these streets were home to tanners, millers, and fishermen. In the 15th century it was a hospice for victims of syphilis and smallpox. As we walked, Emelie pointed out things for us to see. She left us to explore and go back to the ship on the afternoon shuttles. We continued to explore this area and we got to see a revolving bridge as we made our way to the Barrage Vauban, a weir (small dam)that crosses the River Ill. There was a lovely viewing terrace on the top and we got some great photos. We also saw 3 towers set up defense in the 1200’s. We left Petite France and made our way to Kleer Square, the largest square in the city. We stopped for coffee and tea before we made our way to Republic Square which was envisioned by the Germans in the 1800’s to be a showy symbol of German excellence. The 5 buildings that encompass the square, The Palais de Rhine, the National and University library, the National Theater of Strasbourg, the Perfecture of Grand EST, and the Hotel Des Impots ( the treasury) are all classified as Historical Monuments. The gardens here were beautiful. We walked past the opera house on our way back to Gutenberg Square where we stopped for pastries while sitting near the beautiful carousel. Before long it was time to get the shuttle back to the ship. The wind had picked up and the temp had dropped. We met our group and it was a long walk back to the bus. Back on the ship we rested then showered before dinner. We sat with a couple from NC and enjoyed it very much. We went to the lounge for music and dancing before bed.


From the castle we drove into the city of Heidelberg. We walked with the guide for just a short time as she pointed out things to see. On our own we walked to the old bridge and the Bridge Gate which was large and ornate. We walked on the bridge for the views and some great photo opportunities. We also saw the Church of the Holy Spirit which was built in the 15 th century in the Gothic style. We saw the Rathaus and the Market Square. Soon it was time to head back to the bus for our trip back to the ship. After a late lunch I went to the lecture on the history of the Rhine and Hugh took a nap. We sailed all afternoon arriving to Rudesheim on the Rhine. After our daily briefing we had an early dinner. Our evening adventure was a trip on the local Choo Choo to the Siegfried’s Mechical Music Cabinets Museum. This museum is housed in the former residence of a 15th century knight whose crest is still painted in the stucco on the walls. One room, the chapel, dates back to the 12th century. This fantastic collection of over 350 mechanical musical instruments was lovingly restored by a man named Siegfried and his sons in the 1960’s. We had no idea how amazing this place would be. We had a very animated guide and enjoyed the whole experience. We were going to walk back to the ship but it started to rain so we road the train back. On board we went to listen to the guest singer for a while and then it was off to bed.

Back on board we had lunch and settled in to enjoy the sail through the Rhine gorge and a very large concentration of castles and castle ruins. As I t was very cold outside most everyone stayed in the lounge enjoying warm drinks and going from side to side to see the views. It was 3.5 hours of beauty with and without rain. We had time to rest before our daily wrap up and dinner. We had a great table and we decided to form a team and play trivia. Our team, the Beautiful Ladies, came in second out of 12 teams.

Our guide Sebastian took us on the tour of the small village of 1000 people. It is a lovely village filled with half timber buildings and lovely fountains. The commerce of the area are the many vineyards that dot the hillside and tourism with over 1.2 million visitors each year. The half timber houses are built in a unique style with the first floor narrower and shorter than the second and third floors. This was a way to have less land but a bigger house. We enjoyed the market square with the bear fountain and all the winding narrow streets that crisscrossed the village. When we had our free time we walked to a vineyard for a closeup of the grapes and also a better view of the castle. We also walked across the river to the larger, newer part of the town which has many more people.

Our next stop was where we got off the bus and visited the Basilica. The Basilica is huge and well-preserved despite Allied bombings. We decided to opt for the large building, 108 feet high and 220 feet long. We then walked into the heart of the city and enjoyed the varied architecture style. We stopped and enjoyed the magnificence of St Peters Cathedral which is Germanys oldest church and is UNESCO protected as a heritage site.

Onboard we took the bistro lunch and a nap before the future cruise talk. After the future cruise talk we showered and dressed up for our dinner at the chefs table. We were so blessed to be seated with Jo and Aine from Ireland. They were celebrating 50 years to the day they met. We had a great tasting dinner of 8 courses and lots of wine to toast with. What a great evening. Off to bed for us.

Trier pictures   ·  Moselle River pictures   ·  Luxembourg pictures

We boarded buses immediately after lunch and were off to Cochem. We met our guide, Sylvia, and we were off to see this colorful village. The town is small but filled with half-timbered buildings, a church, and numerous cafes. The Rathaus and St Martins fountain anchor the market square. All of this comes with a view of the castle on the hill and the Mosel River lined with vineyards. After our stroll through the town we boarded minivans for the ride up to the castle. The castle we see today is not the castle that originally stood here in the 12 century. That castle was destroyed by Louis XIV in 1689. It sat in ruins for 180 years before Louis Ravene’ bought it and restored it to its Romanesque beauty. We had a great tour and visited 6 of the furnished rooms. The view from the courtyard was spectacular. We again boarded our minivans for the trip down. We had time for some photos and another view of the castle before we headed back. We made it back to the ship with barely enough time to change clothes before we headed to another Chefs Table dinner, this time with 4 different friends. Great night and after dinner we were told that there is another issue with the computer navigation system and we will not sail, until it is fixed. Update in a.m.

We met our guide and we made a short walk to the gondolas that took us to the top of the mountain where there is a large fort and a wonderful observation tower. The ride up gave us amazing views of the confluence and also of the village. After the gondola ride down we walked through the village with our guide and then we had some free time. We just wandered around, tried to go in the large church but it was locked, then we made it back to the meeting point. We had one last stop at their local fountain, spitting boy, which is their answer to Manneken Pis in Brussels. On the way to find the boat that was sailing to meet us, we actually passed the boat sailing in the opposite direction. We were told we had to get to the other side of the river to board so we had to find a bridge. All was well and we boarded and off we sailed. We had a lovely evening. People dressed up and we had cocktails with the captain and got to salute and thank the whole crew. We had dinner with our cocktail group and then it was off to bed.

Rather than sit, I did the walking tour to the Dam Square, which was the place where the Amstel River was dammed in the 13th century and the village that was formed there became Amsterdam. My next stop was the Amsterdam Palace which borders the Dam. This commanding structure was built in the 17 th century to symbolize Amsterdam’s municipal authority and pride. I walked to the New Church built in the 15 th century but could not go inside because of construction. I visited Magna Place, once Amsterdam’s post office and now a shopping area and walked all along the canals admiring the architecture. Some of the houses are leaning because the posts they are built on are rotting but they happily call them dancing houses. I walked by the Anne Frank Museum and as always the line was around the block. Very happy I have been there! Around midafternoon I stopped in at the hotel to pay for our extra night and decided to sit at the tables in the lobby and catch up on the last few days in my journaling. I could also people watch which is a treat in itself. As I had already logged 13,000 steps I decided to listen to a new book and rest before stopping for a light dinner and heading to the hospital. Hugh was walking and now he is napping. After my nap I continued my city walk with a visit to the old church and some more canal views. There were a lot of people out and the air was cool but not cold. It felt good to walk. Around 7 I stopped for dinner and then it was off to the hospital to get Hugh. He had just finished his IV antibiotics when I arrived. I met his new friend and fellow patient Peter, who had hand surgery today. We took an UBER back to the hotel and settled in for the night.

Well another day that started with a change of plans. Hugh had a night filled with up and downs to the toilet and felt he was not able to do a train ride, even a short one this morning. I went to the front desk and extended our stay for another night and crawled back into bed. We slept some then I went out to get some food for us while Hugh showered. He felt better and we went to the lobby to eat and do some computer work. He seems to be getting better as time passes and about 3:30 he went for a walk to see how he tolerated it. He came back from his walk ready to pack up and head to The Hague. We decided to take an UBER instead of the train and the trip was easy. We arrived at our AirBNB and met our lovely host Ellen. Our apartment is up 3 flights of stairs but our host husband carried our bags. Hugh made it with no problem. This is a lovely place with lots of room to spread out. We emptied our suitcases,of all our dirty clothes and I got the first load washing. With this accomplished we were ready for a walk to the restaurant we had chosen, Mellys Kitchen. It was a Greek mostly menu and the food was excellent. Hugh did not eat a lot but it settled well which was important. We both are still tired from the last few days and went to bed at 10 and went right to sleep.

When we arrived we started our walk on Bree Street which is the shopping area of the city but today is Sunday and most of the stores are closed. We came to the Old Canal which was the first canal in Delft. It had a beautiful view of one of the churches. The canals are mainly used to drain the land. This area has many beautiful old houses that line the canal. As we walked we came to the Old Church which is nicknamed “Old John” and was founded in 1246. Its most recognizable feature is a 75 meter high brick tower leaning about 2 meters from the vertical. We stopped in to say a prayer and enjoy the lovely interior. As we continued our journey we saw the Peat Market which provided the economy for the area from the 15th to the 19th century. Next stop was Maria van Jesses Church which was locked. This church was built by the Jesuits in 1733. We decided to stop for dinner as Hughs appetite has returned a little. He ate 2 burgers and some fries and that was great. We continued our walk after dinner at Market Square. This has been the heart of Delft since 1075. From the square we saw the renaissance town hall commonly Calad the “Stone”. We saw New Church which was christened in 1632 by Delft native, Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. The church was locked so we could not go in. We passed the Vermeer center on our way to the Water Board House. This is a building that is used and has been used as a water board headquarters since 1645. Hugh was starting to get tired so we headed to the station. Along the route we saw the Molen de Roos Grain Windmill. The trip back was easy and we went to bed tired but happy.

On our way to our next sight we stopped at a lovely Italian restaurant for a lunch of spaghetti bolognese and pizza. After lunch we walked across the street to explore the beautiful area we had looked at while dining. The first thing we saw was Binnenhoff, a palatial estate from 1229 that now houses the Senate and House of Representatives. The Prime Minister lives in the tower. From there we saw the Escher in the Palace Museum and the Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery with Vermeer Girl with the Pearl Earring. We actually had timed tickets to these museums early in the day, but did not get here in time.

The Haag pictures

Now we were on our way to the Great Market Square right in the heart of the city. It is anchored by the Town Hall and the statue of the mythical boy who cut off the hand of the giant who demanded a toll to enter the city. On our way back to the station we saw the Flemish Opera House. Once we arrived at the station we had arrived at our last destination, the diamond district, which is the heart of global diamond trade. Fifty percent of all rough diamonds pass through Antwerp for processing. It was time for dinner and we stopped at a Thai restaurant for dinner. Soon it was time to get our bags from storage and board the train to Brussels. It was a pleasant trip and when we arrived we walked to the Mercur hotel, bought some yogurt for breakfast, and collapsed. We walked 8 miles today. What a trooper my love is. Good night.

We had 2 stops very close together. The first was the Stock Exchange building, Bourse de Bruxelles. It has been serving as the exchange since the 19th century. Across the street is St. Nicholas Church. This church dates back to the 12th century. We stopped in to pray and admire the interior. As we walked to our next site we saw bakers at work, lots of Belgium lace, and of course, chocolate! Another church, but this one was spectacular. The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, was started in 1047. It is gothic in style and has 12 pillars with statues of the apostles. The naves window depicts the Last Judgment. From the church we walked to Brussels Park which stands between the Federal Parliament and the Royal Palace. We saw the Parliament building first and it is quite adorned but nothing compared to the Royal Palace which was our next stop. This is quite the complex and takes a while to just walk around. It was starting to rain as we journeyed on and we picked up our pace a bit. We went to the Museum of Musical Instruments to see the building, a beautiful Art Nouveau building which was originally the Old England Department Store. As we proceeded down the hill we had just walked up, we came to the Mount of Arts. It is the transitional area between the upper and lower parts of the city. It has a lovely garden and the Royal Library is located here. We made it to our last site, Royal St. Hubert Galleries, the first shopping arcade of its kind. Built in 1847 it has two sections, the Kings gallery and the Queens gallery. Today it houses luxury boutiques and restaurants. Because the weather was so bad we decided to have a very late lunch or an early dinner here. We dined at a delicious French cafe and lingered as it was warm and dry. On our way back to the hotel we stopped for sandwiches to eat later for a snack. We got an UBER and settled in for a rest, time to journal, and time to play kings on the corner. After showers it was off to bed.

We settled in quickly and donned our rain gear and headed out. We walked quickly to the St. Stephen’s Square, the main square which has become a shopping mecca since our last visit. We saw St. Stephen’s Cathedral which is the landmark of the square. This Roman- Gothic design is imposing and has the world’s highest spire. This was Mozart’s home church and Strauss married both of his wives here. It has overlooked the square for 700 years. We quickly got a picture but they were having mass. We will come back another day. We walked along Graben Street where Richard the Lionhearted walked on his visits to the city. Our next stop was St. Peter’s Church which was built in the Baroque style. This is a smaller version of a church built here in in 792 and founded by Charlemagne. The interior is fabulous and again they were having mass so we will return. We walked the length of the square which is long and as we neared the far end the rain picked up. We walked more quickly as we scurried back to the area near our apartment. We ate schnitzel and salad at Toni’s’ a wonderful neighborhood restaurant recommended by our host. We lingered over our meal and played trivia for a while before heading back and getting organized for our trip to Bratislava tomorrow.

Soon it was time to make the trek down into the old town. Going down was definitely easier. We stopped for pictures at St Martin Cathedral which was closed as so many of the churches have been. The cathedral is most famous as the coronation church for the Kingdom of Hungary from 1563 onward. Eleven kings and eight of their consorts were coronated in this building. The cathedral tower is topped with a replica of the crown of St Stephen. From the church we walked to the Hviezdoslav Square. It has been a part of this areas history for over 1000 years. On the square we saw the national theater and the philharmonic, both in neon-renaissance style. From here we took a long walk to the Blue Church, built in 1908 with a Zsolnay tile roof. Next stop was the Primate’s Palace built in 1777 and it was once home to the President of Slovakia. From there we visited the Main Square and the Old Town Hall built in 1370. It now the city museum. Our last stop was Michael’s Tower. This is the only surviving gate from the cities medieval walls. This area is filled with restaurants, shops, and people. We stopped for a very late lunch and decided to take an Uber back to Vienna. Hugh was tired and slept most of the trip and when we got back he took a long nap. All rested we headed out for dinner and a walk. The wind was cold so we did not last too long. We settled in to journal and then goodnight.

From the riding school we walked out of the grand gates of the palace and over to Maria-Teresa square. The architecture of the buildings here was amazing. Both were museums today. We decided to walk to Belvedere Castle which took us through some lovely areas of the city. Our first stop was Burggarten a lovely garden with an iconic statue of Mozart. Just outside the gate was a statue of the poet Goethe. We also passed the State Theater and the Bristle Hotel where you can get excellent Sacher torte. On the last few blocks before we reached the castle we saw a lot of embassies including Turkey’s and Kazakhstan’s. When we arrived at Belvedere we were amazed at its beauty. The Belvedere palaces served as the summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy during the 18th century. Recognized as one of Europe's most impressive Baroque landmarks, it has earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. From here we took an Uber back to the Hofburg Palace. We stopped for a snack before heading to our timed entry to the Sisi Museum. This museum is located in part of the Hofburg palace, This is a vast a complex that covers an area of over 240,000 square meters, comprising 18 wings, 19 courtyards, and 2,600 rooms, where nearly 5,000 individuals currently work and reside. The Sisi Museum features the life, clothes, and personal possessions of Sisi (Empress Elisabeth): the famous wife of Emperor Franz Joseph. This was an audio guided tour and so very interesting. We stayed until closing just enjoying the history and the grandeur. From the museum we went to dinner and played trivia as we ate and lingered. Back at the apartment we settled in to journal and look at pictures.

When we arrived in Salzburg we got an Uber to the apartment. It was a bit difficult to get into and we found two sets of steps when we got inside…no elevator. It was a bit of a struggle to get our bags up the steps as Hugh cannot lift anything quite yet. I managed to get them up, so glad I work out, and the apartment is small and a little strange in the furnishing department, very Bavarian I guess. The building was built in the 14th century. The beds are comfy and the bathroom is nice and there is another difficult to use washer/dryer all in German. After settling resting and getting our breath back we went for a walk. It had started to rain more and was very cold so we did. It stay our too long. We unpacked and settled before going to an Irish Pub for fish and chips. The people were very friendly and the food was great. We played trivia and lingered until we felt it was time to vacate our stools. Back home we planned for tomorrow’s trip to the Eagles Nest and our afternoon walking tour. Then it was time to journal and turn in.

We met our guide and drove to Berchtesgaden. This cute Bavarian town nestled in the alps has lovely architecture and cute shops and restaurants. We had an hour to explore and that’s what we did. We were back in Salzburg by 1:30 and stopped for lunch before exploring Mirabell Palace and gardens. Built in 1730 as a private residence it is now a UNESCO World heritage site. It is open to the public and the outstanding sites are the marble staircase, the marble hall, and of course the Pegasus fountain and steps from the “do,re,mi” song from the Sound of music. From the palace we walked to Mozarts home, Mozarts birthplace, and down Grain Lane which has been the center of trade since Roman times. We were tired and headed back to the apartment. I did some laundry and Hugh rested. We dressed for dinner and had a lovely evening. Back in the apartment we journaled and prepared for tomorrow.

Back in Salzburg we finished our walking tour. Our first stop was Cafe Tomaselli. This is considered Salzburgs “posh cafe” because of its history and its elevated prices. This cafe goes back 300 years. Mozart was a fan! It is on a lovely square and close to our next destination, The Franciscan Church. This church is rather plain on the outside but very ornate on the interior. It was consecrated in 1201. Our next stop was just around the corner, St. Peter’s Abbey. This Benedictine monastery is considered one of the oldest monasteries in the German speaking world, founded in 696. Next was Salzburg Cathedral founded in 1181. It was remodeled in the 17th century in the Baroque style. In 1756 Mozart was baptized here. Next was the Residential Palace on the cathedral square. It was home to the prince archbishops of Salzburg to show their political status. The square in front of the cathedral holds a huge gold ball with an “emotionless man” on top. We were starved at this point and found an adorable cafe, The Camino Cafe, and I had Weiner Schnitzel and Hugh had sausages and sauerkraut. We both had roasted potatoes and the meal was wonderful. We then went back to the hotel to pack and rest. We went for a long walk along the river before enjoying soup and strudel for dinner. We went back to the apartment and journaled and did pictures. A wonderful day!

We are very close to the Karlsplatz which is a great starting point for our tour. This square came into existence under the directive of Elector Karl Theodor in 1791. The Main shopping area of Munich runs between here and the Marienplatz. Behind the fountain here we saw Karlstor Gate one the original fortified areas. We continued our walk through lovely shops, Baroque buildings, and hordes of people. This is the main shopping area of Munich. Our next stop was Church of our Lady which serves as the residence of the archbishop of Munich. Built in 1468 it is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Our next stop was the Asam Church which was built as a private chapel for them Asam family in 1746. It is German baroque and dark and very heavily adorned…not a comfortable church to be in. We then went to the City Museum of Munich which was established in 1888. From the museum we ventured to St. Peter’s Church but it was closed. Just before we reached our next destination we found a restaurant serving good German food so we had dinner, sausages, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut for Hugh and Spetzel with farmer cheese and fried onion crisps for me. After a long and delicious dinner we made it to the Marienplatz or the central square of Munich since the 12 th century. The first thing you see is the magnificent New Town Hall constructed in the 19th century. The main attraction of this Gothic Revival building is the mechanical Glockenspiel, a two level Carrillo consisting of 43 bells, and 32 life-sized figures dating back to 1908. At one end of the square is the Old Town Hall and the Spielzeugmuseum ( Toy Museum). At this point in time we were tired and we headed back to the hotel. We looked at pictures and read before turning in!

The next stop was the 1972 Olympic village. We saw the stadium and the tower and that was enough for us. We got off this bus and got on the one doing the city tour. We have done a walking tour but thought there might be other areas to see. We enjoyed this very much and we did see one area we had not made it to. We decided to get off and explore Max-Joseph Platz. The most outstanding structure here is the Theatine Church, a Rococo structure commissioned in 1662. It is bright yellow and has a 71 meter dome and two 70 meter towers. From the church we saw the Field Marshall Hall, a monument to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Franco-Prussian War. We then walked through the Hofgarten and war memorial on our way to the English Garden. This is the largest publicly owned park in Europe. We were here to see the surfing wave, the Eisbach Surfer. When we arrived we were surprised to see a long line of men and women, boys and girls in wetsuits and taking turns surfing these artificial waves. Evidently this goes on all year. We walked back toward the Marienplatz and both of us said at the same time, “let’s stop at the Hard Rock for dinner”. We have been eating a lot of German and Austrian food and some regular American food sounded good. Great meal. We walked back through the square and slowly strolled back to our hotel. Great day!

We had a 3 hour tour and Sam did an amazing job setting the stage for each area. We ended the tour at the art work and memorials at the front. One simply said “NEVER AGAIN”. We retraced our steps… bus to train and headed back to Munich. Hugh and I got off one stop earlier and had dinner and then went back to the hotel to rest. It was a good day but a sad one as we were reminded of man’s inhumanity to man!

We walked to the Basilica of St. Petronio and we were able to go in. It was flooded in the nave and we had to be careful not to slip on the marble. Our next stop on our way back to the flat was at St Peters Cathedral. This church was elevated to cathedral status in 1582. It has the largest bell in Bologna weighing in at 3.3 tons. It was pouring when we came out and we continued our homeward trek. Back at the flat we shed our cold wet clothes and headed for the shower. After warming up we journaled and read until bed.

Our first stop was the Arch of Augustus of 27 BC which marked the end of the Flaminian Way, an ancient Roman road that connected Rome to the cities of the Romagna historical region. From here we walked down Augustus street which is the main shopping street of Rimini ending in 3 Martyrs Square. This square has been a forum since 268 BC but got its name from the 3 men who were hanged here for resisting the nazis. We continued our walk and saw the Malatestiano Temple which was started in the 13 century but not finished. Next we saw the Sismondo Castle, built by a feudal lord in the 1400s. Just around the corner was Cavour Square the main historical square in the city. In the middle is a statue of PopePaul V and one side is the Old Fish Market which has been in use since 1747. It has beautiful Istrian stone counters. The other side is lined with the Palaces of Art. Also the Pine Cone Fountain is in the middle and was the only source of drinking water for the city until 1912. As we continued we saw the House of the Surgeon, a building discovered in 1989 during an excavation. It is 1700 years old and had beautiful mosaics and also the surgical instruments of the time. We saw the city museum and then we ended our walk at the Tiberius Bridge whose construction lasted 7 years and ended in 21 AD. Our walking tour over we returned to the train station and claimed our bags and walked to our apartment for the night. We were met by Georgia our hostess and soon settled in. We decided to walk to the beach and we spent the next hours walking on a raised walkway and enjoying the sunset. Hunger set in and we found a restaurant Georgia recommended and enjoyed a great meal, the best caprese salad ever! We then went home to shower and journal. What a great day!

Our train was on time and we arrived in Florence around 6. We met our host and got settled into our AirBNB. On our way to the Ponte Vecchio we saw two street concerts that blew us away. There were huge crowds at both and we lingered as long as we could. We crossed the Arno and found a great,restaurant and had a wonderful dinner. Then it was off to bed for us.

Our next stop was the incredible Siena Cathedral whose construction spanned 2 centuries. It is a magnificent example of Romanesque and Gothic design in red, green, and white marble. We were given free time to explore this incredible site and we used it all. Every corner had something wonderful to see. Across the street was the Santa Maria Della Scala with origins dating back to the 9th century. It has been a hospital, an orphanage, and now a museum. We continued exploring for a bit and then stopped for something to drink before going to our meeting point. Back on the bus Naomi told us about our next stop which was lunch. We had an amazing meal at an Agrico-winery restaurant. We were served 4 wines of the Chianti region with antipasti and pasta topped off with cookies to dip in the sweet wine.

We made it back to the meeting point and back on the bus Naomi told us all about our next stop, Pisa. Pisa is a city in Italy's Tuscany region best known for its iconic Leaning Tower. Already tilting when it was completed in 1372, the 56m white-marble cylinder is the bell tower of the Romanesque, striped-marble cathedral that rises next to it in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Also in the piazza is the Baptistry, whose renowned acoustics are demonstrated by amateur singers daily, and the Caposanto Monumentale cemetery. As we drove in we got glimpses of the tower but even though we had been here before we were overwhelmed by the beauty of it as we walked into the square. We were on our own so we explored each site and we even climbed to the very top of the tower, 190 steps. We had plenty of time for pictures and exploring before it was back on the bus for the trip back to Florence. It was a long day, 12 hours, but worth every bit of it. We were a bit hungry so we stopped for gelato before heading to bed.

After walking by the museum of the city which, was closed, we made our way to the Old Fort which was built by Cosimo Medici in 1377. This fort is on the sea and from here we continued our walk along the sea to the port. We found ourselves at the Queens Rock which was one of the first bathing establishments in Livorno. We end our seaside walk at the Grand Hotel built in the 1800’s. We started our walk back into town only to realize we had walked a very long way and it was over 45 minutes back to the city center and over an hour to the train station. We did not have time to stop and eat a proper meal but we did have time for gelato, there’s always time for gelato. Back at the train station we boarded our train and were back in Florence in 90 minutes. We were starved so after a shower we went to Quido’s for dinner. The food was great and after dinner we walked around the duomo and then back to the hotel.

We stopped for a very late lunch or early dinner and enjoyed Florentine specialties. Soon it was time to retrieve our luggage and head to the train station. Our train to Rome was a bit late but once on board the ride was smooth and in 90 minutes we were in Rome. We got a taxi to the hotel and once we arrived we were shocked at how many people were out on the streets. The hotel was a surprise as we had to go up steps to the 3rd floor. Fortunately they had a bellman who carried our bags. The room was small so we settled in quickly. We went for a walk and had gelato for dinner. Then it was off to bed.

We reached the Circus Maximus and there was a Military Expo on the grounds. We continued our journey along the base of Palatine Hill until we reached the Pantheon. This was a mass of people and after a quick visit we moved on to the Spanish Steps. Again we were greeted with hordes of tourist so we move on. We made the long walk to our favorite church, Peter in Chains. On our first visit here we were the only ones there, but not today. This gem has been discovered. This church was built in the 5 th century to house the chains with which St Peter was imprisoned in Rome. It also houses Michelangelo’s Moses, which is why I visit. This statue is magnificent. After time for admiring, we made the long walk back to our hotel. We had walked over 10 miles today so we took a rest, showered, and then had a lovely dinner at an outdoor restaurant on our street. We then headed to bed!

Today we awoke excited to begin the next stage of our adventure. Today we board the Oceania Marina for 34 days and our times of catching trains and navigating new cities has come to an end. We had an early breakfast and got our bags out for the porter. We took a taxi to the train station and after just a short delay we were seated in out first class seats and on our way to the port town of Cittavechio. When we arrived we got the port shuttle to the ship.

We went through the checkin process like the seasoned travelers we are and we were soon sitting in the Terrace restaurant having lunch, playing cards, and waiting for our cabin. When our area was announced we made quick work of unpacking and getting our dirty clothes ready for the laundry. We thought the laundry would be empty but we were wrong. A lot of people had been traveling before the cruise. It truly took almost the whole afternoon to get 2 loads of laundry done but we made friends and the time passed quickly. It felt so good to have all our clothes cleaned and pressed at one time. I celebrated with a soak in the tub before we dressed for dinner in Red Ginger. We were seated with 2 couples and had a great time getting acquainted. Then it was off to the show. The cast seems very strong and we look forward to their performances.

We were slowly making our way through town when we saw the shuttle. We jumped on and headed back to the ship. After lunch in WAVES, we sat on the veranda and journaled and looked at pictures. Late afternoon nap and a soak in the tub and we were ready for the Captains cocktail party. The line was long to get in but we sat with a nice couple from Pennsylvania and enjoyed the wine and the music. Finally the music ended and we headed to dinner. The service was slow and we finished with just enough time to hear the last song of the quartet and head to the show. The cast is very strong and the largest we have seen in a while. The show was HEADLINERS and we enjoyed it very much. It was off to bed after that and good night!

We decided to go for lunch on the ship before we made the walk to the lighthouse. We had salad and then headed out. Our navigation showed us just where we needed to go. We walked to the destination and we ended up at the end of the pier and docking area but nowhere near the lighthouse. We tried again and again but could not find a way around the fencing so we made the long journey back to the ship. I sat on the verandah and journaled and Hugh rested, he is fighting a cough and cold. Soon it was time to shower and get ready for dinner. We went to the Terrace and then on to the show. It was a British comedian and we enjoyed his humor.

When we reached the port we had a long walk to the entrance and then a hike through the shops before we reached our ship. We had a light snack before heading to our cabin to rest our feet. I journaled and Hugh did pictures. Rested, we decided go on the search for more of the things on our art scavenger hunt. We did great and when we went back to the cabin we only needed 5 more. We showered and dressed for dinner at Polo. We had some time so we had wine and listened to the string quartet. In the elevator we met a cute couple and hoped we would be seated with them. When we arrived the Maitre D recognized us from the Nautica in the spring and put us at a premium table for 2. We had a great meal and had enough time to make it to the Broadway show, wow, what a great day!

On our way to our next stop we saw the ruins of one of the largest houses built in Carthage and the ancient Roman aqueduct and storage cisterns. Our next stop was Sidi Bou Said which is known for its cobbled streets and blue and White Houses. It is built on a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We walked and photographed until we were tired and then we sat in a park and enjoyed the view. We made it to the bus on time but the bus was not there. We had to wait for it which is a change. On the way back we drove by the largest mosque in the area. Back on the ship we cleaned up, journaled, went to dinner, and finished with a show. It was an Italian tenor named Luca who put on a great show.

We visited lively markets and streets filled with cafes and al fresco dining. We finished our tour with the Norman Palace from the nineth century. It is built on the highest hill of the city and has been added onto with each new ruler. The chapel has the most amazing mosaics. We slowly walked back to the ship as we had traveled a lot of miles. We had a late lunch, worked on our art scavenger hunt, and took a nap. We showered and listened to music before going to Toscano for dinner. We enjoyed great company and delicious food. We headed to the show which was the comedian and he was even better the second time. Then it was off to bed.

After about and hour and a half we arrived in the small seaside town of Cala Gogone. We walked through the village and realized that things here had closed for the season already. The harbor area had cafes and we stopped for pizza and enjoyed the view. We took our time driving back and noticed that this was a mining area, and we read that this is a centuries old practice and recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. They mine gold, silver, zinc, and talc. We turned our car in and just as we walked up a taxi arrived. We were back on the ship before the sail away time and had time to get cleaned up and dressed up for the Oceania Club event. We arrived and sat with a lovely couple who invited us to eat at Polo with them. It helped that the Polo manager remembers Hugh and I from the Nautica. We joined another couple and had a most delightful dinner finishing just in time for the show. Then it was off to bed.

We walked a long way up hill to see Napoleons Cave or meditating spot. There was a huge statue of him but not much else. The homes we passed were lovely and there was a nice view. On the way back down we went to the fort which did not have much to see but we ended up in the Cathedral which was beautiful. We headed back to the ship for a late lunch before we went to the Maison Bonaparte, Napoleons birthplace. It was a bit disappointing as there was not much to see except some decorated rooms. No explanations in English. It was getting late so we headed back to the ship and went to tea before cleaning up for dinner. We ate in the dining room with a lovely couple and then went to the show. It was the tenor and he was even better this time.

From there we decided to go to the Princess Grace Japanese Garden that we enjoyed before. We did not remember what a long walk it was. We saw amazing yachts, the Monaco Yacht Club, and even walked through a long tunnel to get there. When we arrived we were disappointed that there was construction going on and a lot of it was closed off. We walked through and then headed back. When we arrived back at the area below the yacht club we got the water taxi back, our feet were very tired. We had a late lunch at WAVES, and went to rest for a bit. We had early dinner reservations in Jacques, so we showered and dressed up before heading out. We had a nice dinner although one of the couples we were seated with were a bit much. We went to the show and it was the ship’s production company and as usual they did an amazing job. After the show the crew came out to say thank you and we ended the night with a rousing rendition of YMCA.

Back on the bus we headed to St Remy. Our first stop was Maison De Sante Saint Remy, a private asylum for the insane. He spent another year and painted some of most famous works here. It is still a hospital today but the area where Vincent spent his time is open to tourists and we saw drs offices, the parlour, the kitchen, and Van Goghs bedroom. There are plaques of all the painting he completed here placed showing what he was looking at. After our visit here we had time to look around St Remy which was closed up also. Then it was on the bus to go back to Marseille. Back on the ship we showered and dressed warmly as we were both still chilled. We went to dinner in the Terrace and then decided to skip the show and headed to our warm bed.

From the park we decided to do a bit of the GPS My City tour so we walked to the Sagrada Familia which was the first stop. We were exhausted when we arrived so after taking photos, it still has 2 cranes in the pictures, we stopped for lunch and an aperol spritz. We made the mistake of not getting on the train and going back to our original station. We decided to walk back . It was close to 3 miles and by the time we made it back to the ship we had walked over 10 miles. It was a great day but we had sore feet. After showering we went to listen to music in Horizons and then on to our dinner in Toscano. There are so many new faces on board and everyone is trying to get oriented. We decided to go to the string quartet music and have a drink and people watch. This set of cruisers seems to be taking country club casual to a new low. Makes me wonder what kind of country club they belong to. We went to the introduction show even though we had seen it before and we were glad we did. There are a lot of new cast member and the show was completely different. Then it was off to bed.

Next, we went to the old town and the Square of the Most Holy Face. This was like stepping into the beauty of an old Andalusian village with white houses and palm trees. The square is filled with people eating at outdoor restaurants. Just around the corner we saw the Basilica of Santa Maria dating back to the 14 th century which is the city’s oldest church. We the walked to the square with the city hall but this impressive building is undergoing restoration. It was then time to make the walk along the seaside called Spanish Promenade. This walk allowed us to see the yachts and sailboats in the marina, shop at lovely little popups, or just admire the beauty of the casino or the iconic Carbonell house. Our shuttle was waiting and soon we were having a Mexican feast for our late lunch. We decided to sit on the verandah to journal and edit pictures. We also had time for a vacation nap before showering and dressing for the Captains Cocktail party. We then went to the Terrace for dinner and enjoyed the show afterwards.

Our next stop was the Alcazaba of Malaga which overlooks the city and the sea. At this stop we also saw the Roman Theater which dates back to the first century. As we slowly made our way through town we saw the Constitution Square with their Christmas tree of lights and walked along the main shopping street with its high end shops. The city is already decorated for Christmas and we wish we could be here at night to see them lit. We made our way toward the port and walked through the Shipyard Market which was filled with restaurants, shops, and enormous yachts. We stopped to call Lori and had a great chat. It was a long walk back to the ship and we were tired. We slipped off our shoes and sat on the veranda and journaled until it was too cool. We took hot baths and dressed for a casual dinner at the pizza restaurant. Dinner was lovely but there was a table filled with very loud people and conversation was hard. We then looked for some of our scavenger hunt art before the show. The show was Jerry Goodspeed the ventriloquist we had seen on the Nautica in the spring. It was still funny and we went off to our cabin smiling. Good night!

We were planning on sleeping in but they brought our coffee service too early. We sat and enjoyed it and then dressed for breakfast. When we arrived at the dining room there was a waiting line. This was our first and only sea day in this segment and everyone decided to eat at the same place at the same time. After breakfast we went to the shore talk and then we spent a profitable morning looking for art. By the time lunch came around we only needed 3 more. We had a relaxing lunch in the dining room before taking up our search again. By the time for the future cruise presentation we were thoroughly frustrated. We are down to 2 and have been over every inch of this ship and cannot find them. At the future cruise presentation we hoped to win the raffle but again it was not to be. After that disappointment we headed to our cabin for a rest. Our dinner reservation is at 7 in Jacques. We arrived and when we were seated we knew right away this was not going to go well. We had a very conversational domineering woman at our table and she not only dominated the conversation she contradicted herself constantly. Hugh whispered to me, “if you order dessert I’ll never speak to you again” about 10 minutes in. The food was great but otherwise we could not wait to escape. We went to the show and it was fabulous. A lovely Welsh soprano named Stephanie Webber. Then it was off to bed.

Our next stop was Teror and getting there was a terror. It was up narrow winding roads with switchbacks that the driver barreled into and had to make quick stops for other vehicles. When we arrived we saw the church and we were able to go Iin. Then we had a botany lesson on the trees before we had free time. It was almost 6 and most stores were closed . Back on the bus fora harrowing ride down the mountain. We all breathed a sigh of relief to be off the bus and back at the ship. This was a wasted day as we did not get to see any of the town. We bathed and then went to the Terrace for the Market dinner of Spain. After dinner we played cards in Horizons before heading to the cabin where I journaled and Hugh watched the Georgia game on his iPad. Half time and Georgia was losing so we went to bed!,😂

From there it was on to the 19th century theater and then Charter Palace. This palace was built in 1752 as a home for military commanders. We stopped for a coke and WC before we headed on. It is very hot today, pushing 90. Our next stop was the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi built in the 17 th century. Bells were loudly ringing as we arrived to herald noon. Next we went to a Second Empire style building called Circle of Friendship XII of January. Not sure what it is. It it quite lovely with it’s blue exterior and white sandstone figures. Next stop was Parish of Our Lady of Pilar built in the 18th century. Our last stop was the Almeda Castle and war Museum completed in 1884. From here we made the very long walk back to the ship as this is break time for the shuttle drivers. We were hot and tired and just sat on our balcony with cold cokes before heading to WAVES for a late lunch. It was off to the room to put our feet up and rest. We walked 6.5 miles today. Later in the afternoon we sat by the pool and enjoy cappuccinos. Then we just chilled on our balcony getting some computer work done. After long baths we had dinner in the main dining room and then went to the ventriloquist show. It was another great day.

By the time we were at the beach again we had walked over 3.5 miles and had to get back which means another 7 mile day. We stayed by the water and made our way back to the shuttle. We had to wait a bit so we people-watched as there were 3 other ships in port. The Queen Anne, Explorer I, and Regent Voyager. It was a quick ride back to port and we cleared security and made the walk back to our ship. We had a late salad lunch (they closed The Terrace while we were in line) and then went to the cabin to rest. Soon it was time to bathe and dress for the O Club party. We sat with Merry and Nate and laughed and talked until both couples had to leave for 7:30 dinner reservations. We had a fabulous meal in Red Ginger. Our table companions were delightful and we closed the restaurant down! We went immediately to the show and they gave us the news that we had to set our clocks ahead an hour. Off to bed for us.

This was our day to stay on board and rest as we recently took an extensive tour here. lWe have not had many days Iike that and we were looking forward to it. We slept until the crew drill started at 10. We went to the Horizons and ate a light breakfast and did computer work, mostly looking at the pictures from the first of our trip. We then went to the gym for the first time. We did our workout and then went to lunch. It is a lovely day and we ate on the terrace. After lunch we did a mile and half on the track before sitting by the pool and getting the computer work done that we did not do this morning. This afternoon we rested, read, and relaxed… a real vacation. We showered and dressed for the O Club cocktail party. We sat with Nate and Merry and then we all went to the dining room for dinner. We went to the show, Stephanie Webber, and we did not enjoy it as much as the first time. I think it was her choice of songs, a girl from England should not try to sing like Dolly Parton.

Back on the bus we passed a square that our guide called pigeon square. There we saw these men dressed in red costumes feeding the pigeons and wanting money to take their pictures. Of course, the last stop was at a department store type market. We walked through and there was nothing of interest. We walked around outside until time to get the bus back to the port. Back in the ship we had lunch and went to the gym. It was time to read and relax in the afternoon. We had a great dinner in Red Ginger with a lovely couple that is traveling to Miami also. We went to the show which was Headliners by the production cast and then to bed.

This morning we got our wake up coffee early, dressed, and went to the gym. It was great to get a good workout in, thank you Rebecca. We went to breakfast and then to the last port lecture. At the end of the talk he did his who has traveled most quiz and we won for having visited 138 of the countries on the National Geographic country list he has passed out. The prize was a very nice National Geographic book of travel destinations. From the showroom we rushed up to the Horizons for the scavenger hunt reveal. We did a stellar job and got our big O points. I immediately got in line at the showroom for the Big O shopping while Hugh went to the room for the rest of our points. Hugh made out like a bandit. He got a long sleeve tee, a short sleeve polo, and a windbreaker. From here it was off to get changed, eat lunch and be ready for the sail into Lisbon about 12:30. We were on the side of the ship that got to see the Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. The views sailing in were spectacular and I just sat on the verandah and enjoyed while Hugh showered.

We got off the ship and did our usual GPS My City walking tour. Our first stop was the highest point in the city, Saint George’s Castle. On our way there we stopped at the Portas do Sol Viewpoint. The trip up the hill on the tile walks and steps was treacherous due to the rain but we did it. Saint George’s traces its roots from the medieval era. From the top we had amazing views over the city. It was a wonderful afternoon and we finally finished our time there but just as we started down the same walkways we came up it started to rain again. Going down became even more treacherous. On our way down we stopped at the Ancient Roman Theater Museum. The Roman Theater of Olisipo was of considerable size holding 4000 spectators. During the Middle Ages it went completely beneath the earths surface due to neglect. After a 1755 earthquake parts of it reemerged. The next stop was Cathedral of St. Mary Major the oldest church in the city. It was erected in 1147. On to our next stop which was St. Anthony’s Church rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. Once down the hill we headed over to the walking street and took our time strolling the length not even stopping to browse. Around 4:30 we headed back to the ship to clean up. We went to the main dining room and had a dinner for two. Then we played cards until time to go to Horizons for the Beatles tribute. The band did a fabulous job and we were sorry when it ended. It was off to the cabin to get ready for our excursion to Sinatra in the am.

We arrived at Cascais, a coastal resort town known for its busy harbor and sandy beaches. We walked all around and I even bought a cork bracelet. We stopped at the market on our way back to the bus. On the ride back to Lisbon Maria gave us details on education, GDP, and lifestyles of the Portuguese. Back at the port we decided to stay off the ship as today was turnover day and 2/3 of the passengers will be new. We walked down to the Commerce Square and then turned into the Main Street. We stopped for tapas and a beer for Hugh and an Aperol Spritz for me. We sat and talked and people watched and had a relaxing interlude. We then walked along the river until we came to the market and we detoured for a short tour. We then continued until we got to the real working part of the port and then we turned around. We were surprised that the river was so, rough from the wind that it was washing over the sidewalks. We made it back to the ship around 4:30 and took some time to download pictures before showering and dressing for dinner. During this time we also met our new cabin steward Ralph. We went out to listen to music around 7 but could not find anyone playing so we headed to dinner. The main dining room was not busy so we had a table for 2 again. We finished in time to listen to the strings quartet before heading to the show. Tonight’s entertainment was Declan Zavala, a folk guitarist. He played music from different countries and was very talented. Off to bed for us afterwards.

This morning’s coffee arrived at 7:30 . It was still dark and the seas were rough. We dressed for the gym, did a load of wash, and went up to workout. We worked out as long as we could with the ship rocking so much. Our cores got a good workout just staying upright holding weights. We then headed to breakfast. We went to the 10 am lecture on the Golden Age of Broadway and ended up staying for the next lecture on Iberian history. After the lecture I walked through the shops while Hugh edited pictures. I then joined him and caught up on my journaling. At noon the captain did his update and said the seas were 4.5 meters and the wind 25-30 knots. We also are experiencing thunder, lightening, and heavy rain. We went to the dining room for lunch. After a relaxing lunch we again sat in Martinis and did computer work. We took a short rest before we bathed and dressed for the captains welcome party. We sat with a couple that just boarded in Lisbon and had a nice meet and greet. They left for dinner at 6:30 and we stayed as our reservations were for 7:30 at Polo. On the way to Polo we met our friends Evette and Stan and we decided to have dinner together. Unfortunately we were seated with a gentleman, and I use the term loosely, who came in complaining and continued to complain and be demanding to the staff the whole dinner. I finally had to say something and I did it as nicely as I could. He remained quiet but the rest of the table agreed with me. We left before dessert as he was just unbearable. The show, Martin Kaye, a pianist who played Jerry Lee Lewis in the Broadway show. He was fun and personable and we look forward to his next show. Then it was off to bed as the ship is rocking.

We made our way to the main square of the city and we saw the town hall and the theater. We then walked to the Funchal Cathedral which was dedicated in 1514 and restored in 2014. On our way to our next destination we made a detour and checked out a shopping center and had a light lunch. We then made it to a lovely park that we had seen as we walked into the city. It is up on a hill and has gorgeous plants and flowers. There are also lovely restaurants through the different levels, most with a view. We were at the port so we took our time walking back to the ship. We stopped in shops and just strolled until we were back on board. Our feet were tired so we sat barefooted on the balcony and read. It was lovely. We took a short rest and awoke just as we sailed away. We had coffee and tea and then bathed and dressed for dinner. Tonight we went casual and had pizza with the delicious burrata and tomato salad. After dinner we played cards and went to the show. Tonight’s entertainer was Dave Christian, a comedian. We were both sure we have seen him before but his material was new and very funny. After the show we went to the cabin and read before crawling into bed. We gained an hours so we set the clock back and hour and settled in.

Today was a typical for this trip day, grey and windy with rolling seas. We dressed and had breakfast in the dining room which we enjoy. From there it was off to the first lecture of the day on the Voyages of Columbus. It was very interesting and gave insight into what was happening in the world at that time. We then went to the gym, I did my weight routine with squats and lunges, and Hugh did something new. He climbed the stairs from deck 5 to deck 15 multiple times. We both did our mat routine at the end. We then went to the cabin and cleaned up before our 11:30 lecture. The lecturer is an amazing historian of all things Broadway and he has an amazing voice. Today’s lecture was on the end of Broadway’s golden age, the 1960’s. Everyone sat mesmerized as he went from show to show telling the inside stories and also singing some of the songs. We look forward to his lectures each day. We then did a lot of our art scavenger hunt as we made our way to lunch, again in the dining room. We ate light and then worked some more on our art before we settled into journaling and filled out forms for future cruises. Next up is the future cruise presentation and I always think I will win the $250 door prize; maybe today is the day. Well today was not different, I did not win. We did some journaling, had a bath, and dressed for our 6:30 dinner at Jacques. This evening we were seated with lovely people and had a dinner. We retired to the Grand Bar to listen to string quartet and have a drink. Just as we were ready to order the ship started really rolling so we skipped the alcohol. The show tonight was our cruise director Phillip and I had had very low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised that his on stage presence is so much better than his day to day. He is quite an accomplished Broadway entertainer and producer, even nominated for a Tony. After the show we made our way to our cabin trying not to hit the walls. We gained another hour tonight so we stayed up and read until bedtime!

This morning dawned with sunny skies and less ship rolling. After coffee in the room we went to breakfast then off to the gym. We did a longer workout than usual and at the end there was a beautiful rainbow we could see from the window. We decided to walk outside but by the time I made it to the cabin to get our sunglasses, Hugh came in and said it was raining. We decided to get in line for the Future Cruise consultant and take care of some business. The wait was not too long and when we left we had booked another cruise and had all our other questions answered. We finished up our art scavenger hunt and then noticed the sun was back out. We went up and walked for a while and then cleaned up a bit for lunch. We dined in the main dining room and after a great meal we went to the Baristas to sit and journal and look at pictures. At 2 we went to the lecture on Balboa and Pissarro. These lectures are very informative in a way that we will remember, not like our high school history teachers. Then we stayed for the British Invasion of Broadway. These lectures are just plain fun. Afterwards we went to the cabin to rest but could not get to sleep so we read and played computer games. We showered and dressed for dinner before going to listen to the string quartet. We ate in the dining room and there were very few people there. We were not sure if it was the ship rolling or something else but we enjoyed a great meal. We again listen to the string quartet until time for the show. Tonight was the second performance of the guitarist, and we made it through three songs before we left. It just is not entertaining. Back in the cabin Hugh proofed my story and I journaled.

This morning we awoke with the sad realization in one week we will be asked to leave our lovely room and get off the ship. Our 3 month journey will have ended. We had our coffee and toasts and planned our day. We went to a iPhone class today on organizing your pictures. It was basic and we really did not get much out of it. From there we went to the lecture on explorers and again it was a bit disappointing although he did bring out some interesting details about personal lives. From there we went to the dining room for the brunch. When we arrived we were overwhelmed with the selection of delicious foods. The wait staff was helpful in negotiating the different stations. We had way too much food and we have reservations at Toscana tonight. From the buffet we went to the room and put on our bathing suits and went to lay in the sun for a while. It was wonderful and Hugh slept and I listened to a new Catherine Coulter book. Soon it was time to clean up for the afternoon lecture. It was on Jukebox Musicals and we enjoyed it a lot. We went back,to the cabin and read or slept until time to get ready for dinner. We were early so we stopped in Martinis to listen to music. At dinner we were seated by ourselves and had a delicious meal. Our favorite staff member, Lynda, took excellent care of us. We went to the show, Dancing Fool, for the third time and it was still our favorite. Back in the cabin we,read and journaled as we get an extra hour of sleep tonight.

This morning we awoke to the phone ringing earlier than we would have liked. Coffee is on its way. We got up and wanted to sit on the verandah but it was wet as it has been each morning. We enjoyed our coffee and then headed to the dining room for breakfast. We milked it as long as we could but alas we had to go to the gym. Hugh did his stairs and I did my weights, squats, and stretches. Afterwards we walked outside for a mile but the wind was blowing so hard it was difficult and it was very hot. We were doing 3 min mile… I think the movement of the ship might have played a part! We had time for cool showers before the chefs cooking demonstration. It was the executive chef and the chef de cuisine from Toscana. They were funny and their recipes did not call for anything that you would not have on hand. I enjoyed it very much. After all the delicious aromas we decided to head to lunch. We were playing trivia as we often do and one of the sommeliers wanted to play also. We again had a lovely meal and then we sat on our now dry verandah and journaled, read, and played games. At 2 we went to the history lecture. It was on Tikal, Conan, and Paranque. Interesting but not what we were expecting. It was so cold in the lounge that Hugh went for hot drinks and after the lecture I went for refills. The next lecture was on the American Songbook. This Broadway series has been great. When we left we were so cold we headed to the cabin for hot baths. We then dressed for the Oceania Club party and just strolled around the ship. At the cocktail party we sat with a wonderful couple from Belgium. Afterwards we went to the dining room and there was hardly anyone there. There are only 1000 passengers on this portion of the crossing but they have to eat somewhere. We have not had to share a table for the last week. It is a nice way to end the trip quiet and without complaints or bragging. We finished just in time to go to the show. Tonight it was the second performance of Martin Kaye and he is singing the works of Elton John. It was a great performance and he had to do an encore song. We headed to the room and set our clocks back an hour before we read. Another great day!

The sun was shining when our coffee arrived. It was already quite warm as we sat on the balcony to enjoy the sea. After breakfast in the almost empty dining room we headed to the gym. It was very busy and we had to wait for machines and benches. We got our workout in and then did our 10 laps on the track. Sweaty and hot we headed to the cabin to shower and dress for the rest of the day. We went to the dining room for lunch and then attended the 2 afternoon lectures. We walked through the shops in hopes that they had put out new merchandise. No such luck. We went back to the cabin and sat on the verandah and read, edited pictures, or listened to a book. We rested some before we dressed for the second O Club party. We sat with a lovely couple from California and as we were leaving our Miami friends asked us to dine with them. We had a great dinner with wonderful conversation. We went to the show and then off to bed.

We continued to the cathedral and found it open and looking amazing on the inside. Over the last 10 years we have watched the progress of the restoration. The interior has made great progress and now the exterior needs some love. When we finished our tour & made a generous donation, we decided we would like to get out of the heat and humidity so we slowly made our way back to the ship. We showered and rested until time to go to the gym. We are trying so hard to get to the gym I each day. We worked out and then took tea back to the cabin. We read until time for dinner. We decided on pizza and burrata salad. We played cards until time for the show. The show was a new group called the Bachelors of Broadway. They were very good and we left looking forward to their next show.

We walked back toward the main part of town visiting squares, a pigeon park and yes people were buying food to feed them and let them sit on their heads, and the governors mansion. We walked back down the hill and toward the ship before stopping at a store to buy candy bars. Back on the ship we sat on the balcony and ate our candy and drank sodas and cooled off. After a call to Lori to firm up Thanksgiving plans, we decided to rest and read because we were going to dinner a bit later. We showered and went to play cards in Horizons before heading to the Terrace for dinner. It was a Caribbean themed dinner and quite good. After dinner we went,back to Horizons for the dance party sail away. It was supposed to have been on the pool deck but it was raining. The band and singers were great and the dancers were dancing with the single folk to get them involved. Then it was off to bed. We sat up reading for a good while as we gained our last hour back tonight.

This morning when our coffee came we jumped up and sat on the balcony. It was so lovely and we know our time to do this is very limited. We dressed and went to breakfast and then I went to the spa for my first ever facial. It was an hour of pure relaxation and I left with my skin glowing and very smooth. I met Hugh in the lecture but it was so boring that we left. We went shopping as we have a lot of cruise credit left. I got a purse that was new and very cute. Afterwards we went to the raffle but of course we did not win… better luck tomorrow. It was time for lunch so we went to the main dining room. It was almost empty. We played trivia as we ate and then we went to Horizons for hot tea and off to the cabin to journal. I packed my suitcase so tomorrow we won’t have both suitcases on the bed. After a nice rest we bathed and dressed for dinner. We stopped in the Grand Bar and had time to play cards and listen to the string quartet before going to shop and spend the last of our credit. I got earrings! We then headed to The Terrace for dinner. After dinner we played cards and then went to the show. The show was one we had seen before but they had changed it up and it was great. We did the crew farewell and of course the YMCA. Hugh and I did something unusual for us and went to Horizons for the Queen tribute by the Excel Band and we even danced and enjoyed happy hour drinks. Then it was off to bed.

This morning our coffee arrived right on time and the sun was shining when we opened the drapes. We sat on the verandah and enjoyed this luxury for the last morning. Tomorrow they kick us off this ship and we will be back in Utah and winter. We dressed for the gym and went to breakfast before tackling the weights. Once in the gym we did a great workout and stretching routine. We had time to go back and cleanup before our 11 am lecture. The lecture was our favorite stories of Broadway and very entertaining. We then headed to lunch and then poor Hugh had to tackle his packing. I sat on the verandah and enjoyed the sunshine and got caught up on my journaling. After packing we dressed for dinner and then went to tea. It was excellent! After tea we went to the art scavenger reveal and we collected our Big O points. We then got in line for the point redemption. Hugh got a royal blue shirt. It was not quite time for dinner so we stopped to listen to music. We had a great dinner at Red Ginger. We then went to the show, Broadway Bachelors, then it was off to bed.

Today was the day we dreaded, they are kicking us off the ship. We got up and had our bags at the door when we went to breakfast. After breakfast we took our bags and sat in the Grand Bar until our number was called. We exited the ship and went straight out of the port. We called a Lyft and went to the airport to get our car. We were at the rental car counter and our Lyft driver came in with my backpack. I had not even missed it. After thanking him profusely he left and in a few minutes he was back with Hughs cell phone. Needless to say he got a big tip. We got our car and drove to the Sawgrass Mills. Hugh shopped for shoes at Cole Hahn and ended up with 2 pairs. We walked around the mall and then had a late lunch at Chick Filet. After lunch we walked some more and then Hugh adjusted his bag to hold his new shoes. We made the drive back, turned the car in, and then took the very crowded train to the terminal. We checked our bags and then walked to the gate. We boarded first and settled in. We had Prosecco to celebrate the end of our 3 month adventure. We had a good dinner and in 5 3/4 hours we landed in Salt Lake City. We claimed our bags and got a Lyft home. The house was warm and welcoming and we drooped our bags and went to bed. Our three months journey was at an end.