Mallorca

Catedral Palma de Mallorca!


Bellver Castle~


Our last stop on our trip was Mallorca. It's an island, part of Spain! Beautiful, clean, and one place we'd really like to return to. Very modern~ an amazing mall, all underground---3 levels!!
All in all the trip was a good start==Really showed us where we'd like to spend more time. The cruise was great, we loved NCL--It was so nice to have our room & food available on the ship, so we didn't have to spend a fortune on food & hotels. I would love to see the country in most of these places--not real fond of all the city stuff--especially now that we've seen that part! We had wonderful travel mates! Richard & Leslie had been to some of these places before, so it really helped having them know something of what & where to go. Of course Taryn & Derik were wonderful! Derik & Richard were fun, and friendly where ever we went--they didn't hesitate to talk, or try to talk to anyone! So, much more fun going with people you love!!
Language was a major problem for us! The best days were the days we hired a driver, who spoke English!! And in the long run much cheaper to do that, than to set out on our own. The one day in Rome was expensive, by the time we rode bus, train, subway, and finally taxi's ! We should have hired someone that day! It would have made it much more enjoyable! Everything cost money--including using the bathrooms!! If you sit down to eat something in a little cafe, it costs extra!! Most people just stand around outside eating!
Originally I had been scared to go to some of these places--but we didn't encounter any scary places! Lots of people everywhere--You just had to be aware--not unlike CA here in the USA~ For a Mediterranean Cruise this probably wasn't the best time of year to go--weather wise--But we enjoyed the weather==liked wearing coats and scarfs--

Sorento, Italy

Sorento was my absolute favorite place! This isn't one of our pictures, but I wanted everyone to see the cool caves in the side of the mountain/from the sea!! It was a beautiful place! We went to a cameo place, where they carve cameos--It takes a week at least to do one! My grandma brought me one from here, many many years ago--and at that time I never fully appreciated it! They are carved from shells---the more detail the more expensive!
The people were very friendly here, the pizza was amazing!!
After reading my posts, I didn't mention Tuscany--It was rolling hills---very beautiful--all the homes were yellow==different shades==which is good for me, since that's my favorite color! I need to watch Under the Tuscan Sun---so I can see the area again!
Oh, the "male" unit is really worshiped over in this area! Of course nude statues everywhere, you can also buy the units---statues, necklaces etc. Ha! Strange!! At one of the little shops, a man tried and tried to convince Myrle to buy one for me, I would enjoy it--ha!

Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii!


Kitchen, serving area.

There were several theater areas throughout the city.


Pompeii was amazing--I loved walking through the old city.

Some of the decorations on walls in Pompeii.


Naples, Italy


Naples was our favorite place~ The pizza was amazing, and our guide/driver was The Best in the World! Mario was his name--he started singing beautiful Italian songs the minute we took off---He had driven a taxi for 38 years, and taught himself to speak English, Russian, French & of course his Italian~ I said WOW--to some of the sights, and he said "Why do Americans say Wow"? "Say, Mama Mia"!
Mario took us to Pompeii for several hours! It was so interesting--I won't bore you with all the history---basically it's an ancient city, destroyed by a volcano (Mount Vesuvius, You see in the background) The people were actually killed by the gasses from the volcano--not the ash that covered the city. The City is huge--we walked and walked--they are still uncovering things, and repairing because some of the walls to the buildings are falling! It was built in AD 79----and not discovered until 1748!

Rome, Italy

Small crowded streets!

Cycles weaving in and out of traffic! By the end of the day I was really hoping we'd hit one!! I couldn't believe how aggressive they all were!

Roman Soldier, acting out!

Trevi Fountain~ You are supposed to throw a coin in this fountain, and wish that you'll return to Rome someday!

These goodies were actually from Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken NJ, home of the Cake Boss=== Taryn, Derik, Leslie & Richard took a little taxi ride while having a 4 hour layover in Newark--

The Pope in Vatican City! The Pope's presence was one of the reasons Rome was so busy, the day we spent there.

Trevi Fountain again.

Have I mentioned all the delicious bakeries--and amazing pastries??

Taryn & Derik in his cool hat--We could spot him anywhere in a crowd!


Taryn & Leslie on our train!



Getting to Rome was a major ordeal--getting back to our ship in time for sailing was even more stressful--
We took a bus to the train, a train to the subway, and the subway to the city, where we walked & walked to find the hop on hop off bus!! There were tons of people & traffic. The Pope was in town (Vatican City) that day, so it was really busy!
We went to the fountain where you throw a coin in, and make a wish that you'll return to Rome someday! I refused to throw in a coin!! That should have been a sign--- I just don't enjoy the traffic & people!
Oh, have I mentioned that we ate pizza "everywhere"---ha! Still haven't had the best pizza!
Rome is way too big to see in one day! It would take at least a week to see everything. Our hop on hop off bus gave us a pretty good tour--but we were a little afraid to get off the bus, because there were lines waiting to get back on them! We were supposed to be back to the ship by 7:00 pm--and had been warned to be there on time--and NOT to take the train, because they were so unreliable. Guess they would just stop, so they could smoke a cigarette! Again, we all wished we spoke Italian or at least had hired a driver, who did==!
One of the things that really surprised me was that all the ruins of the old city were just right down in the middle of busy busy city! Guess I'd always thought that The Roman Colosseum was out in the country---Wrong!
Every where you toured cost $$ And did I mention motor cycles?? They were everywhere, and the drivers were crazy. I was sure we were going to hit one--the bus drivers were equally crazy drivers. However we didn't see a single accident~
Well after a full day of pictures and sightseeing, we headed back to the ship== Or tried to==We missed our stop on the hop on hop off bus--so had to go around the entire city several times--We laughed and said
"Aww-- yes we've been to the Colosseum several times"! Finally found our way back to the train==Weren't sure which to take--One is the "super fast" the other not so fast I guess! Well, with our language problems, we choose the not so fast one! About 30 minutes into the ride, it stopped!!!!
We were told in very broken English, to stay on--We waited at least an hour--still no explanation of why it had stopped--Finally we decided we had to get off and find a Taxi to get back to the ship! Taxi's were finally called to the train station, however all 6 of us wouldn't fit in one--we we had to hire 2~~ Again these drivers didn't speak a lick of English---and had never & I mean NEVER been to the port!! Each taxi took their own route---so we were separated! Finally our guy found his way to the port, but couldn't get to our ship--We were 2 hours late at this point! And greatly surprised that the ship was even still there~ Finally we somehow convinced him to stop, and get some directions from some security guys--Didn't understand a word--but apparently he got good directions! We made it back to the ship!! We later learned they had announced on the ship, our missingness!! Actually there ended up being 100 people that were late--we aren't sure if they all made it back to the ship or not! With what we spent on Trains, Subways, Hop On Hop Off's, and Taxi's we could have easily hired a private driver--and not had so many wonderful memories!! Awww---When in Rome!! Guess I should have thrown a coin in that damn fountain--maybe we wouldn't have had so many memories!! ha!

Florence, Italy

The Leaning Tower of Pisa--I think I tried to straighten it out when I took this picture. It's really leaning---!!

Gypsy trying to get more money from Richard!!

Ummmm, what happened to it???


David===



Florence was beautiful--and very old. There were some scary people here--as well as many many statues of the male member parts!! They do seem to be obsessed with their privates!! We went to a market, tons and tons of stores outside, basically all selling the same stuff--lots of leather purses, jackets, etc. Really dark men trying to sell fake rollex watches also! Gypsies begging---speaking a sort of sing song language--and very annoying! Again beautiful old churches! And lots of walking!

Nice, France

This was a beautiful city--part of the French Rivera ==And had it been warmer, I'm sure we could have found nude beaches! ha! Our guide took us to some little known places---One monument built for Julius Caesar Augustus --way back when the Romans were trying to conquer France--Once they left the village people tore a lot of it down, and used the stones/bricks to build their houses! This was right in the middle of a neighborhood---Something that people usually wouldn't get to see--the streets, everywhere were so narrow and small--

Monte Carlo, Monaco

In Monte Carlo, we hired a driver, with a Mercedes Van to drive us, and give us a tour! This was great--he spoke English!!! Monte Carlo is very "Rich"===Lots of money$$$ beautiful ships in the harbor, amazing hotels, and homes on the sides of the mountains--Grace Kelley was Princess of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier--Our tour guide showed us where she was killed in an auto accident! You could spend days here, looking around! One thing I noticed while in Europe: A couple things I noticed: There aren't any FAT people==With all the walking and climbing they do it's impossible, even with all the delicious food available! Also everyone smokes!! I've never experienced so much smoke!! I think we've really cut back in the USA==I was sitting waiting for our group, and noticed a fairly attractive woman, pull out of her purse, a package of tobacco, her papers, and roll her own!! They must really like to smoke if they're willing to roll their own!! ha! Oh, and it was tobacco---

Barcelona, Spain

We rode these hop on hop off buses in several of the cities we visited!~ It was great once we found where to catch them--

This is the Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudi--They started building it in 1882===I'm thinking they should forget it!!

Barcelona was beautiful---very clean, and amazing buildings! However, the people weren't very friendly, and we had an awful language problem! It seemed like they didn't even try to communicate! The Euro was another problem we faced while in Europe-- One euro is about 1.45 American! It changes daily---depending on the stock market! So, there were no deals when it came to shopping! And I literally didn't buy a thing--Actually I bought a scarf, because it was soooo cold! But didn't get gifts for anyone this trip!

Our Trip~

We're all packed and ready to head to Barcelona, Spain! I'm not sleeping, of course, cause I'm making lists in my head all night of everything I need to make sure I have~
Meanwhile, Myrle is just missing Hawaii, and wanting to go back! I'm eager to see if Europe compares to the beautiful places we've seen in the islands!

Picture of Taryn & Bailee--Do you think they look alike??

Jessie (Anabeth)

Our little Toy Story, Jessie~ Still waiting for pictures of Nolan, as well as Taryn's crew!!