Last Day at Sea before heading to Madrid!

My wonderful cruise is coming to an end & I'll miss this ship.  The food has been consistingly wonderful.  I really haven't gained any weight but it has been hard to hold the line.  Having a great time with my friends.  We have dinner together almost every night.  We usually share a large table so me meet other people.  Group on ship is realy interesting & fun.  Production shows are very good.  Rest of entertainment is OK but have missed a few shows on this trip.  Overall it was a great trip.  Here is what I've been doing since my last email.

 

5/10/11 - Port today is Cadiz.  Went to Jerez de Frontera which is the Sherry capital of Spain.  Was here once before & it is a lovely city.  Took a train here with my friends.  We decided to go to the famous Horse Show but couldn't get tickets online so just went to the school where event was taking place & got in.  Was a really fantastic show!  One of the Andulusian White Stallions jumped up & clicked its heels.  What a spectacular event.  Wantered around town using my GPS before going back to Cadiz & ship.

 

5/12/11 - Pulled into Alghero, Sardinia, Spain this morning.  Ship tendered to post & it was a real hassle.  One of worst tendering I've experienced.  The island is lovely as well as the town.  Will have to do some more exploring if /when I get here again.  Lot's of interesting architecture & historical sites.  We were only here from 10am to 5pm but this was cut short by the tendering.  Weather was perfect.  Around 70 degrees & sunny.  We stopped at a cafe overlooking the harbor & a had bottle of wine.

 

5/13/11 - Today our port of call was Civitavecchia.  This the port for Rome.  Didn't want to hassle going to Rome so we went to a small town, Cerveteri, which is know for its necropolis & tombs.  We had to take a train then a but to this medieval town.  Really didn't have enough time to see the necropolis.  Went to small cafe & shared a porchine mushroom pizza with my friends.  Real family local place.  Pizza was very good.  Headed back to ship same way we came.  Went to bus stop & the newsstand that we wanted to but tickets from was closed for siesta.  One of the local shopkeepers took me down the hill with his car so I could get tickets.  The people in Italy are just wonderful.

 

5/14/11 - Today was a real adventure from the port of Livorno.  My friends left the ship here to go to Cinque Terre for 4 nights.  They are coming back to Civitavecchia to take the Star Princess for a 12 day cruise.  They had lots of luggage so I offered to help them.  We took train to Riomaggiore where they were staying.  Their hotel was overlooking the harbor & part of the town.  This is a really lovely area.  I was concerned about getting back to Livorno on tjime.  We took a walk along a trail hugging the cliffs over the sea on our way to Manarola.  Had gelato when I got there & looked around this quaint & lovely town.  Took train to La Spezia & walked around for awhile before I said goodby to my friends & took train back to Livorno.  Everything went smoothly & got back to this ship just on time.  Weather in Civitavecchia, Livorno, & Cinque Terre was fabulous.  Really good day.

 

5/15/11 - The last port of call today was Monaco.  Decided to take train to Menton which is a small town on the Riviera.  Hadn't been here before.  Nice city but not the best in the area.  Happy I saw it but wouldn't return.  Weather started out good but started to rain & then pour.  Only had 6 hours here so couldn't really see all that I wanted to see but it still was a good day.

 

(Rest of dates were sea days).

 

I will be taking a train from Barcelona to Madrid & visiting for  5 night before heading to London for visit with my friend Peter.

Hello from at Sea between Madeira & Cadiz!

Voyage has been really great.  Ship is lovely.  Food is wonderful.  Entertainment is very good & fellow passengers are terrific.  Mentioned that I found out that a couple I met last year was going to be on this trip.  We have been hanging out together most of the time & having a super time.  Marty & Ruthie live in Reno, NV but are always traveling.  Marrty has a home in Girdwood, Alaska just outside of Anchorage.  The seven sea days just flew by & we really had a great day in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal yesterday.  There was a Spring Flower Festival going on in town & the main streets were decked out in beautiful flowers plus there were several exhibits.  We took a taxi to the Botanical Gardens on mountain.  It was spectacular including the view.  There was also an Exotic Bird Park as part of the gardens which was also excellent.  Afterwards we walked around the old town area.  It was Sunday so most of the shops & the main market was closed but we still had a great time.  Heading to Cadiz & Jerez de Frontera, Spain tomorrow.  I've been to most ports on this cruise except for Alghero, Sardinia, Italy which is coming up in a few days.  They have a Zumba class every morning which I have been attending.  It is an exercise class to latin music which is a real kick.  I get a great workout.  Also doing cardio in afternoons so that I can continue to eat.  Have been really good so far.  Not doubling up as much as previous cruises.