New Years - 2016 - Days 1 & 2

This was one of the few trips that we didn’t leave at 6am but left at 11am from the Bloomington airport and flew to Atlanta.  We had a 9 hour wait and we didn’t like any of the restaurants on the International Terminal so we went by the tram to another concourse and had lunch.

After lunch, Ed went to Brookstones to buy a universal power adapter and when we went back to the International Terminal he realized that he did not have his billfold.  There was a Brookstones right across from where we were leaving from and they called to the other store and as luck would have it, it wasn’t there.  So, we lost $100 and three credit card- so we spent the next hour or so calling the credit card companies and cancelling credit cards.

 We boarded the plane to Buenos Aires almost right on time and after they fed us dinner we attempted to get some sleep.  We had great seats; however, sleep is never easy on a plane trip like that.

 We landed in Buenos Aires a little early and were through customs with our bags in about ½ hour – that’s fast.

 We had already arranged for a car to take us to the hotel so we found the driver and went to the car.  We arrived in a huge rain storm and luckily the driver had backed the car under a canopy and so he could load all of the luggage without it all getting wet.  The ride took about ½ hours and we were at our hotel – the Plaza Buenos Aires a lot earlier than we had expected.  We had written to the Front Desk Manager asking for an early check-in and they had one for us so we were in our room very early. 

The Plaza Hotel was built in 1909 and it is amazing.  Up until just a short time ago, it was a Marriott property but is now owned and managed privately; except for Marriott Platinum members who still get a free breakfast and have an executive lounge.  We are one of the last to receive these privileges as for new guests arriving after tomorrow, the privilege stops with the new ownership.  The hotel is beautiful and a very elegant European style where the rooms are not large but good rooms.

 We decided that because we had such little sleep to take a 2 hour nap and when we work up at 1pm, we went out walking down the main shopping street which is a pedestrian mall.  99% of the shops were closed but we had fun going into the ones that were open.  It is about 20 blocks long so it will be fun one night when we go out.

 Half way down the street we stopped for lunch at ate outside.  Then we continued to walk to the end and took a cab back to the hotel.

 We changed clothes and took a cab out to the start of the Dakar Race, which is an international race going thru multiple countries that Jeff had told us about.  There are hundreds of motorcycles and cars all set for the start tomorrow.

Then it was back to the hotel to rest a little and then we took a cab to a steak restaurant that our last casino manager had recommended.

 Dinner was wonderful and we ordered and ate way too much.  We had lots of rolls, salmon tar-tar, sliced mushrooms, veal cappacio (sp) and a huge t-bone steak.  Three appetizers and an entrée all served at the same time so we could split them – way too much food.

 After dinner we walked on the waterfront for a little bit and then took a cab back to the hotel.  Cabs are really cheap.  The ride probably took 10 – 15 minutes and it cost 50 pesos which is $3.85 and that includes the tip!! 

You also have to watch out and get into the right taxi as we were told a lot of them are controlled by the Argentina Mafia.  Even though this hotel is one of the biggest in the city, you have to have the desk call a taxi for you to make sure you don’t get ripped off!!

Money is really strange when you pay $1375 for dinner and it is only $100 in US dollars.  They also use the dollar sign so it makes it doubly confusing.  We saw a sign for a McDonalds Big Mac and it was $33, which is $2.55 US!

Tomorrow is going to be a fun day as we have an all day city tour with a guide who will meet us in the lobby of the hotel at 9am. 

Night from Argentina.

Going out for the first day

Stairway from the lobby

The Plaza Hotel

Lunch

A typical building

Part of the Dakar Race cars

Dinner

 

 

 

A Voyage To The End Of The World!!

New Years - 2016

Europe - 2015 Day 16

The day everyone hates came today – the end of the cruise.  We had a car take us to the hotel at 9:00am so we were up at 7:00am to meet Jeff and Vera at 8:00am and get through customs. 

We were actually a little early for the car; however, we had a great porter who found the van and loaded everything into it.

It was a short cab ride to our hotel, the AC Marriott Istanbul.  The AC is a chain of European, very modern hotels that Marriott bought a few years ago.  We were upgraded to a beautiful suite – too bad we have to leave tomorrow.

After checking in, we met Jeff and Vera who wanted to take us to a famous Synagogue and we took a cab to it; however, it was closed.  So, Jeff found another that was close and we walked to it.  The problem was we got lost trying to find it so it was a long, long walk with a couple of steep hills and when we got there, it also was closed.

We got a cab to take us to our next destination, lunch and found a delightful restaurant on a street we had been on a couple of weeks ago.  We had a great lunch.

Then it was time for the highlight of Turkey for us – a Turkish Bath called a “Haman”.  We went to an original Haman that was built in 1557 and is still used and while it has been remodeled, it was still an amazing place and experience. It was all marble and wood and it was like being treated as royalty.

Jeff and Ed went into one part of the Haman and Barb and Vera went into the other part as the men and women had separate facilities.  We each had a 90 minute package which included a very hot room to start the sweat going.  Then we were given a body scrub, followed by a moisturizing body clay mask.  Then they washed us off with an amazing bubble wash ritual.  Then they gave us a rub down, followed by a 30 minute total Aromatherapy massage, including using oils.  It was an amazing experience and one we all would do again.

When we finished it was raining and it took over an hour to get a cab so we went back to the hotel to rest for a couple of hours before going out for dinner.

Dinner was different in that we had lamb and pork instead of fish at a local place that was close as it was really raining hard.

After dinner we came back to the hotel and said good night and see you next trip to Jeff and Vera who are great friends and great to travel with.  Two totally different couples from totally different backgrounds and parts of the country but we travel well together. 

Night from Istanbul and we will be home tomorrow  landing in Chicago at 6:30pm and we miss everyone.

Love from Gram and Ed - Night - Night

 

 

Ready to go home

Lunch

Sea Bass

Cooking area outside



 Ayasofya Hurem Sultan Barh - 1557

The men's entry room

Europe – 2015 – Day 15

Our last day of the cruise and since we had gone to bed early, just after midnight, we woke up early and it was raining!!  So much for sitting in the sun for most of the last day as we had wanted to do.

Ed was up early and Barb go some much needed rest, then we packed and we finally left the cabin together at about 11:00am. 

We went to the photo area and picked up pictures from embarkation and the two formal nights.  Then we walked around until we ran into Jeff and Vera.  We all decided to go eat lunch in the main dining room, something Barb and I have never done before.

Lunch was just fine and then we all went to the casino and played a session.  Barb lost just a little and Ed had the biggest win of the trip.

Then we went to the café and got some snacks and went back to the room to eat them before our nap.

 

 

Leaving for the day

Snacks delivered at 4:00pm

More snacks at 4:00pm

 





Going out for our final evening

Europe – 2015 – Day 14

Today was out last stop before arriving in Istanbul and the end of the cruise.  We are now in Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey.  Ephesus is the gateway city to the House of the Virgin Mary and also the ruins of Ephesus that date as far back a 10^th century BC (that is old!!)

We have been here twice before and the first time took the tour to the ruins and the House of the Virgin Mary, so we only got off the ship to visit the shops of the port.

As soon as we got off we realized that this port has the most aggressive of all shopkeepers in any port we have ever been to.  They actually sit outside their store and if you go in, they rush in and also block you from getting out.

We spent a couple of hours buying scarves and saying no to a lot of storekeepers and then came back to the ship.

We had a good hour of sun and then went to the Aqua Spa for a healthy lunch and when we got back to the deck it had turned cloudy and started to rain; so, we went inside and Ed went to the Future Cruise office to get options for 2017.

Then we discussed cruises for 2017 and settled on a January 11, 2017 cruise that will start n Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and end in Singapore for a 15 night cruise.

For March 2017 we booked a 14 night cruise from Miami on March 5, 2017 that includes a number of islands that we have not been to such as Bonaire, St. Kitts & Nevus.  Hopefully we will have a group go with us on this trip like we have for the March 2016 trip.

Then, since it was still raining, we took a nap.

After our nap, we got ready to go out for the evening.

Tonight was the third of the big production stage shows by the cast and it was an around the world trip to music and it was one of the better shows we have seen on Celebrity.   For this cruise, the production numbers by the cast were probably the best we have ever seen on one cruise.

We then sat in the lounge and listened to the band play and watched the dancer.

Then it was out typical, dinner at 9:00pm with Jeff and Vera and then on to the casino.

Barb broke even and Ed was up $20 so it was a fine day.  Let’s hope tomorrow we wake up to sunshine and great weather as it is our last day of the cruise.

GO CUBS!!

 

 

Ready to go out in the morning

Please buy my scarf - she didn't!!

We also didn't walk up to these shops

Aqua Spa for lunch

Europe – 2015 – Day 13

Here we are in Athens or rather the port of Piraeus which is about 10 miles from the center of Athens.  The weather is a beautiful 73 degrees and it was a clear day to start with and ended overcast but still a nice day.

Originally we were going to take the train into town but found a taxi driver who virtually had the same rate as the train so we took the taxi in to the old city where all the fun shops are.

We walked and shopped until 12:45pm when we met the same taxi driver who took us to the port town of Piraeus and a restaurant called Diasimos that Jeff and Vera had found a couple of years ago.  We met them at 1:15pm for lunch and what a feast we had.  Below you will find all of the courses the four of us had for lunch and wow, was a great.

We walked about 1 ½ miles back to the ship and got there just in time for our nap.

Tonight the show was a performance by a British vocalist and show pianist who was a pretty good singer and piano player.  She played a lot of Liberace versions of songs which was fun.

Tonight we and Jeff and Vera were guests of the casino host in the specialty restaurant called The Ocean Liner and had some great food.  Sorry I didn’t take the camera to show you.

Then of course we went to the casino where Ed won nicely and Barb hit for a really nice jackpot!! 

After finishing blackjack, we sat in the bar with the casino manager and talked for two hours.  We learned a lot about casino life and just basically had a good time with her.

Life is good – GO CUBS!

 

A Greek donut

A Greek Salad

Octopus

Calamari

Ed's Ocotpus - yes he ate it all!!

Grilled Sardines

Freash Sea Bass

Baked Calamari

We are full!!

 

Europe - 2015 - Day 12

 

We woke up on our second sea day with the news that the Cubs lost to the Mets again – say it isn’t so!!

Anyway, we spent until 1:00pm on the deck in beautiful sun and then ate with Jeff & Vera in the Aqua Spa lunch area.

Then we went to the slot tournament where Barb had been given a free entry by our Casino Host – but she lost.  Then we ran up to the deck to sit in the sun for another 30 minutes when we went back to the casino for Ed to play in the Blackjack Tournament and he did not qualify for the finals.

Barb then played slots and Ed played blackjack and we both won.

By then it was time for some snacks and a nap.

 

After our nap, we dressed for the 2^nd formal night and went to the show before dinner. 

The show was a comedian who also did magic and it was very good.

For dinner, Jeff and Vera were invited to the Captain’s table so we invited a couple from London who we had met earlier to join us.  They were very nice and it was an enjoyable evening.

Then it was time for the casino where Barb lost a little and Ed had his best winning night on the cruise.

I am very blessed to be married to Barb and when you look at the two formal night photographs you will see how awesome Barb has looked on this cruise.  Kids, you are also very blessed to have a mother like her!!

Tomorrow we arrive in Athens, Greece and our plans are to walk to the train station, go to the old city and shop and then come back to the port and have a late lunch with Jeff and Vera.

 

GO CUBS!!

 

Tonight

 


Last week



Ready for the slot tournament



Snacks that they deliver each day