Europe – Day 11

 We are now in Ibiza, an island of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea.

The ship docked at 11:00am and we left with out butler leading the way at about 11:30am.

The only way to get to the town was by a shuttle bus as the ship docked at an industrial port.

The line for the shuttle bus was huge, but we walked right to the front of the line.

After about a 15-minute shuttle bus ride, we arrived in the city of Ibiza Town.  The town is well known for its nightlife and electronic dance music clubs and we are staying in port until 11:00pm.  Most of the clubs open at10:00am and go until the morning. 

The largest club, which is 6 miles from the city holds 15,000 people with 6 stories of music and it cost $60 per person to get it!!

We did not go there.

The castle for the island sits on top of a very large hill and we walked the streets up until we were almost at the top. There were lots and lots of very short street winding up to the top and we walked 13,000 steps by the time we were back to the shuttle bus.

We got back late in the afternoon and had snacks by the pool and then came in and got ready for the show, dinner, and the casino.

Almost every night there is a different theme night and tonight it is tropical night.

At the casino, Ed had a great run and Barb p;ayed for the first time and lost a little.

                                                           Sunrise

                                                The fort at the top of the Old City

                                                Getting ready to go out for the day

                                                The entrance to the Old City

                                                We are at the highest point

                                            Having a small lunch

                                            And now Gellato

                                                Our ship - the MSC Seashore

                                                    Inside a church on the island

                                             A typical street and there were lots of them.

                                                    A tourist street

                                        We walked up to the top - a long winding walk

                                 Stairs from the lounge to the dining room - they sparkel

                                               Dinner - Lobster stuffed ravioli, Sea Bass 

                                                  and Medillions of Pork - a great dinner.

Europe – Day 10

 Today is a sea day and after 9 days, it was wonderful to just relax and take a break from all the places we had already visited.

Ed got up at 7am as always to go up the top deck to get lounge chairs.  To his surprise, there were no other guest there.  On most, if not all cruises we have been on by 7:30 all the good lounges were taken.  Today, it wasn’t until 9 when people started showing up.

Breakfast was ready which was great and we had the perfect position for our chairs – up front and away from the pool.

After lunch, with the sun getting very hot, we decided to walk around the regular decks and wow, were they crowded.  No way we are ever going to sail with this this without upgrading to the Yacht Club.  It seemed like all 5,000 people were all in the same space.  I will attach a video of the main pool deck.  People younger than us would probably enjoy all the action.  Think a large Carnival ship on steroids!!

One thing that they did have was 3 floors of shops so it was time to go see all the shops.

Then it was back to our pool deck for the rest of the afternoon before we came in and cleaned up and went to dinner.

This was elegant night so we dressed up a bit.

Barb had Lobster for dinner and Ed had a filet and then it was onto the casino where Ed won a little and Barb did not play.

It was a long session at blackjack and it is now 2:00am. 

The good news is that tomorrow we dock at Ibiza, Spain at 11:00 so we can sleep in some.

There are not many pictures as we didn't do much.

Night

                                                        On the pool deck for the day

                                                        Going out for the evening

Videos to come

Europe - Day 9

We slept in as it was another late night in the casino and did it feel good.  The bed is wonderful.

We are in Palmero, the capital of Sicily. 

We went to the Palace where they were having an exhibition of the ruling General who was killed by the Mafia in 1982.

The Palace was built 13 centuries ago.

We also visited the largest church, and it was very beautiful and very, very large.

The first thing that we did was walk up to the 2^nd largest opera house in Europe and took a tour of it.

In between these 3 laces we visited we walked some very interesting streets and just enjoyed the old part of Palmero.

We go back on the ship at 4pm and went up the Yacht Club pool deck and ate some declivous snacks.

Another 14,000 steps during the day.

The entertainment tonight was a tribute to America, songs and routings that were very American and it was very good, probably the best of the cruise.

Then we went to the dining room and had the best meal of the cruise.   The dining rooms is probably our only disappointment in that they are not set up to take a couple like ourselves and sit them with another English-speaking couple.  So, we have had good meals with ourselves as company and that’s not all bad either.

After dinner we went to the casino where Ed lost a tiny bit and Barb did not play.

This ship is amazing as it holds 5,100 passengers; however, our ship within a ship makes the experience seem like a very small ship.  There are 300 people in the Yacht Club and everything and everyone is made to feel special.

We have priority in getting off the ship and also back on we are able to bypass long lines.

Our cabin is not as big as the suite we hade a year ago in July in Alaska on Celebrity, but it is very large.  The bathroom is the biggest we have every had with a great big shower.

The casino staff has been wonderful now that we have gotten to know them – so that is good.

The internet is the best of all or our cruises so that is great.

Then show venue is smaller than any Celebrity ship and because they perform the same show 3 times a night, the venue is just perfect for us.

This is a 2-year-old ship and it is in great condition and absolutely no visible signs of wear.

All-in all it is a wonderful ship and we are very happy with it.

Don’t know if we will be able to sail with this class again on this ship, but we are hopeful.

                                                              Time to go out 

                                                        Our ship - the MSC Seashore

                                                                Stopping for a snack

                                                    The original model for the Opera House

    

                                                    Inside seats 1,000 people

    

                                                The largest church in Sicily

                                               Just a portion of the Palace

                                                            Going out for the evening

Hope to load videos soon

                                                      

Europe – Day 8

 Our first port is Rome today and because we have a limited amount of time and we are going to be back for a couple of days, our day in Rome was spent visiting the Vatican.

We took an hour train to the nearest Rome train station to the Vatican and walked about 20 minutes before getting there.

As it was Sunday, there were huge crowds, the largest we have ever seen.  We joined a long line but it moved fast and in about 10 minutes we were inside. 

We walked around a bit and joined hundreds who were there to celebrate at one of the serval masses being held that day.

It was a moving experience

As we walked outside, there were hundreds and hundreds of people watching the window that the Pope would appear at Noon.  We stood in the crowd and saw and heard the Pope give a message to the crowds.

Then it was time to start back to the train station and along the way we stopped at a restaurant to have a pizza and it was very good.

The train back took about an hour and then we took the shuttle to the ship getting there at about 4:00pm.

Of course we went up to the top deck where they had an afternoon food set out.

Finally we made it back to the cabin and got ready to go out for the evening.

Tonight show was a show called Gravity and it was all balancing and acrobatic skills acts and it was entertaining.

Then we went to dinner and had Barb had Italian and Ed had fish.

Finally we went to the casino where Ed lost for the second day in a row and Barb did not play yet.

                                                               Mass at the Vatican

                                                        The Pope on one of the big screens

                                                        The Pope at his window

                                                                  Lunch

                                                              More lunch

The Pope speking to the crowd on Sunday at Noon

                                                It was white night on the MSC Seashore

Europe – Day 7

 The owner of the hotel called us a cab, took our luggage to the cab and we were off for the next part of our journey – the cruise.

Genoa is now one of our favorite cities and we hope to come back and stay here again.

Boarding the MSC Seashore was very easy as we were met at the dock by a representative who took us directly to the Yacht Club check in area.

There a butler took us up to our cabin.

It is a very nice cabin with lots of closets and a huge bathroom.

After lunch, it took us 3 hours to walk all the areas of the ship.

By then it was time to watch the ship sail away and we after that we got ready to go to the show.

The showroom is smaller then on other ships we have been on; however, the show plays 3 times each night.  Tonight was a song and dance show and it was pretty good.

Then we went to dinner and have a fine meal followed by a session in the casino.

Barb didn’t plan and Ed played for a long time; however, didn’t come out ahead.

It is now 1:30am and we have to get off the ship at 8:00am to make the train to Rome.

Night from our first day of the cruise.

Leaving the apartment

                                                    The butler taking us to our cabin

                                                    The center of the ship

                                                        Now this is service!!

                                                        Getting ready to go out for the evening

Europe – Day 6

Our last day of two in Genoa and today was a full day of seeing sights, eating, and just walking a lot.

The last 5 days we have average 14,000+ steps a day.

We got up at about 9, had a wonderful breakfast that was waiting at our door when we opened it.

This place is amazing.

We took a taxi up to the center of the Old City and got on a Hop-On Hop-Off bus.  There are two routes to the bus both an hour long.

On the first route, we did the entire route and then back to a stop where there way a lift to a high part of the city and it was a beautiful view and also a great gelato stand!!

Then we walked to the center and on the way found a women’s shop where Barb bought 3 neat jackets or light weight coats.

Since we planned to walk a lot, we took a taxi back to the apartment to drop off her purchases.

Then it was back to the city center for the other bus and imply walked around.

In the Old City with all of the winding streets the jaw-dropping part is all of the homes that were built in the 13^th to the 17^th century and they are still in use today!  Some of them are in the same ownership and others have been converted into city buildings and also apartments.  It is just amazing to walk around and see all of these building.

Tomorrow we board the MSC Seashore and we are sooo excited to cruise on this ship.  It is Italian and holds a lot of people, 5,000+ but we were fortuniate to upgreaded to their Yacht Club a very private ship within a ship with a suite.  There would be about 2,500 passenger cabins and 110 Yacht Club cabins, so this will be quite an experience.

Night from Genoa – Tomorrow the ship!!

                                         Our fantastic apartment at Maison D' Or, Genoa, Italy

                                           A typical street corner in the Old City of Genoa, Italy

                                                 Breakfast deliverd to our door in the morning

                                                    Ready to  go for the day and night

                                                            A quick lunch

                                  private yellow house on the right get into a chaffeured car!!

                                            Just a little snack in the middle of the day

                                                These were single family homes

                                                       Barb with a new coat

                                                   Dinner - fish on the left and capacio on the right

                                                                Where we ate dinner

                                                           Tasting wonderful!

                                                            One of many churches we visited

                                                A single family home 

                                      Another famous palace and the smaller building were or are

                                      single family homes!!

                                            These are or where family homes - jaw-dropping

 

Europe – Day 5

We first had breakfast at the hotel.  They  surprised us with a Happy Birthday display on a tabel all waiting for us when we arrived.  Nice touch and it was a wonderful hotel.

From our hotel in Zermatt, they took us by their little electric vehicle to the train station where we boarded the 8:15am train to Milian.

When we got to Milian we had 7 minutes to change trains to go to Genoa.

It was not easy but we make it.

After 2 hours we arrived in Genoa and took a taxi to our apartment, yes, our apartment.

We were met outside the building by the Manager who took us inside and rather than take the lift, we walked up to the next floor to the apartment.

Ed had surprised Barb with an apartment and it was beyond our expectations!

It has a livening room, a kitchen, a huge bathroom and then a separate large bedroom.

I will post the video of the room but not sure it will show how amazing the apartment is.

We then walked to the Old City where we were met with our guide for the next 2 hours.  He was driving a bicycle with a seat on the back for us.  Kind of like a bicycle rickshaw!

The Old City is amazing with buildings dating back many centuries.   From the days of wars with other countries, they built the city with very narrow, winding streets.  There were like our alleys covering a huge area.  The reason that they built the city that way was to divide and conquer countries that were trying to invade them.  The size of the Old City is .4 of a mile, with an amazing number of little streets, like our alley, filled with small restaurants, food stores and just normal places for the people who live there.

Most notably, the city's elaborate collection of over 150 palaces is a sight to see. Forty-two of these palaces became UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2006, and although most are privately owned, several of the glorious edifices are open to the public year-round.

Our driver gave us the name of a restaurant that we went to after it opened at 7:30pm.

It was the best meal we have had so far.   We started out with Anchovies and finished with a wonderful pasta dish.

It was a very small place with, of course, seating outside.    We had a wonderful meal and then wandered the street for a couple of hours.

When we got back to the room, they had left a small birthday cake which was delicious.

Tomorrow will be fun exploring Genoa.

Night from Genoa

                                                        Breakfast at the hotel in Zermatt

                                                Ed's Happy Birthday table at breakfast

                                                    Taking us to the train station

                                                    Our host at the hotel

                                                    The center point of the Old Town

                                                Our guide for a two hour tour

                                                  Inside a beautiful church

                                            This was someones home!!!

                                        It's 6:000pm - Beans and Grapes from the market

                                                             Dinner

                                            Ed's birthday cake left in the apartment