Carnival Mardi Gras - October 26, 2024

 

Mardi Gras Cruise Review - October 26, 2024 

 

Just The Facts:
Ship:  Mardi Gras, first of Carnivals Excel class @182,000 gross tons. 5282+ capacity.

Captain: Allesandro Iemmi - 
Ports: Port Canaveral, FL  - Grand Turk, BWI - Amber Cove, DR - Nassau, Bahamas 

 

This is my 9th cruise on the Mardi Gras, my 114th Carnival cruise, and my 216th cruise overall.  I am sailing as a solo guest.

 

Day One -- Saturday --  October 26th, 2024 -- Port Canaveral Embarkation

I left the Florida Villa at  8:45 a.m. to drive to Port Canaveral. I arrived at Park-N-Cruise just after 11:00 am. A very efficient parking company I have used for years and soon I was on my way to the port terminal. I arrived at the pier at about 11:30 and went through port security and checked in fairly quickly. They had priority lines for VIFP guests. I was able to drop my roll-on bag in the cabin by noon. I have a balcony cabin on deck 15 aft of the aft elevator/stairwell. It is very comfortable, especially for a solo. I went up one deck to the Lido and had lunch from Big Chicken.  I had a good MDE (regular chicken sandwich with Pickles & Shaq sauce)  and some Chicken Tenders with Dipping sauce.  It was a very good lunch.  I was able to watch my Sooners playing in Oxford MS and gave highly rated Ole Miss a scare.  After finishing my meal and during half-time I went to my Muster Station 7F to check in and then to my cabin to watch the rest of the football game.  The cabin has a queen bed, a large Sofa (bed), double Wardrobes, a Large screen Television, a Counter & Mirror with a heavy Ottoman Seat, a Small refrigerator, Shelving and drawers, and a small but adequate bathroom with a glass door shower. I ordered the premium WiFi package and the reception was very good.  I was unpacked and fully set up by the time the game finished. Great weather today so I left the balcony open and it was exciting as the Carnival Freedom sailed past us on her way out of port at about 4:00 pm.  I wanted to eat early so I could watch the World Series game two tonight so at about 6:30 I went to Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse. (stock photo-I left my iPhone in cabin) I ordered the Pulled Pork, Brisket, and the premium St. Louis Ribs ($10+ for half rack).  I ordered two sides but they brought all four: Macaroni & Cheese, Onion Straws, French Fries, and Baked Beans.  More than I could eat and the Banana Pie for dessert was also very good as well.   I then retired to my cabin to watch the Yankees vs. Dodgers on my laptop.  One advantage of being an experienced cruiser is that you don’t have to do any ship activities if that’s your choice. I soon fell asleep to the rocking of the ship.

Day Two -- Sunday --  October 27th, 2024 -- Fun Day at Sea

Slightly rocky seas overnight and I slept very well in my balcony cabin. I woke very early, reviewed scores of late NCAA football games, and updated this blog before falling back to sleep.  I had cabin time before going to the Flamingo MDR for the noon Diamond Luncheon.  I had a five-top table with two couples who were fun people.  My cocktail server was busy serving me several Cosmopolitan Cocktails.  I ordered the Prosciutto Crudo appetizer, the Filet Mignon entree, and the Cantaloupe Panna Cotta for dessert.  It was a great meal.  Afterward, I went to the Summer Landing on deck 8 to watch NFL football.  Various areas had various games on big-screen TVs.  I found the Tampa vs. Atlanta game in the cushy seating area.  I was able to get a spot and enjoyed the game.  A different experience with a live crowd.  I enjoyed several Pilsner Urquells as well.  After the game, I went by the Photo Gallery to pick up my Diamond gift, a blue VIFP Beanball style hat, and another Mardi Gras pin.  I did run into Ed Patterson in an elevator, many VIFPs know him as he’s always sailing and a nice fellow.  I won't be the most frequent guest on this cruise as I was on my previous Mardi Gras cruise.  It was back to the cabin for a nap.  I was hearing an unusual noise outside, and I finally figured out that it was The Bolt roller coaster (photo) going by above my balcony.  At about 7:30, I went up one deck to the Lido Buffet for a light meal before the start of the SNF game.  I admit I fell asleep before the ending and the Cowboys lost anyway.  It was a very entertaining day on the Mardi Gras.

Day Three -- Monday — October 28th, 2024 — Grand Turk, British Overseas Territories

Smooth seas overnight and I slept well. It’s a damp morning so guests are slow to debark for the beaches.  At about 8:30 am I went went up to Lido deck and my favorite breakfast on a Carnival ship: The Blue Iguana. I had one Tortilla with two fried eggs, I added Cheese, Pico de gallo, and Salsa. I also had an Arepa and Watermelon on the side. It was fantastic. I did a walkabout on Lido before returning to the cabin.  As the weather improved I had Balcony Time.  I did a little walkabout before going to Guy’s Burgers on deck 17 at about 12:30 pm.  My first Hamburger since Poland, I just don’t eat as many in Florida as when in Texas.  The Guy’s burgers were good and it was busy.  I think guests came back on board to eat or are eating before they debark…I don’t blame them, I find the pricing here dear.  The sun is out and we can see the beautiful blue water around the island.

MSC Seashore Cruise Review - September 1, 2024

MSC Seashore Cruise Review  -  September 1, 2024

Just the Facts:
Ship: MSC Seashore
Captain: Pietro Maresca (Italy)  Cruise Director: Nathaniel James Khan (England)
Ports: Port Canaveral, USA - Ocean Cay, Bahamas (overnight) - Cozumel, Mexico - Costa Maya, Mexico

I’m cruising as a solo on this 7-day cruise. This is my 3rd cruise on the Seashore, my 22nd cruise on MSC, and my 215th cruise overall.  I do have Diamond status, the highest of the MSC Loyalty Club levels.

Sunday, September 1st / Port Canaveral / Embarkation / Day 1 

I have an assigned 3:00-3:30 pm Boarding time so planned accordingly and left the Florida Villa at about 11:45 am for the drive to Port Canaveral. I arrived at Park-N-Cruise at about 2:00 pm., closing time and was the last person on the last bus.  I did not realize that they closed that early, but a very efficient parking company that I have used for years. I was immediately on my way to the port terminal. I arrived at Pier number 10 at about 2:15 grabbed my bag and went up one level to port security and through quickly. All card lines were open without a line and I went directly to a check-in counter. Very smooth process when arriving later and I was able to go straight to my cabin arriving on Deck 10 at 2:35 p.m. I have a balcony cabin located almost all the way aft, actually near the aft Panoramic Lifts. It is very comfortable, especially for a solo. The cabin has a Queen bed, Wardrobe, Large screen Television, a Counter/dressing table with mirror, a small stocked Refrigerator, Shelving, and drawers inside the wardrobe, a Couch, and a small but adequate bathroom with a solid glass door shower.  At about 4:10 pm I went down to my Muster Station and checked in, thankfully you can check in casually and not as a mass hoard (MSC was last to update the streamlined system). I ordered the premium WiFi package and the reception in my cabin was good. They are strict about one device…and you can not change from a Laptop to an iPhone. We sailed away at about 5:00 pm and I watched from my balcony.  The Carnival Vista sailed just before we did. I have a 7:30 dinner assignment in the Tribeca Dining room (MDR), located on deck 6 aft it was a solo table with four guests this evening.  Dinner and service was good. For dinner, I ordered the Tomato Basil Soup, two very nice Shrimp Cocktails, and the Roast Beef entree with horseradish. For dessert a wonderful Crema Catalonia. After dinner, I had reservations for the 9:30 Production Show: Journey.  Unusual to have one on the first night.  It was good with a theme of travelers from Ireland across Europe by train,  Music and Dance from Ireland, France, Spain (photo), and Italy.  Memorable was Danny Boy, the French Can Can dancing, theme from the Godfather, and Conte Parte.  After a walkabout back towards the cabin I then watched the end of the USC/LSU football game, LSU let us down (I’m now an SEC fan now that my Sooners are in the SEC). It was an easy embarkation day.

Monday, September 2nd / Ocean Cay Marine Reserve / Day 2

Rolling seas overnight with enough movement for a very enjoyable night's sleep. The bed is very comfortable with good pillows: one soft and one firm. We were docked at about 7:00 am and it was a beautiful day. They have begun construction of the second pier, another building, and another beach area all easily visible from the ship. I went to Deck 5 Central Park MDR for breakfast at about 8:45 am and had a shared table. I ordered a Fruit Plate, Danish, Eggs Benedict with a side of Bacon, and hash brown potatoes. I was served Hot Milk which is not always easy to get on other cruise lines but very common on MSC. No usual Monday morning business activities as today is Labor Day so I enjoyed cabin and balcony time. At about 3:00 pm I went up to deck 16 to eat: Pizza (photo) and a very nice Salad with Roast Beef, also Bread Pudding for dessert. MSC is well known for their great Pizza.  I’m not going to get off the ship today so I walked about the upper deck to get a better view of the island. The water here is beautiful and the Palm trees look better with every visit. This stop will only improve over time.  I watched two old 40s-era gangster movies on TCM this afternoon. At 7:30 pm I went to the MDR for dinner, three at the solo table this evening.  I ordered: an Italian Wedding Soup, a Shrimp Cocktail, the Broiled Swordfish entree, and Appel Strudel with Vanilla Sauce and Ice creme for dessert.  Service was good and fast this evening.  Only a short walkabout for me before returning to the cabin.  I watched the 2nd half of the NCAA football game, then the abbreviated Light Show on the island…I assume because of construction.  It was a very relaxing day on the Seashore.

Tuesday, September 3rd / Ocean Cay Marine Reserve  / Day 3 

We were docked overnight and I slept well although I woke early. I had a casual morning updating this blog and doing some online work on this first business day of September. I had a TCM Alan Ladd Movie Day watching three westerns. I had a break at about noon when I went up to the Lido Buffet on Deck 16. The aft Panorama Elevators are perfect for getting from deck 10 to 16. We sailed away from Ocean Cay at about 3:15 pm into some cloudy weather. This is the Captain's Night so several functions in the early evening. I went to the Dining room for the Gala Dinner, I ordered: Eggplant Parmigiana, Shrimp Cocktail, the Filet Mignon entree, and Baked Alaska for dessert. It was a very nice dinner again with great service. I went to the Production show: Encore (photo), which featured songs from Broadway Shows, including Chicago, Hairspray, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and more. Very entertaining, the photo is of the female lead singer, she was excellent. I returned to the cabin and set out my room service order before retiring. It was an interesting day on the MSC Seashore.

 

Wednesday, September 4th / Day at Sea / Day 4 

Smooth seas overnight and I slept very well. At about 8:00 am. my Room Service was delivered, I ordered Hot Milk, Danish, Fruit Plate, & Special K cereal.  Very convenient.  At 10:00 am I went to the Brooklyn Cafe Lounge for the Diamond  Guest Reception. I had to call Guest Services to get the info as I was issued a blue card and not a black card that I had corrected after the party.  I like this location better than the previous Cabaret location. I was served an Aperol Spritzer straight away, then two Hugo Spritzers, so the party was on.  They had a piano player and a Tango Dance routine by a couple from Argentina as entertainment.  The Cruise Director introduced the Senior Officers as well as the Captain of the Ship (photo).  As the event was finishing they forced the pre-prepared cocktails on those guests that remained so I helped them out by having a couple more of Aperol Spritzers. The party continued. I then went to Guest Services and picked up my correct Black Card then back to my cabin…very soon they were knocking on my door with a bottle of Prosecco, a Chocolate Ship sweet, and Petit Fours.  So the party continued.  At 12:30 pm I went to the Butcher's Cut Steak House (with a glass of Prosecco) for lunch.  The manager seated me so I was able to get my usual request approved straight away…I order two appetizers and no dessert.  I had the Burrata & Beets, Shrimp Cocktail, and a Filet Mignon entree.  This was a real filet, not the shoulder-cut beef they passed off in the MDR last night, and perfectly prepared—a great lunch.  I then soon retired to the cabin for a wee nap.  In the late afternoon, I did some online business and booked an excursion for tomorrow in Costa Maya.  I did go to dinner in the MDR  it was Caribbean Night, but I didn’t care for my appetizers or the meatloaf entree.  The Key Lime Pie was good though.  I had reservations for the Divas Show in the theater but passed and retired early and enjoyed a Coca-Cola and Western movie on TCM.  It was a good sea day on the MSC Seashore.

 

Thursday, September 5th / Costa Maya, Mexico / Day 5

Calm seas overnight and I slept very well. We arrived several hours early by 7:00 am and only two ships today: Ourselves and the Harmony of the Seas. I again had a nice room service breakfast then at about 9:10 am and left the ship and walked down the long pier to meet my excursion. I’m doing the Bacalar 7 Colors Lagoon tour today. We took a very nice bus on an 80-minute drive to Columpio Rancho Encantado on the Balacar Lagoon. We relaxed around the pool as we waited for our Pontoon Boats. They had my favorite Mexican Beer so I enjoyed a couple of Bohemia Cervezas. We were soon loaded on the Pontoon, perfect for the shallow water sites we will visit. We sailed by Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar (the fort) and then visited Cenote Negro before anchoring in the shallows to allow for swimming. We sailed by Cenote Azul and Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island) before stopping at the second swimming location. We then returned to the Restaurant/Resort for a nice Mexican Buffet lunch. It was over two hours on the fresh water lagoon overall (photo). The bus passed through rain as we were returning to Costa Maya. When we arrived it was clear but there were very few guests…they all had returned to the ship when it rained so it was very easy to get through the usual gauntlet of vendors. I was back in the cabin by 4:45 pm. I planned to relax and skip dinner but the menu appealed to me so I went to dinner at 7:30. I ordered: Escargot, Beetroot Salad, Shrimp Cocktail, the Steak Diane entree, and the Tapioca with Mango dessert. A large number of guests were dressed in white for tonight's White Night party.  I returned to the cabin to watch the NFL Kickoff game between the Chiefs and Chargers.  It was great excursion day.

 Friday,  September 6th   /  Cozumel  /  Day 6

Smooth seas overnight and a good night's sleep. I woke at about 7:30 a.m. and we had been docked at Puerto Langosta for a while. At 8:45 I went down to the MDR for breakfast before they closed at 9:00 am.  I ordered three fried eggs with Toast, Ham, Bacon, Grilled Tomato, and Scalloped Potatoes.  Also Tomato Juice, Hot Milk, and Water.  It was a good and hearty breakfast.  After I walked down to Deck 4 and the gangway and was off and walking into town, I like docking at this pier, so much easier for the things I usually do when in Cozumel. My first stop was at the San Miguel Archangel Church, the second at Antonio’s Barber Shop for a haircut just as he opened at 10:00 a.m. Another good haircut too. The third stop is at my Cozumel HQ: Woody’s Bar & Grill. I had table 7 with a nearby fan, electrical plug, and view of the Ship. The good WiFi, Live Entertainment by Michael, great Mexican Coca-Cola, fair (not made to order) Guacamole, a Chimichanga, and Bohemia beer were all nice on this luckily breezy day. The day seemed a bit off though, not many tourists, and the time change. I casually began walking back to the ship earlier than usual. I did stop at the Thirsty Cougar on the Malecon as a break on my walk (photo). I made it back on board before 2:00 pm and refreshed and relaxed until sailing away at about 5:00 PM.  The seas are rolling more than any other time this cruise evening.  Nice ride.  This is one of those days that I’m glad I have a 7:30 dinner time. Dinner was very good, I ordered: Stuffed Mushrooms, Shrimp cocktail, the Penne all Amatriciana Pasta entree, and Coconut Cake for dessert. After dinner I retired to the cabin to watch television, overall another great port day in Cozumel.

 

Saturday, September 7th / Day at Sea / Day 7

There were some rolling seas overnight, just enough rocking for a good sleep. I had a relaxing morning then went up to the Buffet for the first time at about 10:30 am for breakfast. I had Eggs, French Toast, Ham, and Bacon with milk and sat on the bump out with a view aft. Beautiful weather today and I did a short walkabout (photo) before cabin/balcony time. Today is NCAA SEC College Football Day for me.  I had the cabin set with snacks and began with the noon game between Texas and Michigan.  Then the 3:30 kickoffs.  At about 4:30 I went to Hola! Tacos & Cantina, the Tex-Mex restaurant on deck 8, and the All-you-can-Eat menu ($17.99). I ordered almost everything on the menu.  I ordered: the Signature Guacamole (2), Pico de Gallo (2), Queso Fundido, Tamales (2), Chicken Enchilada (2), Pork Enchilada (2), Chili Con Carne, and the best items on the menu…the Street-Style Soft Tortillas.  My favorites were Al Pastor (2) and Carne Asada (2).  In retrospect, I would do more soft tacos and less entree enchiladas.  A lot to eat.  This was my third visit in three cruises and the best restaurant on the ship in my humble opinion.  My big game, Oklahoma vs. Houston had a 7:45 kickoff.  The WiFi was streamlining well and I could get both the SEC Network as well as the Oklahoma radio broadcast.  The game was much closer than anyone expected and Oklahoma was lucky to pull out a victory.  It was a long but fun football day with excellent food. 

Sunday, November 8th / Port Canaveral / Debarkation
Fair seas overnight and I slept well. We arrived on time and were docked just after 6:00 am. I finished packing and waited until I actually saw guests on the gangway at about 7:00 a.m. and luckily got an elevator and joined the line. Thanks to facial recognition we were soon on the street. I was on the parking shuttle bus before 7:30 and on the road by 7:45 a.m. Went through the carwash in Lakeland, stopped for groceries, and was home at about 10:15 a.m. Easy Peasy.

Ship
Maiden Voyage: 2017 I Gross Tonnage: 153,500 tons
Passenger Capacity: 5179 | Crew: 1413 I Length: 323 meters/1060 ft
Max Cruising Speed: 22 knots I Avg Speed 21 knots
Installed power: Diesel (40,000kW) I Propulsion: Twin propellers
17 passenger decks Builder: Fincantieri
Godmother: Sophia Loren

Cabin
I had cabin 10276 a starboard side balcony located on deck far aft with a long walk to the main aft elevators, but close to the aft Panoramic elevators . Storage is fine if solo. The toilet seems smaller perhaps because the glass shower doors restrict movement. The cabin has a push-button safe, twin/king beds, a large padded headboard, two small nightstands, wall-mounted wall lights, a large mirror, a small stocked refrigerator, a small table/bench (unusual), and a nice TV with interactive features. My cabin steward was very good.

Dining / Food
The dinners in the MDR are very good, and the service and settings were wonderful. I love the tablecloths. Our wait staff were excellent, very pleased with the service. The buffet food was good to very good. Not as many selections as in the past, but the food variety was fine. Favorites: all the Pizza, all the Pasta, Guacamole, Hamburgers, and Salad Bar. I only did one premium specialty restaurant: The Butcher’s Cut for lunch and it was very good.

Comments - MSC Cruise Line
MSC is very different than the usual American cruise lines and if you're looking for the same experience it will be much different. You may like the differences or you may be very unhappy with the differences. As an experienced cruiser, I love different. If you don’t like change or are not flexible you will probably NOT like sailing a European cruise line. Following are my observations on sailing MSC: 

MSC Pluses
Beautiful Public Rooms, Good MSC Production Shows and entertainment, Quality and Beautiful Themed Bars, Nice Cabins, Hot Milk readily available on buffet and MDR, Attentive bar servers, and Good MDR Breakfasts.  Tablecloths.

Changes since Covid
Announcements are now only in English
Fewer children since they changed the ‘Children sail free’ promotion.
Many more American guests result in more: Scooters, Wheelchairs, and complainers.

Highlights of the Cruise
Balacar Excursion in Costa Maya
Hola! Tacos and Cantina
Port Day in Cozumel
Production Shows
Butcher’s Cut Steak House

Celebrity Constellation Adriatic Cruise - July 26, 2024

 

                                       Celebrity Constellation Adriatic Cruise - July 26, 2024

Just the Facts:

Ship: Celebrity Constellation- 2002 - Weight: 90,940 tons - Capacity: 2,170 passengers 

Captain: Christos Trifyllis (Greece), Hotel Director: Cameron Robertson (Scotland),  Cruise Director: Ernest Marchain (USA)

Ports: Ravenna Italy - Trieste, Italy - Dubrovnik, Croatia - Zadar, Crotia - Split, Croatia - Kotor, Montenegro - Salerno, Italy - Civitaveccia, Italy

 
The DW and I are cruising on this 10-day cruise sailing from Ravenna Italy. This is my 2nd cruise on the Celebrity Constellation (Connie), My 4th cruise on Celebrity, and my 214th cruise overall.  They do honor my D+ status from Royal Caribbean as an Elite+ on this sailing.  We just completed 12 days in Europe which is reviewed in the previous blog submission (back one).

Day One  -  Friday, July 26th, 2024 -- Embarkation - Ravenna Italy 

We woke at about 7:00 am in the City of Ravenna and enjoyed a nice breakfast in our hotel restaurant. It was then just a short wait for our 9:45 Shuttle (€15pp).  We were at the  Cruise Terminal at about 10:15 am and dropped luggage, went through  Security, and checked in by 10:30 am. Then just a half hour wait before boarding the ship at about 11:00 am.  It was a very easy process all morning.  We dropped our carry-on bags in the cabin on Deck 9, picked up our  Cabin Cards, and then went up to Deck 10 and the Sunset Bar.  We had some Diet Coca-Cola and complementary Procescco when a bartender remembered me from my previous cruise on the Connie.  We sat facing aft enjoying the Sea Breeze ... we then both ate Salad & Pizza from the Oceanview Cafe (Lido Buffet).  They had Bread Pudding in the desert area, it was good.  We did our Muster Station at about 1:00 pm then went to the cabin when they officially opened.  We have a nice extended  Balcony Cabin near the aft elevators that makes it easy to access both the Sunset Bar and the Oceanview Cafe.  The cabin was nice and cool with adequate storage for two people.  We began set up and were pleased to see our luggage delivered between 2:00-3:00 pm. All is well for our vacation from our vacation.  We relaxed all afternoon and watched the 5:00 pm sail away from our balcony.  At about 6:30 we went up to the Oceanview Cafe for dinner.  DW got an assortment of Hummus and some fresh Vegetables.  I had a nice mixed vegetable Stir-fry plate with Beef & Chicken.  I also sampled the Lamb with Mint Jelly and the Tilapia.  The Dessert Station was decorated with a Cake (photo) and the Flan was good as was a bowl of Ice Creme.  Everything was quite good.  We did a short walkabout and retired early for Cabin Time.  This has been the easiest day of our trip to date.

 

Saturday, July 24, 2024  /  Trieste, Italy 

Smooth seas overnight and I slept very well in our cool room.  We were docked when I woke and we have no specific plans for this port as we were here recently on MSC.  I went up to the Lido for a freshly made omelet at about 9:00 am.  We went off the ship at about 10:30 am and walked to Piazza Unità d’Italia a huge square overlooking the sea, surrounded by grand buildings & cafes, with a landmark fountain (photo taken from balcony). We walked to other Piazzas did some shopping and stopped for a refreshing Coca-Cola. We returned to the ship just after noon to avoid the day's heat.  We had a nice buffet lunch upon return…it was Italian food day and we enjoyed cabin time the rest of the afternoon.  At 5:00 pm the Elite Guest “happy hour” began and we went to the Sunset Bar for complimentary drinks.  My favorite Celebrity bartender Made was there, it was good to see him again.  Of course, I enjoyed the special drink he made for me on my February cruise in my personal silicone beverage glass.  DW enjoyed Summer Sangrias.  We stayed the two hours plus enjoying: Cocktails, the sail away from Trieste, and the Jazz entertainment that started @ 7:30.  We had Pizza as snacks and then had dinner later while listening to music.  I had Kung Pao Chicken, Veges, and a small Salad. For dessert a selection of items including a nice Panna Cotta.  It was a great evening at the Sunset Bar as was seeing old & new friends.  

Day 3  -  Sunday, February 28, 2024  -  at Sea

Smooth seas overnight as we sailed south in the Adriatic Sea.  I slept well and late, going to the buffet at about 9:15 for breakfast.  It was busy I guess everyone slept in this morning.  We did our initial walkabout this morning, the DWs first time aboard…she loves the size of the ship. I do too.  At about 12:45 we went for lunch in the San Marco Dining Room (MDR).  I had a Cobb Salad, NY Strip Steak, and Apple Strudel.  This is our first time in the MDR and I doubt we visit much as DW prefers the Oceanview Cafe for better vegetarian choices.  The sea has become a beautiful blue and is very calm. This afternoon we watched two great movies: Six Minutes To Midnight and Fishermen’s Friends.  Since our cabin is so close to the Sunset Bar I would go up and get drinks and return for movie time.  Then at about 7:00 pm, we went up for final cocktails and then dinner in the Oceanview Cafe.  It wasn’t busy, there were almost more crew than guests tonight.  The feature singers sure looked sharp tonight sitting nearby.  DW loved the Vegetarian choices and I had Nachos, concocted by myself with Chips, Beans, Melted Cheese, and Guacamole.  Then later I had a nice Beef Bourguignon and Salad.  For dessert, DW had Ice Creme and I had a selection of various goodies.  After dinner, we watched another movie: The Sapphires before retiring.  It was a restful movie day on the Celebrity Constellation. 

Day 4  -  Monday, February 29, 2024  -  Dubrovnik, Croatia

There were smooth seas overnight and I slept very well, I woke early and watched us sail into Dubrovnik at about 7:30 a.m.  I then went up to the Lido Deck for a nice breakfast consisting of an Omelet, Hash Browns, and Bacon.  At about 8:00 am we got off the ship and met our driver Josh for a Private Tour to the neighboring country of Bosnia-Hertzigovena.  Our first stop after crossing the border was Kravice Waterfalls, it’s certainly a popular place in the area, but I was not that impressed.  Too many people made it hard to enjoy.  It was very impressive in its way, it did remind me of Turner Falls in Oklahoma.  Our primary stop was at Mostar and the famous Stari Most or Mostar Bridge.  We had three hours scheduled to visit.  Our first stop was at Restaurant Šadrvan rated the top restaurant in town, it doesn’t have a Bridge view, but the food was amazing.  I ordered the Bosnian National Plate.  It was amazing, it had: Japrack, Dolma, Bosnian Cookies (all meat), Small Sausages, Cevap, Duvec, Boiled Potatoes, Rice, and Sour Creme.  It was a lot to eat and very good. I did my best we were there for an hour. The DW found a nice embroidered traditional-style top and a nice knickknack for the Granddaughter while shopping in the old town area.  We then went down to the riverbank for some photos of the historic old Bridge (photo).  The original Stari Most Bridge was commissioned by the Ottoman emperor Süleyman the Magnificent in 1557 and completed in 1566.  It was destroyed in the Bosnian War in November 1993. A project, overseen by UNESCO, was undertaken to rebuild the Stari Most using the same materials and techniques used in the original bridge. Reconstruction began in 2001 and was completed in 2004. The Stari Most and the historic center of Mostar were inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2005.  We returned to the ship at about 6:00 pm and made it in time for the Elite Happy Hour.  DW had Pizza and a Salad for dinner, I just had a snack after my big meal earlier.  We then retired to the cabin early.  It was a very unique excursion to Bosnia.

 

Day 5  -  Tuesday, February 30, 2024  -  Dubrovnik, Croatia

We were docked overnight in Dubrovnik and slept well.  I went to the Lido Deck for a nice breakfast and then at about 8:50 am we left the ship and took a Taxi to the walled Old Town. It is our third time to visit and we have walked the famous Walls so our goal was to tour the interiors of several Palaces today. We entered through the Pile Gate and were soon on the beautiful Placa marble main street. Not too crowded initially so we started ASAP at the smaller 16th-century Sponza Palace and visited the UNESCO-listed Dubrovnik State Archive with documents from as early as the 11th century. Also, there is the Memorial to the Fallen of the recent 1991 war. The next stop was the Baroque St. Blaise Church located across the street. The primary museum of Dubrovnik: the Rectors Palace was next. Built in the 15th century the large palace has served as many venues including Government, Resident, and Public. Great period history exhibits and displays can be seen here. The final stop was the impressive Cathedral. We also did a walkabout seeing the old Port area and several side streets with shops and restaurants. It was by this time very crowded and getting hot so we returned to the Pile Gate area and took a taxi back to the ship. We had a light lunch in the Ocean View on Lido Our cool cabin was welcoming so we watched some TV during the afternoon. In the late afternoon, the weather cooled off so it was balcony time for sail away and sailing by the Adriatic islands of Croatia. I enjoyed my Elite Guest happy hour drinks as usual and had a dinner of Pork Tenderloin and Roasted Potatoes before retiring to the cabin.  It was a good visit to Old Town Dubrovnik today.

Day 6  -  Wednesday, February 31, 2024  -  Zadar, Croatia

Smooth seas overnight and I slept well. We both went up to Lido Buffet for breakfast, they had Canadian bacon this morning…one of my favorites. We have a ship excursion today: Panoramas of Historic Dalmatia and we met in the Theater at 8:20 am. We began the tour with about an hour's drive to Šibenik and did an hour's walk through the old town area. The Church of St. Francis was most impressive. It is a Gothic building from the second half of the 14th century, inside is an organ from 1762. The church has interesting faces of people on the marble facade around the building. Šibenik is one of the oldest towns in Dalmatia and is worth a visit. We had a rest stop on our drive back to Zadar with complementary toilets, drinks, and pie. Once back in Zadar, we toured the modern waterfront along the Aegean Sea. One of the features is the Water Organ that allows the waves to play the organ pipes…very different. Most of the Old Town here did not survive WWII and the 1992 War. Two places did: the ruins of the Old Roman Forum and the Cathedral of St. Anastasia. One full Roman column did survive and has stood for over 2000 years…in later times it was the column of shame where people would be chained and mocked. The Cathedral dates to the early 12th Century before the Venetians conquered Zadar in 1202. It is difficult for me to comprehend a place with so much history. Zadar is the jump-off point for many of the many islands in the Agenian Sea and has many businesses and bars with a yachting theme.  It was a nice tour overall and they returned us to the Zadar port and the ship at about 2:30 pm.  Upon return, we went straight up to Deck 10 and the Lido Buffet for a light lunch. We then retired to our cool cabin for rest.  I enjoyed the Elite happy hours this evening as it was cooler with a sea breeze and we did our sail away from Zadar.  Thanks to my bartender Made too for preparing my special drink in my silicone drink holder.  It keeps the drink colder for longer.  I had Pizza before returning to the cabin where the DW had been watching movies. It was a good day learning about and seeing sights in Dalmatia today. 

Day 7  -  Thursday, August 1, 2024  -  Split, Croatia 

Smooth seas and I slept well as we arrived at Croatia’s second-largest city. Our goal for the day is to visit Diocletian's Palace on our own. at about 8:00 am I went to the San Marco restaurant for breakfast, only my second visit to the MDR. I ordered: Eggs Benedict, English Bacon, American Bacon, Hash Browns, Fruit Plate, Danish, and Hot Milk. It was delicious. At about 8:45 am we went ashore and did the 15-minute walk to Diocletian's Palace. It was built in the late third and early fourth century as Roman Emperor Diocletian’s retirement residence and is now a UNESCO heritage site, it represents one of the best-preserved examples of Roman architecture yet doesn’t feel like a museum. The city of Split has grown up around this ancient palace. It is somewhat similar to Dubrovnik’s Old Town. We took in the architecture and sat in a Cafe enjoying a soft drink. We visited an Outdoor Market and a few shops. It became busy with tourists and rising temperatures so we decided to walk back to the port. The port area is a busy place with ferries arriving and departing as well as the location of the train station and the Bus Station.  We were back in our cool cabin by noon. At about 1:00 pm we went to the Oceanview Cafe. They had Rib-Eye steaks at the grill so I had one cooked to order plus Potatoes, and a large Salad. Excellent. At about 5:00 pm I got my special Cocktail in my silicone glass and then the two of us went to the Martini Bar on deck 4 to get a Hugo Spritzer. I had never been there and quite a surprise…the Bar surface is ice. Perfect for my glass to keep the drink cool, but cocktails in Martini glasses not so much. Very different though. They were busy too, a popular spot during Elite happy hour. We returned to the Sunset Bar to enjoy the sail away from Split. The number of ferries sailing is amazing to see too. We ate dinner out on deck. DW had Pizza and I had an excellent Stir-fry of both Chicken & Beef with mixed Vegetables. We then retired after this busy day in port and on the Constellation.

 

Day 8  -  Friday, August 2, 2024  -  Kotor, Montenegro 

Smooth seas overnight and I slept well. I was awake by 5:00 am and we had already entered the beautiful Bay of Kotor…it was soon light enough to see some views early and will be better at sailing away this evening. We went down to Qzine on Deck 3, the exclusive Elite Breakfast location, at about 8:00 am for a light breakfast…we had Fruit Plates and Danish.  This morning Qzine is also the meeting location for Elite priority tenders.  We were soon off on our 18-minute tender boat ride to the dock in Kotor.  By 9:00 am we were entering the main Sea Gate into Old Town Kotor.  We wanted to visit some specific buildings, the first was the Maritime Museum in the Grgurina Palace (1732) and then St. Tryphon’s Cathedral (1166) (photo).  Both were very well done, the Palace was in the 18th-century style with the maritime exhibits displayed within…The Cathedral had great displays in the upper galleries.  The entire Old Town is very nicely restored and a very clean area.  Numerous shops and restaurants in every Plaza within the walls.  We took a Coca-Cola break then at about 11:30 am we walked the short distance to the pier and tendered back to the ship.  Just after the noon hour, we went up to the Seaview Cafe, DW had a nice prepared herself Guacamole Salad+.  I also arranged my lunch, I had two NY Strip steaks grilled to order, and placed Cheese between the steaks on a large fresh Croissant with Mayo & Tomato.  It was FANTASTIC.  Best cruise sandwich ever.  We had a relaxing Balcony Day for the rest of the afternoon.  At 5:00 pm I went to the Sunset Bar for my cocktail…it was busy as everyone wanted to watch our sail away.  It was a beautiful sail away that I watched from our balcony or at the Sunset Bar.  Sailing in Kotor Bay is an amazing cruise experience. Tonight was the popular White Party on Deck 10.  It was a great early day in Kotor and a relaxing afternoon on the Connie. 

Day 9  -  Saturday,  August 3rd, 2024  -  Sea Day 

Smooth seas overnight and I slept well. I went to the San Marco Dining Room for a very good breakfast: Danish, Fruit Plate, Eggs Benedict, English & American Bacon, Hash Browns, and Hot Milk.  We had a lazy morning planning our final port and debarkation day.  I did a walkabout and visited the large Reflection Lounge on Deck 11 forward.   They watched the Parade of Nations on Deck 10 Pool Deck, the Captain even spoke a bit.  At about 1:00 pm I went to the Grill on Lido Deck, the Steaks were too large for a sandwich so I had two as a Steak Dinner with Potatoes and a Salad.  They were excellent.  The food has been very good on the cruise.  I have gained back the weight I lost on the land adventure last week.  We watched the movie Amsterdam and had a relaxing afternoon.  At 5:00 pm I went to the Sunset Bar for my usual.  Italy has been on our starboard side all day and at about 6:00 pm we reached the bottom of the boot of Italy.  DW joined me on deck as we turned north to sail through the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the mainland (photo of Messina).  That was the highlight of the day.  At about 7:30 pm we took Pizza back to our cabin and ate on the balcony.  It was a relaxing day on the Celebrity Constellation.

 

Day 10  -  Sunday,  August 4th, 2024  -  Salerno, Italy

Smooth seas in the Mediterranean Sea overnight and I slept well. I went to the Lido Deck for a nice Omelette, Bacon, & Hash Browns and brought some Pastry and Walnuts back for the DW. At about 9:00 am we debarked the ship and walked into Salerno. Most Shops were not open yet, but we strolled admiring the beach and boulevard. We arrived at the Cathedral of Santa Maria degli Angeli, San Matteo and San Gregorio VII just as they opened at 9:30 am. It is a long name but an important Cathedral as it is the burial location of the Pope and Saint Matthew, the Apostle. In addition, the ornate circa 1084 church has a large bell tower, pipe organ & many mosaics, statues & relics. The below-ground Crypt is very ornate and different in that it is lighter in colors and decor with a positive vibe. Not dark and creepy at all as are many old Medieval Crypts. The Tomb of Saint Matthew was located in the center and was dominant and the Statuary above the Tomb was done by Michaelangelo (photo). This is the third Apostle Tomb I have visited the others being Peter & John. We then had a Coca-Cola break at the outdoor Cafe next door. Many shops were now opening for our casual return to the Cruise Pier. We were back on board the ship by noon. For lunch, we went up to the Ocean View Cafe on Lido and I had another custom Steak Sandwich. We watched Table 19 an interesting comedy movie about a wedding this afternoon. Sail away began before I got to the Sunset Bar but I really enjoyed the views of Salerno and later the Isle of Capri as we sailed around it at about 6:30 pm. I had a very good Stir-Fry plate for dinner tonight. Then it was time to pack and put out our luggage for pickup outside the cabin. A busy evening. Salerno and the Cathedral were great to visit on this our final Day on the Celebrity Constellation. 

 

Debarkation Day 11  -  Monday,  August 5th, 2024  -  Civitavecchia, Italy 

We placed our luggage out in the passageway before bed last night.  We have Tag 2 is a very early meet time for our Airport Shuttle.  We arrived early and were sent straight away to pick up our luggage even before self-debarkation began.  We were on the first bus out @ 6:48 am.  Very smooth and very easy.  We arrived at the airport and were checked in quickly so time to eat and wait for our 11:20 am boarding on American Airlines. The 10-hour flight landed in Charlotte and soon we were on the way to Tampa arriving at about 8:40 pm local time.  A 24-hour trip with Ship Debarkation, Airport wait time,  and Flight times.  Home at about 10:30 pm local time.

Cabin
We had Cabin 9138 and loved the location…I picked it as it had easy access to Deck 10 with Lido Buffet and the Sunset Bar.  It was also a bump-out balcony with great views on the starboard side.  Natalya our Stateroom Attendant was excellent. Small couch and chair at the vanity/desk, The BR has a nightlight…always useful.

Dining / Food
We never ate dinner in the MDR although we had one lunch and I had a few breakfasts in the San Marco Dining Room all with Tablecloth service. The Oceanview Cafe (Lido buffet) food was very good to excellent. Favorites: The Grill, the Carving Station, the Pasta Station, the Deli Section, the Stir-Fry area, and the Salad Bars.  We did not do a specialty restaurant.  They even serve fresh Croatian Oysters one night, not available in the MDR.

Highlights of the Cruise
Day Trip to Moster, Bosnia

Montenegro and the beautiful Bay of Kotor

All the Croatian Ports
Sunset Bar with Made and Bar Team.
Service and food in the Oceanview Cafe

 

 

 

 

European Adventure - July 2024

 

                European Adventure - July 2024   Photo: Main Square in Krakow, largest in Europe.

Just the Facts:
Cities to Visit: Warsaw Poland, Krakow Poland (4), Vienna Austria (3), Florence Italy (2), Bologna Italy,  Ravenna Italy.  We have made all arrangements and bookings ourselves through Bosque Travel.

Travel Day -  July 13, 2024 -- Tampa FL - Warsaw Poland

Our Swiss Air flight on Friday was canceled, so we began early Saturday morning with a United Airlines flight to ORD in Chicago then a direct LOT Polish Airline flight to Warsaw.  We lucked out on premium seats on both new flights arriving in Warsaw on the following morning.

Day One -  July 14, 2024 -- Warsaw Poland

We arrived at about 9:00 am at Frédéric Chopin International Airport and went through Polish Immigration easily and happily our three checked bags arrived soon afterward.  We took a taxi ($18) to Hotel Polonia Palace.  It is a very nice hotel and allowed us to check in early without charging us for the missed night due to the flight cancellation. We were in our nice room by 10:30 am and following a nice hot shower took a 3+ hour nap.  At 3:00 pm we took a taxi to Stare Miasto w Warszawie or the Old Town (photo).  It has been a UNESCO Heritage site since 1980 and is the location of the original Medieval settlement and the original City Walls from the 16th century.  Since the weather was very nice there were many more locals than tourists enjoying the many Restaurants, Shops, Museums, the Town Square, Churches, and Public Buildings.  This is certainly the beautiful Heart of the City. This area was my primary location to visit while here and it was a great day for it. We enjoyed our main meal in the Old Main Square at Restauracja U Barssa in their outdoor pavilion.  They served traditional Polish foods, DW ordered the Spinach & Feta Cheese Pierogi, and I ordered the Kotlet schabowy smażony na smalcu z mangalicy or Fried Pork Cutlet and Salad. The cutlet was the size of the serving plate and the BEST I have ever experienced. I had not realized until I researched for this blog entry that our choice was a very highly-rated restaurant.  We had the option of the Chopin Concert held daily at 6:30 in a local Palace but chose to leave Old Town and casually walk back to the hotel.  We went down a long Boulevard closed to traffic (at least on a Sunday) and lined with large Government Buildings, Palaces, Parks, Restaurants, Museums, and various Street Artists.  Once back at the hotel, I enjoyed two Pilsner Urquell beers on tap…rare to find my favorite beer on tap.  We retired and hopefully will be acclimated to local time by morning.  It was a great first day in Poland.

 

Day Two -  July 15, 2024 -- Warsaw to Kraków Poland 

I woke only once during the night and slept well, waking at about 7:30 am and I think I have successfully acclimated to local time…it is six hours earlier than Florida time.  I posted this blog, researched times for our train to Krakow today, and booked us on the 9:41 am train.  We quickly packed and then walked the few blocks to the train station. We had nice 1st class seats ($98) for the smooth 2+ hour direct train arriving at about noon.  Due to the early heat, we took an overpriced taxi to our hotel arriving after 12:30.  We are staying for four nights at the Hotel Polski Pod Białym Orłem. Fortunately, our room was ready as check-in is normally at 3:00 pm.  The building is a former 16th Century Palace located just inside the Main Gate to the historic Old Town. We met William, the first black person we have seen in Poland, and he is from Tampa, here studying hospitality in school...small world.  After dropping our bags in our room we walked the 5+ minutes down to the Main Square, supposedly the largest in Europe, to the Sukiennice Restaurant for lunch.  I basically ordered the same as yesterday for comparison.  The pork cutlet was even larger and tasted better. Amazing and it came with Lemon, Pickled Potatoes, plus Sauerkraut & Pickles for the table. The bonus was Pilsner Urquell on tap.  I couldn’t eat it all.  As it was hot on this warm day we returned to the cool comfort of our hotel room for a wee nap.  At about 8:00 pm we went back out and the Old Town was now very busy in the cooler weather.  We went to Chimney Cake Bakery for a special indescribably wonderful dessert then walked down to the Main Square again enjoying the sights and sounds of various activities (photo).  All the outdoor restaurants were busy and a lot of street Musicians were entertaining.  Most shops stay open late as well.  A much better impression of Old Town than from earlier in the day. We got back to the hotel after 10:00 pm and found Bloomberg News, an English-speaking TV channel, to catch up on the recent dramatic events in America.  Updated the blog and planned our museum visits before retiring after midnight.  It was a great day in Krakow Poland.

Day Three -  July 16th, 2024 -- Kraków Poland

We had a 9:00 am entry ticket to tour the Wawel Royal Castle so we were out at about 8:00 for the walk to the opposite side of the Old Town.  We stopped along the way for street pretzels and arrived before opening.  I ordered three sets of tickets to visit three different areas and we were the first to enter the level one area at opening.  You see various art collections and displays in the many Castle Chambers.  Between tours one and two we enjoyed refreshments in the outdoor courtyard.  Tour two on the upper levels was more of the same but primarily Polish National displays and collections.  The third tour was of the Castle Treasury.  After almost three hours we began the return walk across the Old Town stopping at Pierogarnia Krakowiacy. They serve traditional Polish food specializing in Polish dumplings. The food was excellent, the DW ordered the Ruskie Pirogies and I had the Meat Cabbage Rolls in Tomato Sauce.  The portions were huge as well as delicious. We were back at the hotel by 1:00 for rest and a nap.  At about 3:30 I went to the Czartoryski Museum located next to our hotel.  They have acquired many collections over the years including items from the Palace that is now our hotel.  A very eclectic collection of Art, Military items, Polish history, and more. The most renowned painting at the Museum is one of Leonardo da Vinci's best-known works from 1490, the Lady with an Ermine (photo).  Our hotel Bar & Restaurant keeps the theme and is named the Ermine.  An afternoon rain cooled the weather so at about 6:30 I strolled down to the Sukiennice Restaurant in the Main Square.  I knew they had my special beer and I wanted to compare the Cabbage Rolls.  Sukiennices were smaller in size but served with Mashed Potatoes and perhaps more flavorful.  I love the Polish food.  Not as much activity in the Square tonight but I enjoyed the two accordion musicians while dining.  I stopped at a store to buy water and Coca-cola then back to Hotel Polski for the evening.  It was a cultural day in Kraków.

Day Four -  July 17th, 2024 -- Auschwitz Day — Kraków Poland

We were up early for our 6:30 excursion meeting time to visit and tour the Auschwitz-Birkenau WWII era former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camps. We arrived at Auschwitz in time for our scheduled 8:30 am Guided Tour. The tour itself is designed so that you innocently experience the arrival of detainees years ago. Once you clear security you are escorted into the Cloak Room that is representative of a Gas Chamber (lost on most visitors). All communication is by the Guides via headphones and you’re instructed not to talk and be respectful. You then proceed through passageways to the Camp near the famous entry sign Arbeit Macht Frei. Once inside you're taken into several Block Houses with displays of eyeglasses, housewares, luggage, hair, and more taken from the detainees before being marched to the gas chambers. It’s a very emotional experience overall. There are a lot of books and movies documenting the horrors of these Extermination Camps I recommend watching/reading them before you visit. This part of the tour is just over an hour. Birkenau was built during the war and a much larger Camp is about 3 miles away. The entry by rail cars is well documented here.  Visiting Auschwitz is a must-do in this area of Poland. After the one hour+ drive back we were dropped near the Old Town at about 1:00 pm. We walked to Restauracja Galicyjska located near our hotel in a candle-lit cellar.  Nice atmosphere and perfect following that excursion. DW ordered a Salad and I had the Honey-Tomato-Beer Battered Braised Pork Ribs with tiny Baked Potatoes & a Summer Slaw. It was a good dinner. It was now a much-needed nap time. At about 7:30 the weather was nice and cool so we went on a walkabout. I stopped at a Leather Shop and had a custom belt made for myself. Then we had a simple meal of Pizza and a Hamburger in an outdoor location near the City Gate. We walked down to the Main Square and then retired to the hotel. I worked on this Blog, booked excursions for tomorrow, and then watched Bloomberg TV until midnight. It was a very memorable day visiting Auschwitz.

 

Day Five -  July 18th, 2024 -- Kraków Poland

I woke early but well-rested.  I posted this Blog and reviewed news from home this morning. We went to the very popular MilkBar for breakfast just after it opened at 8:00 am.  DW ordered Sweet Pancakes (Crepes) and I had Scrambled Eggs with Bacon (European).  The food justifies the rating of best breakfast in Old Town.  We then met our 10:00 am City Tour on a golf cart.  We toured three areas: Old Town, the Jewish Quarter, and the Jewish Ghetto area.  We saw a lot of sights along the way including John Paul II’s two homes and the University attended, Churches and Public buildings, the unique architecture of 18th-19th century Kazimierz, and the Jewish Quarter that contrasts the Medieval areas of Old Town.  We then crossed the Bridge to the Jewish Ghetto built when the Jews were forced to leave Kazimierz and live in the new Ghetto. The final sight of the Tour was at Oskar Schindler's Factory.  We chose to get off there as we had 12:40 entry tickets for a tour.  We had a Coca-Cola break at the nice Cafe across from the Factory Museum until our Tour met.  The Oskar Schindler's Factory Museum tour was well designed and covers the history of Kraków’s German Occupation from pre-war to post-war for both Poles and Jews.  Everything is well documented as you move chronologically from room to room with displays and photographs.  The decor including floors and lighting reflects a location or event…old town square, train station, ghetto, the factory office, and more.  IMHO the best Museum or Tour we did in Kraków.  We took a Bolt Taxi back to our hotel area and had a nice meal at Kuchnia u Babci Maliny Restaurant-Bar.  They have a unique old-world dining room but we chose to eat on the sidewalk with a lovely view of the beautiful Opera House across the street (photo).  We shared Potato Pancakes, Pan-Fried Pierogi, and Polish Pork Chop with Potatoes.  The food was very good.  We then retired for a nap during the heat of the day as we had learned to do.  At about 8:00 pm we went on a walkabout…I had a Polish Vodka shooter and then picked up some small gifts at the Sukiennice Market. While there we took an outdoor table at the Sukiennice Restaurant.  We ordered a Cheese Plate to share, Hugo Spritzer, and I had the liter Pilsner Urquell.  Once the weather cools it is wonderful and so many people to see in the main Square.  Returning to the hotel we had a nightcap in the Garden area of our hotel.  It was again midnight when we retired—a busy and great final day in Kraków.

Day Six -  July 19th, 2024 -- Kraków Poland to Vienna Austria

We woke early and began packing for our flight. We enjoyed some stuffed pretzels we purchased on our walkabout last evening, and then I posted the Blog update for yesterday as we waited.  We became aware of the worldwide airline shutdowns but continued to the airport at about 11;30 am.  The airport was packed with people due to cancellations but we were hopeful we would not be affected.  We bought some items and had a nice lunch trying to use our remaining Polish currency.  It was the first time that a robot delivered our food order to our table.  Interesting.  We were very lucky and only had a late gate change and our flight left on time.  We arrived in Vienna just after 4:00 pm and our Car Service had us at our hotel, Austria Trend Hotel Europa Wien at about 4:45.  We were in a historic area with the Donnerbrunnen Fountain directly in front of the hotel entry (photo). We relaxed during the heat of the day and then ventured out at about 8:00 pm.  Our hotel is in a pedestrian-only area so we explored the area before stopping for some street food,  I had a Sausage on a fresh bread baguette that had the center punched out…then filled with mustard, Slaw, and Sausage.  It was great.  We had a Coca-Cola from the hotel bar upon returning to the hotel. We were lucky on this busy travel day to Vienna.

 

Day Seven -  Saturday, July 20th, 2024 -- Vienna Austria

We were up very early as we were to do the Hallstatt excursion, but I asked if we could do it tomorrow and they agreed. We were able to be at the Hofburg and the opening of the Sissi Tour of the Palace at 9:00 am opening. It was a museum about the life of Elizabeth, the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, and the Palace Apartments of that period. It is very nice to beat the tour groups and walk during the cool part of the day. We did some shoe shopping then visited the Capuchin Church and visited the Royal Crypts the final resting place of the Hapsburg Emperors. While there we purchased tickets for a concert later tonight. It is very conveniently located just across from our hotel. When we returned to the hotel we were upgraded to a better room due to our room not cooling. We had a busy morning and into the new room by noon.  Cloudy and cooler today for our afternoon walkabout. We went to St. Stephen’s Cathedral only a 5-minute walk and explored that busy area. We found a cozy French cafe: Ombra with a nice view of the Johannes-Gutenberg-Monument.  The menu was in French & German only, but our waiter happened to be an American.  Nice visiting with her and the food was excellent...DW had Pesto Pasta and I had a Beef in a Red Wine Sauce with Pasta. We strolled back on the very busy Pedestrian Street enjoying an ice come cone. At about 6:00 pm we returned to the Capuchin Church for a 6:30 Classical Music concert: A Little Night Music. It’s the thing to do in Vienna, we did two on the last visit, but this will be the only one this time. It was a String Quartet and we sat down in the front so close and intimate. It was a nice experience.  We relaxed the rest of the evening although I later went out for the same street-food Sausage I had yesterday. It was a great day in Vienna Austria.

Day Eight -  Sunday, July 21st, 2024 -- Vienna Austria — Hallstatt Day Trip

A good night's sleep in the cooler room.  We were up early for our long excursion and we bought pastries yesterday for a light breakfast this morning. We were at the meeting location by 7:45 am and on the bus and away by 8:00 am.  This is a long 13-hour tour and we had good seats above the back door so good views too. We passed the famous 12th-century Melk Abbey and took a mandatory 30-minute stop at a very nice Austrian-themed Travel Stop. Our 30+ minute first tourist stop was at Schloss Ort, an old fortress on Lake Traunsee. Soon we were in Hallstatt our destination. Hallstatt is a village on Lake Hallstatt's western shore in Austria's mountainous Salzkammergut region. Its 16th-century Alpine houses and alleyways are home to cafes and shops. A funicular railway connects to Skywalk Hallstatt's viewing platform (photo). We had 3.5 hours scheduled here and we did the funicular first to see the amazing views. We had beers and a light snack at the restaurant on top as well. The Village has a lot of Tourist Shops, Restaurants, Alpine Architecture, and more. We rebounded the bus at 4:30 pm and due to traffic on this beautiful Sunday and our required safety stop, we didn’t make it back to Vienna until about 9:00 pm. We had a snack and packed for our early flight on Monday morning. It was a long but successful trip to the Austrian Alps.

 

Day Nine -  Monday, July 22nd, 2024 -- Vienna Austria — Florence Italy 

We woke early and finished packing for our early flight.  We met our driver at 6:30 am and were soon at the airport.  It’s a self-check-in for baggage but we prevailed including the carry-on bag.  Our Austrian Air flight was again perfect and we were in Florence at about 10:30 am.  Our arranged driver was late but arrived and we were taken to our hotel: Hotel Pitti Palace al Ponte Vecchio.  And we were indeed adjacent to the famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge.  We were early so we checked our bags and had a good lunch at Beccafico Ristorante.  DW had Fried Polenta with Mushrooms and I had a Salad and Spaghetti with a rich Tomato Sauce.  We did a short walkabout across the Bridge enjoying some Gelato and purchasing tickets for the Uffizi Gallery. Our room was worth the wait, a nice mini-suite with a balcony and most importantly cool air-conditioning.  There was a cooling rain in the afternoon so we began our long walkabout at about 5:30.  We went a few blocks to my favorite Piazzas in Italy: the Piazza della Signora with the adjacent Palazzo Vecchio and Loggia dei Lanzi.  We enjoy the open-air Loggia dei Lanzi and its collection of 14-16th century Statuary.  Our favorites are Rape of the Sabine Women and Perseus Killing Medusa.  We then walked through the Piazza della Repubblica stopping at a Joe Malone perfumery on the to the magnificent Piazza del Duomo dominated by the huge Cathedral.  Beautiful location.  We returned to Piazza della Signora and enjoyed the Ristorante dei Perseo on the Piazzo just across from the huge Fountain of Neptune and of course the views of the 13th century Palace.  I enjoyed two Peroni beers and the DW had a Hugo Spritzer and Fetticini with Spinach entree.  The views were well worth the pricing.  We returned to the hotel for the evening.  I later went to the rooftop Wine Bar for a beer and a sunset view over Florence.  The air-conditioning in the room is great and the internet is fast so I made further holiday arrangements and reviewed the news. It was a great first day in Italy.

 

Day Ten -  Tuesday, July 23nd, 2024 — Florence Italy

It was nice to not have to be anywhere early and I slept well.  I was still awake at about 7:00 but that is late for me. At about 9:00 am we went out and our first stop was for some fresh Croissants for breakfast, We then took a Museum Tour of the Palazzo Vecchio, the Fortified, 13th-century palace housing lavishly decorated chambers & ornate courtyards. We enjoyed a street artist portraying Dante near the Dante Church. He was reading from The Inferno. We stopped for morning refreshments at the Piazza del Duomo then later had Hugo Spritzers at the nearby Uffizi Bar while waiting for our designated 12:45 entry time to The Uffizi Gallery. My first visit to the famous gallery as I was too pressed for time on my previous trips/excursions to Florence. The building itself was built in 1560 by the Medici family then in 1580 they started the Gallery on the upper floors. Of course, it holds one of the top art collections in the world. To me, the highlight is the Renaissance period specifically the artists Botticelli, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Michelangelo.  To me, the highlight is the painting: Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (1580’s) (photo). And a primary reason to add Florence to this European Adventure itinerary. We spent the rest of the day relaxing in our suite until about 6:00 pm when we went to a nice local restaurant just two blocks away: Ristorante Mamma Gina. DW had a Pasta with rich Tomato Sauce similar to what I had yesterday and I ordered the Bistecca Alla Fiorentina a very popular meal in this area and just ‘up my alley’. It’s a Porterhouse T-Bone steak flavored with fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme. It’s also cut uniquely in strips around the bone. It was a great presentation but I did send about half back for more fire. I eat that cut at least twice a week and this was very different than my style…I liked it very much. It was a very cultural and gastronomic day in Florence Italy.

Day Eleven  -  Wednesday, July 24th, 2024 — Florence  to Bologna Italy

Just a short 1.5-hour drive down the road is the travel plan for today.  We had breakfast on our small balcony this morning before meeting our driver at 9:45 am.  We were soon on our way and I enjoyed viewing the Tuscan countryside on our drive north. We arrived earlier than our B&B Apartment (4 units) check-in time but were able to store our luggage at the entry as we met nice departing guests who assisted us. That allowed us to visit the interior of the Basilica di San Petronio before the heat of the day. The most appealing thing to do in Bologna is to enjoy the many famous foods. Just after noon time, we went to La Baita Vecchia Malga a well-known local Deli/Restaurant (photo). DW ordered a Caprese Salad and I ordered the Tortellini Bolognese the go-to dish here…options are Tortellini stuffed with meat or Riccada Cheese and a traditional Ragu Sauce or Creme Sauce. I went with meat/ragu the most popular choice. It was delicious: however, the Caprese Salad was the best I have ever tasted. Amazingly good, the Mozzarella was perfect—a very successful meal. We tried to walk around the historic area but the 92° heat was too much for us, we waited in the shade until the B&B representative arrived to get us into the room. The room was great with a wonderful view and that cool air felt so good. We spent the rest of the afternoon cool & relaxed.  At about 7:00 pm we went out for a walkabout and to eat. We stopped at the Restaurant: Osteria Da Fortunata a traditional Italian-style family restaurant. We had a table inside and the decor was from an older simple Italian style. It reminded me of the place in the Godfather movie. We ordered two antipasti: Burrata Con Bruschetta and the local Prosciutto al Coltello. We had two Pasta courses: Sciavtelli Arrabbiata and Ravioli Con Pomodorini Freschi e Baslico. All was very good. By the time we left the place was packed both inside and outside, we made a good choice. We walked around going by several of the famous Bologna Towers then retired back to the very nice Apartment. It was a learning and eating experience on this hot day in Bologna. 

 

Day Twelve  -  Thursday, July 25th, 2024 — Bologna to Ravenna Italy

Our European adventure is coming to a close as we travel to the final destination of our land-based travels in Ravenna. I slept well and woke early enough to update this blog and prepare for our 10:00 am meeting time for our car to Ravenna. It was an easy comfortable rise and by 11:30 am (3:00 pm is check-in) we were at our hotel: NH Ravenna. We just hoped for luggage storage, but Nicole at the desk asked us to sit for a few minutes and soon she had a room for us. Great for us and we avoided the waiting we did yesterday. We were in our room before noon then away to explore. Ravenna is a great old city with eight UNESCO-designated sights. I doubt a few other cities have that many. This was originally an old Roman city and has many buildings dating to the 5th Century. Most of the UNESCO sights are Churches, Baptistries, or Chapels with ornate original mosaics (photo) dating to the 450s-550s AD, They are amazing and beautiful. We were fortunate to be able to see four of them.  We also visited Dante’s final Home, Museum, and Moseleum and took several Coca-Cola breaks at cafes during the day. It was another hot day but we were getting cooling breezes off the sea that helped us today. We retired to the hotel just after 3:00 pm as we had been doing all this trip to avoid the heat. At about 7:00 we walked 4 minutes to Osteria il Paiola a local family-owned restaurant featuring food from Romagroli this local area. We shared a Tavolozza romagnola affettati, formaggi e confettura (charcuterie tray of cheeses, sliced meats, and more) I couldn’t begin to explain our two entrees, but they were unique and delicious. We were quite full but couldn’t resist an ice creme on the walk back. The central historic district is very nice and we both enjoyed Ravenna more than Bologna. It was a magical day in Ravenna.

Tidbits
In all countries we visited the top of plastic bottles remain attached to the bottle once opened.

It will cost 50 cents to use a public toilet in Austria, even at McDonald’s.

Krakow was the best value as for ‘Bang for your Buck’ - Vienna and Florence were the most expensive.

Polish was the hardest language for us to understand, fortunately, most in Travel speak English.

We will never again travel in July due to heat - and European Hotels concept of A/C is not what Americans would expect.

Apple Pay is very widely accepted and appreciated.