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2019 Mediterranean cruise

April - May 2019
April - May 2019 Read more
  • 23footprints
  • 7countries
  • 26days
  • 114photos
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  • 27.1kkilometers
  • 19.8kkilometers
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  • 2019 Mediterranean cruise
    Day 26

    Almost home

    May 8, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Even though our flight from Frankfurt left over 30 minutes late, we still arrived in Toronto on time.

    Through the Nexus line like a breeze and by the time we got to the luggage carousel, Our bags were already there.

    Stopped at the Air Canada desk and asked cert nicely if we could get an earlier flight since it had been changed twice since we booked it in September . Valerie was so helpful and because Air Canada was the one who changed the flight there was no charge for the change. Woohoo!

    So now instead of waiting 7 hours in Toronto airport, we only had 1 hour 40 minutes from the time of the flight change until boarding time.

    Very grateful to be coming home early.    Read more

  • 2019 Mediterranean cruise
    Day 26

    Homeward bound

    May 8, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Up early and on the vaporetto before 7, luggage and all. Just missed the Aerobus — it was full anyway so waited for the next one that came at 7:40. After a milk run to the airport, arrived shortly after 8. Checked in and boarding passes in hand, we really appreciated coffee and sandwiches for breakfast. Our flight to Frankfurt is expected to be 7 minutes late.

    Boarding our Toronto-bound flight. Had to do the ‘hurry through the tunnel’ thing again. Parted ways with Garry and Carolynne at security. Will meet up in Toronto again for a few hours.    Read more

  • 2019 Mediterranean cruise
    Day 25

    Last day in Venice

    May 7, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Have a wonderful day in Venice. Shopped for souvenirs and took the vaporetto to Lido. Walked along the ocean and through the residential streets. They have cars and busses! Came back to Venice and walked through the area east of San Marco and through the garden area.

    Enjoyed arrancini and Aperol Spritz for lunch and of course the obligatory gelato. Bought a lovely red purse to replace my thrift shop Derek Alexander purse that was worn and sad. 8 years of use is pretty good for a second hand purse.

    Vic and I went to Piazzale Roma to buy bus tickets for tomorrow. Walked ba k through a new area we had not seen before.

    Packed our bags and the men picked up pizza to go with our wine.

    Carolynne and I went out to look for dessert but many shops were closed. Vic and Garry decided they would do one better than us and not only found dessert but also found limoncello.

    Had a good evening and an early night in preparation for a very early morning.    Read more

  • 2019 Mediterranean cruise
    Day 24

    Venice in the evening

    May 6, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    After a bit of a rest, we returned to the pavement to seek out our landlord ‘s family favourite restaurant, Antico Gatoleto. Had only one course, as we had stopped to buy cannoli on the way back to our apartment earlier. Stopped in to see the hotel where we had stayed in 2013. Now $500/night. Enjoyed a leisurely stroll back and read a bit before bed since I was awake far too early this morning.Read more

  • 2019 Mediterranean cruise
    Day 23

    Venice

    May 5, 2019 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 9 °C

    Packed our bags last night and were ready to go but had to provide Italian immigration officials with our passports before leaving the ship. This is a new thing since we were here last. They were late in arriving but were off the ship with our luggage by 8:30. Took the people mover to Piazzale Roma , now 1,50€ and also bought our vaporetto passes (3 days) for 40€ each. Because we couldn’t get wifi there we just took the #1 vaporetto to San Silvestro, same station we used in 2013 and called Cristina from the Air BnB apartment from a wine bar who let us use their wifi. Bought cappuccinos (16€ for four) while we waited. Cold and wet so at least we could warm up. Cristina’s mother Sandra met us last there and walked with us to the apartment, took our 36€ for for persons for 3 days tourist tax and took our passport information.

    After she left and we organized ourselves, we braved the rain and found an Italian fast food place and had pizza, sandwiches and wine for lunch. Walked over Rialto Bridge to Piazza San Marco then decided to go the Basilica Santa Maria. Also went to a small museum and then to Academia Museum, 15€ each plus 9€ for the audio guide after waiting 45 minutes in the rain. Amazing collection as well as a special Leonardo da Vinci exhibit. Couldn’t finish the whole place As it was already 6 pm. Went back to the apartment then out to Antico Panificio where we have eaten numerous times in the past. New owners and great service. Food also very good.

    Stopped at the grocer for milk for cappuccino for breakfast tomorrow, also wine. Too tired to drink at this evening.

    To bed before 10.    Read more

  • 2019 Mediterranean cruise
    Day 22

    Ravenna

    May 4, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Today is our last cruise day. In order to get to Ravenna, we have to take a 30-minute shuttle ride from the port ($19 US round trip). This is the home of Byzantine mosaics and was the capital of this region 7 times in its history.

    Walked into a church by accident in our tour of the mosaics and ended up watching this couple get married. I also got to visit with the organist. Very special.

    Lunch at Cupido, fresh pasta and a Regional sampler and wine. Life is good!    Read more

  • 2019 Mediterranean cruise
    Day 21

    Split, Croatia

    May 3, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Beautiful day in Split, started out cloudy but 16C. Had a good sleep so we’re ready to start the day. The wind blew all day so got a bit of a wind burn. Enjoyed listening to the Klappa group in the rotunda and purchased a CD for 15€. Also toured the cathedral, crypt and baptistery for 3,5€. They have a brand new organ with lots of shiny pipes. Had a doughnut like dessert with Nutella before lunch and walked up the hill and back through the park and had lunch at Feral Pizzeria. Kind of a weird name for a restaurant since there are so many cats around. Walked through the fish market and the vegetable market.

    Very difficult to get wifi today as the Split hotspot was not working well and the restaurant said they he no wifi for four days.

    Back on the ship by 3:30 and had a nap before our last Gala night. Lovely lobster tail and tiramisu for dessert. Got our disembarkation instructions straightened out so that we can leave with our luggage before 8 am. Gratuities are organized for tomorrow and will write the notes this evening.    Read more

  • 2019 Mediterranean cruise
    Day 20

    Kotor, Montenegro

    May 2, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Made it to our private tour only 5 minutes late. Had to tender at this port. Montenegro has two types of land — coastal and mountains. They pride themselves on being a ‘green’ country. The road up the mountain has 25 switchbacks. Photo is from #16. We drove on the same roads that Vic took in 1973.

    The main agriculture is grapes and olives, though they produce all manner of Mediterranean fruits and vegetables.

    There are five national parks.

    Our tour guide is a cyclist and filmed a Skoda commercial yesterday for the Tour de France. We will have to watch for him in June.

    We stopped near Lake Skodar and had to wait for some cows to move off the road. There are beautiful Views and the green on the lake is lily pads.

    3E — Enjoy, experience, explore! The name of the tour company Carolynne booked through. So excellent! Arrived at our hosts’ farm. They are a former mechanical engineer and economist whose jobs ended due to the political conflict in the 1990s. They returned to the family farm and now host tours for lunch and brief tours of their organic farm. Their grapes are organic and they also have bees from which they make honey.

    Our driver and guide Zoran helped translate and had lunch with us. They also make schnapps infused with various herbs like rosemary, mint, lavender, oregano and sage.

    You can buy a two bedroom house for approx. 40,000 - 70,000€ in the mountains and about three times that along the coast.

    This has been a most wonderful day. Personal contact with people makes the experience so much better.

    Sailed past Our Lady of the Rock just before dinner. No three honks of the horn today. Maybe they don’t do that anymore.

    Attended the port talk on Split and Ravenna before watching the comedian from Britain.    Read more

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