Eric and I went on a 26 day cruise on the Celebrity Equinox. We started with two days in Barcelona followed by back to back Mediterranean and Transatlantic cruises.
November 10, 2013 - Orlando - Miami
We are off again, this time to Barcelona for two cruises.
November 11, 2013 - Barcelona
We arrived early and were shuttled like cattle to the hotel. The room wasn't ready so we rambled Las Ramblas. Eric was tired and wobbly, but we had to keep moving. We stopped for lunch and I ended up having a $13 beer.
After a much needed nap we were out again, wandering the streets. For dinner we had paella, which was amazing. We ate in a local restaurant, always the best.
November 12, 2013 - Barcelona
We have one day before the cruise, so on with the walking shoes. In the morning we walked to a new building which turned out to be quite ugly, but not as ugly as Guadi's architectural disasters, with his cathedral leading the list. We ended the walk on Barcelona's high end shopping street.
In the afternoon we saw many sights we had never seen on our previous visits. The first was the Arc of Triumph. Next we walked through a beautiful park surrounded by many interesting buildings, including the Catalonia Parliament. We walked to the port and then returned via Las Ramblas.
Dinner was disappointing, but we had good Spanish wine.
Barcelona Bullring
Gaudi Cathedral
Barcelona train station
Picasso, of course
November 13, 2013 - Barcelona
We left for our home for the next 26 days - the Celebrity Equinox. This is our third voyage on this beautiful ship. It was a very relaxing afternoon.
November 14, 2013 - Villefranche, France (Nice and Monaco)
Our first port of call was out in the distance. Eric and I took a train to Monaco - the home of the rich and famous - and they stay that way since there are no taxes.
The main attraction was the elaborate casino. There were plenty of penny slots for the not so rich and famous and we made our contribution. We walked around admiring the high end shops, most of which we had never heard of.
Monaco flags
Monaco Casino
November 15, 2013 - Pisa and Florence
This was the first of three back-to-back full day tours. Today we started in Pisa to view the famous leaning tower. In fact, most of the buildings were leaning to some extent.
Eric holding up the tower
If you tilt your camera, the tower is straight
Our second stop was Florence. After a pizza lunch, we went to see Michaelangelo's David. We had pre-ordered our tickets bet there wasn't even a line. This was my second time here, and it was just impressive.
We arrived back at the ship at 6:00 pm, just in time for dinner.
A replica
November 16, 2012 - Chechivia - Port of Rome
We took a tourist train to Rome and had the day on our own. We were definitely going to get some walking in today. We started at the Vatican. We next went to a piazza. We had never been there before and enjoyed watching the artists as we had pizza. Next we walked to the Parthenon and Trevi Fountain. We then climbed hundreds of steps to the top of the a military building. The views were spectacular - again, another new sight. Next we trekked through the ruins to the Colosseum. We were exhausted now but continued on to another piazza, where we had our second pizza of the day. With our remaining energy we walked along the Tiber River to the Vatican to catch our train back to the Equinox. We staggered into our room after walking over ten miles.
Dinner as usual was amazing, but we opted for bed instead of the show.
Eric had to buy these
November 17, 2013 - Naples
We really thought we had a day at sea but the alarm woke us at 6:20 am for our tour of Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri. This was my second visit to Pompeii, but we saw many new sights, including the brothel and graphic frescos. The sailors pointed to a picture to select their pleasure.
One of the graphic frescos where clients picked their positions
Pompeii
Mt. Vesuvius from road to Sorrento
We bused to Sorrento with amazing vistas of the villages an sea, with Mt. Vesuvius always in view. Sorrento was decked out for Christmas with plenty of tourist roaming the streets.
Our final stop was Capri, a 30 minute boat ride from Sorrento. We took the funicular to the village and walked the cobbled streets to Augustus' garden and a magnificent view.
Sight from Augustus' Garden
Following an hour ride back to Naples, we hit our favorite martini bar before and after dinner.
November 18, 2013 - Day at sea
Today brought us our first rainy day. It will be a day of relaxation following our three tour days.
November 19, 2013 - Kotor, Montenegro
This was a very small medieval city. It was raining and chilly, so of course I caught a cold.
November 20, 2013 - Venice, Italy
What an amazing entrance. The Grand Canal was right in front of us. We slowly made our way to the port. We spent the afternoon on the water ferries, visiting San Marcos Square.
Gondolas on the Grand Canal
Rialto Bridge
The Grand Canal
November 21, 2013 - Venice, Italy
The weather was cool but sunny. We rode the water ferries up and down the Grand Canal, visiting the xxx bridge before seeing a flooded San Marcos Square. You could buy water boots for 20 euros. Our ride out of Venice was amazing, viewing the entire city from above the roofs.
San Marcos Square - flooded
November 22, 2013 - Dubrovnik, Croatia
We had another rainy day, but managed to walk the medieval wall in relative dryness.
Roof from the wall
Rooftops from the wall
November 23-24, 2013 - At Sea
No much to report, except that the seas the second day were very rough, with water splashing and covering the dining room window.
November 25, 2013 - Barcelona, Spain
This is the end of the first cruise and the start of the second. We spent the sunny day revisiting Barcelona.
Candy from Boqueria Market in Las Ramblas
November 26, 2013 - Cartegena, Spain
This was a new port for us, the major naval base for Spain. We saw a small submarine leaving as we entered port. We was led the city until our feet gave out.
Roman Theater
Buildings using the fish eye setting on the camera
November 27, 2013 - Malaga, Spain
This was another new port for us. We climbed the mountain but could not find the entrance to the castle. The Roman Theatre was next, before visiting the massive Malaga basilica. On the way back to the ship we could not find anything to buy - too much tourist junk. Our final stop was outside Spain's largest bullring.
November 28, 2013 - Cadiz, Spain
Since we had been here before, we just walked the streets. Again, nothing to buy.
November 29, 2013 - Lisbon, Portugal
Today was the coldest day so far, probably 50 degrees. We walked into town and finally bought something - t-shirts.
Old trolley in Lisbon
Sunset, leaving Lisbon
November 30, 2013 - At Sea
We headed south and the weather definitely warmed up. It was a nice relaxing day.
December 1, 2013 - Tenerife, Canary Islands
This was our last port of call before our transatlantic crossing. The weather was warmer, but most stores were closed because it was Sunday.
December 2-8, 2013 - At Sea
Another cruise ship sailing home
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