Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Excursions During the Transatlantic Cruise by Margot Justes


The third and last cruise is the 15 night transatlantic one, and once again the port city is Rome, and we’ll disembark in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, and a much shorter flight home without any jet lag, since time is adjusted every evening while at sea. There will be a total 9 nights at sea, 2 nights between Palma and Tenerife, and the other 7 crossing the Atlantic.  

Florence, Italy
One of my favorite Italian cities, Florence is said to be the birthplace of the Renaissance. Age, architecture, history and art combine to make it a mesmerizing and fascinating place. I chose an excursion that included Pisa. I thought it might be fun just to see the tower once, and the Piazza dei Miracoli-Square of Miracles is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The rest of the time will be spent in Florence, included in the tour is Piazza del Duomo, and the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, and lunch at a local restaurant.  

Provence, France.
A second stop in Provence will take me for a drive along the rough coastline to Cassis, where the quays are lined with delightful with shops and cafes, and a visit to the artsy seaside town of Sanary-sur-Mer, touristy to be sure, but should prove to be a delight.

Barcelona, Spain
This tour will take me first to Barcelona city center, and the focus will be on Gaudi’s work. I’m a huge fan of his architecture, and his work is simply beyond whimsy.  I’m looking forward to a return visit.
Next we head up high in the mountains to Montserrat,  and a visit to the old Benedictine Monastery that dates back to the 11th century.  It is about a forty minute drive from Barcelona, and what a hairy ride it is, lanes are narrow, steep, and the curves are eye popping, good thing the buses are small. It is a must stop, and the views from above are breathtaking. Looking forward to a bit more research for the next hotel book, which of course takes place in Barcelona, with a side visit to Montserrat. The tour ends with a “sumptuous lunch at the Montserrat Restaurant.”

Palma de Mallorca
This is a scenic look at Palma, starts with a drive along the shore to Bellver Castle, then we continue to La Seu Cathedral, a 750-year-old Gothic-style church, and to Plaza de Toros, I’m not a fan of bullfighting and most likely will skip that part, even thought I doubt there will be a bull fi8ght, I’m not even sure they pursue the  so called sport, but even the thought of an animal being tortured is enough for me to pass on the event.

Tenerife, Canary Islands
In Tenerife we head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of La Laguna, the cultural and religious capital of Tenerife.  We’ll visit a market, and the many colorful houses along main street. Then there is a wine tasting at Bodegas Alvaro and La Casa del Vino, and there is a visit to a wine museum in a house that dates to the 17th century, the tasting will be paired with cheeses; a terrific combination.

While I'm away, I scheduled some blogs from my trip to Australia, and a short blog about Delos. I will be writing blogs about my visits, but won't be able to post anything while at sea.

In the meantime, have a fun Halloween!

Cheers,
Margot  Justes
Blood Art
A Fire Within
A Hotel in Paris
A Hotel in Bath
A Hotel in Venice
www.mjustes.com



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