Well our last day is a day at sea. Time to sleep in, rest from the weeks busy excursions, review pictures and reflect on an awesome vacation!

Maybe catch a movie in the Buena Vista theater, catch some rays up on deck,catch up on the blog or find a quiet place for a cocktail.

It really has been a lovely cruise. We have had great weather, no rain, flat seas just ideal cruising conditions.

Our stateroom and dining room staff were fantastic and helped make it an enjoyable cruise.

We had great food, great wine and great times as a family, what more could you ask for?

Tomorrow is Saturday, and we’ll wake up in Barcelona and begin the long flight home with a few extra pounds, a couple of gigabites of pictures and a lifetime of memories.

I’ll never forget the Italian and French coast, it left a lasting impression on Leslie and me. I know one day we’ll return here.

For now though, thoughts are returning to home, but we’ve already started planning our next cruise with Disney to Mexico in ‘08 and we’ll be on the Wonder for a 3 night in November ‘07.

So that’s it, hope you have enjoyed this trip blog. When we get back home we’ll post more pics and some video, the slow internet has made it tough to post more than a few pics a day.

Thanks for following along!

Rick

Today we are in Villefranche, France, our final and most beautiful port before docking in Barcelona on Saturday for the trip home.

Ville franche has an abousolutely beautiful coastline, we just loved it. It’s the gateway to Monaco, Monte Carlo and Nice. It’s also our second tender port as you will see in the pictures below, and it was beautiful to see the Magic at anchor in the bay from shore.

Legend says that Hercules opened his arms and Villefranche was born. This lovely seaside village is much more laid-back that other Cote d’Azur resort towns, sitting on a big lue bay that looks like a gigantic bowl. Villefranche-sur-mer is an old town that dates back to the 14 century, voking a romantic, historic feel.

Once popular with such writers as Katherine Mansfield and Aldous Huxley, its still heaven for artists, many of whom take over the little houses, reached b narrow alleyways, which climb the hillide.

This port puts you at the very doorstep of Monaco, Cannes and Nice, where you can savor the elegance and opulent lifestyle of those who call the French Riviera home.

From the traditional “pointu” fishing boats that ply the waters off this Mediterranean coast, to countless treasures of antiquity, to the electric pace and vibrations of the grand casino, here you’ll discover why this idyllic port is so popular. Enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of this extraordinary resort, and create your own fame.
Perfume has always been a big part of the French culture. That’s why my mom and I took an excursion to the Fragonard perfume factory. There, we got to create our own perfume. It was really cool because we learned about how the “noses” create their own formula so they know how many milliliters of rose oil and how much base perfume to put in. Noses are the people why create the perfume. They have to go to school for about 7-10 years. There are only two schools in the world; one in Paris, France, and the other in Grasse, France. They have to be able to name 500 different smells every day. Noses live a very strict life, but they do get paid very well. For example, they are not allowed to smoke or consume alcohol. Once my perfume was done, I smelt it and let’s just say that it smelt like Pinsol. I will probably use it on my curtains or my pillow cases in my room. When everyone was done with their perfumes, we went over to their laboratory to see where they make the soaps, lotions, and perfumes. After, we went to the store where we had an opportunity to smell the different perfumes they make and purchase them. They all smelt so amazing! Finally, we took the bus over to small village to go shopping and try some of the local food. I know you’re asking: How do they determine what’s a village, town, or city? Well, since you asked, a village is a population of 3,000 people or less. This was sadly the last port of the cruise. We are now on our way back to Barcelona, Spain to make our way back home. Home sweet home! It was definitely an amazing cruise and we had an amazing time. Until my next trip, thanks for sightseeing with Sarah!

Marseilles
The Phocaean City

Today we say Arrivederci to Italy and Bonjour to France.

This is also the first morning since the sea day after Barcelona that we can sleep in. Our excursion is not till the afternoon, and it’s just for Leslie and I. Oh don’t feel bad for the kids, they are looking forward to a relaxing day aboard the ship without the site seeing marathon type days we have been doing.

Our excursion today is not only an afternoon one but also a very relaxing one. We met our group at 12:45 for a trip to a local Winery for a wine tasting. We had a drive thru the French countryside to Domaine De Souviou. Not only is this an estate with vineyards, but also they produce olive oil. The estate is about 125 acres of vineyards and olive trees. Five of the over 4600 olive trees are over one thousand years old, while most are around five to six hundred years old.

After a short tour around the vineyard and some history of the estate, we went inside for our tasting. First we tried a white from 2006. Next was a Rosé. Finally we tried a red from 2002, it was very good. Next we sampled two kinds of olive oils with bread. The first was made from a combination of 9 different varieties of olives, there are over 150 varieties produced in this region. Next we tried one made from the olives of the 1,000 year old tree. Both were quite good!

After our visit to Domaine De Souviou, we drove up a mountain side to visit a medieval village called Le Castellet. With only 300 residents, this is a quaint village surrounded by the walls constructed hundreds of years  ago to protect the inhabitants from enemies. There are two gates to enter, South and East, and from the village you have a panoramic view of the towns and vineyards below. There are many places to shop and eat here, and the local history is wonderful to experience and imagine.

After a tour and some free time in Le Castellet we headed back to our ship. We saw many of the sites of Marseilles. Today Marseilles is a busy and crowded cit, the second largest in France next to Paris, with  over 1.6 million inhabitants.

We traveled through Le Vieux Port (Old Port) where the Greeks landed in France over 2,600 years ago. Here we saw classic French cafes and restaurants ornamented with the masts of small boats and yachts.

From the Disney Brochure:

The flavor of Marseilles is antiquity, seaport seafood, museums and history, all offered in one delightful destination where ocean and sun invite you to idle along its shores. Marseilles is centered on the 26-century-old port, with a dynamic downtown, big parks and a medieval, village-style neighborhood. In the time of the French colonies, this charming city was the gateway to the Mediterranean, and today it is the main city of the “Bouches-du-Rhone” region.

Marseilles is located in the region of Provence, one of he most scenic areas of all France. Marseilles is the capital of this beautiful region and is the second largest city in France. It’s rugged, rocky countryside, interspersed with vineyards ad fields of laveder, has inspired many well-known artists.

Corseted by a ring of hills, including the Calanques Massif, the city winds along the Mediterranean coast. The sunshine and the Mistral wind give it that special light that has inspired renowned painters, such as Cézanne, Braque, Dufy, Deraiand and Marquet. Here is your chance to remember your special moments in the creative light of Marseilles.

Things I love about cruising:

(this post should continue to grow this week)

I love that when dinner is over, a cup of coffee arrives without even asking for it.

I love that there are no prices on the menus, and no check at the end of the meal.

I love that our server and I have an agreement, she chooses the wine and I drink it.

I love visiting many different ports but sleeping in the same bed and not packing till the end of the cruise.

I love that the menu has a regional flair but our wait staff speaks the same language we do and rotates to each restaurant with us daily

And, I love irony. Today, I went for breakfast at Parrot Cay wearing a Hawaiin shirt. When I walked in a Jimmy Buffett song was playing in the restaurant followed by Bob Marley. So, I had biscuits and gravy for breakfast on a ship in Marseilles, France, listening to reggae in an island themed restaurant. Now that’s irony!
 

Today we arrived in La Spezia Italy! This is our first tendered port and it was quite nice to take the tender boat in as opposed to docking. Not quite as convenient at the end of your day, but it was a nice boat ride into the port.

La Spezia is a beautiful port city, streets lined with palms and sprinkled with parks. We did not have quite as early a morning today as yesterday in Rome, we met our excursion group at 8:15. After grouping and then the tender ride in, we boarded our bus for about an hour drive to Pisa, and a view of the most recognizable landmark in Italy, the leaning tower.

We arrived in Pisa and had a short walk over to the tower. We crossed thru the gates into the court area where the tower stands, and were immediately taken by beauty and magnificence of the buildings there. The first is the baptistery, the largest in the world. The next is St. Mary’s Cathedral, and finally the Leaning Tower of Pisa itself. It really is striking to stand so close to something so marvelous that you have seen in pictures all your life.

Today this was all we chose to do “officially” particularly after our LONG day in Rome yesterday, so we were headed back to the ship by 12:30.

After lunch, a short break, download pictures and catch up on some email, we were in need of something to do…. how about rest I thought, (did I mention our Rome day was long?) but Leslie knew there was shopping in La Spezia. She couldn’t convince Sarah to go, even though it was her birthday, she was too tired to shop!

So I was the closest victim Next thing I knew, I was on a tender heading for the shopping district. I must admit, it was a very nice respite walking thru the area and taking in all the local shops and  people. We have found the Italian people to be so friendly and helpful. Much different than last year in Paris. After a little shopping Leslie was ready for ice cream. We found a neat Gelateria here. Three scoops for 2 euro, the cheapest and by far the best yet, and the friendliest shopkeepers, or gelati scoopers, or whatever they call themselves. We shared a 3 scoop cup of Melone, something Italian Mango, and Strawberry, but it was in Italian too, but we recognized the picture. Much less creamy and more fruity than the others we’ve tried, and we are becoming authorities on Gelati.

Hey, find a niche and become an expert, it’s worked for me so far.

From the Disney Brochure:

From the Italian Renaissance to the Italian Riviera, the art of Masters to the art of Enzo Ferrari, this port of call offers a variety of experiences. Sandwiched between the hills and the sea, La Spezia historically offered a defensive advantage, reflected in the number of Genoese castles that stud the hills. And, although best known as a naval base, La Spezia is an elegant and surprisingly modern city. As well as museums and libraries housing works of art from 4,000 BC to the present day, here are contemporary buildings, including the new Kennedy shopping center on the edge of town.

The Public Gardens were created in the early 19th century and lead onto the Promenade, which offers a spectacular view across the Gulf, crowned by the sight of the Apuan Alps and the hills sweeping gracefully down the sea.

La Spezia lies at the doorstep of Florence, Pisa and Tuscany, and is famous for fine art, wines and a rich period of creativity and splendor. Feed your body, heart and soul in this very special part of Italy.

Today we embarked very early, 7:15, for our visit to Rome.

We had about an hour and a half bus ride into the city during which our guide told us of things to come.

Once we arrived we picked up another guide, a local expert of sorts, who used the “whispers”, that’s what they call the headsets, to point out sites of interest to us as we walked around in the group.

Our first stop was the Trevi Fountain. Tradition says if you stand with your back to the fountain and throw a coin over your shoulder, you will return to Rome. Throw two, you will meet your love, throw three, you will divorce.

Next we walked to the Forum, which is incredible to see. We moved on past statues and landmarks through the bustling city of Rome to the Coliseum, built in 72 A.D., which incredible does not begin to describe. Near the coliseum, you will see the smallest Arch and the largest in the world, which, when you think how long ago these structures were built and how hard it must have been without “modern machinery” it truly is unbelievable to see them still standing there today after centuries have past.

We left the Coliseum and found our bus to head for lunch. We were dropped off at a small quaint restaurant. We found a seat at a table where bottled water and red and white wine awaited us. Soon some bread arrived along with our salads, the tomatoes were excellent, so flavorful! For our main course we all were served a lasagna, I think Sarah counted the layers of fresh pasta at ten, could have been more, it was delicious! After our entrée, we enjoyed a cup of tiramisu and cappuccino, what a nice break!

After lunch, we were on our way to the Vatican City and St Peters Basilica, the largest Catholic Church ever built. We passed thru security much like airport security to enter St. Peters for a tour. After an informative guided portion of the tour, we were given a few minutes of free time to enjoy the Church and take photos.

We left St. Peters and had some time to explore some of the shops and do some shopping (yeah) before heading back to the ship. We arrived back at the ship at about 6:30, almost a 12 hour day. Everyone was exhausted, no shows tonight, just a showing of Pirates 3 in the Walt Disney Theatre. I guess the crew expected everyone to be tired.

From the Disney Brochure:Civitavecchia isn’t merely the principal port for Rome and central Italy, it is you r gateway to the history, art and culture for which this part of Italy is famous. Located on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the town itself is peppered with Etruscan, roman and medieval structures, highlighted by the 16th century fort Michelangelo.

Form this port, friends, Romans and countrymen followed ancient roads to the great empire of Rome. Here you will discover their influence on the known world, their engineering marvels- the Coliseum, the pantheon and the roman forum- as well as landmarks of more “recent” vintage: he Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Or if you choose, take in the majesty and magnificence of the Vatican.

Through the Civitavecchia gateway, you can explore one of the great centers of western civilization for more than 2,000 year, where the modern and the historic co-exist side-by-side. Rome was not built in a day, but that is all It will take for the city and its history to come alive for you.

Olbia

From the Disney Brochure:

Olbia translates to “a happy town,” and it is quite easy to see why. This idyllic village on the island of Sardinia is a curious dichotomy of wild and rocky coastline and beautiful sandy beaches, with an immense amphitheatre of mountains as a backdrop. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines and Spanish all arrived on this splendid island. Sardinia assimilated and reinterpreted all these different influences, integrated them into its own culture, but it did not allow the heart of its own profoun character to be touched or changed.

A perfect place to relax and recharge, the seaside landscapes, especially on the Costa Smeralda, are among the most beautiful in the world, with numerous small, enchanting islets scattered in front of the coasts.

From the St. Simplicio Catherdral to the Holy Well of Sa Testa, or the recent archaeological discover of 24 ships found during the construction of 24 ships found during the construction of a new tunnel, Olbia is steeped in history. Here’s your chance to capture a bit of the past, while enjoying the spirit of peace and tranquility offered today by this Mediterranean paradise.
 

From the Disney Brochure

A City of Music, Art and Adventure

Often described as somewhere akin to an Arab bazaar, and unlike anywhere else in Italy, Naples is a vibrant town that extends into the Gulf of Naples
under the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. The city is famous the world over for its artistic and natural beauty, its connection to a legendary past and, of course, its pizza.

Naples and the surrounding area attracts both tourists and artists with its wealth of historical monuments, their proximity to the beautiful Amalfi Coast and the famous Isle of Capri, and the archaeological treasures of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Diverse, eclectic ad laden with treasures of art, culture and images frozen in time, the city and its surroundings have a charm all their own.

With a compact city center replete with ancient churches, a medieval university, noisy street markets and hundreds of cafes, bars and restaurants,
Naples is an unforgettable experience for the entire family.

Our day in Naples

Today we met our group at 8am in the Walt Disney Theatre for the Amalfi Coast & the Ruins of Pompeii; we had heard great things about this excursion, but we had no idea how really exciting it was going to be.

We boarded our bus and set out to the Amalfi Coast drive.

Just before we started up the coast, we stopped off at a shop that specialized in inlayed wood products. There was a demonstration of how the craftsman
create the beautiful tables and different wood pieces such as trays, frames and other items with different decorative designs in the wood furnishings. They also offer refreshments and chances to buy their creations.

After a short break we started up Amalfi. To say this road is narrow is an extreme understatement. It twists and turns very sharply around the rugged coastline.

In some places there is barely enough room for one car to pass by, and many times the buses have to wait before the turns so all the cars can pass. But, in other places it’s wide enough for two buses to pass by each other but just barely! Many of the buses have scrape marks along the side, and for good reason.

After about a couple of hours of the breathtaking winding coastline we stopped and had lunch at Hotel Panorama. We ate on the roof which gave a great “Panoramic” view of the Amalfi coast. When we arrived there was bottled water and wine set on the table. Then we were served bread and a dish of Cannelloni filled with Ricotta and Spinach. This was the appetizer. After we feasted on a buffet which offered Proschuto, fresh mozzarella, salad, tomatoes, stuffed zucchini, egg plant, chips (french fries), among other things. Having finished our main course, we were served ice cream, what a delightful break!

When we finished we continued up the coast to the ruins of Pompeii. At the entrance there are several shops and restaurants. Among these is a shop that creates  Cameo designs in sea shells. We were offered a demonstration by one of the local masters and given a tour of their showroom.

Then we proceeded for about an hour and a half guided tour of the ruins of Pompeii, which was destroyed when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. During our tour our guide used a microphone and we all had headsets to make it easier to hear and keep up with her. What an incredible tour! To see so much history, you can still see the cart tracks along the streets that were uncovered by the archaeological digs in the mid 1800’s.

This was a long tour, about 9 hours, but it was outstanding!

From the Disney Brochure:

A Fertile Land Through the Ages

In its own wide bay underneath the limestone bulk of Monte Pelegrino, and fronting the broad, fertile Coca d’Oro (Goden Shell) Valley, Palero is a city steeped in history. Originally a Phoenician, then a Carthaginian colony, this remarkable city was long considered a prize worth capturing. When Roger II was made King of Sicily, t became the prosperous capital of the Norman Kingdom respendent with wonderful palaces, luxuriant gardens, and monuments considered as symbols of this crossroads of culture.

Historical Palermo sits compactly around one central crossroads, the Quattro Canti, which is at the core of four distinct quarters. Here ou will see a reflection of the diverse history of the region through many masterpieces from different periods, including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance ad Baroque architecture as well as examples of modern art.

From basking in the Mediterranean sun to sampling the local wines, the sights and sounds of Palermo are rich in quality and flavor. Enjoy the Sicilian hospitality and your Palermo adventure.

Today we arrived in Palermo, on the coast of Sicily. As we pulled into port, watching all the local sea traffic of all kinds with the Pellegrino Mountains in the background, I remembered the words from a favorite song, “when that bug bites you, you live with the sting” I was bitten today by the Italian coast. It is breathtakingly beautiful!

Today we met our group at 8:15 for the “sights of Palermo” shore excursion, part bus part tour, part  walking tour, we visited Quattro Canti (Four Corners) which is the traditional center of Palermo & Martorana Church. We went on to the Palermo Cathedral which is both beautiful and architechturally diverse, having been “remodled” over the years by different rulers to keep up appearances, so as to show the people they were “looking after the church” after a couple more stops and sights including mansions with beautiful gardens, we endend our tour at one of the oldest gelateria’s in Palermo with some refreshing ice cream.

Tonight we have dinner in Lumiere’s and we are all looking forward to that!

That’s all for now, more tomorrow as we visit Naples!

From the Disney brochure -

Facing the sea and sheltered by the Collserola mountain range, Barcelona is often described as the “City of Marvels”.

Diversity is the key to this extrodinary region, and the typical Mediterranean climate is perfect for exploring all the city has to offer.

Downtown Barcelona is divided into two areas – the Old City that faces the sea, and, nearly surrounding the Old City, new neighborhoods. Her you can enjoy Cataloia’s modernist architecture of the late 19th and 20th centuries – a unique melting pot of Art Nouveau, Gothic, Moorish and other styles that include the inspiring creations of Antoni Gaudi and other well known artists of the time.

Because Barcelona is such a Cosmopolitan city, prepare to enjoy the people, a lively group proud of their culture, their music and their beautiful city, and who take great pleasure in hosting visitors. The city is bilingual, with most of its residents speaking Catalan, the local language of Romance origin, as well as Castillian Spanish spoken throughout the rest of the country.

Barcelona is virtually an open- air museum, filled with culture, entertainment and a rich history

Today after having a light lunch aboard the ship, finding our stateroom, and attending the Mandatory safety drill, we ventured back out into Old Town. Leslie, Sarah, Laurie Smyda and myself took a local bus, (about 3 euros each) for the 10 min or so drive to La Rambla, a melange of culture, street vendors and spontaneous performances along five seperate streets, strung togrther to form a tree-lined boulevard alive with activity. We saw living statues, musicians and performers entertaing the crowds gathered all around,

We sampled some tapas, a local traditional snack that cover everything from seafood to vegetabls and had calamari from one of the many sidewalk cafes.

We had our first dinner aboard the Magic at Animators Palate and met our wait staff who will be moving to each restaurant with us for the next ten days. The menu was flavored with local offerings and we all enjoyed it very much, even though after the long flight and our day in Barcelona the exhaustion was creeping in!

That’s all for now, tomorrow will be a relaxing sea day, and give us a chance to settle in and refresh for Palermo, our next port.