20 Elba, last full day of cruise

Tonight we will have to pack up so today there is still great adventures to be had. We are doing last minute laundry items in preparation for packing, and there are line ups for same.

We just pulled in to port and the fog from the sea has lifted to another beautiful sunny blue sky day. The port is lovely and no other ships dock here. Our ship is small enough to pull right in to port. I don’t know much about this island and I have never been before. It is picturesque with colourful buildings around the u shaped port. We won’t do a tour but will go ashore and explore for a few hours. This afternoon some time to enjoy the sun, and pool area, followed by packing up of the items that are dry from laundry day and then last night dinner meal and the show tonight. Bags out for 11 pm and off to Rome tomorrow. Later we decide to keep our bags and wheel them off in the morning making packing stress disappear. Also laundry has more time to hang dry around the room.

Our friends have arranged a private shuttle to their hotel in Rome and invited us to share it including costs. It will be a great way to get to Rome, store our luggage in their hotel for the day, then maybe do a hop on hop off bus to see the sights in a more leisurely fashion. I want to toss coins in to Trevi fountain and then spend some time on Spanish steps before heading to the airport.

I am enjoying this quiet time in the laundry to catch up a bit on this blog. When traveling with others it can be challenging to keep up with personal routines involving blogging and personal writing. I have kept up a bit of posting of pictures on my Facebook.

Beautiful, wish you were here,

Pamela

19 Livorno to Lucca

We are still docked in Livorno today, having overnighted last night and today heading back out to the trains. We already purchased our tickets and this is a place I have not been to before so exciting. Train travel from Livorno through Pisa to Lucca.

Up for breakfast in buffet with Barb and Anne and we are on our way. Again a taxi to the train station as it is quite far. We did it yesterday and it seemed good to share the expenses.

Sky is beautiful blue. The sea reflects the color and calm. The sun is sparkling off the water and brings promise of another forty degree day Celsius. It has been hot here. Evenings on the water cool down a bit, day time is hot hot hot.

We make frequent stops for beverages, bit of food, gelato, water and use of toilettes.

Fields of sunflowers and lavender out our train window as we head to Lucca. There is a Pam grocery store, and Pam is on many sewer covers in Europe. Hmmmm

The farming lush Tuscany valley is so beautiful. Some stone walled areas, like maybe once for protection like fortress? San Giuliano Terme statione is where we are while I am typing this note.

Next Rigoli station. Corn, wheat, and other crops can be seen. Dressed in white again to keep a comfortable as possible in the heat.

Ripafratta another statione. I love Italian words and accent although a bit more aggressive sounding when spoken quickly. Most accents delight me. When people speak English with a strong accent, I enjoy the sounds.

Red tile roofs sloping and glowing in the sun catch my eye. Buildings new and old seem to be in the same style and color type. Nicer apartment buildings as we near Lucca, more modern and some quite new but with the old country style.

Lucca is a wonderful old walled city and I took many pictures. We found another gluten free pizza place so I had one. It was great to be able to participate in Italian cuisine! Had some Chianti and bubbly water. We walked lots and shopped a little. Took train return to Livorno.

Back on ship for some pool time and then out for drinks and dinner with some travel agent friends. Breathtaking sunset over the sea, peaches and orange. The service was outstanding at dinner. Tomorrow night lobster again, twice on this 7 day cruise.

Good night all,

Love Pam

18 Florence, Firenze Italy

Up not too early, breakfast buffet and off the ship to land. We took a taxi with our new friends Anne and Barb from Toronto, and arrived at Livorno train station. We bought return tickets to Firenze. Anne and Barb brought deck of cards and we played Euchre all the way, just over an hour.

Walked through Florence at a speed in the sun. The gals purchased fabulous leather hand bags. We stopped for a brief lunch and beverages. Then Gelato. We saw statues and the bridge Ponte Vecchio. Then a brisk walk back to begin the journey by train back to Livorno.

So exhausted from heat we started to fall sleep. We wanted to get back in time for the theme event on the ship, the white night. Everyone dressed, table tops covered on open deck, music live followed by DJ Marcio. It was fun and magic and the frozen margaritas were refreshing. We danced.

This is really a great offering with Azamara Club Cruises, to have the white night event. All white table cloths adorn tables on the outside pool deck. All guests are invited to wear white. The servers are also in white shirts. The food is an outdoor barbecue Mediterranean style.

Lots of great flavours and sights that fill the senses. Lovely event under the sky aboard such a beautiful ship.

Pam

17

We skipped Vernazza to disembark, however pulled in to port twice in the water taxi. We got a good view of Corniglia from sea and the others as well. Porto Venere is our stop to get the tender back to ship. Pronounced ven-er-rey. Going to have a cold frozen margarita with salted rim, and prepare for supper. No idea what it is as last evening we were at the event.

I would love to have a few hours to lay around the pool one day however not sure if that is going to be possible. Must be half way through cruise now. Next two days in area of Florence and may go to Lucca. Then island of Elba and off to Rome for a day, fly to London for overnight and back to Halifax to prepare to go home.

Tanned people sitting and many dozing from the heat of the day, and activities and now the inactivity on the water taxi. A full day of shopping, hiking, seeing, being and likely eating. Exploring and finding new adventures in the out of doors in one of the most photographed and beautiful places on earth.

Rock formations tell the oldest story. Homes more current. Strategically placed on the cliffs and banks seen by water craft. Many it appears are growing vines for their famous wine. It can’t be an easy life for these crafts people. I would not want to live here however I do enjoy the visit.

Wish you were here!

Love P

16 Porto Venere and CinqueTerre

Water taxi at10 am, loved little port city Proto Venere, including tourist booh and clean public toilettes! We look forward to walking some more there when we return later today.

Cool breeze out on water. Not a cloud in sky, hot hot by 10 am. Sitting inside ou of the sun beside window with breeze. Can see high steep terraced land and the odd hat blown off someone’s head that is sitting up front in the direct wind. An offering gratefully. Accepted by the sea. Last time I visited this part of the world, I took a train from LaSpizia with the womens travel club. It was hot. We were not able to do it today as no train from Porto Venere and I am grateful for this small but significant difference.

I look around at the wardrobe choices of the folks on this vacation taxi. I spy one of the colourful towns out the far side window. Colourful and built in to the steep hillside cliff. Golds, pink, peach, yellow, green, tan, beige, red.

Gluten free pizza, focaccia and torte in Manorola, second stop. Awesome … Very excited. Got post cards and stickers as well. Seems smaller than Rio Maggiore, which was our first top. Tons of steps up up and up. Then came down through tiny steps, a maze really, back to the shore. Water taxi gives us an hour at each stop. Two in the next one. And I will have something to nibble on! In France there was meringues, not so much in Italy that I have found. Not that I am starving :). Food is great on the cruise!

We have to eat focaccia on ferry to Monterossa …. Steve gets a beer or two. Stunningly beautiful blue sky with green slopes and rocky shores. Caves and tunnels visible. Coloured homes space on the cliff sides. The sea is bright blue and sparkling, inviting. Many people are here for the swimming and are wearing bathing suits.

Some evidence of fortresses.

Monterossa hot in the sun, followed by Vernazza and then back to the ship for evening festivities. What a glorious day on Cinque Terre!

Wish you were here,

Love Pamela

15 Azamazing Evening

30 July 2013 with our new friends Anne and Barb. They are travel consultants from Toronto area. We eat together and we have been meeting for drinks as well.

Today I went in to PortoFino with the gals, we stopped and enjoyed this beautiful harbour city. Very popular with the yachts and so some cafes and women’s shops. The gals drink prosecco, a kind of bubbly champagne from Italy. We logged on and swapped Facebook info and became ‘friends’.

After a few hours of walking around we purchased a one way ticket on a water taxi in a large yacht type ferry to Santa Margherita. We shopped there,and enjoyed water, wine and the girls ate Margherita pizza! It was great. Then we caught the tender boat as the Azamara Journey. Had moved its location and was now providing tenders from the new port of call, only 15 minute ferry ride down the coast of Italy.

When we arrived on board we met up at the pool deck for frozen margarita drinks, salmon brochettes and lamb, salad and desserts. An hour of rest and get dressed for the evening.

Now we are waiting for our tender ship and off to a castle villa for an evening of food, music and good friends. Tis event surely sets,apart Azamara from the other cruise lines.

Fabulous blue sky, warm breeze and the most beautiful coast line in Italian Riviera.

Steve is telling ghost stories from his paranormal interest and experiences in Victoria.

14 first day cruising.

Woke up early as I have a seminar at 8 am. We have arrived at Calvi in Corsica France, with heavy moist air, grey skies and predictions of sunny 35 degree weather. Hmmmmmmm

All morning in the three hour seminar the rain fell. They offered and showed movie Skyfall in the large lounge on three screens. We watched it and then had a quick lunch and went out in the hot sun to explore the port of call.

Napoleon’s birthplace, some other famous folks from here, mostly for. Me it was beautiful and scenic. High rock walls, lots of flowers and trees, balconies and alleyways with narrow staircases. Very fun place. Bit of shopping in old town.

Returned to ship, changed clothes for cocktail party 530 pm followed by dinner.

Now getting ready for sleep and two ports tomorrow, Portofino followed by Santa Margarita and the Azamazing Evening!

Have not figured out the Internet yet. Tomorrow. I have seminar at 7 am for an hour.

Love p
Xoxo

13

Missed a few days. Action packed tourism including day trip to Cannes and Antibes by train. Now aboard Azamara Journey for 7 day awesome cruise. Our luggage has arrived and we have met some fabulous people, also with Expedia CruiseShipCenters (Toronto and Abbotsford). The ship is full apparently and the crew entirely different than when I was on with mom. The wait staff and dining room attendants are the same.

Greeted at deck five with several glasses of champagne to soothe the weary traveler. The heat and walking, bus, trains, taxis all forgotten with the pink bubbly designed to help people relax in to the Azamara vacation experience. It totally worked.

More details include beautiful port of call and embarkation at Monte Carlo,Monaco. Dance classes Wednesday and Friday for jive dance. Every night in the disco. Cha cha, rumba and other dances also going to happen. The ports of call are spectacular and highly anticipated.

The big yachts pulling into the harbour, bigger than a house, huge pool, many beds and lounge areas.

We had a lovely lunch on board, and attended the mandatory life boat drill. Then met new friends for dinner, greeted by the wait staff in dining room from last cruise. That was fun. Food and service fabulous, table by window.

Followed by the evening show, and then dancing in night club for a few hours.

Wish you were here, great balcony, warm air and off to foreign lands.

Xoxoxo

12. Nice

It begins. We arrive and take taxi to our hotel in Nice. Luggage arrived as well.

Hotel Anis is a nice little boutique three star hotel in a run down kind of area. I think it looks quaint. Perhaps I see with rosé color glasses. I had stayed at a fabulous place in Nice previously, Victor Hugo hotel, also boutique but it was not available. Anis had a good review in most sites, a bit in need of renovations. Smallish rooms and washrooms that are small but adequate.

We decide not even to unpack, just get out there to see what there is and to pick up some dinner. We caught the city bus to the far other end of the Promenade Les Englais. At the port area, lots of restaurants and interesting people watching.

We walk, we sit and enjoy appetizers from France and I have a Caesar salad with chicken, a few bottles of rosé wine shared, big bottle of cool sparkling water. So enjoyable to sit and enjoy the view. A few local ferries, lots of tourists.

We walk down the Promenade on way back to our hotel, and get about half way, enjoy gelato at Gelateria Pinochio. We look at the map and see we are about half way, it is late and dark. We get a taxi to the hotel and have a great sleep.

Night one in France. Beautiful heat, people swimming in the sea. Music by buskers, couples walking hand in hand, women in high shoes, practical tourists. Stunningly beautiful.

Today we walk down the other end of the Promenade and get as far as the Gelateria …. So we have now walked the whole length of it. Yippee. Coming back later today for a swim. Today Sarah is feeling the heat and so we shall do some shopping. Tomorrow train to Antibbes and then Cannes, also hoping for a swim in the sea.

It is beautiful here,like Hawaii temperature and palm trees, beach and lines of hotels on the beach. Perhaps less people and a bit more organized and spacious on the beach. Less sandy and more rocks may be the deciding difference. Cool breeze is coming in from the water. I love Europe and France, as well as Italian Riviera. A lot of people vacation here and I can see why. So laid back and people walking to and from as well as along the beach.

Beautiful, wish you were here, (We see the umbrellas and lounge chairs from the movie, French Kiss)

Pamela

11 Lufthansa

Last leg of the journey to Nice. I was in Frankfurt several hours, got a room at the Hilton and had a nice sleep and refreshing shower. I purchased a Europe plug converter and bottle of water once through security.

It is a big airport and I have been here before. We saw a Starbucks but on other side of security and time is running out so we proceed without. No doubt we will find one around Nice.

I have had the good fortune to land exit rows and leg room on all segments of this flight adventure. How wonderful. Sometimes to feel abundance all we need to do is ask and be open.

This is a short flight to Nice, just over an hour. No movies, looks like wine is being served … Yes! The food is glutinous, pasta salad and bread, however I am carrying some almonds I purchased so I am good to do without this brief meal. I am certain there will be dining this evening in Nice. Sarah is already there.

White wine, water and lovely service. I like the yellow scarves. I love to stretch out my legs and relax in to the flight. I like to fly. I enjoy the travel experience even in foreign countries. Maybe even especially in European lands.

Tools for thought and staying in prosperity.
Morning pages, without fail, 3 x 8.5 x 11 first thing in morning
Counting all money in and out
Walking 20 minutes twice a week
Mindfulness 5 minutes twice a day as a time out
Abstinence from increasing debt

Pam