Mallorca

Of course, this turned out to be one of the hottest days.  We were supposed to do a walking tour but couldn't locate the meeting place, so went straight to the Cathedral.  The admission included the best audio guide ever!  We all were enthralled by the beauty and majesty of this lovely place. One of my favorites of all we have visited in Europe.  Art and I had visited here many years ago but had forgotten how beautiful it is.  Nick and Max felt the same way.  We spent several hours here much to my delight.

Famous Rose Window

Opposite side of the Cathedral

We left the Cathedral and went on a quest to find the restaurant where we had had the best Paella on our previous trip.  Found the street only to learn that the restaurant had closed 6 years ago :(

Since it was very hot, we decided to find Paella some place else.  We followed the directions from the tourist bureau agent and ate at a little place near the harbor.  The Paella was good but not the way we remembered it.

    The boys like it!

We decided to return to the ship to cool off and try some of the fun things on the ship.  Some pictures of the Flowrider which they didn't get to do ( sorry pictures didn't load )- the line was long and it was very hot and sunny :(

Dinner was, once again, excellent ( both food and service).  

After dinner we saw an amazing performance of Mama Mia - as good as any show we had ever seen with many standing ovations and encores.  Art and I went to bed and the boys did whatever teens do when the old folks aren't around :)

Entering Palma

After dinner on Central Park deck

Barcelona

We enjoyed a wonderful day in Barcelona.  Took an early shuttle from the ship to the Columbus memorial at the foot of La Rambla.  We walked on this main tourist pedestrian walkway to show the boys a bit of the area before streets before our sceduled walk with the Bean Runner volunteer tour group  through the Ciutat Vella ( old city).  These free city walks have worked so well for us in a variety of cities.  The tours are free - you tip the guide based on your impression of the quality of the tour.

Amazing Small World experience....as we walked up La Rambla, we noticed a young girl wearing a Carolina Rapids tee shirt!  I asked if she played for them and she said yes!  We chatted with her parents, who, of course,  knew Ellen (who is the Operations Officer for the Rapids) and introduced ourselves and Nicholas!  They live in Cornelius!  I was wearing my Davidson visor!

Back to our tour: the tour was an especially good one due to the vivacious, funny and knowledgable guide, Ruth, who kept track of the group of 23 (like herding cats) while being aware of the hot, sunny day and the time.  We had done a similar tour last year and still learned a lot.

Ruth and Art

After the tour, we made our way to a Tapas restaurant, recommended by Ruth, for lunch.  We each picked something from the menu and shared a carafe of Sangria ( yes, breaking the law by offering some to Max and Nick).  We are such bad influences :). 

 Of course, lunch was followed by our daily Gelato ( on a scientific quest to identify the best) !   Then we headed back to the ship to get out of the very hot sun and rest for awhile.  The boys rest included playing more Ping Pong.  And I do mean the 3 boys.  My idea of rest was to go to the Diamond Lounge for a delicious Lemon Drop Martini and chat with the Concierge about the cruise and the passengers ( enough said).

Dinner was wonderful.  Had a window table with our now regular server, Michele. Nick has now joined Max in nightly Shrimp Cocktail plus another starter!  She loves taking care of them.  We have requested to be seated in her section every night.  

The wonder of this evening was the Aquashow with incredibly talented swimmers, divers, dancers and trampoline artists.  We were lucky to get seats For this overbooked venue.  And we Had our first Frou Frou drinks - 2 alcoholic and 2 not from the  Tequila  Bar while watching.

Only Sea Day...thank goodness!

This ship carries more than 5000 people. Today was the day that we found out why that doesn't work. On a day when most of the passengers are off of the ship for at least part of the day, there is plenty of opportunity to find a place wherever you wish to be.  However when everyone is on at the same time...it is a madhouse!  Noisy, many venues including the lunch buffet inaccessible, no pool chairs anywhere, etc.  

We actually slept til 10 AM...a major feat.  Max and Nick slept til about 1 PM!  Much of the day was spent trying to find a chair by a pool , in the solarium, on the deck overlooking the pool or just in a quiet corner.  No such luck.  The guys enjoyed ping pong, basketball, and putt putt.

  I read in our cabin for awhile.  Even finding lunch was difficult.  The line to the buffet was the width of the ship and moved slowly.  The boys grabbed 'stuff' at several venues - hot dogs, pizza, buffet in the sports area. I skipped lunch ( no loss....my calorie count is not going to be a topic of the blog :)).  

We did have an enjoyable dinner in our assigned My Time Dining restaurant ( American Icon).  Our server loves the boys - she is a kind, chatty Jamaican lady and the boys enjoy her. Max gets his shrimp cocktail every night and she likes to call the boys by name remembering thei likes.  

We all had Lasagna, yum!  Desserts follow...

Port - Naples; excursion to the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii

Very early start this morning. Proud of the boys for being ready for breakfast at the Windjammer Landing buffet. We met Walter and Doris and her parents at 7:30 and made our way off the ship in plenty of time for our 8 AM pick-up. Off we went in Giovanni's Mercedi Van on a clear, warm morning - water bottles full and much needed on what turned out to be a hot, sunny day. The drive was a bit easier than we remembered from our first Mediterranean cruise 10 years ago. A new tunnel and wider road helped but the crazies on Mopeds that passed on curves that didn't allow them to see oncoming trucks gave me palpitations. We enjoyed getting to know Walter and his family fron FL and enjoyed Giovanni's commentary as we made our way to beautiful Positano with several Photo stops along the way. We spent an hour in this hilly town with a long walk downhill with many steps ( ouch saiid my knees).

Then off to Sorrento for lunch overlooking the sea. pizza again even better than before.  A bit of shopping and on to Pompeii.  Our guide Francesca gave us a wonderful tour of the ruins on a hot, sunny afternoon.  This is truly a must see place ( with good walking shoes and on a cooler day). We were saved by a Gatorade rest stop!   Returned to the ship in time for showers and a bit of a rest before dinner.  Then one of the most amazing shoes we have seen on a cruise ship ...Blue Planet.  Much like the acrobatic dance shows in Vegas.  The boys actually went to the gym after the show.....the old folks went for a wLk and the off to bed...  A truly great day!

On the way to Positano

Fruit on the right are Lemons!

Walking to the beach in Positano

Vesuvius in the distance from restaurant in Sorrento

Sun in eyes at lunch...hard to get them to pose :)

Entrance to Pompeii...thermal Baths just opened to the public

Max at original Fresco

Formal night...sharp looking escorts

What shall we eat tonight?

Day's End

Fabulous, if exhausting,1st day

After breakfast, we gathered our things, walked a quick 2 blocks to the free shuttle bus and had checked baggage, filled out health forms, and checked-in as #1 priority passengers by 10:45. 

                   

   

  Earliest and quickest check-in ever.  Our cabins were to be ready by so we wandered around the ship for awhile, had lunch at the Solarium Bistro ( meaning we actually had a healthy meal :)) and the room ready announcement came 15 minutes ahead of schedule.  Took our carry-on bags to the room and the boys ( all 3) left to play ping pong.   Seemed strange to me since this ship has an amazing number and variety of activities available.  But they were happy and I enjoyed some time to relax and get settled.  Luggage arrived fast so settling in was easy.

I don't think we will have any trouble making our 10,000 steps.  This ship is huge.  The only time I've gotten completely lost on a ship - several times.  It is really an amazing ship especially for people with children of all ages.  

Main Promenade - 5th deck

Will take more ship board pictures on our sea day on Saturday

The Teen area is remarkable and the number of kids playing basketball, ping pong, kicking soccer balls, trying the Flowrider, etc, is the most I have ever seen.  The pool for smaller children is delightful, very Disneyesque.  We'd toured the whole ship twice and it's really mindboggling.  Very crowded due to the time of the year but bearable.  

Not my typical cup of tea, but so perfect for Max and Nick...a very good decision for this trip.   They are still very tired from lack of sleep, napped this afternoon, and ran on a long indoor  track in an out of the way location to help themselves adapt.

Dinner was at the American Icon Restaurant ( euphemism for a main dining room) at 6 pm.  Nice room, a bit noisy and adequate service, the food was quite good.  We all had different starters and entrees and everyone liked the meal.  

Of course desserts included Creme Brûlée ( me), Warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream (Poppa and Nick ) and a decadent Praline Finger  with chocolate and vanilla mousse (Max).  Thankful for the length of the ship...these calories can really add up.

After dinner, we watched the parade through the Promenade desk...a cross between Disney and Mardi Gras). 

Then we all went to the evening musical show "Queen Rocks".  It was a great show-- enjoyed by all - we think we were the oldest ones there!  On the way back to our room, Art found a new friend. 

!Missy will be jealous.

Off to bed with dreams of the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii tomorrow