Today we have a relaxing day at sea! Great time to visit the "Adults Only" Sanctuary
Travel news, and trip reports from around the globe.
19 August - Sailing day!!
Today we finally boarded the Enchanted Princess for a two week cruise!
We have a beautiful mini-suite . . . . .
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18 August - Barcelona, Spain
This morning I took it easy since I was starting to get a cold so I went out only in the afternoon to see some sights I had not seen on my last trip to Barcelona.
I also took the cable car over the city. I love cable cars and take them every time a city has one.
In the evening we went to this cute Spanish village called Poble Espanyol. In this village you discover a typical Andalusian neighborhood to a Catalan Romanesque monastery, passing through the traditional architecture of Galicia. Streets, squares and more than 100 full-scale recreations of buildings make up this unique town located in the center of Barcelona.
It is filled with artisan craft stores of all kinds, it is a fantastic place!
We went to a Flamenco show after dinner which was really fun.
17 August - Barcelona, Spain
Well after a 90 minute delay we were off for Barcelona! Nice flight all the way on Air Canada. On arrival because we were late getting in my pre-planned transfer was no where to be found. After two hours of trying to reach someone who spoke English on the phone finally we got someone who arranged a transfer! Got to the hotel 3 hours later than we were supposed to so I missed my time slot to see the Sagrada Familia which I had booked 6 months ago!
I decided to go anyways at 3PM instead of 1:30 but Jacques was not feeling up to it so off I went prepared to beg to get in anyways....lol.
Sooooo glad I went since it was magnificent! Took some great shots.
Barcelona Coming Soon!
Well we are off tomorrow! Can't wait to be in Barcelona, Spain!
Now I have to pack! LOL I always wait til the last minute but I will be ready by tomorrow...lol
Speak to you in Barcelona!
Princess Cruise 2023!
There are only 55 days until my 2023 cruise on Princess! On August 19th. I will sail on the Enchanted Princess for a 14 day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, Spain to Athens, Greece!
You can check out my daily itinerary at this link:
https://francinv.wixsite.com/grandexplorer
17 December 2023 - Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Time stands still even in Road Town, the island's biggest community, where the hands of the central square's clock occasionally move but never tell the right time. The harbor, however, is busy with sailboats—this is the charter-boat capital of the Caribbean. Tortola's roads dip and curve around the island and lead to lovely, secluded spots.
Tortola is definitely busy these days, particularly when several cruise ships tie up at the Road Town dock. Passengers crowd the streets and shops, and open-air jitneys filled with them create bottlenecks on the island's byways. That said, most folks visit Tortola to relax on its deserted sands or linger over lunch at one of its many delightful restaurants. Beaches are never more than a few miles away, and the steep green hills that form Tortola's spine are fanned by gentle trade winds. The neighboring islands glimmer like emeralds in a sea of sapphire. It can be a world far removed from the hustle of modern life.
Still a British colonial outpost, the island's economy depends on tourism and its offshore financial-services businesses. With a population of around 24,000, most people work in those industries or for the local government. You'll hear lots of crisp British accents thanks to a large number of expats who call the island home, but the melodic West Indian accent still predominates.
Initially settled by Taíno Indians, Tortola saw a string of visitors over the years. Christopher Columbus sailed by in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World, and Spain, Holland, and France made periodic visits about a century later. Sir Francis Drake arrived in 1595, leaving his name on the passage between Tortola and St. John. Pirates and buccaneers followed, the British finally laying claim to the island in the late 1600s. In 1741 John Pickering became the first lieutenant governor of Tortola, and the seat of the British government moved from Virgin Gorda to Tortola. As the agrarian economy continued to grow, slaves were imported from Africa. The slave trade was abolished in 1807, but slaves in Tortola and the rest of the BVI did not gain their freedom until August 1, 1834, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read at Sunday Morning Well in Road Town. That date is celebrated every year with the island's annual Carnival.
15 September - Kristiansand, Norway
Today we were in Kristiansand, Norway. Every year thousands of tourists visit the local coastal area, enjoying its fjords and thousands of small islands. The Kristiansand area has more days of sunshine than any other location in Scandinavia, and the beaches and smooth rocks are ideal for sunbathing. The area is considered being the number one holiday area in Norway. By charter boats tourists can visit the unique scenery and the charming fishing villages with their traditional white wooden houses. Salmon fishing is popular at the river that runs through the city. At the Fisherman's wharf one can find an exciting fish market, lively restaurants, small boat traffic and sight-seeing boats.
Since the renaissance town was founded in 1641, Kristiansand has boasted one of the world largest fleets of sailing ships until the beginning of the last century. Often being the first Cruise Port for ships arriving from Europe.
Posebyen is what's left of Kristiansand's old town. It occupies several blocks on the eastern part of the town center. Here you can still see small, white, single-storey, wooden houses occupy a whole block. Very peaceful just a few minutes' walk from the busy shopping streets. Ravnedalen (Ravens' Valley) is a lovely park just outside the city center. It is surrounded with steep cliffs and presents the visitor with lush flower gardens and manicured laws perfect for picnics.There's also a café.The Odderøya peninsula (just to the right if you walk off the cruise pier) is a former military area that has been converted into a recreational park a few years ago. It makes for pleasant and quiet nature strolls, with views across town or across the sea.
This was the last port on the cruise, tomorrow we will be at sea before returning to Southampton on Saturday, it sure has gone by fast!
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