For those who aren't familiar, curling is like shuffleboard on ice: you push a "rock" down the length of the ice while your teammates sweep the area in front of it until the rock stops in a targeted area where points are awarded.
Madison has one of the largest curling clubs in the nation in the Madison Curling Club (about 500 members), located in McFarland. The club has its own facility, built just a few years ago, after the old location on East Washington got to be too old. Many teams from around the country and Canada stop in for matches.
I have to note: curling is a social sport. After you play a team, you sit with them in the banquet area and have drinks/dinner with them (how fun!). And that may also be the one negative of joining the club--the immense time commitment. Matches take two hours, and then you socialize for another two. Leagues run from fall to spring.
In case you didn't know, the Madison Curling Club also is host to the top women's team in the world. They competed in 2006 and will compete again in 2010.
Spectators are always welcome. And next October, make sure to visit during the open houses for an introduction to curling.
For more information, check out www.madisoncurlingclub.com.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Mystique Casino
A short drive from Madison (about an hour and 45 min.) is Mystique Casino in Iowa, better known as Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino. Mystique is a lot more fun than two closer casinos, Ho-Chunk (Baraboo) and Potawatomi (Milwaukee), and here's why:
Mystique does have table games, including craps and poker. Even on a Saturday night, one can find several tables with a $5 minimum (unheard of in most casinos).
The dining options are good, with a fancier restaurant (Champagne), a Houlihan's and a buffet (Bon Appetit). Not surprisingly, drinks are not free (even when you gamble), but they are pretty cheap ($2.50 for a Jack and Coke).
Mystique has live entertainment weekly, and it even draws bigger names as evidenced by Gin Blossoms booked to perform in a few weeks.
And of course, there is the dog park. One may sit inside or outside. There's usually about 14 races several nights a week.
More info at: www.dgpc.com
Mystique does have table games, including craps and poker. Even on a Saturday night, one can find several tables with a $5 minimum (unheard of in most casinos).
The dining options are good, with a fancier restaurant (Champagne), a Houlihan's and a buffet (Bon Appetit). Not surprisingly, drinks are not free (even when you gamble), but they are pretty cheap ($2.50 for a Jack and Coke).
Mystique has live entertainment weekly, and it even draws bigger names as evidenced by Gin Blossoms booked to perform in a few weeks.
And of course, there is the dog park. One may sit inside or outside. There's usually about 14 races several nights a week.
More info at: www.dgpc.com
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Abbey Resort
While Lake Geneva, Wis., is known throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois as a vacation hotspot, its neighboring city, Fontana (located on the west edge of Lake Geneva), doesn't get as much publicity. Fontana is much smaller and doesn't have a "downtown" or main strip, but it does have a beach and a great resort called the Abbey (about a 75-min drive from Madison).
The Abbey has an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis courts, several restaurants and bars, a marina and a full-service spa called Avani. The resort is designed to look like an abbey, though it never was one.
The food was great (had the all-you-can-eat prime rib and crab leg dinner, amongst other meals), and not too pricey despite being a resort. The lounge had a nice selection of martinis, and the cigar lounge was a relaxing way to cap the night.
The spa, though rather expensive, is definitely worth a visit. It has exercise equipment, a sauna, a steamroom, a lap pool, a jacuzzi, a private outdoor pool and of course, massage services.
A few minor complaints about the Abbey: Because it was built out instead of up, depending on what room you get, you can be really far away from the restaurants, pool, etc. Also, the indoor pool doesn't have a handicap accessible entrance--since the resort is family-friendly, it makes it hard to get your stroller there. Lastly, the beds are very high off the ground; it takes a while to get used to and not fall on your first step.
The Abbey Resort is definitely worth a visit. More info at www.theabbeyresort.com.
The Abbey has an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis courts, several restaurants and bars, a marina and a full-service spa called Avani. The resort is designed to look like an abbey, though it never was one.
The food was great (had the all-you-can-eat prime rib and crab leg dinner, amongst other meals), and not too pricey despite being a resort. The lounge had a nice selection of martinis, and the cigar lounge was a relaxing way to cap the night.
The spa, though rather expensive, is definitely worth a visit. It has exercise equipment, a sauna, a steamroom, a lap pool, a jacuzzi, a private outdoor pool and of course, massage services.
A few minor complaints about the Abbey: Because it was built out instead of up, depending on what room you get, you can be really far away from the restaurants, pool, etc. Also, the indoor pool doesn't have a handicap accessible entrance--since the resort is family-friendly, it makes it hard to get your stroller there. Lastly, the beds are very high off the ground; it takes a while to get used to and not fall on your first step.
The Abbey Resort is definitely worth a visit. More info at www.theabbeyresort.com.
Friday, May 29, 2009
The New Kalahari
In December, the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells completed yet another expansion, this time building an indoor amusement park that connects the hotel to both Damon's and the movie theater (both were stand-alones before). The indoor park is full of fun activities from bowling to go-karts to video games to an indoor ferris wheel. Admission is free; the activities cost money.
Both the indoor and outdoor waterparks at the Kalahari are great. I have been there about 5-6 times in various times of the year, and never has the line for any ride been longer than 10-15 min. (some lines at Noah's Ark are 45+ min.). Cool rides include the toilet bowl and the surfing ride.
Of course, this is a family-friendly environment, but adults can have fun, too. Be sure to check out the bar Kahunaville, for example. The bartenders do a great performance nightly in which they acrobatically make drinks.
If you stay in a suite, you'll probably be at the Sands, an addition to the Kalahari near Kahunaville. While a bit of a walk to the waterpark, at least guests have their own outdoor pool. The parking lots for the Sands are not as close to the main entrance as they could (or should) be.
Behind the Sands are the condos. Again, quite a bit of a walk to use the rest of the Kalahari's amenities, but they are good for a more secluded getaway.
If you plan on staying, make sure to check out the Kalahari's Web site for specials.
Both the indoor and outdoor waterparks at the Kalahari are great. I have been there about 5-6 times in various times of the year, and never has the line for any ride been longer than 10-15 min. (some lines at Noah's Ark are 45+ min.). Cool rides include the toilet bowl and the surfing ride.
Of course, this is a family-friendly environment, but adults can have fun, too. Be sure to check out the bar Kahunaville, for example. The bartenders do a great performance nightly in which they acrobatically make drinks.
If you stay in a suite, you'll probably be at the Sands, an addition to the Kalahari near Kahunaville. While a bit of a walk to the waterpark, at least guests have their own outdoor pool. The parking lots for the Sands are not as close to the main entrance as they could (or should) be.
Behind the Sands are the condos. Again, quite a bit of a walk to use the rest of the Kalahari's amenities, but they are good for a more secluded getaway.
If you plan on staying, make sure to check out the Kalahari's Web site for specials.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Good time to eat out
(courtesy of EatDrinkMadison.com)
Many higher end restaurants are feeling the recession, especially as diners gravitate toward more medium- to lower-priced restaurants. That's why several restaurants have added prix-fixe menus and other specials they would never offer otherwise. Examples:
1) Fleming's added a $35.95 prix-fixe menu
2) Johnny Delmonico's added lunch
3) Claddagh's added a $59.99 dinner-for-two special
4) Ruth's Chris added a $39.95 prix-fixe menu
5) Kushi Bar Muramoto added lunch
And the list goes on. If you're still going out to eat, I recommend taking advantage of these great deals while the economy is still bad!
Many higher end restaurants are feeling the recession, especially as diners gravitate toward more medium- to lower-priced restaurants. That's why several restaurants have added prix-fixe menus and other specials they would never offer otherwise. Examples:
1) Fleming's added a $35.95 prix-fixe menu
2) Johnny Delmonico's added lunch
3) Claddagh's added a $59.99 dinner-for-two special
4) Ruth's Chris added a $39.95 prix-fixe menu
5) Kushi Bar Muramoto added lunch
And the list goes on. If you're still going out to eat, I recommend taking advantage of these great deals while the economy is still bad!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Crazylegs
Every April the University of Wisconsin athletic department organizes its fundraising race called Crazylegs. For about $20-$30 (depending on when you register), you can particpate in the 8k race or 2-mile walk. Participants (all of whom get a free Crazylegs T-shirt) start at the Capitol, wind their way through campus and end at Camp Randall Stadium.
It's particularly amusing to pass all the students outside their apartments as they cheer you on and play "Chariots of Fire." Also, many runners/walkers wear costumes.
The finish line is one big party. The UW Marching Band performs, as well as another band, and there is free beer.
More info at http://www.crazylegsclassic.com/.
It's particularly amusing to pass all the students outside their apartments as they cheer you on and play "Chariots of Fire." Also, many runners/walkers wear costumes.
The finish line is one big party. The UW Marching Band performs, as well as another band, and there is free beer.
More info at http://www.crazylegsclassic.com/.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Wisconsin Film Festival
It's that time of the year where winter is hanging on for dear life, baseball is about to begin and the Wisconsin Film Festival takes place in downtown Madison. Since its inception in 1999, I've enjoyed many movies such as "Godfather of Green Bay," "Better Luck Tomorrow" and "Bon Cop, Bad Cop." Roger Ebert even stopped by one year.
If you're wary of going to see independent movies but still want to see what all the fuss is about, I recommend seeing the movies that take place around 7 p.m. at the Orpheum. These movies usually will be appreciated by the largest audience, while the movies at the other (smaller) venues may be more niche.
Tickets are general admission and cost $7 each ($4 with valid student ID). Don't worry if a movie is sold out. You can stand in the rush-ticket line and wait for last-second tickets to open up; I've never had a problem getting into a sold-out movie.
More info at www.wifilmfest.org.
If you're wary of going to see independent movies but still want to see what all the fuss is about, I recommend seeing the movies that take place around 7 p.m. at the Orpheum. These movies usually will be appreciated by the largest audience, while the movies at the other (smaller) venues may be more niche.
Tickets are general admission and cost $7 each ($4 with valid student ID). Don't worry if a movie is sold out. You can stand in the rush-ticket line and wait for last-second tickets to open up; I've never had a problem getting into a sold-out movie.
More info at www.wifilmfest.org.
Monday, March 16, 2009
.10K Race
Once again WJJO organized the Miller Lite .10K race from Brother's to State Street Brat's. If you didn't already know, these are two bars on campus about two blocks apart.
This race takes place on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day. The pre-party begins at 9 a.m. (usually earlier) at Brother's, where registration takes place ("racers" get a T-shirt, headband and mug). Then from 11 a.m. to 11:01 a.m., everyone runs, walks, etc. to Brat's, where the post-race party is held. Green beer is served at both locations.
Definitely worth the $5 race fee! Nothing like getting drunk before noon. All ages are welcome (there was even a baby this year).
This race takes place on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day. The pre-party begins at 9 a.m. (usually earlier) at Brother's, where registration takes place ("racers" get a T-shirt, headband and mug). Then from 11 a.m. to 11:01 a.m., everyone runs, walks, etc. to Brat's, where the post-race party is held. Green beer is served at both locations.
Definitely worth the $5 race fee! Nothing like getting drunk before noon. All ages are welcome (there was even a baby this year).
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Wicked (the musical)
I finally had the chance to see "Wicked" in Chicago before its run ends forever there. The show is certainly not hurting for business, as pretty much every show is sold out; I had to buy my tickets from a scalper.
The production was amazing. One scene in particular (which I won't mention so as to not spoil anything) had the best light display I've ever seen in a Broadway musical. And the acting was superb, especially since most of the actors were the original ones from the New York version.
If I had to knock anything, it was that the songs weren't catchy. Don't get me wrong, all the songs were rich and well sung, but I wasn't humming any of the tunes afterward like I do after other musicals.
Lastly, this musical reminded of "Star Wars" Episodes I, II and III, in that "Wicked" is a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz". Thus, some of the humor (a ton!) and plot lines aren't as good if you haven't seen the latter.
So if you have the money, go check it out!
The production was amazing. One scene in particular (which I won't mention so as to not spoil anything) had the best light display I've ever seen in a Broadway musical. And the acting was superb, especially since most of the actors were the original ones from the New York version.
If I had to knock anything, it was that the songs weren't catchy. Don't get me wrong, all the songs were rich and well sung, but I wasn't humming any of the tunes afterward like I do after other musicals.
Lastly, this musical reminded of "Star Wars" Episodes I, II and III, in that "Wicked" is a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz". Thus, some of the humor (a ton!) and plot lines aren't as good if you haven't seen the latter.
So if you have the money, go check it out!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Madison Food and Wine Show
My third time to the annual Food and Wine Show at the Alliant Energy Exhibition Hall was like the previous times: enjoyable and filling.
The ticket price at $37 in advance is a bit steep, so you have to really eat and drink a lot to get your money's worth. I must say, I definitely did this year.
The premise, if you don't know, is that you get to try unlimited free samples of wine and bite-sized food from many, many regional vendors. Some of the stands have several dozen samples of wine! That's why many people get weekend passes for the three-day event.
Also worth noting: you get to keep the wine glass you use for sampling, and many other freebies throughout the event are available.
Since I wasn't driving, I went all out--a big mistake as I ended up having exactly 50 samples of wine, three beers and two margaritas. Talk about a hangover!
As usual, Sentry Metcalfe's and Willy St. Co-op provided some great food to sample.
There's also several cooking shows, including the entertaining chef cook-off (won this year by the Concourse Hotel cook).
Most of the wine is available for purchase as you leave. Saturday night also includes a secret top-shelf (all wines worth $40 or more) party.
I highly recommend going if you can afford it.
Next October, remember to check out www.EatDrinkMadison.com for more information.
The ticket price at $37 in advance is a bit steep, so you have to really eat and drink a lot to get your money's worth. I must say, I definitely did this year.
The premise, if you don't know, is that you get to try unlimited free samples of wine and bite-sized food from many, many regional vendors. Some of the stands have several dozen samples of wine! That's why many people get weekend passes for the three-day event.
Also worth noting: you get to keep the wine glass you use for sampling, and many other freebies throughout the event are available.
Since I wasn't driving, I went all out--a big mistake as I ended up having exactly 50 samples of wine, three beers and two margaritas. Talk about a hangover!
As usual, Sentry Metcalfe's and Willy St. Co-op provided some great food to sample.
There's also several cooking shows, including the entertaining chef cook-off (won this year by the Concourse Hotel cook).
Most of the wine is available for purchase as you leave. Saturday night also includes a secret top-shelf (all wines worth $40 or more) party.
I highly recommend going if you can afford it.
Next October, remember to check out www.EatDrinkMadison.com for more information.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Best Online Restaurant and Bar Guide for Madison, WI
Looking for Madison, WI restaurants and bars? EatDrinkMadison.com recently launched to help you find places to eat and drink in and around Madison.
Its unique feature is that it gives suggestions for whatever you're looking for. An example is where to eat on your anniversary. Just click on the check box next to "anniversary" and hit search, and you'll get some recommendations.
All of the recommendations can be further narrowed down. Maybe you just want to have an anniversary dinner on the west side. Just add "west side" to the search to limit the results.
Same goes with bars. The never-ending quest to find a bar with the Big Ten Network just got solved. Combine that with a pool table, and now you have something to do during halftime.
Beyond suggestions, EatDrinkMadison.com has restaurant reviews (you may leave your own), bar specials, happy hour specials, maps and upcoming events. So definitely check the site out if you need helping picking out Madison, WI restaurants and bars.
Its unique feature is that it gives suggestions for whatever you're looking for. An example is where to eat on your anniversary. Just click on the check box next to "anniversary" and hit search, and you'll get some recommendations.
All of the recommendations can be further narrowed down. Maybe you just want to have an anniversary dinner on the west side. Just add "west side" to the search to limit the results.
Same goes with bars. The never-ending quest to find a bar with the Big Ten Network just got solved. Combine that with a pool table, and now you have something to do during halftime.
Beyond suggestions, EatDrinkMadison.com has restaurant reviews (you may leave your own), bar specials, happy hour specials, maps and upcoming events. So definitely check the site out if you need helping picking out Madison, WI restaurants and bars.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Burlington Chocolate Fest
Each year, the city of Burlington throws its four-day Chocolate Fest over Memorial Day weekend. Besides chocolate tastings, chocolate-eating contests and cooking demonstrations, there's live music and a full carnival.
Admission is $7 at the door, $6 in advance, though you can only buy tickets in Burlington. Parking is $5, or you can parking several blocks away and walk, though I would not suggest it.
As you walk in the entrance, you are handed a map and schedule of events, along with some fun-size Crunch bars (Nestle has a chocolate plant in Burlington).
For the carnival and live music itself, it's worth attending the festival, but it's unfortunately lacking in its main attraction: chocolate. There is one tent dedicated to chocolate, and that's it.
Inside is where you can watch (and participate) in the chocolate eating contest (how many fun-size Crunch bars can you eat in two minutes), watch some food demonstrations and buy chocolate from various vendors. You can also buy a $2 tasting ticket that gets you five different samples. On Saturday night there is a wine and chocolate tasting, limited to 200 participants.
I really felt these events could have been scattered throughout the fair grounds (e.g. put the chocolate eating contest on a stage in front of a large crowd), and that there should have been more events. For example, have a Miss Chocolate Fest contest. Or, have some carnival games with chocolate as the prizes.
Another suggestion: The theme this year was "Pirates of the Chocolate-Be'an," but this was not repeated in any way throughout the festival. More pirate-themed activities, etc., would have been nice.
Still, the event was not overly crowded (I went on Saturday), and the beer was not overly expensive ($3.50 for a Miller Lite). Nice time for all ages.
More info at www.chocolatefest.com.
Admission is $7 at the door, $6 in advance, though you can only buy tickets in Burlington. Parking is $5, or you can parking several blocks away and walk, though I would not suggest it.
As you walk in the entrance, you are handed a map and schedule of events, along with some fun-size Crunch bars (Nestle has a chocolate plant in Burlington).
For the carnival and live music itself, it's worth attending the festival, but it's unfortunately lacking in its main attraction: chocolate. There is one tent dedicated to chocolate, and that's it.
Inside is where you can watch (and participate) in the chocolate eating contest (how many fun-size Crunch bars can you eat in two minutes), watch some food demonstrations and buy chocolate from various vendors. You can also buy a $2 tasting ticket that gets you five different samples. On Saturday night there is a wine and chocolate tasting, limited to 200 participants.
I really felt these events could have been scattered throughout the fair grounds (e.g. put the chocolate eating contest on a stage in front of a large crowd), and that there should have been more events. For example, have a Miss Chocolate Fest contest. Or, have some carnival games with chocolate as the prizes.
Another suggestion: The theme this year was "Pirates of the Chocolate-Be'an," but this was not repeated in any way throughout the festival. More pirate-themed activities, etc., would have been nice.
Still, the event was not overly crowded (I went on Saturday), and the beer was not overly expensive ($3.50 for a Miller Lite). Nice time for all ages.
More info at www.chocolatefest.com.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Milwaukee Art Museum
I got a chance to check out the Milwaukee Art Museum, courtesy of some comp tix I received from a staff member. If you didn't know, the museum is located on the lake inside a very artsy-looking building often seen in vacation and travel guides.
There is ample parking in the ramp across the street. Depending on what level you parked, you can use the pedestrian bridge or ground-level sidewalk to enter the museum.
I thought the entrance needed more signage. When you walk in, there's nothing indicating where to go to get tickets, or even that tickets are required. Based on the setup, it appears to new visitors that you could walk right into the exhibit rooms (but you can't, because a staff member checks). What you need to do is turn either left or right to one of the ticket desks (not well marked) and purchase your ticket there. You then get a sticker to wear on your clothes to indicate that you have paid. Prices: Non-member adults $8, seniors $6, students $4.
The featured exhibit I saw was Martin Ramirez, an artist who lived in a mental hospital who did most of his work with crayons. The museum changes exhibitions about every three months.
Outside the featured area is the museum's permanent collection, which includes some Monet, Picasso and Warhol. It's all fascinating stuff, and depending on how much you like art, will take you about an hour or more to view it all.
Of course, like any museum, there is a gift shop and cafe (very limited menu). There's also a lecture/theater room in which movies are played.
If for nothing else, it's worth a trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum just to see the building. Most of the glass is either tilted, curved or both; the marble is imported from Italy; and really, all of the interior is so unique.
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thursday, open until 8 p.m. Last ticket sold at 4:45 p.m. daily (7:45 p.m. Thursday).
Location: 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Mediterranean Cruise Day 7: Nice/Monaco
I was really excited for this port--I've always wanted to go to Nice. The start of the day was interesting, as we had to take a boat (our emergency boats) to get to shore (no docking area for a cruise ship as big as ours). The ride was cramped but lasted just under 15 min.
Once there, we met up with our tour guide and hopped on the charter bus. First we went to Nice, and the drive was very pretty. Our first stop was Vielle Ville (old town), where they have a daily farmers' market that is 10 times better than ours.
I was desperately seeking socca, a flat, pancake-like food that I had seen on the Travel Channel. Unfortunately, the only vendor that was selling it said she wouldn't start making it until 9 a.m., and that's the time we had to return to our bus--I was really sad!
Kristin and I ended up buying some oil, Balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper shakers in the form of clay humans.
Then we were off the Monaco via a scenic drive through Nice. The neat part is that it's built into a mountain side, so as we climbed to the top the view got prettier and prettier.
Finally we got to Monaco, a small principality filled with rich people (the cheapest apartment is 1.5 million euros). As a result, many of the workers commute from the surrounding areas. Principality, as we came to learn, means a region governed by a prince (thus, "kingdom" is a region ruled by a king).
From where the bus parked we walked right by the residences of the princesses. (Apparently, they are often seen out and about in public, like regular citizens.) Then we got to the palace, which was nice but not humongous. The changing of the guards, in fact, was pretty bland.
Kristin and I walked the side streets in the area and did some shopping plus got something to eat. We didn't have much time before we had to scramble back onto the bus again.
Our final destination was Monte Carlo, the famous casino in many movies (including James Bond). We were originally told it wasn't going to open until 2:30, but for some reason it opened at noon when we arrived. I was excited to gamble there, but the 20 Euro admission charge was disappointing. After some slots, I played some roulette. I bet 10 Euros (two 5-Euro bets) the first time and lost. The second time I was going to play Kristin's birthday (well, the squares around it) but chose another quad at the last moment. I wish I had played the 19th (as in, Aug. 19), because the winning was 18, and I would have won 8x5=40 Euros for the quad. Oh well.
I forgot to mention: as we drove to Monte Carlo, we took the same road on which the Formula One race takes place.
Now it was time to head back to the dock. It was a bit sad to say good-bye to our final port. I would definitely go back and vacation in Nice some time and take the time to explore the city (and have socca).
Back on the ship, Kristin and I packed, lifted weights, then relaxed by the pool again. And, based on a dare from her, I wore my speedo the entire time (sunning and using the jacuzzi). Sorry, no pics!
Then we had dinner at Le Bistro, a french restaurant. I ran the gamut of food, ordering the l'escargot (snails) and frog-leg soup, amongst other things. Then we walked around the ship and took pictures everywhere. Back in the room, we sat on our balcony and drank our remaining beer. I also picked up the wine that the ship took from us at each port.
It was a windy but beautiful night. We turned in early because we had to disembark at 9 a.m.
Once there, we met up with our tour guide and hopped on the charter bus. First we went to Nice, and the drive was very pretty. Our first stop was Vielle Ville (old town), where they have a daily farmers' market that is 10 times better than ours.
I was desperately seeking socca, a flat, pancake-like food that I had seen on the Travel Channel. Unfortunately, the only vendor that was selling it said she wouldn't start making it until 9 a.m., and that's the time we had to return to our bus--I was really sad!
Kristin and I ended up buying some oil, Balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper shakers in the form of clay humans.
Then we were off the Monaco via a scenic drive through Nice. The neat part is that it's built into a mountain side, so as we climbed to the top the view got prettier and prettier.
Finally we got to Monaco, a small principality filled with rich people (the cheapest apartment is 1.5 million euros). As a result, many of the workers commute from the surrounding areas. Principality, as we came to learn, means a region governed by a prince (thus, "kingdom" is a region ruled by a king).
From where the bus parked we walked right by the residences of the princesses. (Apparently, they are often seen out and about in public, like regular citizens.) Then we got to the palace, which was nice but not humongous. The changing of the guards, in fact, was pretty bland.
Kristin and I walked the side streets in the area and did some shopping plus got something to eat. We didn't have much time before we had to scramble back onto the bus again.
Our final destination was Monte Carlo, the famous casino in many movies (including James Bond). We were originally told it wasn't going to open until 2:30, but for some reason it opened at noon when we arrived. I was excited to gamble there, but the 20 Euro admission charge was disappointing. After some slots, I played some roulette. I bet 10 Euros (two 5-Euro bets) the first time and lost. The second time I was going to play Kristin's birthday (well, the squares around it) but chose another quad at the last moment. I wish I had played the 19th (as in, Aug. 19), because the winning was 18, and I would have won 8x5=40 Euros for the quad. Oh well.
I forgot to mention: as we drove to Monte Carlo, we took the same road on which the Formula One race takes place.
Now it was time to head back to the dock. It was a bit sad to say good-bye to our final port. I would definitely go back and vacation in Nice some time and take the time to explore the city (and have socca).
Back on the ship, Kristin and I packed, lifted weights, then relaxed by the pool again. And, based on a dare from her, I wore my speedo the entire time (sunning and using the jacuzzi). Sorry, no pics!
Then we had dinner at Le Bistro, a french restaurant. I ran the gamut of food, ordering the l'escargot (snails) and frog-leg soup, amongst other things. Then we walked around the ship and took pictures everywhere. Back in the room, we sat on our balcony and drank our remaining beer. I also picked up the wine that the ship took from us at each port.
It was a windy but beautiful night. We turned in early because we had to disembark at 9 a.m.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Mediterranean Cruise Day 6: Florence
We got to "sleep in" a bit today, as our excursion into Florence (from the port of Livorno) didn't leave until 8 a.m. And, with the two-hour drive, I had a nice little morning nap once again.
Basically, this was an on-your-own trip, with the bus dropping us off at Santa Croce, a basilica on the southeast side of the downtown which contains the tomb of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and other "celebs". Unfortunately, Kristin and I didn't know any of that at the time, so we didn't go in.
Instead, we did a slow walking tour, stopping to see:
--the Piazza della Signoria, a striking square that includes the Neptune Fountain, the statue of Perseus holding the severed head of Medusa and a copy of the statue of David
--the trendy shopping street that is Via Tornabuoni (Prada, Gucci, etc.), though we didn't buy anything
--the Duomo, "the loftiest, most sumptuous edifice human invention could devise." Basically, it was a gigantic cathedral that was brightly colored (green, pink and white)
--the Mercato Centrale, a two-story grocery store. We unfortunately didn't have time to go in and see the vegetable stands, panini stores and cheese and meat stalls.
I think it was near this area where we finally settled on an early lunch (just past 11 a.m.), at a restaurant called Za Za's. I ordered the Florentine-style tripe, which was cooked in some tomato-based sauce (I think). This was my favorite meal of the entire trip. Hell, I liked it so much I bought the restaurant's cookbook!
From there we scurried on over to Galleria dell'Accademia, where we had reservations for noon (I had read that the line to get tickets can be very, very long, and that booking reservations is the way to go). Well, it turned out that the museum wasn't very crowded at the moment, so it actually wouldn't have mattered.
When you enter the museum, the first room is filled with paintings. Then you exit the room and enter a large hallway, and the moment you turn to the right to start walking, you are stunned by the beauty and size of Michelangelo's David, which is at the far end of the hall.
First though, we looked at some of his unfinished statues, and it was amazing to see these huge blocks that were half carved out. Then, we walked right up to the David, and Kristin and I must've stared at it for a good 15 min. Unfortunately, no photography was allowed, but the statue's magnificence and extreme detail will forever be burned in my mind.
After the museum we headed south to the river to see Ponte Vecchio, a famous bridge. Then we made our way back to the meeting point, where there was lots of shopping to be done. I think the first thing that strikes any tourist is that Florence is filled with leather stores--a conservative estimate would be 60% of the clothing stores were leather stores. We went in several, and the prices were pretty good, but we didn't buy anything.
The shopping guide from our cruise recommended a store called Italianloves, and it was here where we sampled wine and olive oils. We ended up buying bout 84 Euros (including the 10% cruise discount) worth of wine and oils.
Back on the ship. Tonight (Friday) we ate at a nicer "free" restaurant called Tapas, a Mexican-style restaurant. After dinner we went to the Cirque du Soleil show, which was amazing but short. Then we went to get a drink, and we decided to save money by taking part in the "buy five beers, get one free deal." We drank one each on the spot and took the remaining bottles back to our room to save for the next night.
Basically, this was an on-your-own trip, with the bus dropping us off at Santa Croce, a basilica on the southeast side of the downtown which contains the tomb of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and other "celebs". Unfortunately, Kristin and I didn't know any of that at the time, so we didn't go in.
Instead, we did a slow walking tour, stopping to see:
--the Piazza della Signoria, a striking square that includes the Neptune Fountain, the statue of Perseus holding the severed head of Medusa and a copy of the statue of David
--the trendy shopping street that is Via Tornabuoni (Prada, Gucci, etc.), though we didn't buy anything
--the Duomo, "the loftiest, most sumptuous edifice human invention could devise." Basically, it was a gigantic cathedral that was brightly colored (green, pink and white)
--the Mercato Centrale, a two-story grocery store. We unfortunately didn't have time to go in and see the vegetable stands, panini stores and cheese and meat stalls.
I think it was near this area where we finally settled on an early lunch (just past 11 a.m.), at a restaurant called Za Za's. I ordered the Florentine-style tripe, which was cooked in some tomato-based sauce (I think). This was my favorite meal of the entire trip. Hell, I liked it so much I bought the restaurant's cookbook!
From there we scurried on over to Galleria dell'Accademia, where we had reservations for noon (I had read that the line to get tickets can be very, very long, and that booking reservations is the way to go). Well, it turned out that the museum wasn't very crowded at the moment, so it actually wouldn't have mattered.
When you enter the museum, the first room is filled with paintings. Then you exit the room and enter a large hallway, and the moment you turn to the right to start walking, you are stunned by the beauty and size of Michelangelo's David, which is at the far end of the hall.
First though, we looked at some of his unfinished statues, and it was amazing to see these huge blocks that were half carved out. Then, we walked right up to the David, and Kristin and I must've stared at it for a good 15 min. Unfortunately, no photography was allowed, but the statue's magnificence and extreme detail will forever be burned in my mind.
After the museum we headed south to the river to see Ponte Vecchio, a famous bridge. Then we made our way back to the meeting point, where there was lots of shopping to be done. I think the first thing that strikes any tourist is that Florence is filled with leather stores--a conservative estimate would be 60% of the clothing stores were leather stores. We went in several, and the prices were pretty good, but we didn't buy anything.
The shopping guide from our cruise recommended a store called Italianloves, and it was here where we sampled wine and olive oils. We ended up buying bout 84 Euros (including the 10% cruise discount) worth of wine and oils.
Back on the ship. Tonight (Friday) we ate at a nicer "free" restaurant called Tapas, a Mexican-style restaurant. After dinner we went to the Cirque du Soleil show, which was amazing but short. Then we went to get a drink, and we decided to save money by taking part in the "buy five beers, get one free deal." We drank one each on the spot and took the remaining bottles back to our room to save for the next night.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Mediterranean Cruise Day 5: Rome/Vatican City
We woke up early and got to the theater at 6:45 a.m., as our tickets told us to do. Unfortunately, there was some delay (maybe with the port authorities?), and we didn't get off the ship until 7:45 a.m., which meant we could have slept another hour!
Well, as soon as I got on the bus, I slept most of the 1.5 hours from Civitavecchia (the port) to Rome. I also missed most of the instructions our tour guide gave us, but Kristin heard most of them before she fell asleep as well.
We went right to the Vatican City, which if you didn't already know, is actually its own country. The line to get in wasn't bad, surprisingly, though based on all the ropes, it looked like it could snake for quite some ways.
Our new tour guide (different from the one on the bus) talked into a microphone, which we could pick up on our walkie-talkies (we tuned into channel 48 and used a headphone). She took us from one courtyard to another; the second had stations where tourguides could show and explan to tourists the paintings inside the Sistine Chapel.
The Sistine Chapel was unbelievable, though quite dark (not much light is let into it as to preserve the paintings). Also, you're not allowed to talk or take pics/video, so the guards have a busy task of monitoring for cameras and yelling "Shhhh!"
From there we went to St. Peter's Square, and I was just in awe, especially thinking of all the people that come to get blessed by the Pope, who by the way was at his vacation home in the south of Rome.
At this point I want to mention that there were three somewhat annoying people with us on this trip. The woman in the group was wearing a tanktop and shorts, and I said to Kristin that I couldn't wait to film the guards denying her entry into the Cathedral (because no bare shoulders and nothing above the knees are allowed). Unfortunately, some other tourists with us lent her (and another woman) a huge shawl that covered their entire body, thus granting them admission (damn!) into St. Peter's Basilica.
As the biggest catholic church in the world, the Basilica has many side "churches" inside where mass is usually performed (in fact, one mass was going on when we were there).
After the Vatican City we headed to a restaurant for lunch (it was included in this ~$269 excursion), but the service was super slow, so we were in the restaurant for almost two hours (you'll see why I'm mentioning this later). We shared a table with a Ukranian couple, who at first didn't seem like they wanted to talk to us, even after I smiled and said "hello."
Finally, the man broke the silence, and we discussed many things, including whether I thought Americans were happy living in America (he was curious). I asked what languages he spoke; he replied Ukranian, Russian, Spanish (he and his wife currently live in Spain) and English. He then joked that his wife "only" speaks Russian, but she gets by in life by pointing at things. (She never spoke the entire time, by the way.)
Back on the bus. Now we were headed to the Colosseum and the Forum. Unfortunately, since the lines to get into the Colosseum were supposedly1.5 hours-long, we did not have enough time to get in (damn that lunch!). I was pissed but dealt with it. Kristin and I walked the perimeter, plus we walked into areas of the Forum. This was simply amazing to see; it was honestly like going back in time. One area had what looked like new pillars, and we were told later that fashion designer Valentino put those pillars there and had a fashion show about two weeks ago--that must have been cool as hell to see.
That marked the end of that trip. I again slept on the bus ride back to port. On the ship, Kristin and I actually split up for dinner--sort of. I went to Chin Chin's again, except this time to its sushi bar where I ate 28 pieces of sushi! What can I say? I gotta get my money's worth. During this time Kristin worked out. After she cleaned up, I sat with her as she ate in the main dining room.
I think it was this night that we went to a lounge on the 13th floor in which we sat next to some super loud Americans. They were SCREAMING when they talked so that everyone in the lounge and the adjacent restaurant could hear them. Plus they hadn't bothered to dress up; one guy, for instance, was wearing a tank top, shorts and flip flops, and this was a pretty nice bar. I was about to kill one of the women in that group, but luckily they decided to get something to eat.
Only two more days!
Well, as soon as I got on the bus, I slept most of the 1.5 hours from Civitavecchia (the port) to Rome. I also missed most of the instructions our tour guide gave us, but Kristin heard most of them before she fell asleep as well.
We went right to the Vatican City, which if you didn't already know, is actually its own country. The line to get in wasn't bad, surprisingly, though based on all the ropes, it looked like it could snake for quite some ways.
Our new tour guide (different from the one on the bus) talked into a microphone, which we could pick up on our walkie-talkies (we tuned into channel 48 and used a headphone). She took us from one courtyard to another; the second had stations where tourguides could show and explan to tourists the paintings inside the Sistine Chapel.
The Sistine Chapel was unbelievable, though quite dark (not much light is let into it as to preserve the paintings). Also, you're not allowed to talk or take pics/video, so the guards have a busy task of monitoring for cameras and yelling "Shhhh!"
From there we went to St. Peter's Square, and I was just in awe, especially thinking of all the people that come to get blessed by the Pope, who by the way was at his vacation home in the south of Rome.
At this point I want to mention that there were three somewhat annoying people with us on this trip. The woman in the group was wearing a tanktop and shorts, and I said to Kristin that I couldn't wait to film the guards denying her entry into the Cathedral (because no bare shoulders and nothing above the knees are allowed). Unfortunately, some other tourists with us lent her (and another woman) a huge shawl that covered their entire body, thus granting them admission (damn!) into St. Peter's Basilica.
As the biggest catholic church in the world, the Basilica has many side "churches" inside where mass is usually performed (in fact, one mass was going on when we were there).
After the Vatican City we headed to a restaurant for lunch (it was included in this ~$269 excursion), but the service was super slow, so we were in the restaurant for almost two hours (you'll see why I'm mentioning this later). We shared a table with a Ukranian couple, who at first didn't seem like they wanted to talk to us, even after I smiled and said "hello."
Finally, the man broke the silence, and we discussed many things, including whether I thought Americans were happy living in America (he was curious). I asked what languages he spoke; he replied Ukranian, Russian, Spanish (he and his wife currently live in Spain) and English. He then joked that his wife "only" speaks Russian, but she gets by in life by pointing at things. (She never spoke the entire time, by the way.)
Back on the bus. Now we were headed to the Colosseum and the Forum. Unfortunately, since the lines to get into the Colosseum were supposedly1.5 hours-long, we did not have enough time to get in (damn that lunch!). I was pissed but dealt with it. Kristin and I walked the perimeter, plus we walked into areas of the Forum. This was simply amazing to see; it was honestly like going back in time. One area had what looked like new pillars, and we were told later that fashion designer Valentino put those pillars there and had a fashion show about two weeks ago--that must have been cool as hell to see.
That marked the end of that trip. I again slept on the bus ride back to port. On the ship, Kristin and I actually split up for dinner--sort of. I went to Chin Chin's again, except this time to its sushi bar where I ate 28 pieces of sushi! What can I say? I gotta get my money's worth. During this time Kristin worked out. After she cleaned up, I sat with her as she ate in the main dining room.
I think it was this night that we went to a lounge on the 13th floor in which we sat next to some super loud Americans. They were SCREAMING when they talked so that everyone in the lounge and the adjacent restaurant could hear them. Plus they hadn't bothered to dress up; one guy, for instance, was wearing a tank top, shorts and flip flops, and this was a pretty nice bar. I was about to kill one of the women in that group, but luckily they decided to get something to eat.
Only two more days!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Mediterranean Cruise Day 4: Naples/Pompeii
Kristin and I were on our own again today--no paid tour or anything. When we got off the ship, we were harassed by several taxi drivers in what turned out to be a bidding war for us to choose them. This was funny as each driver would offer us a lower price than the previous driver's. We declined and walked to the train station, about 15 min. away (though it was a bit scary, because the sidewalks were very narrow and there were some sketchy people out and about).
Thank God I read out guidebook, which said most people mistakenly take the train to Pompei (one "I") instead of Pompeii/Scavi (two "I"s). So we were in line for tickets, and I asked the person if this was the correct train to get to Pompeii/Scavi, and he said we had to take the Circumvesuvian train downstairs. There, we bought tickets to Pompeii/Scavi instead of Pompei (yay book!). The driver told us to take the train at 9:40.
We looked at our tickets and it said "1 40 min." Kristin and I did not want to ride a train for 1 hour, 40 min. each way, but after asking a security guard, we found out it's only 40 min. (thus, I'm not sure what the "1" was for).
At the train stop, we took the 9:30 train, and that was a mistake. I was studying the routes on the wall of the train, and I noticed down the line the track splits, with one going to Pompeii/Scavi, the other going somewhere else. I said to Kristin that I bet the 9:40 was the one that actually goes to Pompeii/Scavi, and sure enough, I was right. So this train took us in the wrong direction at the split. We got off, waited 20 min. to catch a train back, then waited another 15 min. to catch the train in the right direction--what a waste of time!
Pompeii, an ancient city that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption from nearby Mt. Vesuvius, was fascinating. Some observations: The city was huge, and protected by a big wall. I can't imagine collecting all that stone! ... None of the dwellings had any doors. In fact, every building had a big opening as an entryway ... seeing the bodies that were trapped in the lava was pretty cool ... I was disappointed we couldn't get into the coliseum (known as the amphitheater) ... after a while, it got to be somewhat painful to keep walking on the stones (I'm sure many people have twisted ankles walking around) ... there were dogs everywhere, and I'm pretty sure they were dead.
After a few hours, we headed back to Naples. We walked around for a long time, mainly because there are so many unmarked sidestreets that didn't correspond with my map. I wanted to eat at Michel's, supposedly the BEST pizza in Italy, but like so many European businesses, it was closed for the last two weeks of August. Instead, I magically found this other pizza place that was highly recommended. I ordered a pizza with various toppings I for some reason can't remember, and Kristin had a pizza with anchovies (she didn't realize ahead of time). Total cost was 7.50 Euros, plus with my huge glass of wine for only 1.50, it made for a cheap lunch. In fact, we thought we were only getting a slice of pizza until they brought us each a big pizza. Man, the pizza was great! Plus, it only took five minutes as it was thin and the oven was obviously very hot.
We continued walking for a while but then headed back to the ship. Before we got back, we bought a bottle of wine.
That night, we didn't have any reservations at any restaurant, which was unfortunate because they were all at capacity. Consequently, we had to eat at the main dining area again, which we weren't thrilled about. So to prevent a repeat, we made reservations for Friday and Saturday. We turned in pretty early that night because of our early morning (6:45) the next day.
Thank God I read out guidebook, which said most people mistakenly take the train to Pompei (one "I") instead of Pompeii/Scavi (two "I"s). So we were in line for tickets, and I asked the person if this was the correct train to get to Pompeii/Scavi, and he said we had to take the Circumvesuvian train downstairs. There, we bought tickets to Pompeii/Scavi instead of Pompei (yay book!). The driver told us to take the train at 9:40.
We looked at our tickets and it said "1 40 min." Kristin and I did not want to ride a train for 1 hour, 40 min. each way, but after asking a security guard, we found out it's only 40 min. (thus, I'm not sure what the "1" was for).
At the train stop, we took the 9:30 train, and that was a mistake. I was studying the routes on the wall of the train, and I noticed down the line the track splits, with one going to Pompeii/Scavi, the other going somewhere else. I said to Kristin that I bet the 9:40 was the one that actually goes to Pompeii/Scavi, and sure enough, I was right. So this train took us in the wrong direction at the split. We got off, waited 20 min. to catch a train back, then waited another 15 min. to catch the train in the right direction--what a waste of time!
Pompeii, an ancient city that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption from nearby Mt. Vesuvius, was fascinating. Some observations: The city was huge, and protected by a big wall. I can't imagine collecting all that stone! ... None of the dwellings had any doors. In fact, every building had a big opening as an entryway ... seeing the bodies that were trapped in the lava was pretty cool ... I was disappointed we couldn't get into the coliseum (known as the amphitheater) ... after a while, it got to be somewhat painful to keep walking on the stones (I'm sure many people have twisted ankles walking around) ... there were dogs everywhere, and I'm pretty sure they were dead.
After a few hours, we headed back to Naples. We walked around for a long time, mainly because there are so many unmarked sidestreets that didn't correspond with my map. I wanted to eat at Michel's, supposedly the BEST pizza in Italy, but like so many European businesses, it was closed for the last two weeks of August. Instead, I magically found this other pizza place that was highly recommended. I ordered a pizza with various toppings I for some reason can't remember, and Kristin had a pizza with anchovies (she didn't realize ahead of time). Total cost was 7.50 Euros, plus with my huge glass of wine for only 1.50, it made for a cheap lunch. In fact, we thought we were only getting a slice of pizza until they brought us each a big pizza. Man, the pizza was great! Plus, it only took five minutes as it was thin and the oven was obviously very hot.
We continued walking for a while but then headed back to the ship. Before we got back, we bought a bottle of wine.
That night, we didn't have any reservations at any restaurant, which was unfortunate because they were all at capacity. Consequently, we had to eat at the main dining area again, which we weren't thrilled about. So to prevent a repeat, we made reservations for Friday and Saturday. We turned in pretty early that night because of our early morning (6:45) the next day.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Mediterranean Cruise Day 3: Messina
Our first shore excursion! It was just amazing to wake up and look out the window and see an entire city's landscape.
Kristin and I did not purchase a tour package for this city, so we were on our own. The first thing we did was walk to a church-like building we saw way up the hill (it was the Shrine of Cristo Re). After a long hike up a steep hill (the entire city is built into a mountain side), we arrived only to find it was not open for tours. However, the view of the city was beautiful, and a tour bus stopped by to also enjoy the view.
From the shrine we decided to head into the rest of town, but we ended up going way, way south of where we wanted (it included a stop at the Royal Palace Hotel so I could use the restroom). When we finally looked at a map to see where we were, we discovered we were not even close to where we were headed. For your perspective--and I wish we had remembered to buy pedometers--we walked about .47 miles west to the shrine, .45 miles southwest to the hotel, then .57 miles southeast, then .11 miles northeast to the bay and then .34 miles to get back to our docking point (altogether at least 2 miles in hot weather).
Along the way, we stopped at a cafe and sat outside--I had an espresso, and Kristin had a coke. Then we did some shopping--and I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I bought a speedo that was on ultra clearance for 5 Euros. From there we went to another small shop for some gelatto, then we backtracked to the Norman Cathedral with the world's largest astronomical clock (many other tourists where here). It was at this plaza that we had lunch: wine and a margherita pizza. Thus in one day we had espresso, gelatto and pizza, three food items for which Italy is known.
Finally, it was time to call it a day. Back on the ship, we sat out at the pool for the rest of the afternoon, then we had dinner at Chin Chin's (an Asian restaurant). Earlier we had discovered "happy hour," which takes places from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and gets you 1/2 off the extra charge at the premium restaurants (that would have been nice to know for Cagney's the day before). So we ate at 6 p.m. with just a few other people in the restaurant, but at least we saved some money.
If memory serves, we saw a magic act that night at the theater. This guy is a two-time world-champ, which begs the question, why is he on a cruise ship? Well, he brought this up during the show, and he said he didn't like Vegas much and prefers the intimacy of a cruise. I thought he was entertaining, but his show was too short (less than 1 hour).
After the show, we had a drink and then turned in.
Kristin and I did not purchase a tour package for this city, so we were on our own. The first thing we did was walk to a church-like building we saw way up the hill (it was the Shrine of Cristo Re). After a long hike up a steep hill (the entire city is built into a mountain side), we arrived only to find it was not open for tours. However, the view of the city was beautiful, and a tour bus stopped by to also enjoy the view.
From the shrine we decided to head into the rest of town, but we ended up going way, way south of where we wanted (it included a stop at the Royal Palace Hotel so I could use the restroom). When we finally looked at a map to see where we were, we discovered we were not even close to where we were headed. For your perspective--and I wish we had remembered to buy pedometers--we walked about .47 miles west to the shrine, .45 miles southwest to the hotel, then .57 miles southeast, then .11 miles northeast to the bay and then .34 miles to get back to our docking point (altogether at least 2 miles in hot weather).
Along the way, we stopped at a cafe and sat outside--I had an espresso, and Kristin had a coke. Then we did some shopping--and I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I bought a speedo that was on ultra clearance for 5 Euros. From there we went to another small shop for some gelatto, then we backtracked to the Norman Cathedral with the world's largest astronomical clock (many other tourists where here). It was at this plaza that we had lunch: wine and a margherita pizza. Thus in one day we had espresso, gelatto and pizza, three food items for which Italy is known.
Finally, it was time to call it a day. Back on the ship, we sat out at the pool for the rest of the afternoon, then we had dinner at Chin Chin's (an Asian restaurant). Earlier we had discovered "happy hour," which takes places from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and gets you 1/2 off the extra charge at the premium restaurants (that would have been nice to know for Cagney's the day before). So we ate at 6 p.m. with just a few other people in the restaurant, but at least we saved some money.
If memory serves, we saw a magic act that night at the theater. This guy is a two-time world-champ, which begs the question, why is he on a cruise ship? Well, he brought this up during the show, and he said he didn't like Vegas much and prefers the intimacy of a cruise. I thought he was entertaining, but his show was too short (less than 1 hour).
After the show, we had a drink and then turned in.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Mediterranean Cruise Day 2: At Sea
Monday was a day of travel only (no port). We slept in until 10 a.m., then went to workout. The fitness room was on the 12th floor, and one side is all windows with a gorgeous view of the sea. A lot of the people in the fitness room didn't seem like they had ever been in one; it was more of a novelty to them (esp. the non-Americans).
We then had lunch in the main dining area, then relaxed a long time in the pool area (once we finally secured some chairs, which took a long time since everyone wanted to hang out at the pool). Each day a Caribbean cover band played (as in, they played covers with a Caribbean sound), and they were quite enjoyable. We swam a bit in the adults-only pool, which was filled with salt water, and also sat in one of the four jacuzzis, which were not nearly hot enough.
Today was an optional dress-up night, so we did (dress for Kristin, suit for me). Before dinner, we took free salsa dancing lessons. Then we had dinner at Cagney's, a steakhouse. This required an additional fee of $20/person, so we ordered a LOT of food to compensate (multiple appetizers, filet mignon, prime rib, dessert, side). God, we were stuffed!
After dinner we went to one of the many bars and had one martini each (that's all we could afford!). I then did some light gambling in the casino (I may have done this in the afternoon--I can't remember when). Then I bought a cigar in the cigar lounge and smoked in on our balcony while staring out at the sea with a beautiful moonlight.
We then had lunch in the main dining area, then relaxed a long time in the pool area (once we finally secured some chairs, which took a long time since everyone wanted to hang out at the pool). Each day a Caribbean cover band played (as in, they played covers with a Caribbean sound), and they were quite enjoyable. We swam a bit in the adults-only pool, which was filled with salt water, and also sat in one of the four jacuzzis, which were not nearly hot enough.
Today was an optional dress-up night, so we did (dress for Kristin, suit for me). Before dinner, we took free salsa dancing lessons. Then we had dinner at Cagney's, a steakhouse. This required an additional fee of $20/person, so we ordered a LOT of food to compensate (multiple appetizers, filet mignon, prime rib, dessert, side). God, we were stuffed!
After dinner we went to one of the many bars and had one martini each (that's all we could afford!). I then did some light gambling in the casino (I may have done this in the afternoon--I can't remember when). Then I bought a cigar in the cigar lounge and smoked in on our balcony while staring out at the sea with a beautiful moonlight.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Mediterranean Cruise Day 1: Barcelona
I must start by saying that Kristin and I ate a lot. Take our first day, for example (really two days). Beginning with Saturday, Aug. 25, we got breakfast (doughnuts) at Lane's Bakery around 9 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., we had lunch at the Great Dane in the airport. On the flight from Detroit to Amsterdam, we had dinner (surprisingly good chicken) and breakfast (cheese and egg biscuit sandwich). On our flight from Amsterdam to Barcelona (this is now the next morning), we had two mini sandwiches (I ate the tomato, Kristin had the chicken). In Barcelona, we split a open-faced prosciutto sandwich. On the ship, we had dinner at Tsar's (somewhat Russian-like), then at 11:30 p.m. (just before one of the cafeterias closed), I grabbed a huge plate of food (breaded cod, jerk chicken, lots of other stuff) along with a decaf cappuccino.
To summarize a very long paragraph: Approximately eight meals in 31 hours (9 a.m. CST to 11:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time).
Barcelona was nice, but we only got about 1.5 hours before we had to board the ship. We went to a place called Las Ramblas, a pedestrian area with lots of stores and cafes. I bought a soccer jersey (Real Madrid), one of my shopping goals I made prior to the trip.
At the cafe, I wanted some sangria, but it wasn't on the menu, so I ordered a beer instead. Then someone else ordered the sangria, so I was extra disappointed.
After the meal, Kristin and I walked to the boardwalk, which I noticed was missing something vital: stores! No where to buy snacks, drinks or souvenirs. Before catching a cab to the ship, we also took some pics with the statue of Christopher Columbus.
The ship, the Norwegian Cruise Line's Jewel, was HUGE. It dwarfed other cruise ships we saw at various ports. The first thing we did was unpack, then napped for an hour before we had our emergency drill (basically how to put on your life jacket and where to go in case of emergency). After that, we took another nap, then we went to the casino (we didn't gamble, though; they were giving away free drinks). I felt a little woozy at this point, so I put on the motion-sickness patch I got from my physician.
After dinner, we walked around the ship, sent a few e-mails to our parents, then relaxed a little bit.
And no, we weren't really hungry, but we wanted to take advantage of the all-you-can eat, so that's why I got that plate of food. My God, we ate a lot.
To summarize a very long paragraph: Approximately eight meals in 31 hours (9 a.m. CST to 11:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time).
Barcelona was nice, but we only got about 1.5 hours before we had to board the ship. We went to a place called Las Ramblas, a pedestrian area with lots of stores and cafes. I bought a soccer jersey (Real Madrid), one of my shopping goals I made prior to the trip.
At the cafe, I wanted some sangria, but it wasn't on the menu, so I ordered a beer instead. Then someone else ordered the sangria, so I was extra disappointed.
After the meal, Kristin and I walked to the boardwalk, which I noticed was missing something vital: stores! No where to buy snacks, drinks or souvenirs. Before catching a cab to the ship, we also took some pics with the statue of Christopher Columbus.
The ship, the Norwegian Cruise Line's Jewel, was HUGE. It dwarfed other cruise ships we saw at various ports. The first thing we did was unpack, then napped for an hour before we had our emergency drill (basically how to put on your life jacket and where to go in case of emergency). After that, we took another nap, then we went to the casino (we didn't gamble, though; they were giving away free drinks). I felt a little woozy at this point, so I put on the motion-sickness patch I got from my physician.
After dinner, we walked around the ship, sent a few e-mails to our parents, then relaxed a little bit.
And no, we weren't really hungry, but we wanted to take advantage of the all-you-can eat, so that's why I got that plate of food. My God, we ate a lot.
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