foxycruiser's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member foxycruiser on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/foxycruiser en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:40:56 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com My bags are packed, I'm ready to go! — Southampton, United Kingdom http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208816760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208816760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208816760/tpod.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:40:56 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Southampton, United Kingdom

This world cruise has been an extrordinary voyage. For 102 days, I'ved visited over 40 of the world's most exciting destinations, touching upon 6 different continents. It's been an adventure filled with unexpected delights, unforgettable sights & unbelievable experiences. We've cruised 30,336 nautical miles (the Equator length is 21,600 nautical miles). 1 nautical mile=1.15 statute miles.
There are 589 passengers onboard of which 63 are British, 87 are Canadian & 385 are from the U.S., most of whom are retirees living in Florida. As you would expect, the "clientele" onboard seems to be in their 80's although we have one man who is 98.
One of the entertainers asked for a show of hands, who has been married for 50 yrs.? Hands shot up. 55 yrs.? Hands still up. 60 yrs.? One couple won with 62 yrs. & that was only at the first show.
We also have two young girls onboard from Rhode Island, ages 11 & 7. They are being home schooled. Their parents are British & are moving to London. This is the first time the girls have been there. Naturally, all of the grandparents & great grandparents onboard have adopted them but they call me Grandma Linda. I often play Uno and Connect 4 with them. Sometimes they set up a playroom in one of the elevators with their assortment of stuffed animals & no one seems to mind.
The most amazing thing is, and you'll laugh at my sick humor, no one has died. On a 30 day cruise, it's virtually assured so you would think that after 102 days with this cliente..... However, we've had our share of broken arms,legs and hips but the passengers have surgery & fly to join the ship. In fact, the 98 yr. old man collapsed on my tour in Egypt. We thought he was a goner but after a short stay in the hospital, he flew to join us in Athens.
The passengers are very friendly & the main topic of conversation is traveling.
The food is the best I've ever tasted. We had the Princess culinary ambassadore onboard & Alfredo has also had several cooking demonstrations.
Lecturers have ranged from Academy award winner Rita Moreno to astronaut Rusty Schweickart.
It has been a chance of a lifetime for me & I hope you've been "traveling along, singing a song" with me.
So, until another time....aurevoir, adios, sayonara, lia subn hao-y, main chalta hoon, goodbye.
Linda
]]> Le Havre, gateway to Paris — Le Havre, France http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208786400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208786400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208786400/tpod.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:08:05 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Le Havre, France

Le Havre is a city in the northwest region of France situated on the right bank of the mouth of the Seine River.
Le Havre is the gateway to Paris and near the picturesque towns of Rouen & Nonfleur. It is also near Normandy, where British, Canadian & American troops stormed ashore during the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944. It was the end of Nazi Germany. Omaha Beach has stark white tombstones for nearly 10,000 Americans.
So, you're probably wondering which exciting area I chose to visit. I'm ashamed to admit this is the first time I've been in port & never left the ship. Sadly, our cruise ends tomorrow & I must be out of my cabin by 6 am. Today was dedicated to packing & attending to all the other details of disembarking a ship after 102 days.
I'll post the last travel blog tomorrow.
Linda
]]> Dia duit (Hello) from Ireland — Cobh, Ireland http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208624160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208624160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208624160/tpod.html Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:11:20 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Cobh, Ireland

Cobh (pronounced Cove) is about 25 miles outside of Cork. Cork is Ireland's 3rd largest city, after Dublin & Belfast. This is my first visit to Ireland &, just as everyone else who has visited this beautiful country, I loved it!
There is a lot to see & do in this area-Kinsale is a picturesque harbor, the Waterford Crystal Factory dates from 1783, the French Quarter is a charming area of narrow lanes & quaint shops and, of course, not to forget the Blarney Castle, constructed in 1446. It is said that if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you get the gift of gab. As all of you know, I am not at a loss for words so I didn't want to take a chance.
I spent the day in Cobh & took a guided walking tour of Cobh which included the buildings, piers & streets where the ill-fated Titanic passengers embarked.
I also visited Colman's Cathedral, which took 47 years to build (1868-1915). Titanic passengers attended mass here before departing. Sadly, this same church held funeral services for the families after the Titanic sunk. Many who died were returned to be buried here.
Cobh was the premier port of call for Trans-Atlantic lines & became associated with the stream of emigrants leaving Ireland to seek their fortune in the New World. In addition to the Titanic history, the Lusitania was torpedoed off Kinsale in 1915 with the loss of 1500 lives.
Also of interest was the Cobh Heritage Center where I saw exhibits on the Titanic & Lusitania & learned more about the rich history of Cobh & Ireland.
Oh course, I just had to have a local rich creamy dark beer at Murphy's Pub, too.
I left more than a few Euros in Cobh. I also left a large suitcase full of clothes at the local thrift shop. Since the temps. here rarely exceed 55, I'm not sure if anyone will wear my San Diego clothing.
We're leaving right now (6 pm onboard, 10:00 am in Calif.) so if you hurry to princess.com, then click on bridgecams at the bottom, then click on Pacific Princess, you can see us sail away.
Next stop is Le Havre, France where we arrive in 2 days. Tomorrow is a sea day (oh joy).
Sian (goodbye).
Linda
]]> Bom dia from Lisbon — Lisbon, Portugal http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208385360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208385360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208385360/tpod.html Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:46:38 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Lisbon, Portugal

My Spanish was worthless here.....good morning is Bom dia, Yes is sim & thank you is obigado. Fortunately, most everyone speaks English so I didn't have to learn Portuguese.
The Portuguese are very proud of their famous explorers-Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama & Ferdinand Magellan sailed from here. Lisbon is a stunning city with classical squares & boulevards inlaid with mosaics, ancient castles and cathedrals. I toured the striking Castello de San Jorge (castle), 2 cathedrals, a funicular lift & a museum. This is a beautiful city, very clean & friendly & I'd love to visit again.
Perhaps one of the best experiences today was back onboard the ship. The Captain & his wife ate dinner with us last night. Today we received an invite for a bridge tour at 5:50 pm. My 4 tablemates & I met at the bridge & at 6 pm, our ship disembarked from the pier. We were on the bridge for over an hour & watched as our ship sailed under the soaring 1-1/2 mile long 25th of April Bridge & then through the magnificient harbor. It was one of the most exciting things I've ever done!
We are now cruising (again, in a very rough sea) to Cobh (pronounced cove) Ireland. We arrive on the 18th but will enjoy 2 full sea days before then. In the past 9 days, we've been to 7 ports & our feet are aching!
Linda
]]> The Rock of Gibraltar — Gibraltar, Gibraltar http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208255400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208255400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208255400/tpod.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:36:29 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Gibraltar, Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar is only 3 sq. miles in area but it offers a military strong point. Europe is only 8 miles from Africa & the straits are 36 miles long. Whoever controls Gibraltar & the harbor is in a good position to control the passage between the Atlantic & the Mediterranean waters. Most recently, Gibraltar was a key naval & air base during World War 11.
Five countries have battled for 13 centuries to control the passage & it has resulted in a melting pot-veiled Moroccan women in caftans, visiting Englishmen & Spaniards stroll the narrow steep streets.
Gibraltar is currently a British Commonwealth but voters often decide whether to remain British or return to Spain. The decision among the 30,000 inhabitants is almost 100% in favor of remaining British.
We were in Gibraltar for only 5 hrs. today which was enough to see the places of interest. Another couple & I took a mini van on a guided tour. We saw St. Michael's Cave (underground grotto with stalactites), the Ape's Den (a colony of tailless monkeys), the Great Siege Tunnels (complex tunnels carved out of solid limestone in 1779-83 & lined with cannons) & a Moorish Castle (a fortress built in 1333 where the black streaks under the windows came from hot oil being poored on the Spanish). Excellent tour!
We are now cruising across a rough No. Atlantic Ocean to Lisbon, Portugal where we will arrive tomorrow.
Linda
]]> Barcelona-a traveler's paradise — Barcelona, Spain http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208095200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208095200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1208095200/tpod.html Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:32:01 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Barcelona, Spain

The 1962 Summer Olympics revealed to the world what Europeans & seasoned travelers already knew-Barcelona is one of the world's greatest resources. Vibrant & earthy, commercial & cultural, this city of 4 million residents is the capital of Spains region of Catalonia. This is not my first visit to Barcelona so I passed on the scenic & historical highlights of the city as I've seen them before.
I walked the entire length, both ways, of the wide tree-lined promenade of Las Rambla, the city's busiest & most colorful promenade. I loved seeing the very talented & beautifully costumed mimes performing for the crowd.
From La Rambla, it was a short walk to the marina, which has become a very popular area with an IMAX theatre, lovely shops & a 3 story mall. Unfortunately, those darn Euros kept me from buying anything. A simple souvenir tee shirt is 22 Euros, about $35.00.
What a surprise to find the Reial Club Maritim De Barcelona (yacht club) in the marina, too. It's a beautiful 2 story club & I really enjoyed sitting on the upper deck eating Tapas (appetizers), sipping espresso & people watching. (My Spanish sure came in handy as no one spoke English).
Back onboard, we watched a performance of Flamenco dancers & musicians. It was spectacular & they received a standing ovation.
We are currently enroute to Gibraltar, where we will arrive tomorrow.
Buneos noches!
Linda
]]> Crown jewel of the French Riviera — Cannes, France http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207994400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207994400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207994400/tpod.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:06:58 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Cannes, France

5:30 pm (8:30 am in Calif.) and I am sitting on my balcony drinking a gin & tonic, listening to Luciano Pavarotti & composing this travel blog. I wish you could see this view-spectacular. The starboard (right)side of the ship is facing Cannes (pronounced "con"), France. How lucky for me to be on this side!
In the late 1940's, this became the site of the glitzy International Film Festival where movie stars mingle with models & moguls while the paparazzi have a field day. Monte Carlo, home of the Grand Casino & Monaco's Royal Palace is only 1-1/2 hrs. away.
Famous artists Picasso & Monet were inspired by the fresh air & quality of light-not to mention the gorgeous scenery. Some of France's finest perfumes are produced here. On my last trip, I fell in love with a particular Parfumerie, Fragonard, the oldest perfume maker in France (since 1926). Their perfume is made in nearby Grasse.
Naturally I had to to go there so I took a bus-a bargain at 1 Euro ($1.64) for the 45 min. trip. Winding my way around the scenic hills reminded me of Tuscany. All the flowers & trees are in full bloom & the colors were spectacular.
I had a private tour of the museum & factory & they kindly allowed me to take all the photos I desired. Since today is Sat., no one was working but it was still worthwhile.
One interesting area was the "perfume organ", so called because it resembles the keyboard of a seven-manual cathedral organ with its tiered rows of ingredient bottles arranged around a scale which the perfumer, called the "nose", uses when mixing & testing fragrances. I learned that it takes 440 lbs. of lavender flowers to produce 2.2 lbs. of lavender extract for use in perfume.
The "nose" trains their probosci for 7 yrs. to recognize about 6000 scents. Grasse also produces some of France's finest flowers including jasmine, rose, lavender, mimosa, orange blossum & narcissus.
At the end of the tour, I was squirted with a few scents & bought my favorite "eaux de toilette"-Soleil (what, you thought I could afford perfume? Ha!)Soleil has jasmine, freesia, wisteria, black currant, rose, lily, mimosa, orange blossum,sandalwood & amber.
Back in Cannes, I strolled along the harborfront & indulged on a Gran Marnier crepe. Oh yum.
We are leaving right now for Barcelona, Spain where we will arrive at noon tomorrow.
Linda
]]> Rome-the Eternal City — Rome, Italy http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207924200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207924200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207924200/tpod.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:08:03 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Rome, Italy

Rome-how can it be described? The Colosseum (completed in 80 A.D.), the Roman Forum, Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon & so much more to see. I was here last July with daughter Kathy & son-in-law Steve. A tradition is to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain ensuring you return to this fabulous city. Little did I know that the toss of my coin would bring me back 9 mos. later!
Because I have been here more than once, I opted for a visit to Ostia Antica. This entailed a train ride to central Rome from the port of Civitavecchia, a metro ride & another train trip. Ostia Antica is 45 mins. from Rome. Thanks to Rick Steve's Rome Guidebook, it was a snap.
Ostia Antica was a working port town, located at the mouth of the Tiber & founded in 620 B.C. Ostia was a key warehousing center, busy with the business of keeping more than one million Romans fed & in sandals.
One of the most interesting sites I saw was a Grand Square where there were more than 60 offices of ship owners & traders. Along the sidewalk in front of their "stores", second century A.D. mosaics advertised the services offered by the various shops. Mosaic floors advertised in Latin & pictograms for illiterate or non-Latin speaking sailors. A lighthouse in mosaic was the sign of the port of Ostia. Mosaic grain containers advertised grain for sale, an elephant symbolized the sale of ivory, another showed exotic animals-great for parties.
Another interesting area was the 20 hole public latrine. Holes were cut out in marble for seats & there was a cut out below the seat to accommodate the washable sponge on a stick, which was used rather than toilet paper. Rushing water below each seat (brought in by aquaduct) did the flushing.
I was also interested in the tavern. You could see display shelves for food & drinks for sale, a small sink & remains of wall paintings.
I had packed a sandwich from the ship, fruit, cookies & a bottle of o.j. & sat on the Forum steps eating lunch. It is springtime here & the flowers were in full bloom. The entire site was covered in lush grass with small wildflowers popping out everywhere. As with Herculaneum yesterday, there were almost no tourists, just some groups of school kids on a field trip. Mint grew abundantly around the old buildings & I picked some to take back. Another couple onboard said my mint would make great mint juleps. I had several mini bottles of Canadian whiskey, invited them over for cocktails. Dick made the best mint juleps & we had cocktails & appetizers (some left over from my lunch at the yacht club in Athens). We were sitting on my balcony enjoying all this as we sailed away. I tell you, it's gonna be darn tough when this cruise ends.......
We are now cruising to Cannes, France where we will arrive tomorrow morning. The sea is very rough & it is difficult to walk around. Fortunately it is 10:30 pm so Ciao for now!
Linda
]]> Buon giorno! — Sorrento, Italy http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207830600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207830600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207830600/tpod.html Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:00:33 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Sorrento, Italy

The Bay of Naples is one of Italy's most beautiful sights. Mt. Vesuvius dominates the skyline & the lovely homes & hotels hug the coastline.
Beyond any doubt, a visit to Pompeii or Herculaneum, destroyed & buried by a volcanic eruption in 79 A.D., will tell you more about the ancient Romans than reading 100 books! Mt. Vesuvius managed to freeze an entire society in one point of time.
I've visited Pompeii more than once but not Herculaneum. I took the train & spent the day touring the old city with a guide.
A Herculaneum house would be rather dull from the outside, with nothing but bare walls visible & very few windows. Once through the main entrance, you would see an atrium open to the sky & lavishly decorated with mosaics, marbles, statues & paintings. There was usually a basin in the center to catch rain water. Around the courtyard were small sleeping cubicles fot the family. A large study or reception room for the head of the household was the central hub where books & money were kept. Dining rooms for family activities completed the rectangle. More elaborate houses had fish ponds or warm baths.
Even simple meals were elaborate affairs with several courses. Guests reclined on large couches covered with pillows while a great variety of food was served. Plates & cups could be made of earthenware, metal or glass & were highly decorated.
Retail stores were equipped with counters holding bins or storage jars built right into them.Business owners often lived in rooms behind the store. Stepping stones were placed to allow pedestrians to cross in wet weather but spaces were left to allow chariots to get by easily. You can still see the deep ruts left by these carts.
It was a fantastic day & I really enjoyed my visit to Herculaneum. The train brought me back to Sorrento in time to browse some of the stores. I bought a bottle of Limoncello & a bottle of red wine, some of which I enjoyed this evening at dinner.
We are now cruising to Rome, arriving at the port of Civitavecchia early tomorrow. My plan is to take the train to Rome, then another train to the old Roman city of Ostia Antica. I'll write tomorrow & let you know if my plan was successful.
Linda
]]> The cradle of western civilization — Athens, Greece http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207647000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207647000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/foxycruiser/2/1207647000/tpod.html Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:39:07 -0400 Around The World......in 102 days!
Athens, Greece

It's 7:30 am in Calif., 5:30 pm here in Athens, Greece. We'll be leaving the harbor soon so if you want to see us, click princess.com, click on bridgecams at the bottom, click on Pacific Princess.
This is my 2nd favorite foreign country & it was good to be back. I have visited here more than once. Athens is a bustling modern capitol & offers so much to see & do. Passengers disembarked to see the Acropolis, the National Museum, temples or to shop at the Plaka. I've seen those historic monuments & am not interested in shopping so I took a taxi to the Royal Yacht Club of Greece, not far from where we docked in Piraeus.
The 2 story club, built in 1933, is situated on top of a hill with an exquisite view of Phaleron Bay, the Saronic Gulf, the islands of Salamis, Aegnia, etc. & the city of Athens. The Director took me for a tour of the club & invited me to stay for lunch.
I had Tzatziki, a Greek salad, prawns in a delicious tomato sauce and of course, Ouzo, a licorice-flavored drink.
I met a Greek man & his 6 yr. old son at the club. He owns a cargo shipping company & it was fun discussing boats, shipping & travel. Greeks can't stand not sharing their food & he had the waiter give me some of his entree, grilled octopus. Delicious.
Adjacent to my table were 8 businessmen-6 Korean, 2 Greek. I couldn't help eavesdropping but the Koreans own a shipbuilding co. It was so interesting hearing them talk about the price of steel & the millions of dollars it costs to build a cargo container ship. My ears perked up when they began talking about how the declining U.S. interest rates affected the Central Bank of Europe & the effect of the U.S. elections on the world economy (I didn't hear their preference for President). We may not realize how much impact America has on the world but it is obviously a big topic of dicussion.
Well, I know I'm back in "Euro land". Ouch. My short taxi rides cost almost $19.00 & my lunch was $40.-plus tip. For one U.S. dollar, we get .64 cents in Euros.
On to Sorrento, Italy. We arrive April 10th.
Linda
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