ricknelsie's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries

ricknelsie's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member ricknelsie on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/ricknelsie en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:29:27 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com Ruby Tuesday ! — Naples, Campania, Italy http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257920510/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257920510/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257920510/tpod.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:29:27 -0500 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Naples, Campania, Italy

Buon Giorno!  This morning we woke up in Napoli or commonly known as Naples!  This would be the port where you could take tours to Mt. Vesuvius or the ruins of Pompeii, the famed Roman city that was buried by volcanic ash after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD.  Or, tours were available to the beautiful coastal areas of Sorrento and Capri!  Today, we opted to remain in Naples and tour the city by taking one of those CitySightseeing Buses.  The same kind we took in Barcelona where passengers were able to hop on and hop off at any stop.  We were warned about the traffic in Naples and that caution was needed when crossing any street.  Although we thought the traffic hectic, cars had no choice but to yield when groups of people were crossing the street.  So, we waited for the locals to cross and then followed them.The CitySightseeing buses were a great way to view the city in a short period of time.  As the bus navigated around the city streets, we noticed that the car of choice was the smart car.  Good thing!  I could not imagine driving anything larger in this city!  Parking was a premium everywhere!  Anywhere you could find enough space the size of a throw rug, you could park a smart car.  And nobody got parking tickets.  Our first bus tour, on the red bus, began at the Castel Nuovo and headed north to the Museo de Campodimonte passing the Fontana in via Medina, Convitto Nationale (National School in Naples), Basilica de Santa Maria della Sanita and the Church of Madre del Buon Consiglio along the way.  Returning to the bus terminal, we waited a few minutes to catch the purple bus, which traveled to the South West along the Bay of Naples to the residential area of Posillipo.  On the return, the Castel del'Ovo and Santa Lucia appeared to be quite visible.  Getting off the bus in front of the Stazione Marittima, on via Cristoforo Colombo (street), we crossed the street and walked through some of the street markets.  After some casual browsing, we entered a small grocer and purchased some wine to take back and enjoy in our cabin.  We found that a bottle of wine cost 2 to 7 euros, which was a lot cheaper than a bottle of Italian Chianti or French Bordeaux at $35-40 USD in the dining room.  Although they were good, they weren't unique!  As a practice, we've always enjoyed drinking locally made wines wherever we've traveled.  Tonight, as we depart and leave the Bay of Naples, we sail south through the Messina Straits around the toe of Italy toward the Greek Island of Mykonos.  But we don't arrive there until October 1st, so that means we enjoy a relaxing day at sea!  So far, the weather has been fantastic!  Very warm temperatures and little to no cloud!  Hope it continues!  Se ya tomorrow!  Ciao!  Rick & Elsie!
]]> Princess Lesia of Monaco ! — Monte-Carlo, Monaco http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257698345/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257698345/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257698345/tpod.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:25:48 -0500 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Bonjour!  Today we arrive at Monaco!  A district of royalty and affluence!  The home of Prince's and Princesses!  An area visited by many Prince's and Princesses as well as celebrities, millionaires and billionaires!  It's a place to see and be seen!  It's a location where wealth is a necessity and sophistication is a requirement!  Also today, Elsie celebrates a birthday!  Her 60th!  That little girl born on the Canadian Prairies to immigrant Ukrainian parents, who's now raised a family of her own, continues to value and be proud of her Ukrainian heritage!  So, today, Elsie becomes Lesia, that beautiful Ukrainian Princess!  And could there be a more appropriate location than Monaco!  For those who may not be aware, the name Elsie translates to Lesia in Ukrainian.So, the Ruby Princess takes Princess Lesia to Monaco!Today's Royal itinerary takes us on a tour of Monaco, including old Monaco and the Royal Palace.  It's uncertain whether the schedules of Prince Albert or Princess Caroline will allow for a meeting with Princess Lesia but our respective public relations staff are working on it!The tour of Monaco-Ville, also known as Old Monaco included a walk through the narrow streets that once inhabitated the Grimaldi family.  And where Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly joined in marriage in St. Nicholas Cathedral.  In the square of Monaco-Ville, the Royal Palace could be found.  From here, you could see all the districts of Monaco including Fontevielle, La Condamine and Monte-Carlo.  Not to mention the breathtaking view of Port Hercules, more commonly known as the Port of Monte-Carlo!  Here you could see the yachts of millionaires and billionaires.  The tour of the Royal Palace, where Prince Albert currently resides, offered an interesting and  historical view of the life of the Grimaldi family.  Later, we enjoyed some leisure time walking around the Palace Square, through the lanes and streets of Monaco-Ville.  At 3pm sharp, we watched the Changing of the Guard in front of the Royal Palace.  Back at the Port, we opted not to return to the Ruby Princess just yet.  Instead we chose to visit the casino in Monte-Carlo.  Here, we found where the rich and famous come to play!  There were BMW's, Mercedes, Audi's, Porsche's, Ferrari's and even a Lamborghini.  We even witnessed a Volkswagon wedding car.  Hmm!  A wedding in Monte-Carlo!  Can you say $$$$$$$?We couldn't make a visit to the casino without making a wager, so we entered and relinquished our 10 Euro entry fee to enter the infamous Monte-Carlo casino only to relinquish several more euros once inside.  Before leaving, we took a few minutes to appreciate the artwork and interior of the casino.  For us, it felt like we were in a scene of Casino Royale with James Bond!  I kept looking for Daniel Craig.  Our dinner reservations at Sabatini's was 8:30pm.   The dining experience at Sababini's was very personable!  The eight course meal was superb!  We both chose the steak and lobster, otherwise referred to as surf and turf!  The service was fantastic!  Sabatini's provided a more intimate and personable experience!  We were glad we arrived with an apetite.  Otherwise, the eight courses would've been too much.  The champagne carried us through dinner until the cappuccino's. Three hours later, we exited Sabatini's!  A fantastic end to a very memorable day!  Princess Lesia, this day was yours!  Every second, every minute, every hour!  I was honored to be your husband because every Princess has a Prince!  And for the day, as I escorted you, I felt like Prince Richard!Bonsoir!  Prince Richard & Princess Lesia of Monaco!      
]]> Gateway to the Eternal City ! — Civitavecchia, Latium, Italy http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257918006/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257918006/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257918006/tpod.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:25:28 -0500 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Civitavecchia, Latium, Italy

Buon Giorno!  This morning we arrived in Civitavecchia, the port city of those interested in touring Rome!  Since Rome was a sixty minute train ride or 90 minute drive from Civitavecchia, many of the tours departed from the port shortly after arriving at 7:00am.  For us, we were planning on visiting Rome during our travels of Italy after our cruise, so visiting Rome today wasn't a big deal. Instead, we decided to make a casual visit into the city.  Although it's known as the ancient city, most of Civitavecchia's archaeological treasures and old buildings were destroyed during the two world wars, thanks to its strategic importance as Rome's port. Travelling through the port gate, though, no one can avoid noticing the city's main attraction, the looming 16th-century Fort Michelangelo, commissioned by Pope Julius II and completed by Michelangelo. There are also remains of the old city walls, and a worthy fountain designed by Vanvitelli, close to the Fort and the old Roman harbourPrincess Cruise's had a regular shuttle going from the ship to a shuttle stop between the port gate and Forte Michelangelo.  The downtown core of Civitavecchia was easy to walk.  Beginning at the Port gate, we walked up the Largo Plebiscito, a popular walking mall consisting of retail stores, commercial businesses and restaurants.  We walked along Largo Plebiscito till it met Corso Centocelle to Via Roma, a major thoroughfare.  Not wanting to walk any further, we made a round-about and shortly afterwards, found ourselves at the Market near Piazza Regina Margherita.  We slowly meandered around the market and the streets around it. We enjoyed walking the streets and watching the local Italian's carry on with daily life. Periodically doing some window shopping and entering stores of intrigue!  When shopping, Rick usually has a talent for seeking out sporting goods stores and he didn't disappoint.  With no map or GPS, navigating the streets of a foreign country and language, he was able to seek out a cycling shop.  Fortunately, we couldn't bring a bike back onto the ship so I was confident he wasn't going to make a purchase that would significantly add to our airmile account.  He did purchase a pair of cycling shorts that he said were a good deal.    We made it back to the ship early and decided to get a workout in the fitness center.  The meals have been fantastic.  We've enjoyed our share of main courses!  So, trying to maintain the calorie game is a simple strategy, "calories intake" vs "calorie expenditure"!  Five course meals vs five course workouts!  Cheese cake vs treadmill!  So, while Rick hit the bike and peddled like he was racing in the Tour de France, I put on my ipod and walked the treadmill with nothing more than the wide open waters of the Mediterranean in my view.  The workout made dining feel a lot less guilty!  Not that we ever feel guilty eating on a cruise ship!  The early dinner allowed us to catch the 10:30pm hypnotist show in the Princess Theatre.  Unfortunately, when the show began, we learned the hypnotist missed the boat.  Actually, he missed his flight which resulted in him missing the boat.  So, we watched a juggler instead.  He was a good substitute.  We ended the evening by dancing in Club Fusion to the music of the British Invasion.  Here, we again worked off some calories!  Gotta stay ahead of that calorie game!See ya tomorrow in Napoli!  Buona Notte!  Rick & Elsie!    
]]> Leanin' To The Right? Make That Southwest ! — Livorno, Tuscany, Italy http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257736829/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257736829/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257736829/tpod.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:25:10 -0500 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

Buon Giorno!  This morning we arrived in Italy! Livorno to be exact!  Italy's third largest seaport.  The port city for Pisa, Florence and the Tuscan region!  Our tour of choice - Pisa!  Gotta see "The Field of Miracles"!   The Leaning Tower of Pisa or simply The Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa) is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa's Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) after the Duomo (cathedral) and the Baptistery of Giovanni. Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction. The tower presently leans to the <i>southwest.Our tour, called Easy Pisa, was a short 3.5 hour tour that took us by guided motor coach from Livorno to the center of Pisa.  On the way, Elsie noticed a group of cyclists, riding toward Livorno, seemingly enjoying the perfect conditions for a Sunday morning ride!  In Pisa, we had time to visit the Field of Miracle which includes the Leaning (Bell)Tower, Duomo, Baptistery of Giovanni and Camposanto.  Surrounding much of Pisa are the Medieval City Walls.  A trolley took us through Pisa center toward the Arno River which divides the city.  We passed by the Gothic Church della Spina, the old port, the Town Hall, and the Piazza dei Cavalieri.  A short stop at a local restaurant near the Field of Miracles offered a drink of Tuscan area wine.  Here, we couldn't pass on purchasing a bottle of local Limoncello which we thought we would enjoy while relaxing on our balcony!Back on the Ruby, we had time to relax on the Sun Deck. It was a very warm afternoon, in the high 20's so a relaxing couple hours seemed in order!  Being a tourist can be exhausting!  We made sure we had dinner early as the final show of the Broadway Ballroom was in the Princess Theatre at 8:30pm.  This show rivaled a very high level performance as the show featured the talents of the choreographer and costume designer from the tv hit series "Dancing with the Stars".  Before retiring, we enjoyed a late evening glass of Limoncello on our balcony with the dimmly lit Italian coastline appearing to move slowly northward as the Ruby quietly but sternly cut a southern path through the Tyrrhenian Sea.  Tomorrow, we'll see ya in the port city of Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome!Buona Notte!  Rick & Elsie!
]]> Adios Barcelona ! — Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257135199/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257135199/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1257135199/tpod.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:38:49 -0500 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands

Halo!  This morning, after getting up, having a shower, getting ready, and packing, we arrived at the front desk to check out with a few minutes to spare.  Overall, we were pleased with our accommodation at the Olivia Plaza Hotel.  The location was fantastic!  Basically, at the foot of Las Ramblas and the Barri Gotic Quarter and within walking distance of many major attractions, including shopping and restaurants.  And if it wasn't within walking distance, the tour buses and subway station were only 150 meters away.Again, we arranged with our hotel to put our luggage in secure storage for a few hours.  We thought that we'd take a walk around the Placa de Catalunya and the adjacent streets.  And, just as things turn out, we found a Starbucks when we weren't looking for one.  And it was just around the corner!  Not that we're big Starbucks fans!  We just appreciated more than thimble sized coffee!  ha!ha!Our check in at the Princess Cruise terminal was 3pm so we had a couple extra hours to do a little shopping.  We made a visit to the El Corte Ingles, Spain's largest department store chain, adjacent to the Placa de Catalunya.  Exiting the El Corte, we crossed the street onto Av Portal de l'Angel, also known as "Barcelona Walks" which leads into the Barri Gotic Quarter.  This walking mall possessed an eclectic array of stores and shops.  Here, Rick zoned in on a shoe store that would make Carrie Bradshaw proud!  If you know how Rick shoe shops, he begins with six or so possible shoe designs, then after choosing a colour, tries on different shoe sizes, beginning with his normal shoe size and then asking for a shoe one size below or above.  Then he walks around the store.  Then he tries on the other sizes before going through this whole process at least three more times.  But, not before the mental argument, "do I really need another pair of shoes"?  And the emotional debate, "how much do I like them"?  Shopping with Rick is like a marathon!  Like endurance training!  Fortunately, the decision making process is shortened significantly with the presence of Elsie!  With Elsie's supporting words "Rick, they look good," his decision was made!  In response, I think we saw the sales clerk quietly say "hallelujah!"  Thank goodness for Elsie or we'd still be standing in that Barcelona shoe store!By 2:30pm, we were at our hotel picking up our luggage and catching a cab to the cruise terminal at Port of Barcelona.  It wasn't long before we had some cruise ships in eye sight.  Finding the right cruise ship wasn't very difficult.  I mean, a 100,000 ton ship usually stands out!  But it was the name "Ruby Princess" which caught our attention and directed the cab driver.  The check in process has improved significantly over the years.  We remember standing in long lines 20 years ago in Miami Cruise Terminal during our first cruise.  Today, the line up was us!  Show our passport, e-ticket, luggage, receive our Princess Card and within minutes, we were walking up the gangway to the ship.  But not before stopping for the traditional "Welcome" photo which we never buy.  Knowing we were portside on the Caribe deck, it wasn't too difficult to find our cabin.  Upon entering our cabin, we met our cabin steward Cerry.  Rick noticed his tux, which he preordered, hanging in the closet.  A tray of canapes arrived shortly afterwards, courtesy of our travel agent Bob!   By 5pm, we were in the Explorers Lounge for the Muster Drill.   It's always interesting to watch some people do what they were told not to do!  You never know when your ship might hit an iceberg!Back in our cabin, we began reviewing the Princess Patter, our ship's daily newspaper highlighting the day's activities and events on the Ruby Princess.  All the information you want to know is printed in the Patter!Having chosen anytime dining, our options were the Michelangelo or Da Vinci Dining Rooms.  Basically, this gave us the option to dine anytime from 5:30pm to 10pm.  While exploring the ship, we discovered Sabatini's, an Italian Specialty Dining Room.  We were so impressed with the intimacy of Sabatini's that we booked a reservation for tomorrow evening.  Although dining here would cost an extra $20/pp, we thought it would be nice place to celebrate Elsie's Birthday!  Another essential area to locate was the fitness center.  Located on the Ruby Princess at the bow of the ship, the view for anyone on a treadmill, cross trainer, life cycle was the same view the ship's navigational crew would have as the bridge was directly below the fitness center.  While here, Rick signed up for some upcoming spin classes.  Unfortunately, he couldn't instruct any classes. At 6:30pm, we positioned ourselves at the stern of the ship to experience the sail away.  There was another cruise ship in port but I can't remember which cruise line it was.  All I remember is that ours was bigger!  And bigger is better!  Well, let's just say that bigger is more impressive!  It seemed like we were quietly leaving the Port of Barcelona until our ship sounded it's horn with three long and one short blasts.  Then it was onto razzle and dazzle of Monaco!We dined at about 8:30pm and were impressed by the menu, wine and service!  All five courses!  After dinner, we made it to the 10:30pm show in the Princess Theater.  Here we met our cruise director James Ibrahim, who hailed from Melbourne, Australia.  The main act was comedian Billy Vader. He was funny!  One joke we remember was his recent trip to Australia.  While completing his visa to visit Australia, an immigration official asked him, "do you have a criminal record?"  He replied, "I didn't know you still needed one!" Buenas noches everyone!  Tomorrow brings a new dawn and a new day!  Oh yeah!  Elsie wakes up a year older too!   Cheers, Rick & Elsie!        
]]> Being El Touristo in Barcelona ! — Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256338118/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256338118/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256338118/tpod.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:09:58 -0500 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands

Hallo!  Getting a good nights sleep felt like a million bucks!  Or in Europe, a half million Euro's!   Upon leaving our hotel for another Barcelona excursion, we went in search for a cup of coffee.  With no Starbucks in sight or any Tim Hortons, we zoned in on a McDonald's.  I mean, McDonald's is a global restaurant.  They're usually good for good ole cup of cafe Americano!  So, as I picked up our order at the McDonalds counter, we were slightly surprised to receive a small cup (slightly larger than a cup of cough syrup) of espresso coffee (slightly stronger than Buckley's cough syrup).  Without wanting to show any embarassment or make a scene, we took it and drank it like that's exactly what we wanted.  Instantly, we felt our pupils dilate!  Our world became brighter!  It almost seemed like we began viewing the world before us in wide angle.  If we were tired before, we weren't tired now!  And for this experience, there was no charge!  We happened to be in a promotional period where these small espresso's were free.  Wow!  I think we'll be back tomorrow?  Perhaps not!By 12:30pm, we were at the Placa de Catalunya to catch a Barcelona Bus Turistic (a sightseeing Hop On Hop Off) tour bus!  For 19 euro's, we felt this was a great way to see the city of Barcelona in a short period of time.  With two routes available, we chose the red bus line as it would be going right by the Sagrada Familia, a large Catholic Church designed by Antoni Gaudi which is widely known to be the symbolic landmark of Barcelona!  The entry fee into the Sagrada Familia was 10 euro's.  Apparently, these fee's go directly to the construction of the Sagrada Familia which had as many cranes as towers.  Given the number of visitors every day, that's a lot of euro's.  By 1:15pm, we entered the Sagrada Familia.  Without too much delay, we walked into the church under the passion facade and began reading the postings that provided information about the church.  Even with a lot of construction materials present inside the church, the sheer magnitude of the size and architecture of this church was impressive!  On the opposite side of the church was the nativity facade.  It was this side of the church where we paid another 2,50 euro's to take a lift up one of the towers.  Being up in the tower offered different views of the mosaic facades as well as a panoramic view of the City of Barcelona.  However, the walk down the tower took some time as it was dark and narrow and only allowed for single file.  Thus, one needed to be careful so that one didn't end up in a Barcelona emergency room!     We learned that work began on the church in 1882 and 127 years later, it seems like they're still building it!  The building of the church has followed Gaudí's original idea and, just as he himself did, the best techniques are applied to make the building work safer, more comfortable and faster. It is some time now since the old wagons gave way to powerful cranes, the old manual tools have been replaced by precise electric machines and the materials have been improved to ensure excellent quality in the building process and the final result. The present Church Technical Office and the management are charged with studying the complexity of Gaudí's original project, doing the calculations and the building plans and directing the works as a whole. Christian symbology is to be found in all Gaudí's work, but the most evident example of its application is the church, which tells the life of Jesus and the history of the faith. To that end the church has been built over the years, expressing the Catholic faith in the architecture: Jesus and the faithful, represented by Mary, the apostles and the saints. That can be seen in the eighteen bell towers, which symbolise Jesus, the Virgin, the four evangelists and the twelve apostles; on the three facades, which represent the human life of Jesus (from birth to death), and in the interior, which suggests the celestial Jerusalem, where a set of columns, dedicated to Christian cities and continents, represent the apostles. The church will have eighteen bell towers, or belfries, some with bells inside. The bell towers on the façades represent the twelve apostles and measure 112 m (central ones) and 98 m (the side ones). From the top the inscriptions ‘Hosanna’ and ‘Excelsis’ in coloured ceramics descend. The bell towers have terminations rising 25 m high adorned with polychrome mosaics. In those elements with their surprising colours and shapes, technically called <i>geometrical <i>macles, Gaudí brought together the episcopal symbols: the mitre, the crozier, the ring and the cross, to indicate that it was the bishops who had replaced the apostles in the task of proclaiming the faith.  The purpose of the powerful verticality of the bell towers is the union of earth and heaven, as when we read the ascending Sanctus (Holy or Sacred) that leads our gaze upwards. The crossing and the apse are crowned with six other belfries that will spring from the towers. After about two hours, we left the Sagrada Familia to catch a light lunch across the street.  The Sightseeing bus came quite regularly so it wasn't long before we were back on the tour of Barcelona heading for Parc Guell in the Gracia district of Barcelona.  Parc Guell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of el Carmel.  It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built in the years 1900 to 1914. Next on the tour bus route was the Parc de la Tamarita stop.  This is the stop to take the Tramvia Blau up to Tibidabo.  The Tramvia Blau was part of the original Barcelona tram system, which continued running after the rest of the system was closed, using the original blue 2-axle trams.As we remained on the top deck of the double decker bus, we were kept informed of the various points of interest along the route.  Information was coming at us pretty quick!  Soon we were at the University of Barcelona, Av Diagonal Campus which is near the Palau Reial (Royal Palace).  Then, we were at one of Barcelona's most popular locations, the football stadium of F.C. Barcelona.  Last years Champions League Champions!  Needless to say, F.C. Barcelona rules this city!   Unfortunately, they weren't scheduled to play while we were in town!  We decided to disembark our red tour bus for the blue bus at the next stop as both were meeting at the Francesc Macia-Diagonal stop.  This blue bus would take us South and East through the Sants-Montjuic district of Barcelona which included the Parc de Montjuic and the Olympic site, site of the 1992 Olympic Summer Games.  As we passed the Olympic Stadium, I recalled watching the Olympic events on television from this stadium.  It wasn't long after leaving this area that we were going past the Port of Barcelona and World Trade Center before we disembarked the blue bus at the Monument of Christopher Columbus at the foot of Las Ramblas.  Here, we watched some Merce 09 activities along the Moll de la Fusta.  From here we followed a stream of people walking along a boardwalk type walkway and discovered Port Vell.  A very popular meeting place that included a shopping mall, imax theatre and aquarium.  Inside the mall, we watched a few hundred people participate, quite enthusiastically, in a lindy hop demonstration.  By now, it was getting later in the day so we got on our blue bus at the Port Vell stop, which coincidentally, was waiting there for us!  Thinking we wouldn't get off the bus again, we chose to get off the bus at the Barcelona Casino!  Tell me, is there a casino that isn't worth a wager? Fortunately, the stop at the casino was short and we got another blue bus for our final leg of the tour, through the Barri Gotic quarter and back to the Placa de Catalunya, our starting point about eight hours earlier!  This day seemed long but on the other hand, it seemed like it was just getting started.  La Merce festival only occurs once a year and to Barcelonians, it doesn't end until September 27th!  For us, we needed to get back to our hotel and freshen up before heading out for dinner and watching more festivites!Buenas noches!  Rick & Elsie!           
]]> No Time To Sleep, It's Festival Time ! — Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256152838/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256152838/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256152838/tpod.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:45:21 -0400 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands

Hola!  Well, 18 hours and 9,200 km's later, we firmly set foot on Espanol soil!  And, all of our luggage arrived with us!  Hallelujah!  God Bless!  Elsie and I have travelled for over 20 years over 5 continents and too many kilometers to keep track and we've never lost a piece of luggage.  That's no small feat if you've seen how we pack!  Those are odds that only our lotteries can match!  Regardless, whenever we arrive at a foreign destination, we always say a prayer of thanks for arriving safely and our luggage arriving with us! Although we were obviously tired, the Spanish sunshine and vibrant street activity, with vehicles and motorcycles maneuvering around the city streets and people everywhere, we quickly acquired our second wind!  A quick cab ride got us from the airport into the city center, up Las Ramblas to the Olivia Plaza Hotel adjacent to the Placa de Catalunya.  Although we were a few hours early for check in, our hotel was kind enough to put our luggage in secure storage until our room became available, in approx 3 hours.  After a quick freshen up in our hotel, we left, map in hand, for a few hours of walking and exploring! It wasn't long before we realized that our hotel was located in a prime location.  Next door was the Hard Rock Cafe.   A short walk away was Las Ramblas, a popular tourist attraction that's 1.2 kms in length consisting of pedestrians, street performers, shops, restaurants, Gothic architecture and history.  It was obvious, Las Ramblas had character!  Directly across the street was the Placa de Catalunya, highly regarded as the center of Barcelona.  And to the south, the Barri Gotic Quarter with history dating back a thousand years.  In addition, there were lots of people, buses, taxis, cars, motorcycles all around!  And to boot, we learned that today was the start of La Merce 09, a major Barcelona Festival which happened to run from September 23rd to 27th.  Wow!  We couldn't believe this was all happening!  We were absorbing information faster than we could comprehend it!  We were hearing and seeing things before we could understand them!  It was all exciting!  There was a big stage set up in Placa de Catalunya with music being pumped out of large amps that could be heard clearly in our hotel.  It felt like we arrived in Brazil on the first day of Carnival without knowing it was the first day of Carnival.  Although we weren't aware of La Merce 09 before arriving, we felt it would certainly add to our overall positive Barcelona experience.       Some locals told us that Merce is the patron saint of Barcelona and this festival occurs annually at this time.  The patron saint of Barcelona was originally Santa Eulàlia, whose remains rest in the crypt of Barcelona Cathedral. However, when in 1687, the city fell victim of a terrible plague, the people of Barcelona placed themselves in the hands of the Virgin of la Mercè who, according to tradition, managed to abate the outbreak.  Ever since then, la Mercè and Santa Eulàlia have shared the patronage of Barcelona, and although each of them have their own popular festival days, it is the September festival that is celebrated most. This year, La Merce 09 Festival runs from September 23rd to 27th and it's our good fortune that we happened to arrive at the beginning.           The most traditional activities of the Mercè Festival are, in fact, a compendium of popular culture from all over Catalonia. There is the Gironese Sardana, the human castles and devils from the Camp of Tarragona, dances that still survive today all over the Catalan lands. But the great Barcelona speciality is its street parades, originating from the spectacular processions which took place centuries ago for the celebration of Corpus Christi. They are some of the oldest street spectacles that still exist today. The organisation of the street parades relies solely on groups representing popular culture, working side by side with the street artists, to keep alive the festive and theatrical spirit that these events have always had.With map in hand, we chose to explore the area, finding Las Ramblas and walking down this vibrant street of unique shops, restaurants, performers, artists, architecture.  The street was crowded with people! Lots of people - locals, tourists!  A few blocks down, we decided to get off Las Ramblas and walk on a quieter but narrower street toward the Barri Gotic Quarter!  Although it was narrower, it didn't mean it was any less crowded.  It meant there was less space to move along a large volume of people!  Recognizing that we weren't going to escape the crowd, we went with the flow.  After all, we weren't in any rush!  Having walked off Las Ramblas, we noticed the stores did not lower in any quality with very nice stores selling shoes, men's and ladies clothing, leathers, jewellery, etc.  We stopped in a couple stores as Rick, can you believe it, was looking for some brown casual shoes!  It appears the six pairs that he brought for the cruise wasn't enough!  Then, as if to justify his reasons, he proceeded to explain that one pair were black dress shoes, one pair were black casuals, one pair were running shoes, one pair were sandals and two pair were flip flops!  Ohhhh!  Now I can see why you need a pair of brown shoes!!  We returned to our hotel by 2:30pm and our room was available!  We were on the second floor.  Our room was trendy and had a ceiling to floor window overlooking the Placa de Catalunya!  Cool!  It wasn't very long before we decided to rest for a few hours and catch a short nap before heading out for dinner this evening.  This was a good plan as we likely would've faded early just as the party outside was beginning!After our well deserved rest, we were out and about by 6:30pm.  First, exploring the La Merce 09 stage at Placa de Catalunya.  With the music pounding from it's speakers, which we could hear clearly from our hotel room, the crowd was starting to gather and become larger.  Naturally, all the lyrics were in Spanish but the sound was Rock!  We left, heading back to the area we were familiar with from this afternoon, the Barri Gotic Quarter.  The crowd, that we thought was large earlier in the day has become much larger as the locals, who worked during the day, now coming out to celebrate in the La Merce 09 events!  We also learned that tomorrow was a bank holiday in Barcelona which meant that most public services had a holiday.  This evening we encountered numerous stages around the Barri Gotic Quarter, including Placa d'Antoni Maura, La Placa Sant Jaume including a fantastic light show with music reflecting off City Hall.  We watched fire works and the Parade of Giants on Las Ramblas and many street performers.  We dined at a trendy restaurant in the Barri Gotic Quarter, choosing to have a popular local plate of an assortment of tapas with Spanish beer.  By 11pm, we made our way back to Placa de Catalunya to watch popular Spanish singer Rosario on the main stage.  By now there must've been 20,000 people in the plaza but we were fading quickly.  The long flight here starting to get the best of us!  Thus, we decided to say "adios" to Rosaria and head back to our hotel room which was basically across the street.  From our room, we listened to the pop latino music of Spanish superstar Rosario until 12:30am!  Obviously, Barcelona has no noise bylaws.  But on stage was no ordinary band!  On stage was Rosario, playing to a large, receptive audience, in the mood to party!  The late hour was not a problem for the Spaniards who kept singing and dancing to the music of Rosario!  Hasta luego!Buenas noches!  Rick & Elsie!
]]> Too Early For Oktoberfest ! — Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256153846/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256153846/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256153846/tpod.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:01:09 -0400 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany

Guten Morgen!  Well it was a typical long overseas flight where we cover too many kilometers, fast forward over too many time zones and acquire too little sleep!  Despite the sleep deprivation, we're excited because we find ourselves in a new continent, new country, new city and two-thirds of the way to our final destination - Barcelona, Spain.As we flew into Frankfurt, we could see the roads and highways were already quite busy with traffic.  The Frankfurt Airport looked huge!  I mean, it looked like a small city in itself!  Lot's of cranes (lost count after twelve) and construction happening at the airport.  Upon landing, I had a sudden urge to find an Oktoberfest Party!  I was reminded by Elsie that it was still September!  Oh yeah!   Unfortunately, our stay in Frankfurt only gave us enough time to leave our arrival gate and transit through the airport, stand in a "Non-European" Customs and Immigration line which took like forever because only one Customs officer was staffed to serve about two hundred people.  On the other hand, the European line had two Customs staff and nobody waiting in line.  Wundervoll!  Occasionally, some European would come and stand in our line, for some odd reason!  We would allow this for a few minutes until they were kicked out and told to  stand in their own line, for which there was no wait!  Go figure!  In the end, I don't know if they were mocking us or we were mocking them but it just didn't matter!  ha! ha!  Eventually, the German Customs staff opened up all lines to Non-Europeans and we were through within minutes! Some day, Elsie and I hope to return to Frankfurt and visit this fine city and country!  Perhaps to enjoy a bottle of German beer or glass of Riesling wine or a cruise down the Rhine or a drive on the autobahn!   For now, it's just a short flight over the Alps to Barcelona!  We're almost there!  Bis Spater!!Beifall!  Rick & Elsie!
]]> A Quick Trip To Cowtown ! — Calgary, Alberta, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256150101/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256150101/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256150101/tpod.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:14:31 -0400 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Howwdy!  Well, we arrived in Calgary after a short one hour flight from Saskatoon which completes our first of three flights to our ultimate destination - Barcelona, Spain.  Calgary, such a beautiful city set in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and only an hours drive or so from Banff.  Calgary's home to the Calgary Stampede, The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!  This city was also the site of the 15th Olympic Winter Games in 1988 which we had attended and had a great time!  Calgary has brought so many good memories for us!  Unfortunately, on this date, our flight schedule only gives us enough time to go from one arrival gate to another departure gate!  As we navigated ourselves around Calgary International Airport, we encountered an RCMP officer providing security in the area!  It appears the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have implemented their new hiring practice of attracting new local citizens!  Keep up the Great Work Cst. Moose!  The next leg will take us to Frankfurt, Germany.  Home of Frankfurter sausages and German Beer!  Wow!  We expect to arrive in Frankfurt in time to catch a glimpse of their morning rush hour.  See ya tomorrow!  Cheers, Rick & Elsie!     
]]> Leaving Saskatoon ! — Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256101950/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256101950/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ricknelsie/2/1256101950/tpod.html Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:40:24 -0400 Rick & Elsie's Sail Around The Mediterranean!

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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Hello!  Ok!  Leaving Saskatoon doesn't have the same ring as "Leaving Las Vegas" but we don't live there!  So, here we wait in John G. Diefenbaker International Airport for our departure to Calgary, our first leg of flights that will end in Barcelona, Spain tomorrow morning!  Hoooray!  Can you feel the excitement!   Cheers, Rick & Elsie!
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