Bonnie and I have been friends for ____ years, lets just say since our college years. When she invited me to travel with her, I was on board. All I had to do was send in my $$ and 6 months later we met in Miami on the ship, Rivera of the Oceania cruise ship line. A bottle of champagne awaits us, bon voyage.
Two of her friends from California joined us, mostly for dinner and a couple excursions. We had lots of laughs and girl chatter over scrumptious food!
Our first port is King's Wharf, Bermuda. We toured all over the island on a beautiful day. Oh, to be on those pink sand beaches! The houses are painted in multiple colors with white roofs and lots of churches. Our one shopping stop in Hamilton was fruitless.
For me, the pictures are my souvenir.
The next day we sailed on a glass bottom boat to see the reefs. When ships sail into Bermuda ports they need a local pilot to navigate around the reefs and 400 ship wrecks.
We enjoyed this cruise around the island but the fish scatter with the shadow of the boat, it's definitely not the same as snorkeling over a reef. Another beautiful day, more shops and a rum swizzler, the local drink. This next picture shows a tour bus and the wonderful flowers of the island.
The next four days we are at sea, sunny, breezy, 60s. Lots to do on board ship: art classes, lectures, entertainment, dining, high tea and for our friends the casino. Then we come upon the jewel of the Atlantic, the garden isle, Madeira Island, Portugal, at dawn.
Our tour includes the city of Funchal and a cable car ride to Monte then to the botanical gardens. Everyone has a vegetable garden and flower garden, many grow bananas. The decorative cobblestone streets are typical of Portugal. We also stopped at an embroidery factory as Maderia is known for their embroidery. The local drink is poncho served in shot size glasses. After climbing the hills of Monte and the gardens we take a Poncho break.
Maderia Island has won many European garden competitions. The weather here is much like southern California.
Another couple days at sea before our next port in Tangiers, Morocco. The weather gets a little rough and we don't go out on the decks. Time to read and watch movies: Elizabeth, The Kings Speech, The Full Monty, Anna Karenia, The Impossible, Casablanca and Argo. Finished the book "Unbroken". We arrive in Tangiers, our guide is Syied (phonetic spelling). First stop is a performance of dancers, gymnasts, a magician and musicians in a beautiful tent. The non-alcoholic drink, mint tea.
We drive into the countryside to Hercules Caves. Large caves where the Atlantic rushes in is located at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, the Straits of Gibraltar. Hugely commercialized.
We drive on to the light house Cap Spartel also at the entranced to the Mediterranean. The vendors add to the color of this scene.
As we travel the land, our guide tells us the history of Morocco, the economy (20% unemployment) but many new businesses and also a primer on the 5 pillars of Islam. Today is their holy day and many in the city go to the mosque. The market place is busy and he guides us through the old city, the kasbah. So colorful and the sounds of the call to prayer.
We were given the choice to shop on our own or go to a shop that the guide suggests, the whole group followed our guide. All the time in the kasbah we had men trying to sell us jewelry and purses, they were relentless. I guess we felt if left on our own we would be harassed too much and maybe get lost in the winding walkways of the old city. It was a wonderful experience to see this living, thriving, ancient neighborhood and observe the people and their crafts.
We returned to the ship and sailed another day to Barcelona, Spain. No touring there but home calls me. Bonnie and I say good-bye to our plush accommodations and wonderful service. Cheers, dear friend, a great adventure.
Two of her friends from California joined us, mostly for dinner and a couple excursions. We had lots of laughs and girl chatter over scrumptious food!
Our first port is King's Wharf, Bermuda. We toured all over the island on a beautiful day. Oh, to be on those pink sand beaches! The houses are painted in multiple colors with white roofs and lots of churches. Our one shopping stop in Hamilton was fruitless.
For me, the pictures are my souvenir.
The next day we sailed on a glass bottom boat to see the reefs. When ships sail into Bermuda ports they need a local pilot to navigate around the reefs and 400 ship wrecks.
We enjoyed this cruise around the island but the fish scatter with the shadow of the boat, it's definitely not the same as snorkeling over a reef. Another beautiful day, more shops and a rum swizzler, the local drink. This next picture shows a tour bus and the wonderful flowers of the island.
The next four days we are at sea, sunny, breezy, 60s. Lots to do on board ship: art classes, lectures, entertainment, dining, high tea and for our friends the casino. Then we come upon the jewel of the Atlantic, the garden isle, Madeira Island, Portugal, at dawn.
Our tour includes the city of Funchal and a cable car ride to Monte then to the botanical gardens. Everyone has a vegetable garden and flower garden, many grow bananas. The decorative cobblestone streets are typical of Portugal. We also stopped at an embroidery factory as Maderia is known for their embroidery. The local drink is poncho served in shot size glasses. After climbing the hills of Monte and the gardens we take a Poncho break.
Maderia Island has won many European garden competitions. The weather here is much like southern California.
Another couple days at sea before our next port in Tangiers, Morocco. The weather gets a little rough and we don't go out on the decks. Time to read and watch movies: Elizabeth, The Kings Speech, The Full Monty, Anna Karenia, The Impossible, Casablanca and Argo. Finished the book "Unbroken". We arrive in Tangiers, our guide is Syied (phonetic spelling). First stop is a performance of dancers, gymnasts, a magician and musicians in a beautiful tent. The non-alcoholic drink, mint tea.
We drive into the countryside to Hercules Caves. Large caves where the Atlantic rushes in is located at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, the Straits of Gibraltar. Hugely commercialized.
We drive on to the light house Cap Spartel also at the entranced to the Mediterranean. The vendors add to the color of this scene.
As we travel the land, our guide tells us the history of Morocco, the economy (20% unemployment) but many new businesses and also a primer on the 5 pillars of Islam. Today is their holy day and many in the city go to the mosque. The market place is busy and he guides us through the old city, the kasbah. So colorful and the sounds of the call to prayer.
We were given the choice to shop on our own or go to a shop that the guide suggests, the whole group followed our guide. All the time in the kasbah we had men trying to sell us jewelry and purses, they were relentless. I guess we felt if left on our own we would be harassed too much and maybe get lost in the winding walkways of the old city. It was a wonderful experience to see this living, thriving, ancient neighborhood and observe the people and their crafts.
We returned to the ship and sailed another day to Barcelona, Spain. No touring there but home calls me. Bonnie and I say good-bye to our plush accommodations and wonderful service. Cheers, dear friend, a great adventure.
