Thursday, February 1.  Dropped off Yoriko at 7:30 for her flight to Japan.  Then I went to 24 Hour Fitness for 2 hours.  (Past habits would have had me going to McDonald’s.)  Flew an Air France A380 double-decker for the first time.  Oddly the lower deck’s walls curve inward to simulate a single deck plane.  Anxiety prevention?  During the flight I took the rear stairs up to the attendants’ station for a glass of wine!  Two people were ill enough to receive medical assistance.  Fortunately there wasn’t a need for a flight deviation.

I had three hot meals on the two flights.  All were acceptable.  All three had the same hard rolls.  They should switch them up a bit.  The attendants were excellent.   In Casablanca a woman having trouble at customs thought raising her voice would cause them to let her go through.  She’d yell, then wait for a desired response (which was always an undesired “so?” shrug), then look through her purse and cell phone.  Repeat.  Funny.  We had to put our bags through an X-ray leaving the airport.  I’d learned that drones are illegal here by reading about a guy who was stopped with one (and lost it, permanently).  I wondered how they found it.  Now I know.  Apparently, they REALLY don’t want drones in the country.

Hour long drive to go maybe 15 miles.  Heavy traffic, lots of people gathered around place.  Don’t know why.  Nightfall before arrival.  Hotel is no different than any other world hotel.  I met the six others who are doing the pre-extension tour.  Used the fitness center.

The Tour begins proper tomorrow.  A 9:15 start.  Way too late for me.  I guess I’ll hit the fitness center again.

Stairs to the second deck.

Tail camera. Very cool to watch.

Paris. Secure location to charge your devices. Good idea.

 

 

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On January 31 I fly to Morocco.  (The map below doesn’t trace out the pre-trip extension to the Chefchaouen area and Tangier.)  About 19 days total.  While returning I’ll spend two nights in Paris to perform reconnaissance for a future trip with Yoriko.  There’s no extra airfare and hotels are pretty inexpensive.  Besides, while I’m there Yoriko will be in Japan.

I spent an afternoon in Morocco in 1981, so this won’t count as a new country visited.  But I have at least eight other new countries to visit this year.

Morocco has one of the most complex histories in the world.  It’s been under the thumb of Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, Spaniards and French, not to mention it’s own variety of rulers with their own agendas.  Three most important factors for being conquered: Location, location, location.  Fun fact: Morocco was the first nation to recognize the sovereignty of the USA.  Intelligent folk.

The entire trip is by bus, totaling about 1,500 miles.  (Morocco is about the size of California.) Included is another camel ride.  This will make three times on three continents in two years that I’ve touched a camel (See below).  Amazing.

Most hotels have wifi.  Two nights in a tent though.  I will try to upload photos.  Please feel free to post a comment.  It would be nice to have more comments from real people than spammers.

Camel in Texas

Camel in Mongolia

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Saturday through Monday, September 23-25.  I’ve covered most of Rome in my earlier blog (December 2016), so I won’t repeat it here.

We did the Hop-on Hop-off bus again.  It illustrated the reality that the ancient areas of Rome are really close together.  From then on we merely walked to places.  We saw just about all the sights.  Many repeatedly.  The crowning event was going to the top of St. Peters Basilica.  We took the elevator to the top of the nave, then climbed to the top of the dome.  Incredible experience.  Pictures don’t really do it justice.  We’d gotten there early enough to beat most of the crowds, though we still spent an hour in line to enter the Basilica grounds.

Recap: Barcelona and Rome were both everything we’d hoped for.  I think we saw just about everything they had to offer.  Airbnb was terrific.  The cruise was ok, but not Viking-like.  Too many people and too greedy a cruise line.  As a transport from one city to another in style it did its job.  The premium drinks package was a great utility, not only for the drinks but also to simplify the thought process.   The stern stateroom was not worth the added cost.  Our dinner partners were all terrific, as was the wait staff.

Overall, an excellent time.

No, it’s not a toy. No, Yoriko didn’t grow.

On the walkway around the base of the dome. chicken wire, to prevent anything falling hundreds of feet below.

On top of the nave. Gift shop and snack bar.

The front of a statue on top of the nave.

The back of the same statue.

You can see the people.

Vatican grounds. They do offer tours, but not often.

The Vatican Train Station.

Notice the line to enter!

The curve of the dame as you climb it.

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Friday, September 22. We combined a city tour with debarkation transport to get to our Airbnb in Rome.  Really good idea.  Others in the bus were fun.  We didn’t really go anywhere we’d gone during our last visit to Rome, but our Vatican Museum tour guide was much much better.  The Sistine Chapel was so very crowded (our last time in it was at night with maybe 150 people).  We learned about the ability to climb the dome, which was added to our plans.

We were clearly better off visiting in December last time.  Every place we visited was packed.  We had lunch at pizza joint near the Trevi Fountain.  Maybe twenty square pans of pizzas: You shout and point at the kind you wanted.  An “ugly” American ignored the crowded, bussling situation and repeatedly asked “what king of pizza is that one!?”  It wasn’t the place to be picky.

Dropping us off proved difficult.  The first couple had a place down some extremely narrow streets that our small bus was not designed to navigate.  They offered to just get out and find it themselves, but the driver refused.  Then our place, which was easy to find but hard to get to with all the one-way streets and no left turn signs.  Our host was there waiting, then led us up a fascinating path to reach the top floor.  Massive door with a small door (key).  Up some stairs to a gate (key).  Up more stairs to a gate which swung towards you on the stairs (key).  Tiny elevator (one person and a suitcase) with stern instructions to NOT open the doors until you hear a click.  More stairs to a door (key) Short walk in the open air to another door (key).  Patio of the apartment.  Door into the rooms (key).  The view made it all worthwhile.

The can says Barcelona. But we’re in Rome!

Our view.

 

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Thursday, September 21.  We paid(!) for the ship’s bus shuttle to Lorenzo’s bus station, transferred to the city bus for the train station, then got on the train to Pisa.  We didn’t want to risk missing the train while figuring out how to pay.  There was a ticket conductor on the train but she barely glanced at us.

Nonstop to Pisa.  About a 30 minute walk to the Tower.  Bought a timed ticket to climb it, then visited the cathedral and gift store.  We also spent 20 minutes in line to check Yoriko’s bag.  No bags in the Tower, plus a pat down.  Friendly but thorough.  Because of the attendance limitation the Tower was really easy to navigate.  Steps were very worn and slippery, not to mention slanted.  View was impressive.  Well worth dedicating the entire day to do the climb.

Afterwards we had lunch outdoors with a fun conversation with some Americans who were doing a self driving tour of Italy.  Envious.  We paid(!) for our return train ride.

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Wednesday, September 20.  Anchored at Nice, promptly found and took the train to Monaco.  Actually we anchored one bay away from Nice, so we never saw it.  Train Station was intended for commuters, so it had limited facilities and a faulty automated ticket vending machine.  As long-time train commuters we knew that if we couldn’t buy a ticket when the train arrived, just get on the train anyway.  Many passengers didn’t know.  Crowded train.

We hiked up to the palace before it opened and strolled down the alleys before many shops opened.  A good thing.   Found St. Nicholas Cathedral, where Princess Grace rests.  Bought tickets to the palace and stood in line for only a few minutes before they opened.  As we left we discovered what smart people we are.  Long line!  Nice recorded tour, though a bit overlong regarding the furnishings.  Afterwards we struggle to find the associated Automotive Museum.  Not a bad display, but I’ve seen better.  Lacked a lot of backstory for most of the cars.

Strolled around the town.  Had a small meal in a forgettable restaurant.  Walked through the tunnel featured in the Grand Prix.  Struggled to find the right train platform.  The station is underground with numerous surface entrances.  I tried to buy tickets but couldn’t figure out the machine.  We finally just got on the correct train, again ticketless.  I think we’re done with Monaco.  At least until I win the lottery.

Cathedral

Obligatory photo of the Casino

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Tuesday, September 19.  We really enjoyed Cannes.  Pretty place.  Managed to find a stationary shop to buy a Birthday card for Yoriko.  I did my “let’s take the road less traveled” and we had a great lunch down some narrow back alley.  We both ordered wine which we thought would be glasses but were actually half bottles.  Yoriko had a large bowl of mussels.  Heaven!  An English speaking server appeared (after we’d ordered the wine) and directed us to the nearby farmers market.  Excellent time. I think we saw enough though, at least until I win the lottery.

Tenders are a pain.

Cute.

 

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Monday, September 18.  The number of photos disagrees with our assessment of the city.  Pretty bland.  It drizzled though.  The Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica at the top was a climb, but really impressive.  It’s far and away the most visited attraction in the city, with good reason.  It’s a destination for sailors who survived shipwrecks.

In hindsight it wasn’t a bad place to visit.

They do love their football.

Not a wall you want your ship’s picture on. All were lost at sea.

Model ships hanging from the ceiling of the church.

Huh?

 

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