Pompeii, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, Italy

Monday, June 2, 2014


Yesterday was a “Sea Day” and today was the last port on our itinerary.  I can’t believe the cruise is coming to an end.  It has been such a blessing to visit all the wonderful places we’ve been to and I am so thankful for the opportunity.

The tour today took us to three destinations.  The ship ported in Salerno and then we drove to Pompeii, Sorrento and along the Amalfi coast to Positano.  This was Salerno this morning as we were pulling in to port:

Salerno, Italy

Salerno, Italy


This morning I was right-on-time when I disembarked the ship and checked-in with the tour guide.  But when I stepped on the bus, everyone groaned at me for being the last person to board. Geez Louise! Apparently everyone else got downstairs EARLY and had been sitting on the bus eager to get started. Ha! Ha!  Allow me to reiterate that I was right-on-time. (They all reminded me of my eager-beaver Dad who used to be up at the crack of dawn and out the door two hours before we were supposed to be somewhere.) LOL.

The tour started with an hour journey to Pompeii. The story of Pompeii is fascinating (and sad).  Pompeii was a Roman city near modern-day Naples that was buried under volcanic ash and pumice in 79 AD when a near-by volcano (Mount Vesuvius) erupted. According to Wikipedia, the city was lost for about 1,500 years until its re-discovery in 1599 – and broader re-discovery in 1748.  For centuries, the city lay beneath the surface well preserved from air and moisture. The discovery of Pompeii has provided  us with an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city during the Pax Romana. 

Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius in the background.

I just thought he was pretty.

There’s always one . . .

‘

Interior of a home in Pompeii.
Notice the mosaic detail on the floor.

Mosaic detail on this fountain.

The streets of Pompeii.

This section hasn’t been excavated yet. Who knows what lies beneath?

Pompeii city gates.

After Pompeii, we drove to the quaint southern town of Sorrento.  This vacation spot overlooks the Bay of Naples and is famous for its lemons, specifically its  Limoncello  – a sweet liqueur made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar.  I did not take a single photo of Sorrento because most of the group went straight to a nice restaurant in town and had lunch. I met a couple from North Carolina and enjoyed visiting with them. The woman reminded me so much of my cousin, Carla. 

Back on the bus, we drove along the Amalfi Coast to Positano. The drive was beautiful. Everyone from home agreed it looked like Santa Barbara except it was much greener, and of course the water was deep blue.

Positano, Italy

Positano, Italy



Bill and Scott

Bill, Christie and Scott

Tomorrow is our final “Sea Day” and on Wednesday, the cruise ends back in Barcelona. I’m sure everyone will be busy packing and preparing to leave the ship. My friend Stan is meeting me in Barcelona and we are flying to Vienna for a few days.

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Breathtaking Santorini, Greece

Saturday, May 31, 2014




Today was a day I will not soon forget.  I am IN LOVE with Santorini. When you see these photos, you may be too.

I did not know a single thing about this island before I arrived. My first glimpse of this picturesque island was from my deck on board the Serenade of the Seas. When I saw the deep blue of the ocean and the sky, I could not wait to get out and experience the magic of Santorini.

According to the Internet, Santorini is essentially what remains of a [formerly] single island after an enormous volcano erupted  destroying the earlier settlements and creating the current geological caldera. I don’t have time to research it right now but however it got here – it’s beautiful!  The buildings are carved into the cliffs, the water is the color of sapphires, the sky is the clearest-deepest blue I’ve ever seen, and the blue is offset by the crisp white buildings.  I kept thinking that my sister would love this island because blue is her favorite color.


I did not take a guided tour of Santorini – opting instead to wander the streets and discover it’s treasures on my own. I’m going to let the photos speak for themselves. Believe me, they do not do Santorini justice.

Enjoy!


Kris in Santorini, Greece.



There are three ways to get to the top of the island: climb 614 stairs, ride a donkey or take a lift.  I opted for the lift. Duh!

We rode the lift up and – see the stairs in
the background? We walked 614 steps down!









Dome ceiling inside a church.

This little girl was just chatting away . . .

I liked the pink on the church.

I did not take this photo. I wanted to show the
Mediterranean architecture.
Diane in Santorini.





I want to stay in this hotel when I win the Lottery!

We had lunch here.

Too cute!

View from the restaurant window.

Santorini is the perfect wedding destination.

Beautiful couple.

Happy Girl!

He passed us on the way down.


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Kusadasi and Ancient Ephesus, Turkey

Friday, May 30, 2014

I don’t think any of us knew what to expect in Turkey and I believe most of us came away from the experience pleasantly surprised.

I love when that happens!

We had another very busy day. I was running a little late this morning and almost got left behind! I am so glad my group waited for me. Whew!

So, this is Kusadasi . . . 

Kusadasi is a resort town on Turkey’s Aegean coast. It’s primary industry is TOURISM. Yeah, I can see why! Our guide told us that during the summer months, people flock to this area from all over the world to stay in their vacation homes. Kinda of like Florida, I guess. Ha! Ha!

Our first stop was The House of Mary which is believed to be where Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived until the end of her life. The place has an interesting history and if you want more information you can Google it and read about it’s discovery.

Wishing Wall at The House of Mary.

Bruce, photo-bombing!



Diane listening to her tour guide.

Driving between sites, we were struck by how similar the terrain is to California. I shot a few photos as we were driving down the mountain from the House of Mary and I commented to the group that the view looked like Camarillo at the top of the grade! See for yourself:

Is it Turkey or Camarillo?
Christie and Bill in Turkey.

Next stop was a tour of a Turkish carpet factory.  It was so interesting! I enjoyed learning how silk is extracted from the cocoon of a silkworm. The cocoons are soaked in a vat of very hot water and then the worker uses a brush to tease out a hair-thin thread from each cocoon. She wraps the thread to a spinning wheel and extracts all the silk from the casing. Who knew?  

These precious ladies make beautiful hand knotted or flat woven carpets that are like works of art. I now understand why these carpets are so expensive and why they are valued heirlooms that are passed down for many generations. I’m so glad I got to see this!

Look at the detail in this handmade piece!

A work of art!

Only natural fibers are used in handmade rugs.
The most common materials used for the
pile are wool, silk and cotton. In this photo I was trying to
see if I could tell the difference because they were all so soft.

After a nice lunch with the group, we headed off to see the ancient city of Ephesus. I don’t even know how to describe what I saw and felt as I walked through the ruins of this city. For starters, because of the nature of my work, I have such an appreciation for architecture, layout, materials used, and design. I can’t imagine how the trades were able to do such intricate work without the benefit of modern machinery and equipment.  How did they haul all that marble and hoist it up so high to make the columns? Why did they use marble as street pavers? It must have been so slippery when it rained. 

I am also so appreciative of the privilege of seeing these places in person! Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by God’s goodness towards me. He has allowed me to stand in history! I close my eyes and try to hear the voices of the past. Some believe that the Gospel of John may have been written in Ephesus; the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians – another book of the New Testament; and Ephesus is one of the seven churches of Asia that is listed in the Book of Revelation.

Below are pictures of the ruins of Ephesus. I wasn’t able to write down the descriptions of each site; there was so much to see, our guide moved along pretty quickly.

Bill in Ephesus.

Notice how the capital hasn’t been fully excavated.

Stone carving of the goddess Nike (Greek mythology) who
personified victory. Nike, Inc.’s famous swoosh logo was inspired
by this goddess. Who knew?

Original marble steps.

Intricate mosaic design in the sidewalk.

Library of Celsus.

Theater in Ephesus.

Cute little girl.

Our group. The woman to Bill’s left was our tour guide.
After Ephesus, we made a stop at a leather outlet store. We were invited to “shop the runway” as models modeled the latest styles of leather coats and jackets in a fashion show. They were exquisite! I wanted one of each! Turkish leather products are made with lambskin which is very soft and very beautiful. (It makes sense since lamb is a staple in the Turkish diet.) I resisted the temptation to buy but several members of our group showed up at dinner wearing their new purchases and I was bummed I wasn’t sporting a new jacket of my own!



Boo!


Back in Kusadasi, we walked along the harbor and enjoyed the view before returning to the ship.



This man was looking so intently at
something, he was unaware of the camera.
Scott enjoying the view.
Everything in this shop was white.
I couldn’t tell if this man was making
a net or repairing one but I enjoyed
watching him work.
Serenade of the Seas


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Athens, Greece

Thursday, May 29, 2014


I have always
wanted to visit Greece
and now that wish has come true! Thank You, Lord!


This morning we
had an 8:30 AM start time for our tour of Athens.  After having two sea days, I was looking
forward to some time off the ship.


From this point on, with the exception of Santorini, most of our tours will focus on some of the most famous ancient ruins in the world including religious sites, fortifications and entire cities. I am so thankful to all the historians, archaeologists and anthropologists who have made it possible for modern civilizations to see these amazing sites.


Today we took a
walking tour through historical Athens.  We walked and climbed stairs all day. My
friend Bruce wears a pedometer and when we stopped for lunch, we had already
walked over 10,000 steps (mostly uphill)! It’s a good thing I’m in such stellar
athletic condition.


Not!


The first stop
on our tour was a visit to the Metro Museum where we saw some interesting artifacts from
the daily life of ancient Athens.
They were found during the construction of the metro.


Next, we walked
to the Parliament building where we watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.


The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is permanently guarded by Evzones, members of the presidential guard in traditional attire – foustanella.  The foustanella was worn by the Greek revolutionaries who fought the independence war against the Turkish between 1821 and 1830. It consists of a skirt with 400 pleats (the number of years of Turkish rule), shirts with long sleeves, and red pointed shoes with large pompons.

Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Athens.

From there, we
saw a small portion of the National
Garden and Zappeion Hall.  Zappeion Hall was built in the late 1800’s and was the first building to be erected specifically for the revival of the Olympic Games in the modern world.


National Garden.

Zappeion Hall.

Next was the Temple of Zeus which has a long history dating back to the 6th century BC through the 2nd century AD. Can you imagine? Over the following centuries, the temple was quarried to provide building materials for other projects. Today only fifteen of the original 104 columns are still standing and a sixteenth column lies on the ground where it fell during a storm in 1852. Nothing remains of the cella or the statue of Zeus that it once housed.


Temple of Zeus, Athens.
See the hill in the background? We walked all the way to the top!
Temple of Zeus, Athens.
Temple of Zeus from the Acropolis.
See the column on the ground?

Continuing on, we walked through the Plaka district on our way to the Acropolis of Athens.  The Plaka is a collection of streets housing mostly shops and cafes and some residential areas directly below the Acropolis. The Plaka was built ON TOP of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens! 


The Acropolis is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky hill containing the remains of several historical buildings including the Parthenon, Propylaia, Erectheion, Temple of Athena Nike, the Theater of Dionysus Eleuthereus, and Odeon of Herodes Atticus. All of these sites were spectacular and it would take hours to describe them all.


Theater of Dionysus Eleuthereus.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
Scott in front of the Parthenon, Athens.
Parthenon, Athens.
Parthenon.
Bruce enjoying the view of modern day Athens.

I was especially interested in seeing the Aeropagus (Romanized to Mars Hill) which is where the Apostle Paul is said to have delivered his speech to the people of Athens in Acts 17:24:

“Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.”

I was in awe to be standing in biblical history!

Mars Hill, Athens.

Tonight is the
first time I have felt the ocean under me. The sea was rolling and the waves
were big. We watched the white caps of the waves through the window in the
dining room and as we made our way to the evening’s activities everyone was
swaying and holding on to the handrails. It was fun but scary. Tonight we will
all be rocked to sleep. Hope no one is sea-sick.


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Cruising the Mediterranean Sea

Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May
28, 2014

Sea days are filled with activities from morning till night. I thought there was a lot to do before, but they really ramp up the schedule when we are at sea!


For me, the past two days have been filled with eating, dance lessons, a formal dinner, eating, music, meeting new people, blogging, reading and eating. I am having a wonderful time but I will need to go on a strict diet as soon as I get home! Hope I can fit through the door!


Casual Night.
Formal Night, Bill.

Diane and Bruce.

The Group.


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The Eternal City – Rome, Italy

Monday, May 26, 2014


It was hard to
get up at 5:45 AM this morning.



Yep, 5:45 AM.


I’m not sure I
was even awake when we headed downstairs to hop on our tour bus.  It’s a good thing my cabin-mate is an
early-bird; she gets me going in the morning and gives me gentle reminders of
the time!


Today, we toured
The Eternal City. I love Rome!
I was surrounded by archeological and artistic treasures of centuries past –
how could I not enjoy a day spent in such beauty?  Our tour itinerary included the Colosseum,
Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Piazza Navona.  Again, I had the opportunity to visit these
sites in 2009 and I was delighted to return. 
Last time I was in Rome,
I tossed a coin in the Trevi Fountain which is believed to ensure your return –
I guess my wish came true!


Sidewalk Cafe in Rome.
Trevi Fountain, Rome.
Scott in front of the Trevi Fountain.
Our tour guide demonstrating how to drink from a fountain.

Streets of Rome.

Outside the government building in Rome.

Piazza Navona.



Something
new:  When in Rome in 2009, I saw the exterior of the
Pantheon but never went inside.  This
time, I had the privilege of seeing the interior of this amazing structure. I
was blown away by the fact that the Pantheon was built by Emperor Hadrian
between 118 and 125 AD! Can you imagine? Very few buildings have survived the
passage of time in such pristine form. [When I have more time, I will post a
video of the interior that I recorded with my cell phone.]


Pantheon in Rome.

Pantheon in Rome.

Dome in Pantheon.



After a quick
lunch, we were taken to Vatican City
– the smallest country in the world. Our first stop was the Vatican.  I was frustrated that the tour only allows
for a few hours inside the Vatican Museums because I could easily spend two
days inside. There are sculptures, frescoes, tapestries, painted maps from the
1500’s, paintings from the masters, and of course, the Sistine Chapel.  There really is no possibility of absorbing
everything your eye can see, especially in a few hours; and since I
am not an art major, I don’t always know what is in front of me unless someone
explains it to me.  What I CAN appreciate
though is the remarkable beauty – and that makes my heart sing.


Ceiling Panels in the Vatican.

Vatican Gallery.



The next stop
was St. Peter’s Basilica and Piazza. We were able to stand under the central
balcony from which a new pope is proclaimed and where the pope delivers his
blessing on various holy days.  If I am
not mistaken, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church in the world; it can
hold 60,000 people. It would take a whole day to see all the treasures inside
St. Peter’s – the most precious being Michelangelo’s statue of the Pieta (1498)
which shows Mary cradling the dead Christ. Created by Michelangelo when he was
23, it is his only signed work.


Scott admiring St. Peter’s Square.

Vatican Guard.
Pieta by Michelangelo.





Last stop was a
post office in Vatican City so I could mail a
postcard to my cousins Thomas and Abby in Texas. Then I stopped at a gelato stand
where I enjoyed a delicious lemon gelato before the bus ride back to the ship. Thank you, Scott!


After dinner we
had to split our time between Disco night on Deck 4 and Ballroom dancing on
Deck 6.  So many choices, so little time!


Tomorrow is a
sea day and I’m going to sleep in!

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Livorno / Pisa / Florence, Italy

Sunday, May 25, 2014



I am happy to
report that we discovered there is a tiny clock display on our phone in our cabin so now we
know what time it is! We have to put our reading glasses on to SEE it . . . but at least we know the time! LOL.

I was so excited
to visit Pisa
for the first time today. We had to be on the bus by 8:00 AM so the alarm went
off bright and early. My dear cabin-mate can get ready in a flash so that
leaves plenty of bathroom time for me! Yay!

We had a sweet
young man as a tour guide today. He is from Florence and an art history major so he was
the perfect tour guide for me since I love history and details. Our first stop was Pisa where I got to see
the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pisa Cathedral, and the Baptistery. They are beautiful examples of Romanesque architecture.

Construction of the Campanile (bell tower) began in 1173 and continued for 200 years due to the onset of a series of wars. It was designed as a circular bell tower and was constructed of white marble. There is a 294 step spiral staircase inside leading to the top – which I did NOT climb! The tower’s foundation of soft soil (composed of mud, sand and clay) began to settle before the tower was completed and for hundreds of years, engineers have been trying to remedy this situation.


Baptistery


Bell Tower

Bell Tower



After Pisa, we boarded the bus and after a one hour drive
through the beautiful Tuscan countryside, we arrived in Florence.


Ahh, Florence.


Our tour
included several of the sites that I visited the last time I was here (2009)
and I was so happy to see them again, especially the magnificent Statue of
David.


Our first stop
was the Duomo (cathedral), Campanile (bell tower), and Battistero (baptistery).
The Duomo is the world’s fourth largest church and the tallest building in Florence. It is the
grandest building project ever undertaken in Florence, and the russet-colored dome is
considered the greatest engineering feat of the Renaissance. The ornate
cathedral and bell tower are decorated in white, green and pink Tuscan marble.




Kris at the Duomo in Florence.



The Battistero
has three sets of bronze doors. The reliefs on the south doors (designed by
Andrea Pisano) portray scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist; the north doors (designed
by Ghiberti) depict scenes from the life of Christ; and the east doors
(Ghiberti) depict Old Testament scenes. The doors are beautiful and I felt so
privileged to see them in person, although some of the bronze panels are copies
of the originals which are being preserved in the museum.


Another stop was
Ponte Vecchio (Old
Bridge) which crosses the
River Arno running through the heart of the city. There is so much history
surrounding this bridge it would take too long to share.  I read that there has been a bridge here
since Roman times, but the current Ponte Vecchio dates from 1345 when it was
built to replace the former wooden structure that was swept away by an
overflowing river. The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in the city to escape
destruction in World War II.


Ponte Vecchio, Florence
Bill is taking a picture of me taking a picture.

Christie and Bill


The highlight
for me was the Galleria dell’Accademia where I saw Michelangelo’s David. There
are many beautiful pieces in the Galleria, but I spent most of my time staring
at this magnificent sculpture.  Michelangelo
created this piece from a single block of marble when he was just 29 years
old.  There are no words to describe its
beauty.


As I sat beneath
David, Kris asked me how tall Goliath was. I pulled up my Bible app on my
cell phone and read the story of David and Goliath to some of the women sitting
next to me. By the time I had finished the story, we all had tears in our eyes.
 One woman commented, “I am so glad I sat
next to you.” There is no way to describe the powerful emotions this beautiful
work of art elicits in me . . . I’ll just leave it at that. Unfortunately, we
were not allowed to take pictures.


Kris and I
stopped for a quick bite to eat at a typical little street café before heading
back to the meeting point for the tour. 
Kris loves finding authentic dining places off the beaten path where the
experience, service and food are less geared toward tourists.  The pizza was yummy and we got to visit with
a really nice young woman from Canada.


Back at the
ship, there were activities all night to choose from. Tonight was Country and Western Night.  I decided to turn in on
the early side since we have a 7:30 AM departure time for our tour to Rome tomorrow.


Why does
everything start so early?
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The French Riviera, Cannes, France

Saturday, May 24, 2014


“I wonder what
time it is?”


That has been my
first thought every morning for the past week. For some reason we did not have
a clock in our room in Barcelona
– and we do not have one now in our cabin. I have been running very late or
very early for everything.


Today, I was
very early. It was 6:00 AM.


But first, back
to yesterday . . .


On Friday, (May
23) I was very late! I stayed up the night before working on the blog and
photos and by the time I went to bed it was 3:00 AM. Our check-out time in Barcelona was noon sharp
and I didn’t wake up until 11:00 AM! Yikes! 
I packed, showered and got ready like a mad-woman and was out the door
at 12:30 on-the-dot. Oops! Thankfully,
the front desk allowed the extra 30 minutes, although begrudgingly, without
extra fees.

Kris and I had a
nice lunch and then hailed a taxi. 
Destination: the port. I was sad to leave Barcelona. I felt there was still so much to
see.  I hope I get to return in the
future and spend more time in this lovely city.

We boarded the
Serenade of the Seas, checked-in, found our cabin, attended a mandatory
emergency-drill and then headed back to our cabin to unpack and get
settled.  We are so tickled with our
deck! Most of the rooms have a dinky deck, but WE have a LARGE one.  The cabins are so small that having a roomy
deck makes a big difference.

It was nice to
see the rest of the group at dinner.  I’m
glad everyone made it safe and sound; although some had horror stories of long
delays and lost luggage.  We were
assigned a nice table near the windows so every evening we will enjoy an ocean
view as we dine.  There are 19 people in
our group – most of which I know.

After dinner, everyone
scattered in different directions.  I walked
around the ship to familiarize myself with the layout. I am amazed by the
floating hotel we are traveling on! It literally has EVERYTHING. There is a
gym, spa, pools, restaurants, night-clubs, activities for children, a medical
center, a mini shopping mall, a movie theater which also doubles as a
performance theater, a casino, and more! 
Every evening a daily newsletter gets delivered to our room highlighting
all the scheduled activities for the next day. There is so much to do!

Now, continuing with today
(Saturday). I woke up this morning to this beautiful scenery – the coast of France.

(It’s going to
be fun to wake up every morning to a different view outside my patio!)



Our port for
today was Cannes.
The city was full of activity. Today is the final day of the Cannes Film
Festival and the Grand Prix is this weekend in Monte Carlo. Needless to say, the city was
buzzing!  It seemed like all the
beautiful, fashionable people where in Cannes
today.  The women look and/or dress like
models with a characteristic French flare. 
I walked around the main drag admiring the beautiful yachts, the
beaches, and the expensive cars and, of course the architecture.  My friend, Stan and I were here in 2012 and I
remembered the outdoor dining patio at the JW Marriott where we stayed. I went
back to that location and relaxed in the shade with a cold lemonade and enjoyed
the scenery. It was so peaceful and I felt so happy to be there.


JW Marriott, Cannes.





The wood on this boat was gleaming.

Cannes, France.

Serenade of the Seas.


I got up close
to the Film Festival hoping to see a star or two but didn’t spot anyone. I did
manage to walk (a few steps) on the red carpet and take a few shots.


2014 Film Festival, Red Carpet.


Back on board, dinner
this evening was formal, with the Captain’s Welcome Reception immediately
following.  (We have three formal dinners
total on this cruise.) Everyone looked so nice all dressed up for dinner.  I loved it! I wish I had more opportunities
to dress up – it seems we have become such a casual society, especially in California. I notice
that everyone behaves differently when they’re dressed formally – it’s nice.  After dinner, our group attended the Emperors
of Soul show in the theater. It was good.


I ordered mini burgers and fries!

Judy

Paula

Tom

Rick

Celebrating Rick’s Retirement.




Tomorrow, we
dock in Livorno, Italy. I am looking forward to
Florence.
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Ships and Planes; Trains and Buses

Greetings from Barcelona, Spain!

Yep! Spain, baby! I am so happy to be here I can’t stand myself.

But wait, I have to back-up because a lot has happened in the past week.

So What Happened Was . . .

Last Monday, May 19th, I left my house in Chicago for a 5-week European holiday. It is not easy to be away for such a long time – it takes a lot of planning.  In the end, it was a mad-dash to get everything ready / caught-up / organized / packed and planned, but I did it. Whew! By the time I boarded the plane, I was way past -due for some down-time.

I arrived in Barcelona on Tuesday evening and checked-in to my hotel where my roommate, Kris, was waiting.

So why Barcelona?



A group of my friends from the dance circuit I belong to are embarking on a 12-day Mediterranean Dance Cruise which leaves Barcelona TOMORROW! Yay! We will be porting in Cannes, France; Florence, Rome, and Naples, Italy; Athens and Santorini, Greece; Ephesus, Turkey and returning to Barcelona. On the “at sea” days, we will be taking dance workshops including: Country Two-Step, Nite-Club Two Step, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Waltz, and Cha-Cha. How much fun is that? I am so excited!

But wait – there’s more!


After the cruise, Stan is picking me up in Barcelona and we will continue the trip with stops in Milan, Lake Como, England and Paris.

Yes indeedy!

Since my arrival on Tuesday evening, we have been sight-seeing all over town. There is so much to see and we have only scratched the surface.  Kris and I decided to buy a “hop on / hop off” bus ticket which drives past all the points of interests in the city. It’s a great way to see everything and it afforded us the opportunity to stay as long as we wanted at any given attraction without being kept to a strict time-table.  Brilliant!

Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city and the architecture is beautiful. I learned that in 1659 Spain ceded Northern Catalonia to France which may explain why there is such a strong French influence in the architecture.

Barcelona is a Mediterranean seaport so there is a high-energy vibe. We are staying in the nerve center of the city near the Placa de Catalunya not far from the festive Ramblas. La Ramblas is a stone paved promenade that runs from the plaza to the waterfront and it is lined with restaurants, shops, hotels, and the flower market. It’s very lively.

Yesterday, we visited the Montjuic area and specifically, the Poble Espanyol which is an entire little village constructed for the 1929 exposition. The buildings in this little village showcase all the architectural styles of Spain. Awesome!

As we were walking along, we stumbled into a clothing shop where every garment was handmade by  the shop owner. She was a precious soul who is originally from the Ukraine but now lives in Barcelona with her husband. I liked her immediately and loved her clothes.  I could see the love she poured into every stitch and I knew I could not leave without buying the one item that had been calling my name from the moment I walked through the door. It’s beautiful! I’m not going to say what it is; but if you stay tuned to future posts I will reveal the secret . . . maybe. Hint: it’s black. LOL.

Last night, Kris and I decided to attend an authentic flamenco performance. Oh my goodness, there are no words to describe the experience.  I have seen flamenco dances before, but last night I had the privilege of experiencing the grace and power of flamenco performed in it’s native country by some of the best dancers in the region. The passion, the intensity, and the artistic talent of the performers was an experience I will not soon forget.

Reminded me of Camarillo, CA.

Montjuic

Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol

Kristen Bridges

I love the crown detail on this building.

Picasso Museum in Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol

Montjuic

Museo Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

Happy to be here!

Beautiful tile risers on the stairs.

La Ramblas at night.

La Ramblas at night.



Thursday, May 22



Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) was a famous artist and avant-garde architect in Barcelona. Today we saw several of his buildings including the most prominent landmark in Barcelona – The  Sagrada Familia Church. It was certainly something to behold.  I personally do not care for this neo-Gothic modernist style (which was based on forms found in nature), but I can appreciate the incredible engineering and craftsmanship that his designs demand(ed).  I tried to take photos of the church but it was impossible to capture the essence of this cathedral with my limited photography skills.  I will insert a photo from the internet and leave it to the professionals.












Three wise men.

Nativity

Sagrada Familia Church

Interior
I also learned that Picasso spent much of his life in Barcelona. His most famous paintings are not housed here but the museums contain many examples of his early work.

Finally, the native language of Barcelona is Catalan which is a variation of the Spanish we are more familiar with.  For instance here they say carrer instead of calle; passeig instead of paseo; avinguda instead of avenida; and placa instead of plaza.

So, does that mean I can say I speak three languages now – English, Spanish and Catalan?

Joy and Kris

Joy-sized doorway!
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Up Next – Osaka, Japan

Today is Saturday. I can’t believe the week is over already!

Our time in Hiroshima has been very low key. We went shopping on Thursday and on Friday we spent the day with some of Stan’s relatives. We had such a nice time – they are so sweet.


FRIDAY
It was such a privilege to be invited to Stan’s cousin’s home. I finally got to see the inside of a traditional wooden Japanese home complete with wood floors and sliding room partitions. We took our shoes off just inside the door and we were offered slippers for our feet. We were led into the family shrine – a separate room with an altar, photographs of the parents (who are now deceased) and various religious articles. A tatami mat covered the floor and there were two large pillows on the floor in front of the altar for kneeling. It was just like the movies!
Cousin’s House
Family Shrine
Rice field in the neighborhood.
After a few minutes, we migrated to a small family room which was furnished with a sofa, chairs and a coffee table. Stan and I were offered the sofa, the men sat in the chairs, and the women sat on the floor. They served tea and desserts and we enjoyed looking at photographs and recalling memories from the past. I asked lots of questions and we communicated through Stan and through our translator apps on our phones. It was hilarious when the app translated words literally and the thoughts we were trying to convey were lost. Example: Mitsuru was trying to tell me that one of the aunts was killed in the bombing but the app translated his words,  “she died in the manuscript”. Huh?  At one point I was trying to tell Stan’s uncle he had a sweet smile, but it came out “sweet tasting smile”. LOL. We got a lot of laughs out of our app.

The evening ended with a nice dinner at a local restaurant and more laughs and conversation.

Uncle, Aunt, Cousins
Stan asked me if I wanted to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum but I didn’t think I could handle seeing it. The devastation was so horrible and I could not bring myself to face it. We saw a few plaques around the city that depicted some of the destruction and just seeing those was enough for me. It’s frightening to think about the pain and suffering we can inflict on each other in our diabolical quest for power, control and wealth.  May the God of Heaven have mercy on mankind and deliver us from ourselves!
 
SATURDAY
This morning was a moving day so I had a lot of packing to do. I started out with three bags and now I’m up to four! Ha! Ha!

Stan’s relatives met us at the train station to see us off and brought gifts for him. (So sweet!) They invited me to come back soon and, departing from their usual custom of bowing, readily responded to my out-stretched arms with warm hugs when we said goodbye. We then boarded the Bullet Train for a 1-1/2 hour ride to Osaka.

Osaka has a high energy, fun, youthful but sophisticated vibe – not quite the formality of Tokyo. We are staying at the Hilton Osaka. As I write this, I am relaxing in the Executive Lounge and enjoying the view from the 32nd floor. (I love high-rises and big cities. You would never know I was raised on a farm in west Texas!)

Hilton – Osaka, Japan

My room at the Hilton, Osaka

Speaking of shopping (we were, weren’t we?) . . .

I took this picture of a window display because I thought it was cool how the mannequins have straight, black hair – like the Japanese women.  I also loved these shoes and boots. Notice the cut-outs on the boots? Very chic!

Mannequins with straight, black hair.
On my Christmas list!

Tomorrow we explore Osaka!

Right now, it’s bed-time for me. Zzzzzz.
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