Final Thoughts

What a wonderful trip this has been!  We can never describe how great it was to visit 6 continents, 32 countries, 43 ports, and travel a cumulative distance of 36,652 statute miles.  Along the way there were places we never expected to visit and sights we never envisioned.  Highlights??  Too numerous to even try to name!  During this voyage we met and made new friends from all over the world.  Many of them will be sailing with us again on the 2012 World Cruise on board the Pacific Princess.

Portofino, Italy

Friday, May 6, 2011, Portofino, Italy.  The last port of call, not counting Civitavecchia (the disembarkation port for Rome).  Portofino, some adjectives come to mind:  small, beautiful, rugged, green, MAGNIFICENT.   Some Italians would say you might be in heaven when you are in Portofino, the Italian Riviera.

Portofino is a sleepy, lovely little village nestled in the harbor, easily walkable for browsing the shops, markets and boutiques or to enjoy a sidewalk café.  If you are energetic you can take a walk to the lighthouse or the monastery.

Since this is a tender port AND there is a planned general strike of public services (bus and train) to take place today in all of Italy with potential demonstrations (picketing) by public sector employees, we will remain onboard and pack!   Fortunately we have been here before as well as, Cinque Terre, the five villages that make up the Cinque Terre National Park, part of this stunning Italian Coast.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monte Carlo – the playground of the rich and famous!  Thursday, May 5, 2011, only 2 days till disembarkation.  Haven’t packed yet but are beginning to be sad that we have neared the end of a fabulous cruise.  Tomorrow we will say goodbye to Captain Andrea Poggi, as he will depart in Portofino, very near his home.

But today we will see what Monte Carlo, Monaco is all about, another place we have never visited.  This is a tender port for the Pacific Princess but affords us a beautiful view of the coastline and the Principality.  Wow,  it is certainly crammed in a small space.  Not sure whether there are more houses or yachts, nor which are the biggest!

After tendering into the harbor we took a walk as we had a couple of hours until our tour commenced.  Monte Carlo is an easy walkable city and enjoyable to see.  The weather was perfect and we spent a considerable amount of time just looking at some of the largest yachts, all located in one area at the same time that we have ever seen.  Then we returned to begin a tour of Old Monaco, St. Nicholas Cathedral and then the city of Monte Carlo.

 

We learned that Monaco is the world’s most densely populated country with nearly 34,000 residents in less than a square mile and is a sovereign state.  It is the second smallest independent nation in the world and the smallest French speaking nation.  Tourism is Monaco’s main source of income and a very expensive place to visit.  It also boasts some of the most expensive real estate in the world.

Our first stop was Monaco and the Royal Palace.  We arrived just in time to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony after which we spent time enjoying the amazing views, admiring the Royal Palace and the surrounding architecture.  The Palace is under renovation in anticipation of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert to take place on July 2.  Parts of the Palace date back to 13^th–century but most was built during the 17^th-century.

St. Nicholas Cathedral, built early in the 20^th- century, is an imposing building and sits high on the hill facing the Mediterranean.  It is the Cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married and is now the site of both their tombs.

Now we head to Monte Carlo, following some of the streets the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix will take when it races the end of the month.  It is hard to enjoy some of the beauty of Monte Carlo when you are at street level because they are already constructing all the grandstands and fencing in anticipation of the race.  It takes a month to get everything set up.  Monte Carlo hosts lots of sporting events in addition to the famous car racing.

One of the most famous landmarks in Monte Carlo is the casino.  The Monte Carlo Casino is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful structures you will probably ever see and was built in 1878.  Inside, the atrium floor is laid in marble and surrounded by onyx columns (no pictures allowed inside).   If you want to gamble in the poker (card) room you must pay an entry fee of 10 Euros per person.  Slots are free – well, no entry fee!  Behind the casino are beautiful gardens overlooking the city and the harbor.

After a walk around the area, through some of the 6 star hotels and down expensive shopping streets, we ended our tour at the port to catch the tender and back to reality.

Tomorrow Portofino, the last day, and packing……..now that is REALITY.

  

Toulon, France

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 found us in Toulon, France.  Although this was the first time we had been to Toulon, we have visited the French Riviera area many times and decided to take an excursion into the heart and capital of Provence:  Aix.

The drive through the beautiful green countryside was easy and enjoyable, passing vineyards and lovely hillside villages.  Upon our arrival in Aix we began our extensive walking tour (we tended to do lots of walking tours on this World Cruise) at the beginning of the old city.

We began in the medieval part of the old city walking very narrow streets winding our way to our first stop the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour (Cathedrale Saint Sauveur).  The Cathedral is build on the side of a former Roman forum and contains a mixture of all styles of architecture, featuring beautifully carved doors.  Inside you find tapestries, a triptych, and a baptism with a dome supported by Roman columns.

Continuing on we passed numerous small boutique shops and bakeries where we just had to pick up a loaf of deliciously just baked bread to nibble on as we wandered!  Next we found ourselves in a square with a beautiful hotel and several sidewalk cafes.  Alongside is the famous clock-tower that was built in 1510.  Everywhere we looked we saw beautifully ornate buildings, fountains and plazas, the joy of old cities.

Rounding a corner we entered a large square set up with the daily market, what gorgeous, colorful vegetables for sale, along with cheeses and other various items.  As we begin to leave the old city and enter the more “modern” areas we begin to see very upscale stores with all the brands we and love.  Soon we turn another corner and find ourselves on the Cours Mirabeau.

As we turn the corner there is a delicious smelling pizza stand.  Looking at our watch we discover it is past lunch but the tour continues.  Several blocks down the street we come to the large fountain near the Visitor’s Center where we will meet to return later.  We have been set free for the next 3 hours to explore on our own.  Off to lunch!

Back tracking down Cours Mirabeau, the beautiful wide boulevard with trees in the middle, mansions on one side, business, cafes on the other and fountains down the middle, we find our pizza stand.  Yummy but only takeout and where to eat?  We find a bench strategically located right in front of the very famous Deux Garcons brasserie built in 1792, and has been frequented by Paul Cezanne, Emile Zola and Ernest Hemingway.

Completely satisfied, we head off to explore more sites, mostly fountains and houses, more cathedrals and lots of people watching.  Our day was complete.  

Barcelona, Spain

 

Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, May 3, 2011.  We are excited to be returning to this city of great sites, fun and wonderful food.  Just were not sure what we wanted to do but did not plan an organized excursion as we are very familiar with the city having spent a lot of time here previously.

We rode the Port Bus to Columbus Monument and began our walk up Las Ramblas.  After several blocks we detoured into the square that houses our favorite restaurant, Les Quince Nits, to be sure they were open for lunch and to check the time – not open until 1pm – we will definitely be hungry!  Since we had already detoured we decided to take a stroll thru the Gothic Quarter as the architecture dates between the 13-15^th centuries and it is the old heart of the city.  Also near the Gothic Quarter is the Picasso Museum but the entrance line wrapped around the block.

Wondering back to Las Ramblas I had to do a little shopping in a small boutique, picking up a necklace and earrings that caught my fancy.  Near the end of Las Ramblas we stopped at a hotel where we spent a week several years ago.  They have remodeled and the desk clerk graciously invited us to have a beverage and look around.  We will definitely stay again on any returns to Barcelona.  Leaving the hotel we arrived at Placa Cataluna, one of the stops for the Hop On-Hop Off Bus.  We highly recommend doing the HOHO if you have never visited Barcelona.

Returning back down Las Ramblas we visited several of the vendors, watched the mime’s and then went to the market, La Boqueria.  You can do your daily or weekly grocery shopping, get a snack, a drink or have lunch.  It is a fascinating place to spend time looking and wandering.  I could spend all day there just walking the aisles!

NOW it is time for lunch…..across Las Ramblas and into Placa Reial, a lovely old square, great for people watching and to the restaurant!  Don’t ask me what I ate – all I remember is the Sangria, it was huge and made with a marvelous red wine and brandy.  It took me 2 hours to finish…….marvelous.

Another wonderful day in Barcelona and tomorrow Toulon, the beginning of the French Riviera.