26June 2008 Bon ete a tous!

Yes, summer is finnaly here. We are enjoying the cool sea breeze and warm summer heat. Plenty of sunshine. Albert installed our new awning, a little late, it was on order since last year with delivery date end of Oct.. We were hoping that the entire building would have a new paint but the condo members voted to consider it at the next board meeting in 2009.

Wishing each and everyone a great summer.

Le charme de Marches Republicique

This hostorical market, since 1893, in old Saint Raphael is the daily meeting place for locals. It is in the old city within walking distance from our home. Open daily until noon except closed on Mon. This is where vegetables and fruits truly taste the way they should fresh from the local gardens and farms. It reminds me of Mama & Papa's wonderful garden, a great variety of vegetables that I was raised on in Louisiana. The photo only shows part of this wonderful market. There is also fresh fish, rabbit, poultry, cheeses olives, spices, herbs as well as

prepared foods. Not to be forgotten is the flower merchant. To be continued.

3 June 2008

Bonjour de Saint Raphael, Jerry, David and Gylls

Friends Christina, Jerry, Karen and David last evening.

A little glimpes of our beach.

A few braves souls enjoying the beach this warm sunnyTuesday. A tempature of 78 degrees. It was a perfectly beautiful morning so it didn't take much convincing for Jack to go out for a stroll on the promenade. We stopped to chat with David at l'hotel Excelsior where we enjoyed a great cup of coffee..........By the time we came back Christiane had finished her work and had lunch prepared.Our dinner of Couscous and with friends was enjoyed by all including the Commissiaire de Police.

Until later....Have a great day!

1 June 2008

Today is the 1st day of June and as you can see from the photo it is overcast and rain predicted for the next couple days. I must admit that we are happy to see May come to an end. It is usually one of my favorite months here. I love strolling through our flowering city, in open markets and along the sea shore. Which was virtually impossibe as the weather has been unusally cool, lots of rain and blowing wind and sand from the Saraha desert. We are told that the Mistral (wind from the desert) is over for the year. We hope this is true.

I will post on tomorrows dinner of CousCous with friends, prepared by Hotel Excelsior's chef. Until then I wish you a great Sunday!

Saint Raphael

My apologies for posting the photos without captions. While cruising it was'nt possible to use my laptop therefore I couldn't download the photos. At this very moment I'm getting over a virus that left me with a head cold, and getting settled into our home . On arrival at Nice Harbor son Gerald and friends Gylls and Jerry were there to greets us. Gerald with a SUV to drive us home and visit. Sadly next day when he returned to Paris. Christiane, the housekeeper, had everything in order, meal prepared, refrigerator stocked, and fruit basket. There was the wonderful aroma of roses and lilies from a beautiful floral arrangement.

The photo is from our terrace. It is Ocean Village from London that arrives every 2 or 3 weeks.

Marseilles, France & Portofino, Italy

Malaga & Barcelona

Valencia, Spain

Cadiz, Spain

28 April 2008 Lisbon Portugal

3 May 2008

Marseilles, France 0730

Can you tell how happy we are to be in France. Though tonight we will leave for Portofino, Italy and on Monday we will arrive back in France and disembark in Nice.

Marseilles is a dynamic city as exotic & cosmopolitan now as when the Phoenicians 1st founded it 2,600 years ago. Approaching the harbor with a breathing sunrise, Provence in the air. Provence stretches from the Rhone Valley to the Italian border. The coastal Range, known as the Massif des Maures is the dramatic backdrop for the worlds most elegant resort areas, the Cote dÁzur.
Marseilles is 1 of the France largest and busiest natural ports. It is also famouse for it's seafood especially for bouillabaisse (seafood soup) and bourride. The city is a place to wander & enjoy the everyday French life.

We could have disembarked here as it is no more than 50 Km further to Saint Raphael as Nice.
We depart at 6PM for Portofino, Italy

2 May 2008

Barcelona, Spain, Capital of Catalonia.

2000 year old Barcelona commanded a vast Mediterranean Empire when Madrid was still a dusty Moorish outpost. Relegated to 2nd city status onlyin 1561. Barcelona has long rivaled & often surpassed Madrid's supremacy.

Although the city is being cleanned up, bag-snatching is common here. We are advised to keep our wits about us, to carry nothing in our hands. Remembering the city,1st visited with my sister Geri several years ago, for it's medieval intimacy of it's Gothis quarter to the grace of wide bouldvards, temples, cathedrals and wonderful museums. We felt totally secure in the night as in the day time. Oh, how the world has changed.

We departed for France at 7:30 PM.

1 May 2008

Valencia - City of Porcelain

We are told that the 1st Valencians appeared aroung 70,000BC even though the oldest permanent communities only date from post Iberian invasion beginning in 50 BC.We were also told that the Valencianos love to celebrate, you might have thought that the fire works were for our arrival, one could have imagined the 4th of July with all the banging and carring on but, of course it is 1 May (Labor Day).

I took the shuttle to the center of this lovely city, enjoyed the sites and seeing the many city parks and spring flowers. Unfortunately only restaurants were opened so I missed the local porcelains and museums. afternoon was warm & sunny 78 degrees.

It's 10:45PM and people are lined up to use the computer so until tomorrow.

30 April 2008

Malaga - Costa Del Sol (Sunshine Coast)

Arrived at 0800. @ 60 degrees.
Malaga is hemmed in between the Sierra Nevada & the Ocean. Already established when the Phoenicians arrived in Spain . According to historians, some 50 years after the destruction of Troy in 1184 BC. Various tribes occupied Malaga during centures until the Moors took Andalusia in 711. The Castililians attacked and forced the Moors to flee in 1492. The Spanish King was installed thus converting Islamic mosques to Christianity which still exist today.
We departed for Valencia at 5:30.

29 April 2008

Cadiz, Andalucia: Located just 9 miles from the Alantic Ocean.
It is known for it's Sherry, Andalusian horses, churches and parks.

We arrived at 8:00 this morning a very cool 56 degrees but sunny. The Captain docked right into the heart of this lovely city with 180,000 inhabitions, the oldest city in Spain. Sorry the photos will have to wait.

After breakfast we enjoyed Dieter Galler's lecture on the history of Spain and how we in the Americas relate and have enjoyed each other culture for centuries. By the time we cleared customs and allowed to disembark it was almost noon. It was 1PM before Marlene and I could tour the city while Jack and Dee (Marlene's patient) rested. By now the temperature had reached 70, very comfortable, great excersise but not for the weak. The streets are narrow and steep all cobble stoned. Most of the shops were closed to reopen at 5:00, the restaurants and bars they were opened.

We leave here at 9PM and reach Giabralter at midnight, I shall try to stay awake until then, seeing it again at night should be spectacular I would think.
A late night show should keep us busy until then. Or who knows maybe the Casino.

28 April 2008

Today started out in the low 60's but later it must have been 80 as my sweater and jacket was a bit much. We arrived in Lisbon, Portugal early morning. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, often compared to San Francisco for its hills and bridge. The centerpiece of it all, the 752 foot figure of Christ the Redeemer, stands facing the city oith outstretched arms on the southern bank of the Tagus River. It is also Europe's westernmost capital. Lisbon has grown up on the northern bank of the Tagus River.

Had breakfast in the room, showed and dressed Jack, did laundry. while in the laundry room I met Marlene from Naples, a caregiver for a gentleman age 90 also in wheel chair. She is accustomed to traveling and caring for him while he is at his home in Naples and cruises. Though this is the first time she has traveled with him in a wheel chair she also feel that it is most difficult. Anyway to make this short while he and Jack were resting we decided to take the shuttle into the city. Jack objected, not comfortable being alone but I convinced him that it was safe that the personnel was informed that he was alone in his stateroom and that he may call for assistance.. He has been known to call my name and say the he has no knowlege of my where abouts. He has even ventured out into the hall and create such an uproar that security had to wake me. Getting out was such a pleasure even if for a short time. When I returned he was eating an apple and watching the dock workers , he was just fine.

We will be in Cadiz, Spain tomorrow, Marlene suggest we do the same. I think it is a very good idea.

This is from the Internet Cafe, I will keep trying to use my laptop. The problem is the connection here is so very slow at .25 min it is very costly especially when waiting for AOL.

More Pictures

Water, water everywhere

First Sunset

Itinerary

Apr 26 Saturday - Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Apr 27 Sunday - At Sea
Apr 28 Monday - Lisbon, Portugal
Apr 29 Tuesday - Cadiz, Spain
Apr 30 Wednesday - Malaga, Spain
May 1 Thursday - Valencia, Spain
May 2 Friday - Barcelona, Spain
May 3 Saturday - Marseilles, France
May 4 Sunday - Portofino, Italy
May 5 Monday - Nice, France

Pictures!

Dena here. Mom emailed these pictures to post.

She says - "These are the 2 first photos taken. Our lunch on Deck 10 in the Portofino restaurant while waiting for our state rooms. The 2nd is leaving Ft. Lauderdale".



They've reached the first port so internet should be better now.

"We have just arrived in Funchal, Madiera. We are waiting word on transportation that can accomodate wheelchair at the moment none of the bus tours can. The walking tour is to difficult for a wheelchair.
Last night we dressed for the evening but after dinner. Jack retired to his stateroom and I went to the show Lounge for a wonderful show with Marty Brill and to listen to the wonderful voice of Leo Andrews. After which I stayed for the finals and Idol awards presentation, these were the personnel singers.
We had our last time change so now we are 6 hours ahead of Florida."

24 April 2008

Today was a better day:
Nigel West Lectured on Venona The Greatest Secret of the Cold War we arrived 30 min late but it was interesting. Lives of the spies and their motivation. We did however stay through the lecture with Dieter Galler "The Footsteps of Henry the Navigator. The charming Prince never navigated a ship but his impact on making Portugal a maritime giant was enormous.
We skipped lunch to enjoy Chocoholic Teatime on the 11th deck Galileo's. Mounds and mounds of chocolate, one scrumptious bite after another! Rasim at the piano. I even played trivia along with about 50 other participants, needless to say I didn't get a free token but it was no less fun. The sun is out but I doubt that there will be a nice sunset.
We are now receiving Fox news. A treat.