A Trip of Many Firsts (very detailed, Med Cruise)UPDATED 3/8

[K8T]

Hi

I was so pleased to log on today and see that you had revived your TR, and also to see that your DH is coming home safe!

We also did the Med cruise last year and have done a number of Med cruises beforehand and have visited all the stops several times. (easy for us to do living in the UK!)

However, it is absolutely fascinating to read about the places and things we have seen from somebody else's perspective, especially someone who hasn't got such easy access and the familiarty that we have.

Looking forward to reading more soon.

Thank you.

 

[Rogue1230]

wow that is a cruise~~~

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

So glad you updated! It sounds like you had a great day in Rome and I cannot wait to read more! Thanks!

 

[Kaleigh]

End of Rome Day!

After we got back to the boat, we rested because we were exhausted after traipsing all over Rome and getting up at 6:00 after going to bed late etc. We woke up from our naps starving, so we headed to the dinner buffet, assuming we would skip our later meal time. It was great! Seriously, the food was fresh, there was good variety and it tasted really good. The food seemed to be of higher quality than what we had been getting in the dining rooms.
When we finished, we headed down to "So you think you know your Disney Tunes" which, I do. And I proved it! James and I were unstoppable, winning yet another trivia game, and adding medals to our trophy case.
After the game, we were curious about Eliza and Maynard's day and decided to go to dinner anyway. They never showed up, but it ended up being the best meal of the trip, even though we weren't hungry. They had dishes that they had borrowed from WDW menus like Citricos' Shrimp and Pasta and Yachtsman Steakhouse Steak. And they were actually really good. James said that, aside from Palo, it was the best steak he had all week. Now, I doubt that the food was as good as the food it was supposed to be representing, but it showed a marked improvement over the rest of the week.
Stuffed like crazy, we headed to bed to get ready for Florence!

 

[Kaleigh]

Florence-

Today we arrived in La Spezia, and were going on our only other shore excursion for the trip "Florence on Your Own". As much as I love planning our travel, the more I looked into the train trip to and from Florence, the more I became convinced that the peace of mind we would receive from being on a shore excursion's transportation would outweigh the, perhaps one more hour we could have in Florence. And the cost. Florence is about 2 1/2 hours away from La Spezia, and a train ride which you must change trains in Pisa. The boat was set to leave at 7:00, and it just seemed too chancy.
Compared to the last excursion in Dougga, this one was crazy full of people. They filled up multiple buses with us, herding us around like cattle from the Buena Vista Theatre, on the tender and on the bus. We received maps and bottled water. (Which I was NOT drinking yet ) It was a dreary, rainy day, but Tuscany was beautiful. As we rode, the tour guide explained the map to us and told us all about Florence. I found it very interesting. The scenery was just amazing: olive groves, old farmhouses, hilltowns covered in fog which looked like something out of a fairy tale.
About halfway there, we stopped at an rest stop which was very nice. James and I hustled and got back on the bus ASAP, desperate to be in Florence as soon as possible. Not everyone moved with our purpose, but it wasn't terrible. This is one of the things about being in a tour group that I just have trouble stomaching. You are only as quick as your slowest person. This issue pops back up in Florence as we get off the bus and start walking toward the Santa Croce Church. Soon, we are practically leading the group, and as soon as we hear the tour guide say that we will be meeting back at 4:30 at the Dante statue, we are off into Florence as fast as our little feet can take us.
Santa Croce Church- Dante is on the left

 

[Kaleigh]

Florence- City of Art and Beauty!!!

We stroll (run) toward the main piazza in Florence, the Piazza della Signoria, which has the old palace, beautiful sculpture and outdoor cafes. It was just amazing. A copy of the David stands in front of the old palace, where the original used to stand before some crazy tried to break it and it moved to safety. Still, even the copy was impressive.

Other sculptures impressed as well including Perseus standing on Medea, holding her head
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...0094553883328_674513327_5931684_1488401_n.jpg
And the Rape of the Sabines which was so realistic, you could see their fingers digging into the females' buttocks.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hpho...0094553973328_674513327_5931686_5261338_n.jpg
For these, I only posted links because of the nudity.

It is amazing to me that people living in this city can just walk down the street and see amazing art. I don't know about you, but my spirits are uplifted by art and music, and being in this environment would just be so fulfilling. Add to that the food and, well, you will see why I have come to love Italy.
Our reservation to see "David" at the Accademia is not until 1, so the plan is to check out the Duomo, find the Accademia and eat nearby.
The Duomo aka Santa Maria del Fiore does not disappoint. It is the most beautiful exterior of a church that I have ever seen.

We examine the baptistry doors which are said to have kicked off the Renaissance and check out the entire exterior in disbelief. The line to get in is fairly long, so we decide to wait until we come back by after "David."
Now, along the way, we have seen several restaurants and have glanced at the menus hung on the outside, looked into a couple of the cafeteria type places. The food looks amazing, but is a bit pricey. But, then again, we have stayed on the main tourist drag. Luckily, I have brought along some Rick Steves recommendations and we are on the hunt.
Now, addresses in Florence are weird. Some are in red, others in black, sometimes you can't even find the number. After one mistake, we find the restaurant, if you can call it that. It is a little hole in the wall with men standing outside drinking wine. Inside, is maybe 3 tables with benches, a counter, and a glass case with some pasta. A menu in Italian is on the wall with the pastas appearing to cost about 4 or 5 euros. A man seats us at the only empty table and brings us bread. James orders a Coke, and I decide to try their house wine since I have heard that it tends to be good in Tuscany. I get a carafe so that James can try some too, even though I know he will probably not like it because it is red. James orders lasagna, and I can't decide between a bolognese and a ziti with ricotta. The server/owner indicates that I can have half of each. Now here is the weird thing... they heat our food up in a microwave. And.....it is amazing. The bread, the olive oil, the pastas, the wine, everything. I was just grinning like crazy and enjoying my meal. James said it was the best lasagna he ever had. The layers are very very thin, and they don't overdo it with the meat. Same thing with my bolognese. And the ziti with ricotta, I can barely describe how smooth and creamy the ricotta was. Not gritty at all.
Close to the end of our meal, another American couple around our age comes in and gets seated with us. Turns out, they are Rick Steves devotees as well and are doing a 2 week Italy trip, starting at the top and working down. We warn/tell them about Naples and enjoy talking to them. I bet this restaurant is glad that Rick Steves included them in his book, I know we are. The whole meal with wine and all came to less than 15 euros which is crazy considering that we would have paid double that at Olive Garden for way worse food.
(One note about Europe in general... they like to get exact change. They will do everything in their power to get you to give them exact change so they don't have to break anything. We had just hit up the ATM, so didn't have exact change and it seemed to upset the guy. We felt bad, but he broke our 20 and we tipped him decently for his "trouble". So try to hold onto those 2 euro and 1 euro coins. Only use them if they help you make exact change.)
BTW, the restaurant is called La Mescita, and it doesn't have a website. It is around the corner and down the street a bit from the Accademia. You can find the exact address on tripadvisor.
Up next- the most famous sculpture in the world!

 

[Kaleigh]

Florence- The David and a Bargain

After lunch, we head over to the Accademia and stand in line to wait for our appointment time. All over Florence, there are men on the sidewalks with pictures to sell. The pictures vary from Tuscan landscapes, art reproductions and Florentine landscapes. James decided that he wanted one if we could get a good price. While in line, we heard one of the men bargaining with a guy behind us, and after the vendor walked away, we asked the guy what the lowest price he offered was. The guy told us that at the very end, he muttered 5 euros under his breath. Considering that he started at 25, this was quite a markdown. I keep the info in mind for after the museum.

You must have a reservation for this museum if you don't want to wait in line all day. The David is unbelievably impressive, but the rest of the museum is kinda lackluster. The bathrooms were the first in Italy (other than that metro station that I had to pay for) which had seats and I was soooo excited. Really super-nice bathrooms. (How much does a seat cost? Why is this optional?) If you go to see David, really take your time with him. Notice his veins, tendons and everything. Think about how cool it is that Michaelangelo sculpted him when he was in his early 20's. In my early 20's, I was starring in a few lackluster college musicals, not creating art which would be admired 500 years after my death.
After the museum, we headed outside, prepared to bargain. Now, here is what you need to know about me. As a barterer, I am perfect. Why? Because I simply don't care if I don't get the item and it shows. There is nothing I HAVE to have. I will walk away faster than you can imagine, but just slow enough for you to catch up to me with your lowest offer. Which is what I did. The guy started out at 30, I laughed and started walking. He quickly began lowering the price, following me until I told him I wanted it for 5. He balked and made it out like it was impossible. So I shrugged and walked off, James trailing after me, making sure I knew that he really wanted the picture. And who else is trailing? Oh, the vendor, whispering 5 under his breath, then offering 2 for 10. No, we only need the 1 and we walk away with a bargain. I know these pictures are probably just printed on some industrial printer, but they are large 20/30 and look really good. The color is nice, and framed, it looks like it was painted. It is a beautiful landscape of Florence and makes me smile every time I see it.

 

[Elfinjojo]

Congrats on DH coming home early, betcha can't wait. Great to see that it has surred you on to finish your TR, I am loving the detail.

Looking forward to next installment.

 

[jrs_mommy]

Loving your trip report! Would love to see a pic of the picture you got for 5 euros if you have one!!

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

now i am going to go read just wanted to say hi

 

[kaceyisme]

Hi Kaleigh,

We are thinking about doing the "Florence on Your Own" tour. What time did you have to meet for the tour, and what time did you get back? What time do you recommend getting the advance tickets for David, and how long did you actually spend at the Accademia ? Thanks!

Karen

 

[akluss]

I am really enjoying your report, thanks for taking the time to continue it. I wish I had your negotiating skills, I got totally ripped of in the Medina in Tunis! Congrats on your husband coming home early. Looking forward to more of the report, Karyn

 

[DCLShel]

Subscribing to thread - we're headed on the 10-day Med cruise at the end of June. Can't wait to read all of your adventures~

 

[Kaleigh]

Congrats on DH coming home early, betcha can't wait. Great to see that it has surred you on to finish your TR, I am loving the detail.

Looking forward to next installment.

Thanks! Glad you like the detail. Not sure I could write it any other way.

Loving your trip report! Would love to see a pic of the picture you got for 5 euros if you have one!!

Will try to get a picture of it and post it soon!

now i am going to go read just wanted to say hi

Hey Hallie! Thanks for reading!

Hi Kaleigh,

We are thinking about doing the "Florence on Your Own" tour. What time did you have to meet for the tour, and what time did you get back? What time do you recommend getting the advance tickets for David, and how long did you actually spend at the Accademia ? Thanks!

Karen

It left at 8:00 and got back at like 6:30 or something. We had basically 5 hours in Florence, from about 11:00 to 4:00. Our advance tickets for David were for 1:00 pm which worked perfectly. We only spent maybe 30 minutes at the museum, and we stretched it out a bit. You can get the reservations online, and it costs a little extra. Make sure you reserve on the official site. You can find the link on my website in the Florence section.

I am really enjoying your report, thanks for taking the time to continue it. I wish I had your negotiating skills, I got totally ripped of in the Medina in Tunis! Congrats on your husband coming home early. Looking forward to more of the report, Karyn

Karyn, It is not skills so much as I just REALLY don't care. Like it just doesn't matter to me if I buy the item or not. I assume that I will come across it again or will get a better deal on something else. Seriously, we walked out on buying a car because the guy wouldn't come down to my price. Thanks, I am super excited for James to be home!

Subscribing to thread - we're headed on the 10-day Med cruise at the end of June. Can't wait to read all of your adventures~

I hope this helps some, and please let me know if you have any questions!

 

[Kaleigh]

Still in Belle Firenze!

So here is a picture of my 5 euro masterpiece

Sorry about the flash on it, but you get the idea.

After my bargaining, we head across the Ponte Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. We decided to visit the Pitti Palace for a couple of reasons.
1. It has great art, and is still easy to get into unlike the Uffizi which requires a reservation. I just didn't feel like it would be smart to get 2 reservations for 1 day. It could have been done, but you never know.
2. The Pitti Palace is not only an art gallery, but has rooms set up in the like they used to be lived in as a palace, and this was the only palace we could see on this trip, so we wanted the full "palace experience".

The Ponte Vecchio is just as beautiful as it seems

Oh yeah, did I mention that it had started drizzling? Right after you cross the bridge, you go up maybe a block, and the Pitti Palace is on the left. Super easy to find. There was no line for the tickets, so we got right in. There were very good brochure type guides in every room which highlighted the things you may have seen in books before or were by famous artists.
Again, museum going is not the easiest thing because you are on a bit of a time crunch and won't be back anytime soon. If I had this museum in my hometown, I would need to go at least 5 times to really get a good look at all the art and feel like I was doing it justice. (The Vatican, maybe 20 times ) The palace rooms were especially neat, and this place is exceptionally beautiful, and the art was hung on the wall as it would have been then. There are 2 different types of tickets there that cover different things: one covers the Palatine Gallery (what we did) and the Modern Art Museum, while the other covers the Boboli Gardens and the Costume Gallery. (will probably do that one sometime if the weather is nice)
When we left, we noticed that it was raining cats and dogs. Like really coming down. One cool thing, Disney provided free ponchos for everyone on an excursion that day. So, casting off all possible speculations about whether or not we were tourists, we donned our Disney ponchos and headed out into the rain. Yes, I had to carry that picture, all rolled up under my poncho.
As we made our way back to the Santa Croce church, we passed a car who had hit an older woman in the road. She was okay because they were going pretty slow, but it goes to show that in Florence, do watch the traffic. It isn't like Naples or Rome. I think the further north you get in Italy, the more likely laws are actually followed, including traffic laws.
We walked past the market, which looked neat, but I don't really get into shopping much. The great thing about Florence is that it is so walkable. Everything is so close. We got back with plenty of time to spare and decided to get a gelato while we were waiting. Yum! We huddled up under the small overhang in front of the church with some old Italian ladies and ate our gelato. They laughed at us a little, not in a mean way, but we must have looked silly with our ponchos and gulping down gelato in the freezing rain. We met up with the group and headed back to the boat on the bus.
One funny/interesting thing- on the trip there and back, you pass the mountains which contain the Carrara marble which is so famous, and Michaelangelo used for his sculptures. It looks like snow on the peaks because it is so white. Of course, even after the guide pointed it out, one guy yells out "look, there's snow on them mountains!" (Okay, maybe he didn't say it that way, but that is how it felt) She explained again, and he exclaims "wow!!!"
Florence was truly spectacular, and I am so excited to have a full 2 days there in April. Considering what we did in 5 hours, imagine what 2 whole days can be! And, I met a friend online who I have been practicing my Italian with who lives in Florence. (So, if you have specific questions, let me know) This city just blew James and I away and I will go back again and again. It is our favorite city thus far, and I have trouble imagining it being replaced. Don't miss Florence, if you get the chance, and do a little planning before. One of the couples from Dougga did the same excursion we did and were disappointed. They saw the interior of the Santa Croce church and Dante's house, then they got bad pizza for lunch. I guess doing it on your own just isn't for everyone. It is more work, but it allows such freedom. I, for one, would have hated to wait for everyone to finish lunch on the Florence excursion (apparently that meal takes like 2 hours). And we like to do things that not everyone is doing like the Pitti Palace. Find what you think you will like and do it. Okay, I'll be back with pirate night!

 

[Kaleigh]

Yep, still working on this thing. I WILL be done before DH gets home in just under 2 weeks. So, here we go.

Looking back at the navigator, the only thing that sticks out that we did was to go try to watch Disney's Oceans in the Buena Vista Theatre. I fell asleep, and since our room was like 2 doors down from the theatre, I got up and went to take a nap. We missed the mainstage show of Heath Hyche, but would see his comedy routine later in the week. Tonight was Pirate night, and we were back at Parrot Cay, which was fitting. Eliza and Maynard were all decked out in pirate gear, and we tied the bandanas they give you around our heads. We looked pretty dumb, but oh well. James' head was so big that it barely fit, and he looked more like the pope than a pirate with the way it was standing.
Up on deck for the pirate party, we examined the buffet and saw the crew in their truly amazing pirate costumes. The party started, and it was nice, but didn't blow me away. The desserts were meh and looked way better than they tasted.
Tomorrow is a new country!

 

[akluss]

We took the train to Pisa and we all thought it was snow we could see on the mountains. It wasn't until we got home and did some additional reading about the area that we discovered it was marble. I think that is so cool. Thanks for continuing the report I am looking forward to reading about your adventures in France. Karyn

 

[TimeforMe]

James' head was so big that it barely fit, and he looked more like the pope than a pirate with the way it was standing.

LOL! I know exactly what you n=mean....dh looked the same way. You're too funny.

 

[Kaleigh]

Villefranche/Nice

The next morning, we were up and at em early again and caught a tender from the ship into Villefranche. The port was just beautiful, so picturesque. And, the weather was beautiful which was a real plus. We walked along the water front and then climbed up to the train station and bought tickets for Nice. The train came, and we were in Nice in like 10 minutes. Super close and quick!
The plan was to walk to the Russian Cathedral in Nice, then make our way down to the Promenade d'Anglais.
As we stepped out of the train station, it was obvious that France is very different from Italy. Or maybe just this part of France. Nice is ritzy, clean and beautiful. We walked by a pastry shop and decide that we have to stop in for breakfast. In Epcot, our favorite World Showcase activity is having desserts at Boulangerie Pattisserie and we always get the same thing: James gets an Almond Croissant, and I get a Strawberry Tart. So, we get the same things here at this bakery. They were great, and felt extra special eating them in that particular location, but I think the actual taste is better in Epcot. At least, it was better than this particular shop, but it is like comparing favorite movies or children . They are both completely worth the calories.
Using our maps and Rick Steve's directions, we head to the Cathedral and get lost. We almost make it all the way down to the sea before we realize that we missed a turn. This cathedral is not easy to find. We backtrack and have to walk under an overpass and turn down some nondescript road, but there it is.

The only authentic onion domes we have ever seen and supposedly the prettiest orthodox church outside of Russia. It was very pretty on the inside, but felt small. I am not sure it was worth the 4 Euro admission, but I am glad I saw it. I would only recommend it if you are interested in old churches and haven't been inside an orthodox church before.
After that, our time in Nice is pretty flexible and we walk around, enjoying the ambiance and trying to decide what to do for lunch.
We eventually happen down this beautiful street with a long row of outdoor cafes (not on the sea) and start glancing at the menus of the day. We find a reasonably priced one (I think it was 12 a piece for bread, entree and dessert) and enjoy our lunch. I had a pork chop which was amazing, and I can't remember what James ate. I was pretty engrossed and feeling very "French". It was just so gorgeous out, and the food was amazing. Wine was cheap again, and the creme brulee almost made me weep. Note to self: get creme brulee in France again this time! The bathroom had a seat (yay!) and was perfectly clean.
After lunch, we walked down the main shopping street in Nice to get back to the train station and stopped in the mall. Shiny glass and chrome, just sparkling. Nice is nicer than most of the US. At the train station, we get a station attendant to help us buy tickets to the town of Eze, from which we will catch a bus to the village. So, coming up is Eze!

 

[Kaleigh]

Eze!

After enjoying lunch in Nice, we headed to Eze. Now, Eze is not particularly easy to get to. We could have taken a bus directly from Nice, but that morning bought tickets to Eze, so we took the train. A couple of stops past the Villefranche station, we got out at Eze de Bord. When coming out of the train station, we saw the bus stop and a small tourist info office that was closed, but had the bus times posted. So we waited for a bit, and James starts to get nervous that we will not get back to the ship on time. (Keep in mind it is only like 1:00 at this point and last tender is at 7:00.) The bus to Eze finally arrived (1 euro each way) and took us on a scenic drive up to the village. It is just beautiful. Hard to explain. You can see the Mediterranean below and the village above, and then just clouds. At the foot of the village, there are several shops, including a perfume outlet which James wanted to stop at to buy some cologne. The very nice lady helped James pick his "signature" scent and then we took a quick walk through their museum. (Free) We then head up to walk through the village, and both of us are antsy because we need to use the bathroom. James' solution is to just head back, and I want to enjoy our time in Eze. It is so beautiful!

We finally reach the top, which has the garden and a public restroom! So, just a bit of advice... don't assume that because you can enter the restroom after someone who has paid to use it goes that you will actually be able to go as well. James had the bright idea to make me go after him, and not pay. Well, if you flush (and maybe open the door, not sure what exactly triggers it) the toilet DISAPPEARS into the wall to be cleaned, and all the lights go off. Oh, and the door locks. Yep, I am stuck in a dark bathroom with no toilet. James puts some coins in for me, and everything rights itself, but a lesson was learned. If you must cheat the system, you must go in together. And don't flush.
James doesn't want to pay the 5 euros each to see the garden, and now I am flustered and like "if you want to leave, we can just leave. I am not enjoying myself anyway. You have ruined Eze for me!" As we get to the bottom, he lightens up (probably because of the lighter bladder) and lets me shop a little. We get some soap and I get this adorable dress for my daughter.

After, we saw some disboarders at the bus stop and all rode back to Eze, then Villefranche together. There was no ticket seller at the station in Villefrance, so they had to use the automated machines to buy tickets and we had to show them how. We felt very helpful and savvy (thanks Laura). Back at Villefranche, they went to the beach, and we went strolling through this beautiful little town. There was an outdoor shopping market which was beginning to close, and the sun was getting lower in the sky. It was just gorgeous.

Finally relaxed, we took the tender back to the ship and prepared for the amazing evening to come!