First Med Cruise - Our excellent adventure!

[pixie08]

I have loved all of my rebels too. A great lens helps for sure, but the biggest change was when I finally took my camera out of automatic!

That's so true...a good lens and camera can only help so much! You have a wonderful eye for photography and your dh is so photogenic! Loving the reports!

 

[jagmom]

Your trip report is awesome!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Loving your trip report. The photos are fabulous!

The girls look very pretty in their outfits from Tunisia.

Looking forward to the rest of the trip... Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for reading!

That's so true...a good lens and camera can only help so much! You have a wonderful eye for photography and your dh is so photogenic! Loving the reports!

That's very nice of you to say pixie! Thank you!

Your trip report is awesome!

Thanks jag mom!

 

[gatzsd]

Love you trip report and pictures!
A couple of questions:
Was the newstand where you bought the train tickets to Rome inside the train station or outside? We went a few years ago and stood in a long line at the train station to buy our tickets.

When you went to St.Peter's Basilica - did you do that before or after the Vatican Museum? Was there a long security line to get in?

Is there a specific website you go to in order to pre buy your tickets to the vatican and collosseum?

So you didn't have a metro map in Rome - you just asked around and it worked out fine?

We are going to have our 3 year old with us when we do the trip in September, so just trying to map out our strategy.

Thanks so much!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Love you trip report and pictures!
A couple of questions:
Was the newstand where you bought the train tickets to Rome inside the train station or outside? We went a few years ago and stood in a long line at the train station to buy our tickets.

When you went to St.Peter's Basilica - did you do that before or after the Vatican Museum? Was there a long security line to get in?

Is there a specific website you go to in order to pre buy your tickets to the vatican and collosseum?

So you didn't have a metro map in Rome - you just asked around and it worked out fine?

We are going to have our 3 year old with us when we do the trip in September, so just trying to map out our strategy.

Thanks so much!

Thanks, gatzd!

When you get to the train station go inside. The ticket window is on the left. There is a hallway on the back right that has the newsstand. The newsstand line was non existant, compared to a long regular ticket line.

We went to St. Peter's and the tomb of the Popes first. We didn't mean to, we just didn't know where to go in. If you see the picture with the giant courtyard surrounded by pillars, that's where the security line for St. Peters and the tombs is. It was very long, but moved at a decent rate. That part was free.

Afterwards, we exited security and walked a long way around the outside to the museum/Sistine chapel entrance. There was a line there that we bypassed because we already had tickets. Here is the website for Vatican tickets:

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do

and I believe this is where we got the colosseum tickets:

http://goitaly.about.com/gi/o.htm?z...ts=1&zu=http://www.ticketclic.it/Gb/index.cfm

Metro maps are posted everywhere inside the metro so that was super easy. If you are familiar at all with reading a metro map, that won't be a problem.

For the bus, we just asked at a newsstand or tourist information booth which one to get on.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Sunday, May 2, Day 11 – Corsica

We had church services again and then headed off the ship. About two minutes after we started walking, it started sprinkling. We walked through the market, made some purchases and then got back on board. I didn’t get many pictures today because of the rain.

Not sure about the grammar on this sign::lookaroun

We ate lunch, got our umbrellas and walked off again. I didn’t want to risk getting my camera wet so I left it. While we were out, I remembered my waterproof camera sitting in my dry stateroom. The town was really pretty. It’s the birthplace of Napoleon, so there were monuments to him all over.

When we got back on we went to see The Last Song. I’d read the book, which was certainly better, but it was still good. Total tearjerker, we all cried. A lot. At least the baby sea turtles made it through this movie.

After the movie it was time for ice cream!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

The girl’s went swimming again. There was a pool party going on!

After dinner, the show was another special one for the Med. It was a tribute to Walt Disney. It was excellent. I think I cried again.

Finally, back to bed again. Our towel animal was ginormous tonight! It took up a whole bed!

Next up is Villefranche, Monte Carlo and Nice!

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

OH MY GOSH!!! Your report and your pictures are AMAZING!!!!! I am so jealous. We had Brent as our CD on the Magic last summer, so it was neat to see him in your pics too!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!

 

[jagmom]

Can't wait for your next update!

 

[dolver]

Great Reports! I think I know which trip I'll choose next! Well, if Hubby and I survive our 1st cruise 3/24/11. It is just a 3 nighter, but we wanted to be sure we could handle 'the ocean' before booking a long one!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

OH MY GOSH!!! Your report and your pictures are AMAZING!!!!! I am so jealous. We had Brent as our CD on the Magic last summer, so it was neat to see him in your pics too!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!

Thank you Andrea! My daughter loves Brent!

Can't wait for your next update!

Thanks jagmom! I should get some more up tomorrow!

Great Reports! I think I know which trip I'll choose next! Well, if Hubby and I survive our 1st cruise 3/24/11. It is just a 3 nighter, but we wanted to be sure we could handle 'the ocean' before booking a long one!

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks dolver! You'll love your first cruise!

 

[gatzsd]

Thanks, gatzd!

When you get to the train station go inside. The ticket window is on the left. There is a hallway on the back right that has the newsstand. The newsstand line was non existant, compared to a long regular ticket line.

We went to St. Peter's and the tomb of the Popes first. We didn't mean to, we just didn't know where to go in. If you see the picture with the giant courtyard surrounded by pillars, that's where the security line for St. Peters and the tombs is. It was very long, but moved at a decent rate. That part was free.

Afterwards, we exited security and walked a long way around the outside to the museum/Sistine chapel entrance. There was a line there that we bypassed because we already had tickets. Here is the website for Vatican tickets:

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do

and I believe this is where we got the colosseum tickets:

http://goitaly.about.com/gi/o.htm?z...ts=1&zu=http://www.ticketclic.it/Gb/index.cfm

Metro maps are posted everywhere inside the metro so that was super easy. If you are familiar at all with reading a metro map, that won't be a problem.

For the bus, we just asked at a newsstand or tourist information booth which one to get on.

Thanks so much for the tips!! Jeesh - if I would have known about that newstand last time, it would have saved me a lot of headache as there was a huge line! I missed St Peter's basilica last time (walked around the square) because I thought the line was too long and didn't want to wait in it - glad to know it moves quickly and its going to be our first stop this time. Still debating on Vatican Museum with a 3 year old, especially when its such a hike to get to the Sistine Chapel. I'm glad you enjoyed Tunisia - sounds like other people didn't that went on the ship excursions. I'm hesitant on that one because we are on the 10 day cruise so was going to treat it as a sea day. Looking forward to the rest of your posts! Thanks again!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Thanks so much for the tips!! Jeesh - if I would have known about that newstand last time, it would have saved me a lot of headache as there was a huge line! I missed St Peter's basilica last time (walked around the square) because I thought the line was too long and didn't want to wait in it - glad to know it moves quickly and its going to be our first stop this time. Still debating on Vatican Museum with a 3 year old, especially when its such a hike to get to the Sistine Chapel. I'm glad you enjoyed Tunisia - sounds like other people didn't that went on the ship excursions. I'm hesitant on that one because we are on the 10 day cruise so was going to treat it as a sea day. Looking forward to the rest of your posts! Thanks again!

You are very welcome! The newsstand was great. A small line formed while we were there, but nothing like the normal line.

I could not believe how long the walk was to the Sistine Chapel! It went on and on and on.

We did enjoy Tunisia. I understand about needing a sea day break though. We got off the ship early, then were in Sidi Bou Said about 2 hours. So it was only about a 3 hour trip off the ship. The ship was nice and empty when we got back.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Monday, May 3rd, Day 12 – Monaco and Nice

Okay, just to warn you, I took about a million pictures today. I can’t believe I took that many, because when we got to the train station, I realized my battery was low. I was really conservative about what I took!

I was really taken with the beauty of Monte Carlo. Look at this city. It’s amazing!

After breakfast at Topsiders, we ordered some Big Island Cookies from room service to get us through the day. We tendered off into Villefranche, and man, that tender was rocking! Even the Magic was rolling a bit.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

We walked through the edge of VilleFranche which was beautiful too!

We went to the train station and went to Monte Carlo.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

The train station is at the top of the town which is built into the side of the cliffs. We started the walk down through the town with me snapping pictures the whole way.

Every so often we would come across a public elevator in the middle of the sidewalk that would drop us several levels. Genius!

They were setting up for the Grand Prix:

We walked to the palace stopping for snacks on the way. French bread in France!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Then we waited for the changing of the guard which was very neat.

Afterwards we walked back up, and took the train to Nice. Here’s the Monte Carlo train station:

Nice wasn’t as striking as Monaco, but still pretty. We found a little restaurant that had excellent pizza, and ice cold cokes! In a bottle! Woo hoo!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

We walked down to the enormous stretch of sand to put our feet in the Mediterranean:

Then we walked back to another train station. We tendered back to the ship and got ready for dinner at Palo.

Palo is amazing, my favorite by far. It’s a do not miss on the cruise. My mother in law wasn’t feeling well, so unfortunately she did miss it:

The show tonight was a crew talent show. It wasn’t the entertainment people, it was the room stewards, the kid’s club workers, the engine room guys, etc. A couple of acts felt like an elementary school talent show, but some of them were very entertaining.

Tonight was the midnight dessert buffet, but after a huge dinner at Palo, there was no way.

We weren’t even sure what tonight’s animal was. A dinosaur? Loch Ness Monster? It was cool no matter what.

 

[jagmom]

Maybe an anteater? lol

More amazing pictures!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Maybe an anteater? lol

More amazing pictures!

Maybe so!!