* LIVE from the Rotterdam - 30 day Passage to Spain and Western Europe - Mar. 30th*

[bennybear]

Thanks! Love seeing the wonderful shops! I love truffles and chocolate! Sounds like a fabulous tour! Thanks for clarifying re Vence, that's why we missed the church. I adore Chagall!

[ON cruiser]

Great photos and brings back memories of our trip last late Fall (heading in the other direction from Europe to Florida). Love the photos of the food and of the vistas--did you get to Menton when in Monaco? All of those towns are a treat to walk around. Glad you have good weather in which to enjoy it all.

 

Kazu, I read about what occurred to you and hubby at the dining room earlier this week. First, I did not realize that (other than in Alaska) the fixed main seating time was ever other than 8PM. Yet that being the case, for the DRM to chastise you when his team failed to give you notice of a change is not appropriate. You have your "let us know" card so you may want to use it, or have a quiet word with someone at the appropriate time. I hope that otherwise your service continues to be very good. You deserve it!

 

Thanks for continuing to post, and taking your time and money to do so. Your posts are an ongoing pleasure to read. Have fun!

[Appalachian Mountain Mama]

OK, now you've done it, I was saving my dark chocolate Easter egg for after Easter brunch dessert but those lovely pictures destroyed my will power... the egg is no more. It was scrumptious [emoji39]

 

 

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[kazu]

OMG! I may be in a diabetic coma just looking at those pictures! I want to eat my way from one end of that shop to the other.

Those pictures have made my day divine.

 

Happy to make your day RuthC. Those chocolates were incredible. My pics don't do them justice, sadly.

[kazu]

OK, now you've done it, I was saving my dark chocolate Easter egg for after Easter brunch dessert but those lovely pictures destroyed my will power... the egg is no more. It was scrumptious [emoji39]

 

 

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LOL :hearteyes::')

[kazu]

Great photos and brings back memories of our trip last late Fall (heading in the other direction from Europe to Florida). Love the photos of the food and of the vistas--did you get to Menton when in Monaco? All of those towns are a treat to walk around. Glad you have good weather in which to enjoy it all.

 

Kazu, I read about what occurred to you and hubby at the dining room earlier this week. First, I did not realize that (other than in Alaska) the fixed main seating time was ever other than 8PM. Yet that being the case, for the DRM to chastise you when his team failed to give you notice of a change is not appropriate. You have your "let us know" card so you may want to use it, or have a quiet word with someone at the appropriate time. I hope that otherwise your service continues to be very good. You deserve it!

 

Thanks for continuing to post, and taking your time and money to do so. Your posts are an ongoing pleasure to read. Have fun!

 

Thanks On cruiser. No Menton for us this time. We picked new places.

 

Funny enough, our dining room time has normally been 8 pm. In fact the first day or two we were 15 minutes late as kazu didn''t check her key card time.

 

I've never had the time for dining change on a collectors' cruise and we have done a few crossing the Atlantic.

 

Yes, we know about the LUK card but haven't decided the course of action or if there should be one.

 

Service otherwise is good other than the loss of our wine steward, Rod. Joey is ok certainly but Rod was a real superlative wine steward.

 

Thank you for the kind words.

[kazu]

Vence is full of those little narrow streets that twist and turn. I couldn't resist a few pics and I hope you can get a sense of the charm.

 

 

 

 

We saw one group getting ready for a wedding here. It's Easter and a time for celebrations. Ingrid said the place would be a zoo tomorrow with all the festivities.

 

 

No wonder the people enjoy coming here. It's gorgeous. Look at how the archway is decorated for Easter

 

 

 

Absolutely gorgeous.

 

And flowers abound in this lovely town.

 

 

 

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[kazu]

This is an ash tree and is supposed to be the oldest tree in Provence. It was planted in the 1500's

 

 

 

from the square where the ash tree is in Vence

 

 

 

Then it was time to head to Haut de Cagnes. Talk about a postcard sighting on our way!

 

 

Haut de Cagnes was quite busy despite the lack of tourist buses. It's a very popular spot and, it turned out there were several weddings that day.

 

I couldn't resist getting a pic of a couple of the brides

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

This is the home of the Grimaldi's, the well known royal family of the area.

 

The wedding pictures I took were all around the Grimaldi castle.

 

Ingrid dropped us off while she hunted for a parking spot and we were off to see it.

 

 

Entrance fee is only 4 euros if you want to go inside. We went into the main area

 

 

 

 

 

 

And headed up the stairs

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Wifi is not uploading. bye bye free wifi.

 

More later

[1of4]

Stunningly beautiful. All of it.

 

Some of your new flowers look similar to Australian blooms, especially the ones with woody stalks.

 

Happy Easter!

[3rdGenCunarder]

Kazu, your pictures of Vence are beautiful. Brought back nice memories of a day we spent there.

[kazu]

Exploring the home this is the ceiling in one of the rooms.

 

 

And that room itself

 

 

Every floor had a different pattern in different tiles.

 

And different art

 

 

 

One of the amazing rooms was filled with pictures of the famous muse. Yes, these pictures are all her!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

After we explored the 2nd level, being the brave souls we are, we all headed to the top floor to see the views. It's more steps than I care to count on a winding staircase. But we all made it!

 

Enjoy the views from the top of the home Grimaldi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This bell tower belongs to the chapel which is attached to the home Grimaldi.

 

 

I suspect this is the spot for the weddings we see about to happen, but that's just a guess on my part

 

 

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[kazu]

Here is some of the working area of the Grimaldi home (the cooking area)

 

 

 

 

And the Grimaldi castle itself.

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

It was time to return to the Rotterdam.

 

Our travelling companions were new to Monte Carlo so Ingrid drove them up to the palace so they wouldn't have to walk the steps (you need a very special pass to go by the police here and thankfully Ingrid has it) and she gave them easy to follow instructions to return to the ship the "easy way". We returned to the Rotterdam, got my new flowers in water and enjoyed some of the scenery on the dock

 

 

 

And then headed back on board.

 

 

thanks to my pruners, I was able to trim the flowers properly so they would fit in the vase

 

 

 

Soon it was time for dinner.

 

Here is our dinner menu for the night

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Happy Easter Sunday from the lovely Rotterdam.

 

I was up bright and early for our tour today and saw some of the staff going around with Easter bunnies. So, I got a couple pics in the Lido to set you all in the spirit of egg hunts.

 

 

 

these pics were from both ends of the lido

 

When we get back from our tour, I'll have to check out the other displays. I heard that they were passing out Easter eggs on the 4th floor.

 

We have what I think will be a long day in front of us. We have a fair bit of travelling to do, but since all on board is at 7:30 pm tonight (which I think is great) we will be under no pressure or worries.

 

Michael (Gallinule) arranged this tour and my thanks to him for doing so. It's nice when we have several organizers on the roll call.

 

So, before I forget, here is the When and Where for today

 

 

 

More to come later. Siena, San Gio from our day today. I need to compose and download DH's memory card since he may have better pics than I (if I can get my hands on it).

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Stunningly beautiful. All of it.

 

 

 

Some of your new flowers look similar to Australian blooms, especially the ones with woody stalks.

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

 

 

 

Happy Easter to you too and all 4of4.

 

Glad you are enjoying it.

 

Thank you.

 

 

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[kazu]

Kazu, your pictures of Vence are beautiful. Brought back nice memories of a day we spent there.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for the very kind words.

 

If I am posting too many pics, please tell me and I will cut back.

 

Just so many things that we enjoyed that I couldn't resist sharing.

 

Happy Easter from Livorno.

 

 

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[sail7seas]

Jacqui. Your photos are a treat. continue to enjoy.

[MaxeyMom]

NEVER to many pictures! They are fabulous. Vence looks so charming

 

Love the new flowers.

[kazu]

NEVER to many pictures! They are fabulous. Vence looks so charming

 

 

 

Love the new flowers.

 

 

 

Thank you both. Ok, I will just trundle on and do the best I can.

 

I have to say that dinner tonight was a treat.

 

We got an Easter menu

 

It was in blue - didn't look like it would show up in the pic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAL was really in the Easter spirit. Look at our evening chocolates!

 

Very cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

And our Yum Yum man was in the spirit tonight too. Wishing us Happy Easter and making us our own Easter bunny.

 

 

And the origami herd continues to grow. We have foxes, elephants, snakes, dragons, rabbit, dog, pigs, etc. He's always looking to give us something new.

 

 

And before I forget, here is our when and where for tomorrow:

 

 

 

 

Charging camera batteries (a must) for tomorrow and hoping the van tomorrow has wifi as promised.

 

But to be safe I need to compose, copy and paste and upload so bear with me please and I will share today with you all tomorrow. It was a great day.

 

We are going far afield tomorrow again. the nice thing is that with the ship leaving at 8, we have no worries "in case".

 

Our driver today was quite proud that he hadn't missed a ship in 27 years.

 

It's another early day tomorrow, so I hope you all had a happy Easter and a lovely Sunday.

 

 

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[rkacruiser]

I am really enjoying your posts and photos. Thank you so very much.

 

The Easter Menu: no fewer than 4 entrees I would love to order. Leg of Lamb, Pesto Fettuccine, Braised Oxtail, Dover Sole! Plus, two appetizers and 2 soups and desserts that sounded very good: there ought to be a law for offering so many excellent choices at the same time!

[ger_77]

What breathtaking views - it makes me feel like I'm right there with you! It's lovely to see brides who go for elegance, rather than sexy. As a Marriage Commissioner, I see many young women who opt for the sexy look, which isn't always flattering.

 

Your flowers are beautiful - you have a flair for arranging them so nicely.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Gerry