LIVE from the Prinsendam - 24 day Med Rivieras & River Explorer - please join us

[1of4]

43 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

I hear you on the weather.

 

I’ve been following the Maritime weather and no way could I be gardening right now.  So jealous of those in the Med with flowers in full bloom already. ;).   

 

Well the garden is desperately trying to grow but we can’t get out yet.  So many areas under state of emergency but we are still getting snow.  The ice has been off the lake for only 10 days but the kids have been out every morning.  PLEASE bring the weather back!

 

 

Tuesday morning: Nat the coxie bossing the big boys

 

First blooms appeared on Thursday.  Daffodils are still just out of the ground 

 

Edited April 27, 2019 by 1of4

[kazu]

2 hours ago, 1of4 said:

 

Well the garden is desperately trying to grow but we can’t get out yet.  So many areas under state of emergency but we are still getting snow.  The ice has been off the lake for only 10 days but the kids have been out every morning.  PLEASE bring the weather back!

 

 

Tuesday morning: Nat the coxie bossing the big boys

 

First blooms appeared on Thursday.  Daffodils are still just out of the ground 

 

 

That is dismal Gail, but glad to see some spring flowers are making their way in your neck of the woods.

 

Guaranteed nothing is happening in ours.  On the bright side I won’t miss too many of my tulips 🙂 

 

Taking a small break after dessert in the dining room.

 

Yes, all we had was dessert 😉.  Threw our waiters off as for the first time we each ordered our own.

 

 

We were too full from our tapas but I wanted something sweet (very unusual) and some wine. 😉. Since we are in a Spanish port we will pay VAT and we don’t using our package.  

 

So, for one time only, we walked out of the dining room with our glass of wine.

 

Checked out the orange party and now it’s time for Flamenco in the ShowRoom.

 

Just taking a teeny break and we’re off again.

 

I’ll be back later tonight or early tomorrow with more of Alicante to finish and then our delightful day in Malaga.

 

Warning - fair warning - there is definitely a LOT of food porn on our Malaga day but also some pics. 🙂

 

Had a fabulous day 😄 DH said it was the best tapas ever 😄 

[rafinmd]

I'm guessing the Dutch Apple pie was fleet wide.

 

Roy

[Vict0riann]

We have done tapas with Laura twice now (with Sailingdutchy) and enjoyed both tours very much.  We'll be doing it again in the Fall - we're looking forward to it very much.  I'm looking forward to seeing where you went and what you ate!

[kazu]

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

I'm guessing the Dutch Apple pie was fleet wide.

 

Roy

 

 

Oh yes, I’m pretty sure you are right on the money on that one 🙂 

 

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

We have done tapas with Laura twice now (with Sailingdutchy) and enjoyed both tours very much.  We'll be doing it again in the Fall - we're looking forward to it very much.  I'm looking forward to seeing where you went and what you ate!

 

It was really good, Ann.  A great combination of traditional, fusion and just plain “different”.

 

We have to be up VERY early tomorrow for Gibraltar (let’s hope 3 times is the charm - we’ve missed it twice now for different reasons so it’s our first visit here).

 

A short day tour wise but a very early one.  And, we are already up too late (again).  Had to catch the Flamenco show that was brought on board. 😉 

 

I think I can start to catch up tomorrow afternoon again (internet permitting on board).

 

Cheers from the Prinsendam sailing from Malaga to Gibraltar.  

[cat shepard]

2 hours ago, kazu said:

 

That is dismal Gail, but glad to see some spring flowers are making their way in your neck of the woods.

 

Guaranteed nothing is happening in ours.  On the bright side I won’t miss too many of my tulips 🙂 

 

Taking a small break after dessert in the dining room.

 

Yes, all we had was dessert 😉.  Threw our waiters off as for the first time we each ordered our own.

 

 

We were too full from our tapas but I wanted something sweet (very unusual) and some wine. 😉. Since we are in a Spanish port we will pay VAT and we don’t using our package.  

 

So, for one time only, we walked out of the dining room with our glass of wine.

 

Checked out the orange party and now it’s time for Flamenco in the ShowRoom.

 

Just taking a teeny break and we’re off again.

 

I’ll be back later tonight or early tomorrow with more of Alicante to finish and then our delightful day in Malaga.

 

Warning - fair warning - there is definitely a LOT of food porn on our Malaga day but also some pics. 🙂

 

Had a fabulous day 😄 DH said it was the best tapas ever 😄 

 

I finally figured out why I love your posts, kazu/Jacqui.

 

I feel as if we are having a conversation. You have an easy and fun way of sharing your day.

 

I love any and all posts that provide reviews and “live froms”, but though I have never met you, we are having a great conversation.  And that is a precious gift. And I thank you.

[kazu]

Good morning as we approach Gibraltar.  Looks like 3 times is the charm 🙂 

 

Here is our dinner menu from last night for King’s Day.

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

And so I don’t forget, here is today’s When and Where:

 

 

 

[kazu]

We had a bite to eat in the square - lovely Spanish food.  It was quite crowded though and hard to do food porn so sadly, I have none to share with you.

 

I’ll make up for it in Malaga though, never fear 😉 

 

This is outside the entrance to the market in the square.  It commemorates the bombing and murder of 300 people.  So sad, the enemy brought in a lot of fresh fish at cheap prices during wartime.  The housewives and children flocked to buy it and then they were bombed and killed.  Each one of the holes depicts one person whose life was lost that day.

 

 

 

They typical dress and yes they do wear it at celebrations in 42 degree C heat!

 

 

 

The Cathedral

 

 

Look how beautiful the doors are:

 

 

There are 3 of these.  They were added for a Royal visit to impress.

 

 

The doors again.

 

 

Can you see the holes in the church wall?  From cannons again

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

 

Some final pictures of Alicante...

 

Just because I liked it 😉 

 

 

 

 

 

Oldest church in Alicante - tried to show some of the detail:

 

 

 

 

The town hall now.  Beautiful building: 

 

 

 

Just some detail of the building:

 

 

 

 

This is a pic taken in the old Arab area - it’s very small.

 

I showed it before - but bear with me - what you see between the two houses in the background is the fortress we were at.

 

Can you see the face or what looks like a face?  The man who lived here originally refused to let his daughter marry the man she loved and after her lover committed suicide by jumping off the fortress, his daughter did the same.  The father was despondent and prayed that he be punished.  

 

The story goes that he became trapped in the rock in the after life and thus, his face is there.  His name was Alicantra (hope I got that right) and thus the name of the town was born - Alicante.

 

Alicante welcomes tourists.  Maria, our guide told us that her mother grew up in a cave (because of the devastation from the war) and thus, the older people are especially grateful for tourism and the improvement it has brought to their economy.

 

Alicante is a lovely spot.  Had a marvellous day here.

[kazu]

Farewell to Alicante

 

Here is the sunset as we sailed away.  Or at least my attempts to get it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

16 hours ago, cat shepard said:

 

I finally figured out why I love your posts, kazu/Jacqui.

 

I feel as if we are having a conversation. You have an easy and fun way of sharing your day.

 

I love any and all posts that provide reviews and “live froms”, but though I have never met you, we are having a great conversation.  And that is a precious gift. And I thank you.

 

Aww, you are very kind. ❤️ Thank you.

[puppycanducruise]

I can see why you like Alicante, it's beautiful.

Loved that sunset too.

[kazu]

Yesterday we were in Malaga.

 

We’ve been there lots so we were thrilled to do a Tapas tour with sailingdutchy and his DW.

 

Our guide, Laura is originally from Canada and has been in Malaga for 20 years with her DH Jorge.

 

She knows a lot of great spots and we started with the Mercado.

 

 

The locals still shop here. And we did too 😄 

 

 

Picked up some manchego cheese.  Along with some tourrones (the stores were closed in Alicante by the time we were done our walking tour - we asked Maria too late)

 

 

For the first time, we found some chilies so picked some up for DH along some olive oil 🙂 

 

 

Look at the outside of the market.  It’s too big to get a pic of the whole thing so here’s the stained glass.

 

 

[kazu]

 

 

A wonderful candy store.  We were very good and didn’t buy any 🙂 

 

 

After some tasting and buying, we headed out for our first tapas spot.

 

Couldn’t resist some pics along the way.

 

 

Look at the lovely mosaic on the church:

 

 

There was a wedding happening here - amazed how dressed up everyone was for the occasion.  Certainly was a grand place for it.

 

 

The spires:

 

 

                                

 

 

We arrived at our first tapas bar

 

 

And a lovely selection of wine was produced.

 

 

FAIR WARNING - SERIOUS FOOD PORN DOES TAKE PLACE ON THIS TOUR.

 

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK 😉 🙂 😄 

[kazu]

We had some typical tapas here although I have not had the one before.

 

They were very tasty.

 

A typical before tapas was brought to us.  consider it like an amuse bouche.  And, of course you just reach in with the provided forks.

 

 

First we had the aubergines (eggplant) which had a lovely sweet sauce poured on it and was quite tasty.

 

 

then the avajas  I believe the write word for them in English is razor backs

 

They were really good.  New to me and much enjoyed 😄 

 

 

and the almejas

 

 

Then it was time to walk a bit more, see some of this part of Malaga on the way to the next tapas bar:

 

 

The old Flamenco quarter:

 

 

 

 

Along the way, these fabulous mosaics and tile work:

 

 

After a very enjoyable, scenic walk we were at our next tapas bar.

[kazu]

Our lovely guide Laura:

 

 

 

Ready?  This is a fusion tapas bar.  Malaga has a tapas contest every year and it has won the last 3 out of 3 years.

 

our baby calamari & giroza (dumpling tripe

 

The rabodetoro (I think everyone knows what Toro means 😉 ).  One of the winners at the contest

 

 

Shrimp tartar:  

 

 

 

And then came the surprise.  Laura told the owner that one of us was from the same country and he came to meet us.  He immediately offered the cochinita (pulled pork) DH gave it 5 thumbs up 🙂 

 

 

 

The owner (one of them).  He was showing us sage he used and explaining why and enjoying talking to DH and Laura.  He is from Mexico and his wife is Spanish.  They have “fused” their tapas to make new tastes and new experiences.

 

 

 

This was unbelievable heavenly - Margherita chicken they call it.  

 

OMG - totally unbelievable.

 

 

And, of course, if someone drops something or makes a tiny stain this restaurant like all the good ones has a handy stain remover for you to save your clothes!

 

[kazu]

Our organizer who lured us on this tour (and we thank you so much) and DH.

 

Love the look of this place:

 

 

 

 

Ok, I’m sorry but I couldn’t resist.

 

A square toilet?  Too funny.  We weren’t sure if it was appropriate to post with lid open or closed - so I give you both.

 

 

 

Sorry, posts got delayed as internet stopped uploading pics.

 

There is still more of Malaga - so I’m sorry there is still more food porn.  Your eyes might not believe what they are seeing.

 

With luck, I’ll finish tonight or tomorrow (internet permitting) but now, it’s time to get ready for other things.

 

Back later - sailing from Gibraltar to Lisbon.  LOL - didn’t we start there?  Luckily we’ll go to a different area and have some tasting, savouring and fun planned 😉 

[travelnap]

Jacqui, your pictures are great. it is just like being there again in some of the pictures, as a lot of them bring back some good memories.  I hate to tell you how many times I have taken pictures of the sunset at sea just like your series of pictures, at different stages.  I loved both Alicante and Malaga.  But the best one was the square toilet, I had never seen one of those, so it brought me back to the first time I had ever experienced an Asian toilet that was level with the ground.  I had though Wow!  The last guy who sat on that must have been really heavy.  Thanks again for taking us all with you.

[sansterre]

Thanks for posting about your cruise.  I enjoy seeing the pictures and hearing about Dutch Day, and the Flamenco show.    I feel like I am on this cruise with you.

My brother  boarded this cruise in the Rome port of Civitavecchia.  His name is Robert, but he might be known as Bob from Florida.  If you run into him, please tell him Jean said hello.  

[*Miss G*]

Wow, Jacqui, you sure know how to pack a lot into a cruise!  You’re going to need a vacation when you get back from vacation.  Thanks for doing this!

[bobalink]

Jacqui - your photos are amazing! Love traveling along with you.

I noticed Jose is holding a Pikolinos shopping bag. That's my favorite shoe, I have 6 pairs in my closet!

The Tapas Tour looks so fun and delicious. Savor the flavor!

[cruisemom42]

On 4/22/2019 at 2:01 AM, kazu said:

Sailing past Ponza -it is so windy out that only now could I attempt a pic.

 

 

 

winds are at 40 miles per hour and expected to get worse so as the captain said yesterday - too risky to tender here.

 

 

We are headed to Naples and should have the pilot alongside at 1 pm.  We will overnight in Naples.

 

Weather doesn’t sound real great (and we have a full day tour tomorrow) but we can’t complain really.  We’ve had great weather until today so I guess we were due 😉 

 

 

 

I am just catching up with you again. I can't believe the winds kept you from Ponza!  That woud have been a disappointment for me (although I well know these things happen...). 

 

I shall get there one day. 😉

[cruisemom42]

On 4/25/2019 at 9:38 AM, kazu said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loving your Herculaneum photos so much. I know just where these shots were taken. Truly an incredible place that has seen leaps and bounds of improvement in the condition of its preservation over the last decade due to some very dedicated people.

 

For anyone that finds the thought of Pompeii too daunting, I highly recommend visiting Herculaneum.

[cruisemom42]

On 4/26/2019 at 1:05 AM, kazu said:

 

They looked like huge snap peas to me and DH but perhaps they were pole beans.  I’m not an expert on Med veggies 😉 

 

I'm pretty sure that what you saw there are the famous fava beans...👍