The Daily for Sunday May 09, 2021

[richwmn]

Happy Mother's Day

 

Today National Moscato Day, International Migratory Bird Day, and Lilac Sunday

"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts. - Henry David Thoreau"

Meal suggestion for today - Steak and Potatoes with 5 Minute Chimichurri Sauce

Drink of the Day - Dark and Stormy

Wine of the day - Château la Gaffelière 2017 Saint-Émilion Bordeaux

Port of the Day - Leixoes (Porto) Portugal

At Sea Caribbean
Nieuw Statendam Destination Fort Lauderdale eta 5/10

At Sea Gulf of California
Nieuw Amsterdam Destination Los Angeles eta 5/13

At Sea Pacific
Noordam Destination Los Angeles eta 5/6

Corfu GR
Volendam
Zaandam

La Paz MX
Koningsdam Anchorage
Westerdam Anchorage
Zuiderdam Anchorage

Torquay UK
Eurodam Anchorage
Oosterdam

Venice IT
Rotterdam

 

 

[jimgev]

Thanks for the Daily. Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms! Can't go wrong with steak and potatoes.

[rafinmd]

Thank you for the Mothers Day Daily, Rich.  Drawing a blank on Moscato, love migratory birds and lilacs as well as the Thoreau quote.  I'm not familiar with Porto.  Steak and Potatoes sounds good.  My alternative is Sweedish Pork Medallions with Apple Mushroom Compote and Lemon Tart with Blueberry Ice Cream as served on my Nieuw Statendam Mariner Brunch.  The lists are long and I'll put them in a separate post.

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/brunch.jpg

 

Sorry, I can't rotate the photo.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Today's care list:

Kakalina

myself facing cardiac surgery May 14

Welfare of furloughed crews

India

StLouisCruiser’s sister recovering in ICU

JazzyV eye issues

Garlictown difficutl recovery from arm surgery

Sharon’s ear issues

Beau Obama crossing rainbow bridge

NextOne DH recovering from surgery

 

Today's Celebrations and Shoutouts:

Mothers, Grandmothers, and substitutes

Teachers, school workers and at home surrogates

Front Line Health Care Workers

Getaway for AncientWanderer

Nieuw Statendam back at PE Monday

Getaway for CruisingAlong

First jab for Marmot@sea

second jabs for cunnorl’s DD and Ds

lindaler visit from oldest DS

mamaofami DGS technology finalist

China rocket debris safely down in Indian Ocean

and Sabine, HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it)

 

Roy

 

[portofrome]

Thank you for the Daily Report.

[richwmn]

I stayed in Porto for two days on a land trip between cruises in September of 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[puppycanducruise]

Happy Mother's Day.

Thanks for the Daily Report.

Another frosty morning here, I wish spring would hurry up and get here.

The dinner suggestion sounds great.

Porto is a stop on our next cruise.😉

Prayers for our world.

Stay safe.

[richwmn]

Roy's image rotated

[dfish]

Good morning, everyone!   Happy Mother's Day to all the moms.  Steak and potatoes make a good meal for Mom.   The drink of the day kind of describes the weather here in northeast Ohio.   100% chance of rain all day long.  

 

Today's  meal is a good one for Dad to do on the grill.   It uses flank steak and there are great suggestions on how to make sure your flank steak is tender and not just a chew fest.   

 

https://damndelicious.net/2020/02/09/steak-and-potatoes-with-5-minute-chimichurri-sauce/

 

 

[kazu]

Thanks for the Daily, Rich and our morning smile 🙂 

 

 

Interesting collection of days.  Love lilacs and happily celebrate the birds returning.  My friend loves moscato but most are too sweet for me.

 

 

It’s also Europe Day so..

 

 

Love the Thoreau quote.  Meal of the day sounds good.  DH would be delighted with a Chimichurri sauce.  

 

I think I have tasted the wine of the day.  We were in Saint-Emilion and visited several wineries.  I could only risk a very small drop of the reds 😉

 

We have been to Porto.  It was so beautiful.  I would happily return.  I’ll dig up the pics and post pics - I fear there will be too many 😉

 

Prayers for everyone on Roy’s Care list & for those that need them and 🥂 for those on the Celebratory / Shout Out list.

 

Have a great Sunday everyone and a great Mother’s Day to all the mother’s out there whether you be a mother, step mother, fur baby mother, etc.  

 

 

Stay safe and please don’t forget your masks 😷 

 

[cat shepard]

Happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you for today’s Daily, Rich! What a combo of days. How can we have a red blend wine on National Moscato Day? Cheers to the Migratory birds of the world. Love the look of lilacs of all colors, but their perfume makes my eyes water, so I always had to enjoy them outside. 
 

Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites & my Sisters! Love the quote, meal and drink! Busy morning. Off to a early morning hike. Checking out a new place to see if Bindi would fit in... Enjoy your day, everyone. 
 

Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone!
 

**********

The joy of this Bordeaux red blend is its spectacular consistency. All released vintages share the superb ratings! Which is helpful price wise, since I found the 2019 vintage online for $58.99, about $20 less than the 2017 vintage. You might have to hold the 2019 for a year or two, but....
The following tasting notes are for the 2017 vintage.

#50 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2020

RP97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate : The 2017 La Gaffeliere is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal fragrant scents of kirsch, black raspberries and warm plums plus suggestions of unsmoked cigars, rosehip tea and underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic elegance and sophistication, with tons of bright, perfumed fruit and exquisitely ripe tannins, finishing with bags of freshness and energy. Since the lower-lying sections of La Gaffeliere were affected by frost this year, this wine mainly comes from the section up on the Saint-Émilion plateau, near Ausone. Truly impressive!

WS93 Wine Spectator: Floral and elegant from the start, with lilac and violet notes streaming forth, followed by cassis, cherry puree and raspberry reduction flavors. A lovely snap of anise and a subtle apple wood accent help to frame the finish, which shows good latent energy. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2038. 

JS93James Suckling: There are some sappy and leafy elements to the nose with a thread of red berries and fresh blueberries. The palate has plush, lithe and juicy appeal with smoothly rendered tannins and juicy, crunchy acidity. Drink or hold.

[Mr. Boston]

Good morning and thanks for the daily report.  Happy Mothers Day!  We’ll have to make a trip out to the Arnold Arboretum to view and smell all the lilacs.  The migratory birds should be making their ways north as I type.  To affect the quality of the day is a good challenge for us all.  A dark and stormy sounds perfect with the steak that we’re having for dinner.  It’s off to the nursery today to buy plants for our roof deck.  Prayers to all in need of them and cheers to those celebrating esp. the 2nd jabbers, if you’re reaction was anything like mine you’ll need some cheer!

[kazu]

Porto is an exquisite spot full of history and tradition.

 

I had arranged for a private transfer there and a local guide to show us around with free time on our own at the end.  

 

There are two distinct sides to Porto = the old and the new.  Needless to say the old is the more desirable area.

 

They are connected by bridges. Sorry but it was foggy at that time.

 

 

This bridge which is the most used and the one we were on for views was designed by the same person who designed the Eiffel Tower!

 

 

The Se

 

 

 

 

Part of the view from the bridge of the old area

 

 

[StLouisCruisers]

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms out there!  I'm happy to be a Mom to two great kids (and Mimi to 6 fab grandkids).  I hope we all have a wonderful day being pampered.

 

Interesting group of days today.  Never drink Moscato, appreciate the migatory birds, and love lilacs.   RIP to the painted buntings in @Seasick Sailor's yard who met their demise flying into the windows.  Such beautiful birds.

 

Yesterday my twin and Brother and I were determined not to bother our nieces and nephews inquiring about our Sister in the ICU.  We would wait for word.  The three of us texted back and forth all day seeing if someone had texted or called.  Nope, nothing.  Finally my Brother left a message on a home phone asking for an update.  When I woke up this morning there was a text from my oldest nephew saying his Mom had been moved out of ICU to a regular room, was still sore from the surgery but doing okay.  He left her room phone number as well.  Yay!  Now we can call and briefly speak to her.  We don't want to tire her out.  And it's Mother's Day so I hope her kids get to visit today and maybe take her some flowers.  She's been through a lot and deserves it.  So happy right now that she is doing well.  Thanks again for all your support here.❤️

 

In April and May, 2019 we took our last cruises B2b on the Prinsendam before she left the fleet, along with many of you who did the same thing.  Had to say our goodbyes!  On April 30 we docked in Leixoes, Portugal.  We had been informed there was a tram service between Leixoes and Porto so we departed the ship early and walked to the tram station which is not far away.  There were several machines there where you could purchase tickets.  Standing next to them were some local characters who kindly offered their assistance in reading the instructions and getting tickets to Porto.  They would also help themselves to bits of change and pocket it if you weren't very careful.  We started passing the word to those in line to be more aggressive in doing the money handling yourself.  Otherwise as they handed you a ticket they pocketed change and actually wadded up the little receipts and threw them down so you couldn't see what your correct change was.  Real scammers there so watch out! 

 

I will pick out some photos from beautiful Porto and post some here.  Interesting to hear @richwmnwas able to spend several days there between cruises.  A nice place to spend some time I'm sure.  

 

Have a great day everyone!

[kazu]

Porto continued....

 

More from the bridge:

 

 

 

 

Porto’s incredible train station:

 

 

 

Even more incredible was the work of tiles inside.  It took years to complete and tell the history of exploration and of Porto.  It was incredible:

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are in Porto, definitely go inside the train station.  My pictures can’t do it justice.

 

[kazu]

We were on the Prinsendam - same cruise as @StLouisCruisers.  I am glad to hear her sister has been moved out of ICU and now has a phone 👍. Prayers for a quick recovery for her 🙏🏻 

 

More Porto:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our guide took us on a walk and left us to enjoy a gorgeous church and a bite and explore and told us the short cut back to our meeting place for our transfer back.

 

So, of course, we had to savour the flavour.  The food was delicious.  A couple of the dishes:

 

 

 

Then to explore the beautiful church:

 

 

 

 

 

There are a lot more pics but I think that’s probably too many already.

 

I’d happily return here again.

[richwmn]

3 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

I will pick out some photos from beautiful Porto and post some here.  Interesting to hear @richwmnwas able to spend several days there between cruises.  A nice place to spend some time I'm sure.  

It was an interesting time. I had booked a Canada / New England cruise with some friends to take place in late September, a relocation from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale. I also had a June(?) Med cruise booked with another friend. The Med cruise was cancelled and the only "fit" for us ended about two weeks before the relocation began. Rather than fly from Barcelona to Atlanta, stay a week, then fly to Montreal I decided to spend the two weeks in Europe. I found a travel agent that put it together and gave her Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, and Lajes. She added Porto and I was very happy she did. The stay there added a lot to the trip. I posted a lot of the trip on CC at the time, and also at http://wa70.com/trip

 

[smitty34877]

Happy Mother's  Day  and  Good  Morning.  @kazu,there  are  never  too  many  pictures!  Thanks  to  everyone  who  posts  them. My  photographic  abilities  are  limited  so  I  very  much  enjoy  the  excellent  photos  here.

I  never  tried   the  wine  but  do  love  lilacs  and  migratory  birds. I  think  the  birds  around  here  are  back  from  their  southern  travels. Each  evening  we  are  serenaded by unseen  birds  who  gather  in  a  huge  tree in  Van  Cortlandt  Park  across  the  street.

The  picture  below  was  taken  from  a  riverboat in  Porto. We  had  a  great  day  there in  beautiful  weather. It  was  our  first  Prinsendam cruise  and  hooked  us  for  life!        Terry

[richwmn]

Although it uses the incorrect name 'Nieuw Rotterdam', cruise mapper is now showing the position of Rotterdam. Since it is not connected with HAL, it is not integrated with the other ships of the fleet.

 

[StLouisCruisers]

@kazubesides the beautiful tiles inside the train station I remember everyone just standing inside with their heads tilted back gazing upward at all the tile murals.  These people weren't looking at the train schedule, just the tile work.

 

 

Walking up to the beautiful Church of Saint Ildefonso

 

 

 

This monument was on the terrace in front of the church.

 

View of the river from the terrace

 

A boat on that river

 

The architecture around the city was beautiful.  

 

 

 

 

[StLouisCruisers]

Jacqui, did you see yourself or Jose in any of my photos?😉

[kazu]

1 minute ago, StLouisCruisers said:

@kazubesides the beautiful tiles inside the train station I remember everyone just standing inside with their heads tilted back gazing upward at all the tile murals.  These people weren't looking at the train schedule, just the tile work

 

Oh yes, I bet a lot of people ended up with sore necks that day 😉 

 

The murals and tiles were just incredible and oh so beautiful.

[StLouisCruisers]

Actually the church I showed was Porto Cathedral.  I got my churches mixed up.  Always so many beautiful cathedrals to take photos of, that's for sure.

[kazu]

1 minute ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Jacqui, did you see yourself or Jose in any of my photos?😉

 

No, I actually didn’t.  No loss 😉 

[cunnorl]

Good Morning Everyone from a warm and sunny day at the beach.

      Happy Mothers Day to all the Mothers and surrogate moms out there. I am very grateful to my own Mom who passed a few years ago, my aunts and many wonderful women who taught me what is truly important in life.

   DH is making me scallops , twice baked potatoes and asparagus today. 

   Never been to todays port. Love seeing the pictures. I am so anxious to get out cruising again!

   StLouisCruisers- Great news on your sister. She now just needs to rest and gain her strength back.

 

Stay safe and enjoy today.