Okay, just a quick note. If you are ever going to write a blog about Granada – write it from here, Hotel El Balcon.
Really, that is all. Got to go, Missy is returning with Sangria!
La Zubia
Zaragoza and Toledo
There are pretty churches, there are beautiful cathedrals and then there is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza. We b
oth literally gasped when we first rounded the corner driving into the old town area of Zaragoza. We arrived late on Saturday night after driving the 3 hours from Barcelona. We spent the next hour just watching the reflection dance on the Ebro river. We spent the rest of the evening walking the fantastic old streets of this city.
On Sunday morning we went to mass and the inside is just as spectacular as the exterior (sorry no photos during service) After the service we went out to a street fair; with performers, vendors and tons of people laughing, and having a great time on the beautiful Sunday morning.
At lunchtime we left for the 4 hour drive to Toledo, Spain where we spent the evening and all day on Monday. Driving up to the city we were greeted with 
the imposing city walls and the five gates to the city. Entering the city into the Jewish Quarter allowed us to see first hand the diversity of this breathtaking city. The mix of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religious sites in such a small area make it extremely interesting.
Toledo seems more Moroccan than Spanish with thin streets seemingly going in no particular direction. The medina like quality
continued as we wandered around (sometimes knowing where we were and sometimes . . . . . . ) The Cathedral, the “minor” churches, the synagogue, and the monastery were all rich with incredible architecture and art.
Of note is the Iglesia de Jesuitas Toledo. This hidden gem was just incredible. Walking up the stairs to the second level balcony allowed a fantastic view of the pews and the altar. Continuing up the stairs into the bell tower gave incredible views of the city.
Tomorrow we are driving 4 hours to Granada to see this city. We will update you soon.
Our last day on Rhapsody of the Seas
We awoke this morning to the slow of the engine as our captain maneuvered into the small port of Cartagena, Spain. We got up for a quick bite to eat before heading off the ship to explore the city. The Spanish city has a rich history all the way back to Roman times. The most exciting site we viewed today was the Roman Amphitheater dating back between 5 B.C. and 1 B.C.
We have received some great questions about our experience so far and we thought it would be fun to answer a few.
1) What did you do to pass time while at sea for over a week? Playing trivia, reading, sitting in the sun and playing Yahtzee were some of the things we did on sea days. We also enjoyed the headliner shows which included a soprano sax player, a fantastic singer, a magician and wonderful trio featuring Michael Buble’ songs. Our ship had the best entertainment of any cruise we have taken so far.
2) Did you win any trivia contests? Yes! We won the country music trivia night. I’m sure you’re surprised but we killed it! We won a life altering gift – a Royal Caribbean pen.
3) How do you compare the transatlantic cruise to a Caribbean cruise? The cruise activities, dinner and shows were very similar to other cruises we have taken. However, on sea days the time on the ship moved forward an hour everyday. We didn’t have the hour of 12:00pm – 1:00pm for 6 days in a row. This was to help us transition to the time change of 6 hours ahead, but did not make getting up every morning easy.
4) Did you experience choppy waters? The most “motion in the ocean” as our captain called it, was the first day after we left Sint Maarten. The crossing of the Atlantic Ocean was great; smooth waters, beautiful sunshine with a strong breeze. And the best part was neither of us had any sea sickness!
As you can see from our itinerary, we did not wake this morning on the cruise ship but wanted to complete our post since we ran in to an internet issues over the past two days. We are back up and running and can’t wait to share more with you very soon!
Malaga
We made it!!! We are on the far side of the Atlantic.
The crossing was brutal—-82 degrees, no waves, and they only served lobster once. You don’t have to tell us, the struggle is real!!!
We are in the beautiful city of Malaga, Spain. The city boasts a long history of both Moorish and Christian occupation. The Alcazaba and the castle of Gibralfaro tower over the city reminding us of the past.
The Cathedral of Malaga began construction in 1528 and it opened in 1782. The beautiful 84 meter north tower announces the hours as the south tower remains unfinished. A plaque at the base of the tower states that the money raised to build the south tower was used to help the British colonies which became the United States.
Our time in Malaga has been fantastic. The city is beautiful and there is so much to see. The Roman Theatre, magnificent gardens, and the Bull Ring rounded out our short stay here.
Our next stop is tomorrow and then we are off the cruise. Apparently then I will have to reduce the number of meals a day from 5 to more of a reasonable amount.
St. Maarten
This post will be short as we are in a bar on the beach drinking beers in order to use their Internet access.
This officially is our second country of our around the world tour. The sun is shining, the beer is flowing and the sand is hot– So I guess we can’t complain. Starting tonight we will be cruising for seven days across the Atlantic to get to Spain. It really hasn’t hit us yet this is the beginning, it seems like a vacation or even a dream.
We will post again soon. We will see you on the other side of the sea.
Conch Republic
Welcome to the Conch Republic! Key West, FL; home of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and at times, thousands of parrot heads.
Today is day 2: A day filled with sun and alcohol, sunsets and laughter . I think that is what Key West is about. Key West is about relaxation, it’s about fun, it’s about being here, just here; not about plans, worries or stress. We are now closer to Cuba than we are to Miami. We are in the United States but may as well be a thousand miles away.
We will be cruising for 2 days before we get to our next destination: Sint Maarten – “The Friendly Island”. Until then, I raise my glass – Salud.
Unemployed or Retired?
Ok, we have no jobs, no house, no cars, and no bills – Maybe vagrants or transients may be more accurate. What about nomads or vagabonds?
I don’t know which is the most accurate, but when you fill out forms to do almost anything; there is no box that says “Hey, we just want to travel the world”.
Tomorrow is the day – all of the build up and all of the preparation. The packing and repacking, the fear and anticipation. Tomorrow is the day, wow, it seems so strange to say. We will begin this adventure tomorrow!!! In less than 24 hours we will be on the cruise ship slowly making our way to Spain. What happens once there? I don’t know. That is the beauty of this, we are trying to have a general route but no clear commitment on specifics.
Unemployed or retired, it really doesn’t matter, because tomorrow is just the beginning.
Hello World!!!!
Welcome to ForeverTravelers.com!
- This is a Blog to document our trip around the world
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Thanks Robert