Seville Spain Cathedral

Spain is wonderful! This cathedral is huge (3rd largest Christian Church in Europe)! Soaring flying buttresses and bell tower.
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Paella in Spain

Paella is one of the favorite dishes in Spain. The dish is filled with rice and seafood and flavored with saffron.
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Columbus tomb in Seville Spain

This is the tomb of Columbus at the Cathedral in Seville. Four kings serve as the pallbearers. Columbus' bones have traveled almost as much as he did. He was buried first in Spain, then in Dominican Republic, then Cuba and now Seville, Spain. Authorities tested the bones for DNA to verify it is Columbus.
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Seville Spain Cathedral

Spain is wonderful! This cathedral is huge (3rd largest Christian Church in Europe)! Soaring flying buttresses and bell tower.
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Ship's bus tour - not our favorite way to travel

This is the first big bus tour we have taken through the ship' excursions. We went on a city tour of Lisbon. The traffic was really busy- we didn't think we had a very good tour. To quote Darrell "It sucked!". We spent more time on the sidewalk waiting for the bus than seeing things.

But I am not complaining - Portugal is really pretty, vibrant, historic but has a modern flair. The weather is awesome and we both feel good! Still having a great time seeing the world.

Tomorrow we ride the Oceania bus from the port of Cadiz to Seville in Spain. We expect that to be one of the highlights of our trip. Matt and Susan Christian has told us much about this Andalucian region of Spain.
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Cascais Portugal Marina

Beautiful marina and harbor just outside if Lisbon Portugal. The ocean is so very clear here. Beautiful warm sunny day again!!
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Se Cathedral in Lisbon Portugal

Built in 1150 in the Romanesque style on the site of the old Moorish mosque it is the seat of the bishop and one of the most important churches in Lisbon.
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Monument of Discoveries, Lisbon Portugal

Henry the Navigator leads the way on this monument to commerate the discoveries of the new world.
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Tower of Belem, Lisbon Portugal

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Captain Juricia Brajcic of Oceania Regatta

We attended a reception hosted by the Captain. We have sailed with the same captain every time we have sailed with Oceania. He is the Captain who faced the Somalian pirates earlier this year at the Gulf of Aden. We had the opportunity to have dinner with the Captain a week or so ago on the first leg of the cruise..
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Oporto Portugal

Lunch at Placa de Ribeira along the Douro River (River of Gold). The bridge is the Ponte de Dom Luis I built by the assistant to Gustave Eiffel.
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Port wine tasting in Oporto Portugal

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Guimaraes Portugal

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Guimaraes, Portugal 10th Century Castle

A UNESCO site the birthplace of Portugal - the castle is noted for its crenellated towers.

Guimaraes was a delightful medievel city. We toured the Ducal Palace of Braganca complete with furniture and an armory.
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Basque region - coastal road

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Basque flag

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Basque Separatist Movement flag

Many flags were flying to show support for the Separatist movement (ETA) Basque Homeland and Freedom organization for an independent state for the Basque Region in North Eastern Spain and into a small region of southwestern France. The Basque have lived in the region since Neolithic times and speak a very unique language Euskara.
The oldest child inherits the home and land regardless if a boy or girl. If a man (not the oldest in his family) marries an oldest girl he takes her name and so do the children forming a matriarchal lineage.
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Getarie, Spain a Basque fishing village

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Basque Region - Getarie Spain

Getarie is a beautiful fishing village in the Basque region of northern Spain. Noted for its high waves - a protective sea wall surrounds the harbor. Surfers search the storms for the best waves. Fishing is still the way of life.
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Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao Spain

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Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao Spain

Our ship docked in St. Jean de Luz, France. We drove across the border into northern Spain to Bilbao home of the Guggenheim Museum with its spectacular architecture and titanium covering. This is a stark contrast to the colonial architecture of the old city of Bilbao. The museum houses extremely modern art. The atrium soars open up three floors exposing glass and steel with all curves (no straight lines). The museum is situated on the river in downtown historic center and incorporates the reflecion of the river in the architecture.
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Chateau Palmer

In the Medoc region of Bordeaux are many chateaus and wineries. Most require appointments and the tours are very detailed. We tasted 1996 Bordeaux wine at Chateau Palmer near Margaux in the wine country.
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Grapes growing in rocky soil

Some of the vines are 80 to 90 years old to produce the Grand Cru Bordeaux wines. The arid rocky soil stresses the vines to produce the some of the most famous wines in the world. Thomas Jefferson bought wines from Chateau Haute Brion while serving as Colonial representative in France in the 1700's.
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Regatta at dock, Bordeaux France

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Chateau Haute Brion

Wine Country in Bordeaux, France. We are touring several wineries with traditions dating back many centuries. This winery is now owned by a Prince from Luxemborg. We saw the grapes being picked by hand then loaded into the hopper to be dumped for crushed and put in vats. The technology was very advanced.
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Mont St. Michel

A floating city/monastary surrounded by the bay. Historic site for an abbey dating back to 700. A single tourist/shopping street leads a steep path to the upper part where the abbey leads to the heavens.
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Archangel Micheal

The legend tells of the Arch Angel speaking to Bishop St. Aubert and told him to build a church on the top of the rock on this small island just off the French coast near Saint Malo.
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French maps and road signs

Those of you who know me know I love maps. Darrell is the driver and I was the navigator. But - I managed to get us lost continually.
The worst situation was in Saint Malo when we drove past the car rental office twice (which was inside the ferry terminal). Third time is the charm - we find the office but it is closed (no surprise).

My wonderful husband's calm approach to life prevailed and my "panic state" was blown way out of proportion as we found the ship's tender boats (the ship was at anchor in the harbor not docked) to be within a block of the car rental drop! We made it back with time to spare and were glad to be back on ship.
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French holidays and rental cars

I had made arrangements to rent a car upon our arrival in Le Havre, France, and to spend the night off the ship. I should have known there was a problem when no one answered the phone - but off we go. In a taxi to the Europcar rental office. As it was Sunday and also a national holiday (Patrimonial Day) the office was closed. After much discussion with our taxi driver - we decide to take the taxi to the next town Deauville to another Europcar office. This really sounds simple - but it was not. The office was in an industrial park in an out of town place.
In France we have learned that if it is not their problem they really don't care. So after an expensive cab ride we have a rental car. Then a nice ride to Honfleur. Part 2 of the driving saga will continue.
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Hotel in Bayeux France

Lovely hotel in Normandy. Our friends Kathleen and David Roberts had stayed here in the spring. Bayeux is a medievel city close to the D Day beaches with lovely cobblestone streets. We enjoyed a wonderful "classic French" dinner with the 4 "C's" cider, creme, cheese and Calvados Brandy!
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Memorial at American Cemetary at Omaha Beach

Located on the bluff above the beaches of D Day this memorial pays tribute to the many that paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
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American Cemetery

The sight of all these many crosses lined up with military precision is so emotional. The museum puts a very personal perspective as stories of individual soldiers that died that day are told. But nothing tells the story like seeing these many thousand (over 9800) white crosses. There is also a wall listing over 1500 names of men who died that day whose bodies were never recovered.
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Memorial at American Cemetary at Omaha Beach

Located on the bluff above the beaches of D Day this memorial pays tribute to the many that paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
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Bomb craters and German defenses

Left as it remained after D Day at Pointe du Hoc
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Pointe du Hoc at D Day Beach

German artillery bunkers remain along with huge craters made by bombs dropping by the Allies on June 6, 1944.
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Bomb craters at Pointe du Hoc

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Normandy France

"The Braves" monument on D Day Beach at Saint Laurent on Omaha Beach.
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Caen Memorial

J Jour (D-Day) this museum was a fasinating introduction to the D Day beaches of Normandy. June 6, 1944 the troops landed in France. The museum had a detailed filming showing the build up for the landing.
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Peace Memorial Musuem in Caen, France

Museum featuring all wars of the 20th century covering WWI, rise of Hitler, seige of Leningrad, genocide of 50 million people in Europe including 6 million Jews, WWII and D Day up to the Cold War. Amazing museum - the museum unfolds as the corridor unfolds in a downward spiral.
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Sailboats in Honfleur

Reall a beautiful place!
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Impressionism started in Honfleur

Monet visited Honfluer as a young man and saw the way the sunlight reflected from the water. He begun painting "in plien air" (outside) and the era of Impressionism was born. Many art galleries are found in the city today.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch of crepes jambon (ham) and salad in an sidewalk cafe alongside the harbor. The coffee is amazing!

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Eglise St. Catherine

Honfleur espaded being bombed during WWII. Many medieval buildings survive.
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Eglise St.Catherine Cathedral, Honfleur France

Built in 1466 the ceiling of this church looks like an upside down boat. Actually Honfleur didn't have any church builders in town but had plenty of boat builders - so it is built like a boat. There was a christening going on while we visited.
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White Cliffs of Dover

We spent the afternoon enjoying scenic Dover, England. The white cliffs are steep and can be seen from far out at sea. Dover Castle dates from 11th century and dominates the cliffs at the city.

Over 22 miles of tunnels in the cliffs have been explored so far with others thought to also exist. Many were used by the allies during WWII. The chunnel (tunnel under the English Channel) leaves at Dover.

We enjoyed meeting several couples we have been corresponding with on cruisecritic. We will share several day trips during the second leg of our cruise which goes from London to Rome. We gathered just before sailing from Dover.
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Market Square in Dover England

Jumbo tron broadcasting the tennis match.
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Dover England

The eight bells pub - had a pint with a bit o' lunch. We have just finished our first section of our cruise to the Baltic. A whole new group of people board today and we are in Normandy, France the next day.
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Postcard view of Bruges Belgium

We loved Bruges!! Towers, beautiful canals and bridges on a spectacular day!
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The movie "In Bruges"

Colin Firth and Brendon Glesson starred in the Oscar nominated movie "In Bruges". This is the tower where Brendon Glesson jumped (and died) in the movie - from the Belfry in Market Square.
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Michelangelo's Madonna and Child sculpture

The only Michelangelo piece to leave Italy in his lifetime. A ver beautiful sculpture in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges.
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Brewey Museum

Lovely courtyard at the De Halve Maan (Half Moon) Brewery Museum in Bruges. Darrell loved this kind of museum. Belgium is known for beer, chocolate, lace and diamonds. We bought a small amount of everything but diamonds.
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Bruges, Belgium

Market Hall and the Belfry date from 1300's and dominate the center city. Bruges is a beautiful small medieval town with lots of canals and bridges.
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Enjoying dinner on Oceania Regatta

Sailing from Amsterdam
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House Boats on canals in Amsterdam

Many homes are house boats on the canals with beautiful flowers.
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Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Beautiful city with more canals than streets. A walking (or ride a bike) city.
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Anne Frank House

Amsterdam, The Netherlands we toured inside the Anne Frank House where the Frank family hid from the Nazi occupied city. The family was betrayed and Anne was sent to Auchwitz where she died one month before liberation.
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Kiel Canal

We have just exited the locks of the Kiel Canal.
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