Oct 16 – Fiumicino, Italy

Santa Maria Porto del Salute

Weather – 24º

hotel view one side

Steps – 12,539

Jet lag…I think you are in the rear-view mirror…kind of. I don’t usually feel it too badly on the way to a vacation – back home is usually a different story. A small nap and in bed at ‘normal’ time is usually the recipe for quickly kicking jet lag. Last night I was asleep by about 10 and wide awake at about 5…I drifted off again until about 730 for a total of 8.5hrs. I was thrilled by that amount, but my Apple watch still scolded me!

other side view

I’m sure I’ve mentioned in a previous blog post how much I detest a rain-head shower, guess what kind of shower is in this room…a rain shower. I really don’t

canal view

see the appeal even for people with little hair – my issue is getting all of my hair wet and then rinsed. It’s also an ordeal when I don’t want to get my hair wet at all. There is a hand-held wand thingy, but it’s mounted at chest height, so not much help. Anyway…this isn’t a huge problem…and I coped.

Breakfast, like the hotel, was basic, but did the trick…scrambled eggs, bacon, pastries, meat, cheese, cappuccino machine. The most interesting was the café yogurt. There was a surprising lack of fruit. I suppose I could have grabbed a whole piece from the fruit bowl but wasn’t about to start carving up fruit.

church of the holy crucifix

The best thing about breakfast was the lack of crowd. Typically, hotel breakfasts are bustling situations with only 1 or 2 open tables, this morning we were one of a handful of other tables – molto bene! Not sure if this is typical for Fiumicino, the

lunch

small size of the hotel, or because we’re a bit off-season, but the lack of breakfast and front desk frenzy is welcome. We even had our room cleaned while we were at breakfast.

The rest of the morning was spent in the room (it was a bit cool to sit outside, our balcony being in the shade) listening to Italian music on the TV, blogging and watching the new port being built just outside our hotel.

Around noon, we set off for a wander, our goal being calamari and a glass of wine…mission accomplished-ish, we had to have a bottle, just had to. Last night, every place we

a rare sighting of street art

passed had a handful of fried fish variations on the menu for about €15. Some were take-away hold a cone of calamari in your hand places and some were sit-down white tablecloth places. We opted for something in the middle, or so we thought.

We went into a place right on the water, next to where we were last night, and as it turned out because we weren’t having a meal, we were taken through that place and into the place from last night…same waiter even!

The calamari was typical, lightly breaded rings – tasty, washed down with a bottle of Vermentino.

dinner

We wandered around in the almost perfect weather – (warm, sunny, but not hot) more of the town, stopping at a couple of churches, both small - one very simple, the other more decorated. Somehow we travelled along the hair salon/barber row before we were back along the sea.

After lunch, I went to nap town.

rooftop night cap

Dinner was more wine, focaccia, and squid…a whole squid! It came with mango and roasted onion sauce…tasty!

On the way back to the hotel, we tried buying a €2 beer from a street side vending machine – no luck, it didn’t like my foreign ID, I didn’t really need the beer, but wanted to try it for the fun of it.

A night cap on the rooftop hotel bar and that was the day!

Thanks anonymous, it was a lovely setting!

Oct 15 – Fiumicino, Italy

Weather – 24º, sunny

we are here

Steps – 14,878

I’ve never met an overnight flight that I liked - yesterday’s flight was no different. Fortunately, on the flight we were pods, so it was the best that it could have been. Neither of us got much sleep, but were at least able to stretch out, and weren’t battling a stranger for arm rest space.

I watched Michael – exactly as I had heard it would be and Power Ballad – passed the time but would not really recommend.

We have been hearing horror stories about European immigration. Today’s experience was fine. Probably took 10 minutes, most of that time was walking back and forth through the stanchions. By the time we got to the baggage

Hotel Tiber

carrousel, we still had to wait – not long, maybe 15 minutes.

A car was waiting to take us the 11-minute drive from the airport to the town of Fiumicino. Because of our loyalty status on Regent, we have rides on either side of our cruise provided. The cruise we are taking is actually 2 cruises, so we are getting double the number of rides provided by Regent. Alessio, our driver did not mess around getting us to his car. We zigged and zagged through the airport and parking garage at break-neck speed!

11 minutes later we were at the Hotel Tiber. This basic hotel in Fiumicino is

sunset apertivo

where we’ll be for the next 3 days. The room may be basic, but it is large with 2 balconies (only 1 has chairs) and adequate AC. I’ve never been in a hotel when the pullout couch is made into a bed without us asking - interesting. Before I saw the actual bed, I thought for a minute that that WAS the bed. We considered assembling it back into a couch, but the space to lay our stuff is nice and we don’t need the floor space – and…one extra pillow!

We unpacked a bit, showered off the grim of a travel day, and took a nap.

heaven

Once refreshed, we found the hotel’s roof-top bar for our welcome spritzes before wandering the town.

the prices!!!

Our hotel is directly on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western Mediterranean. Despite the sound of this being charming, it is very industrial. Nonetheless, we can see the sea and it isn’t Fiumicino Pride – it doesn’t seem like we’ll be kept up by any thumping bass, I won’t say anything definitive until tomorrow, but things are looking good.

We wandered along the sea path for about half an hour until we found a beach bar we liked the look of. Most bars/restaurants have ‘aperitivo hour’ – a drink and chips or other crunchy snack for a set price…ours was €8, not terrible and the view of the sunset and beach setting was lovely.

We were a bit too beat to find another place for dinner, so we opted for a trip to the local piggly-wiggly. A litre of wine for €1.39! and a pack of proportioned Parmigiano

inflight entertainment

Reggiano! I may not eat anything else while I’m here – prepackaged Parmigiano Reggiano…mama mia!

inflight entertainment

Oct 14 – Calgary to Rome/Fiumicino, Italy

first leg

Weather – 19º Calgary, should be 24º when we arrive

Steps – few

One of the many, many benefits of retirement are vacations in the off season – if there really is an off season anymore – it is not off season in the airport business lounge today – it is packed. In fact, they started turning people away shortly after we arrived. It seems to me that business lounges the world over are over subscribed – frequent flyers, people with certain credit cards, people on business tickets etc. have access (for the most part) and this equals many people.

second leg

We didn’t have to look long for a seat - not a great seat, but a seat. Wi-Fi, a glass of wine and a bit to eat, and my blog and I was happy.

All we had to do now was wait to board our over-night, 10-hour flight to Rome. This is the start of a 24-day journey. We will begin in Fiumicino (not actually Rome) for a
couple of days of ‘coming to’ AKA combating jetlag then flying to Malta for a few more days before boarding…you guessed it…a cruise!

June 13/14 – Sitges, to Barcelona to Calgary

Weather – hot in Spain, less hot in Calgary

Steps – 6,181

Once again, here we are at the end of a trip and I’m ready to come home. I’m always ready. Pedro, the busker, actually asked us that yesterday. It the trip was to be 2 weeks longer; I wouldn’t be ready…I’m ready when it’s time.

Overall, the trip was great – we saw cool things, ate cool things, drank cool things, and did cool things. I have no standout favourite. For me, favourites are the unexpected – seeing animals in Africa when it is by chance that I see them…that’s thrilling. Trips like this one are great but are pretty predictable – I expected to see a museum, and I did see the museum.

Thanks for coming along with us, we love to know you are with us, if even from afar.

We are planning to go somewhere in the fall, but for now an ANTARTIC cruise is on the books!

June 13 – Sitges, Spain

Weather – 30º, it was hot

another sculpture

Steps – 10,845

Humidity – 50%

I’m surprised when I woke up today and it was 6 this morning! I may have woken up and turned over sometime before the Pride festivities ended last night, but they didn’t keep me up, nor Chris. I’m pleasantly surprised we are sleeping fine – have even napped, that’s what a little booze and heat will do.

Today, like the past 2 days, was filled with little – relaxing and wandering… soaking up Sitges. This was more or less our plan for this time here, so mission accomplished. After the go-go-go days of the cruise, it’s nice to chill.

packed beaches

One thing different about today, was the heat and lack of breeze. Yesterday, there was a light sea breeze, but today there was nothing…after our post breakfast wander to the furthest end of the Sitges strip, we were in desperate need of refreshment – we found a beach club at the far end of the strip for a beer (5€, pricy based on what we've been paying) and some beach watching.

By the time we got back to the hotel, I needed a shower and change of clothes!

watching Pedro

When we were sufficiently cooled, it was midafternoon, so we headed back out to find lunch. Yesterday we saw a place with all of our favourites on the menu…pan con tomate, calamari, padrón peppers. We found a table in the shade (of

lunch

course) and ordered all of this with a carafe of sangria – all was very good. We read in some online reviews that the food here wasn’t great, but it was – the service was slooooo (even by Spanish standards) but we had no where to go. We were
even visited by the busker, Pedro, from yesterday – earned himself another 3€, via tap!

We headed up to the old town for the walk back. It was a lot livelier than when we first walked through on our first night here when it was about 10PM. Today, late afternoon, all the shops and restaurants were humming.

sights of Sitges

We had plans to have a last Spanish meal at a pizza place just down from the hotel, but as the evening went on, we agreed

Lady Diamond

that we just weren’t feeling it. We had a bit of wine and snacks left, so we finished those, I watched the festivities across the road from the balcony, and Chris read inside (and listened to the festivities). It was a lovely night to sit on our balcony. Until today, the evenings have been cool, in fact, the 2 days ago, I put on my sweater.

There were many interesting sights to distract me from my reading!

drag show

As it turned out, we both were woken up by the Gaga show around 1:30 and were up for about 45 minutes. It's funny how some of the loud we sleep through and some not so much. The festivities were scheduled to run until 4...thankfully we can't confirm that.

I’d definitely return to Sitges, though not during a festival. I’d probably return to the Sercotel also. The location cannot be beat. There were some quirks and annoyances, but the AC was great – that is my #1 requirement.

Lori - food and day as a whole...were perfecto!

June 12 – Sitges, Spain

old town and the beach

Weather – 26º, sunny, breezy…lovely

old town

Steps – 7,975

Humidity – 75%

Being in Sitges is like a combination vacation of a Mexico resort and big European city vacation. It’s mostly relaxing in a warm place, but with some city aspects.

Because of that, there is little to report from today.

The day started (and ended) very much like yesterday…breakfast, some reading on the balcony, a walk, a stop for a refreshment on the water, lunch, a stop for

Vivero Beach Club

water, back to the room, watching rehearsal, napping, watching soccer, watching the real show, bed.

Today we started our wander in the opposite direction from yesterday’s walk. This direction is through the old town.

sculpture and church

Things of note were the beaches we wandered past. We assume they are all public, with some chairs and umbrellas for rent (50€ for 2 and an umbrella.) Most people DIY their beach time, and don’t seem to spend the whole day, but more like a couple of hours. We walked for a bit in the water – it is cool and refreshing. The beaches are deep and the water is shallow for a long way with soft, light brown sand. Some are topless, but not very much. We found a nude beach –nude sunbathing is legal but seems to be only in specific spots. Topless is wherever, but nude was only at one beach.

We found lunch an outdoor place that was actually non-smoking. We didn’t

lunch

choose that place for that reason but realized when we were already seated – I guess places can choose to go non-smoking if they want. We had pan con tomate (not as easy as I thought to find) and a burrata salad – both were delicious. A busker stopped by for a few songs and came around for tips after…he took cash of course but also had something to tap with – the first time we’ve done that.

all this for 7 Euros

On the way back, after lunch we weren’t looking for another drink, but found a spot with a beer and chips for 2.5€, or vermouth and olives for 3.5€! How could we pass that up!?! So, 2 drinks and a snack for less than 10CAD!

Sitges is sprinkled with statues. We didn’t have to search at all for them. Each has a QR code letting you look up info on them.

watching the game

We went back to Sitges Sports Bar to watch the Canada soccer game. It wasn’t nearly as busy as it was for the Mexico game last night. There were a few Canada supporters including a group of ‘kids’ who seemed like they should still be finishing gr 11!

The Pride show was still going strong when I closed

El Greco - spent time in Sitges

my eyes at about 1230, but I went right to sleep.

Stacey – it really is…we aren’t doing much, but the day somehow passes

beautiful place

June 11 – Sitges, Spain

Caatalan flag

Weather – 24º, sunny, breezy, lovely

Steps – 9,776

Humidity – 54%

view from our room

Despite our hotel being at ground zero for the Sitges Pride festival, we got a surprising amount of sleep last night. I planned to stay up until midnight when the festivities were supposed to end, but I passed out just before that and good thing as I woke up just before 1 and it was still going, Chris says it ended around 1.

For some reason I didn’t sleep much the night before, so I was beat, this helped - I must have been tired because when in the morning I discovered the soap dispenser in the bathroom fell off of the wall and I didn’t hear a thing. I’ve been

our room/balcony

happy with my sleep situation since we’ve been away. I’m usually a fine sleeper at home, but here I’ve regularly been sleeping by 11/1130 and up at 8. I wouldn’t mind this continuing at home.

Anyway…we showered and headed to the included breakfast – I have a submission for the complaints dept re the shower…the volume control and temperature are on the same knob!?! If you want pressure, you have to be prepared for a scalding, don’t want a scalding…you’ll get a drip.

Beckham was more$$

Breakfast was fine - it did the trick. I’m always looking for something local and
new at hotel breakfasts. In addition to any kind of espresso coffee there was the usual, eggs, yogurt, fruit, they had tortilla, a couple of Spanish cheeses, and fuet – a dry, pork sausage, name means ‘whip’ in Catalan because of its long thin shape, this was new to me. I had hoped for Spanish tomato bread…none to be found, but the bread they did have was excellent. Although everybody thinks French bread is the king, in my opinion Spanish is better – I think it’s French marketing.

rehersal..."As Long As You Love Me"

There was also Cava, which I suppose did make it special! I remember the olden days of Chris and I on our first trips to Europe having a glass of something bubbling for breakfast from hotel buffets, just a bucket of help yourself…not so common anymore.

Oh, and fresh squeezed OJ, from a machine filled with oranges waiting for a
‘push’ to be juiced – this was nice.

During breakfast we discussed what we were going to do about being in the heart of loud-ville. Would we try to move rooms in the hotel (doesn’t look like much availability), move to another Sercotel in Barcelona (more $ to move and another travel day), or tough it out and make the best of it - we are staying. If I didn’t want to get any sleep, it’d be fun.

drag show

Tonight’s party theme is Boy Band, last night was Roxette, tomorrow is Amy Winehouse/Rhianna/Shakira, Saturday is Ricky Martin/Gaga/Cher – no shockers. Watching rehearsal was fun, really this is the perfect spot for me to
participate in a music festival…I have no interest in rubbing shoulders with strangers as we jockey for position – I don’t even have to use a porta-potty!

It’s only at night that you’d even know that our hotel was in the heart of party-town. During the day, old couples strolled along, groups of high school kids walked by on their way to end of school year beach days, and people walked their many, many dogs.

Zumba

After breakfast we walked along the waterfront and found a beach-club that we just had to stop at for a beer (5€). It was only about noon, so things were still quiet, but it was a good spot to people watch. The whole Sitges beach area is pretty great and we’re not even beach people.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped for more provisions – wine (1 liter for 1.25€! that was perfectly drinkable), David Beckham chips and more water. Apparently, tap water in Spain is perfectly safe to drink, but it is so dirt cheap to buy, that we bought a giant bottle yesterday and another today - 2 liters for about 75cents.

Our room has a mini-fridge, or should I say mini-cooler. The things put there by the hotel are barely cold, but I guess this is the best we can do and there definitely isn’t ice!

Sports Bar Sitges

We spent the rest of the afternoon, lazing in the room and on the balcony – shaded by about 3.

Around 7 the first drag show started, followed by a short Zumba class, then more drag. Some was in French, English, and Spanish.

Boy Band Revival

Today is the first day of World Cup and of course Chris wants to see some
games – fine with me. Sports Bar Sitges (unique name) is on the same block as our hotel where we joined what seemed like mostly Mexican supporters (and half kids) for the Mexico/South Africa game. A couple of beers (4.90 Euros) and chicken fingers…not exactly what you think of when you think of Spanish food, but it was perfect.

By the time we got back to the hotel Boy Band Revival had taken the stage – they weren’t great. We listened intentionally for a bit on our balcony while watching the fireworks, then listened unintentionally in our room – it shut down promptly at midnight. Lete’s see how things so tonight when the party is supposed to well into the wee hours.

June 10 – Rouen, France to Sitges, Spain

back in Spain

Weather – 22º when we arrived in Spain

Steps – 12,527

Humidity – 65%

Rouen is about 150km from Charles de Gaulle – where we boarded a 2-hr flight to Barcelona today – that is far! I’m surprised that Rouen doesn’t have an airport, but what do I know. Martin, our very silent driver, picked us up at 8:30 and we were at the airport by 10:30.

We originally planned on taking a car even though we could have taken a train, good thing, because today was a planned France-wide train strike. I heard more than a few people on the ship discussing their alternate plans.

ignore the train routes

I was a bit worried when Martin took us on what seemed like every back road from Rouen to Paris – I would have thought a highway would have been the play, but not Martin. I kept looking at his GPS and our time of arrival was on schedule, so I figured he knew what he was doing. We eventually hit the highway and were there when we expected, so…

Once at the airport, we were too early to check in (we figured this, but I’d rather sit and wait at the airport than be pressed for time enroute) so we split yet another French chien-chaud. This time, the French-ness of it was legit – and actually more of a sausage in a baguette, with cheese and grainy mustard, tasty.

breakfast

Check-in was a breeze. As we approached security the line seemed non-existent, so we figured we’d be through in a matter of minutes…nope. Many people (Chris included) had their things flagged for wanding – with that small cloth-like thingy for what…who knows.

Then there was a gaggle of 20ish young women who for some reason had their things extra-scrutinized. They then decided it was a good idea to FILM the process. Big shocker…security did…not…like…that. There was yelling, demands of deleting videos etc, etc. It was quite the show. I, for once, breezed through, but Chris was in the thick of it. In the end, I’m not sure what the problem with them was.

We had a short wait before boarding a bus to another Vueling plane – pretty much the same as the one we took from Barcelona to Lisbon. This time we were in row#1. We upgraded thinking we’d get more space – we did, but I was in the dreaded middle. Sideways space wasn’t much better, but we had plenty of leg room.

We are spending the next 4 days in Sitges, Spain, which is a 20 drive from the Barcelona airport.

After unpacking a bit we headed out for snacks, then back to the room to recharge. We also bought Kleenex – none in the hotel. This isn’t at all surprising. We’ve been in plenty of hotels outside of North America without Kleenex. I suppose I can blow my nose with TP for the next 4 days…but for €2, I’m going to live my best life!Chips and a beer don’t exactly make dinner, but by the time we were ready to head out again, we weren’t hungry. We walked a bit and headed back.

There are also no face cloths…again…no surprise. Chris couldn’t care less, but I like to take shower #2 of the day and not get my hair wet but wash my face…is that too much to ask!?! I’ve been known to ‘borrow’ a face cloth from Regent for post-cruise hotel stays…I returned it of course!

Our room at the Sercotel Hotel is in a great location – if you want to watch the Pride festival. More specifically, if you want to hear the Pride festival. As soon as we got to our room, I was worried – it was going to get loud. It was loud at 5:30 when we arrived and they were only doing sound check. Sitting on a terrace with that view would have been great, but a hotel room…yikes. In the end it was loud, but I passed out around 11:45.

Chris found this hotel and picked this room specifically because it overlooks the sea – for that it is wonderful. During non-festival times it would be glorious…we’ll see what the next days bring.

Diana – I thought of that each time I looked at the map of where we were. Makes me wonder how different things were in those days. That Gulf Stream is incredible – palm trees in Scotland too!