| Author | Post |
|---|
grinningramps
Founders
back to top
|
Posted: Sun Jun 24th, 2007 11:56 pm | 26th Post |
|
| Dayum, Sheila, these are great pics....I can see some of these being on postcards!
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Jun 25th, 2007 12:21 am | 27th Post |
|
| ya, but not this one!! hee hee Cadiz Attachment: resize21.JPG (Downloaded 123 times)
|
hstrybuf
Founders
| Joined: | Sat Jun 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | Kansas |
| Posts: | 21180 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Jun 25th, 2007 01:08 am | 28th Post |
|
seawitches wrote: ya, but not this one!! hee hee Cadiz
What the . . . ??? Is that you? And what IS that thing?
____________________
Deb
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Jun 25th, 2007 01:57 am | 29th Post |
|
| one very wierd piece of art.........looking very much like some phallic symbol with a kicker.......and yes, that's the fat old lady.
|
Catnip
Charter Member
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Jun 25th, 2007 04:45 am | 30th Post |
|
I thought it was HOT there? Why are you in a long-sleeve shirt, dearie? 
____________________
33 previous cruises..
Next up: Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3-09/ QM 2 11-09/ Queen Victoria 1/10
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
When only cops have guns, it's called a "police state"
|
nhrich
Charter Member
| Joined: | Thu Jun 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Windham, NH |
| Posts: | 4959 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Jun 25th, 2007 12:05 pm | 31st Post |
|
| Great review & pics, Sheila. Welcome home!
____________________
Rich, ACC
Carefree Vacations
http://www.carefree-vacations.net
|
Brangwen
Mosquito
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Jun 25th, 2007 01:22 pm | 32nd Post |
|
Great pix Sheila... keep em coming girl!! 
____________________
~I'm the root of all that's evil, yeah but you can call me cookie~
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Jun 25th, 2007 10:13 pm | 33rd Post |
|
I'm so damn politically correct that I grabbed that blouse to wear over a sleeveless shirt to get into churches................. duh, and no one else did. So me.... a total
|
Catnip
Charter Member
back to top
|
Posted: Mon Jun 25th, 2007 11:01 pm | 34th Post |
|
When we were in Rome last fall, they were giving out plastic poncho's to girls with sleeveless tops and/or shorts in the Vatican. Maybe they've relaxed things since then....
____________________
33 previous cruises..
Next up: Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3-09/ QM 2 11-09/ Queen Victoria 1/10
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
When only cops have guns, it's called a "police state"
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 03:13 am | 35th Post |
|
final chapter
Rotterdam – One loooooooong drive up a canal. Holy crow, this canal went on for ever. At least an hour to get to port of Rotterdam . Very clean and orderly. Bridge nothing to rave about. We drove to Amsterdam from here. The drive was about one hour, it went quickly and the country side was pretty to look at.
I liked Amsterdam, but it did have it’s seedy areas, which we found rather quickly. Red light district was not what I was expecting….. my DH said that you couldn’t drink those working gals pretty, all of them were dressed, and didn’t look like they were very interested in business. I actually found the area filled with more gay men than anyone else….. couldn’t figure that one out. The smoke shops were everywhere, not just in one area, and quite frankly they were smoking dope everywhere anyways, walking down the streets, in all the bars, and cafes. You actually passively smoked it everywhere. The buildings were neat, and canals very picturesque. I enjoyed Amsterdam, and would like to return for a longer visit some day, but I won’t be in a hurry to get back there. The little I saw of Holland, I liked.
And the best for the last………………….
Zeebrugges is the port and Brugges is the town. This place is stunning…… It is a city that time has conveniently forgotten, and then splashed in a few hip stores to keep you happy. It is filled with lace and chocolate, cafes, and good food. Cobbled streets, old buildings, swans, and canals. I would love to return to see the inside of the monastry when the yellow tulips all bloom. This is a port no one should miss. Stand in the center of the square and just inhale it all in, wander the little side streets and alleys and look up at the tops of the buildings…………. I loved this place.
Southampton – Quick exit off ship. Approx15 min, neat and orderly and found in 5 min. On the bus and pulling out of port in approx 25 min total. Fastest time ever for disembarkation. Kudos Princess.
Drive to Southampton took approx 1.5-2 hours, pleasant old gent (with a dash of obvious racism) gave us a running commentary, at times he was pretty funny. Heathrow Madness then began.
I guess as the days wear on, and this whirlwind cruise will sink in. Right now, we're still in culture shock. On recap, it was too much, too fast, too long. We are about 10 years too old. We are very tired, and my feet and legs took a beating, more than I thought. I am emotionally exhausted............ one very strange vacation eh?
I will never forget seeing the castle ontop of that hill in France, or my fresh orange roses from St Paul de Vence, and the cat curled in the ancient window filled with flowers in the artists home. Then there's the view of Florence, red roofs everywhere that the eye can see. And my non RC sister lighting candles in every church she stepped into, she literally prayed her way across Europe (wonder if she prayed for the cheese delivery). Then there was the time we had to buy expectorant for my sick DH and didn't want the ship infirmary to know so we haggled in latin with a pharmacist in Lisbon (the stuff worked). Seeing the Collesium for the first time, and trying to pick out a piece of stone for keepsake, and walking the hot straight lined streets of Pompeii listening for the water trickling thru the long gone aquaducts.
The rivlets of sweat trickling down by back as I drove myself up Mt Vesuvious only to give in three quarters of the way there. I sat on the side of that damn mountain so ticked at myself, and shed a few tears, then nearly killed myself slipping and sliding back down frightened because a small avalanche of rocks had started behind me.
And the lemons........ ahhhhh the lemons. The size of cantaloupes.
The pine trees shaved half way up, the lean tall cypress, the bridges and canals, and bikes. The train station piled high with bikes parked for the day. The nuns in their habits wisking into the doorways, and the swans quiding their young grey gosslings down the canals.
And bells keeping time everywhere we went.
|
hstrybuf
Founders
| Joined: | Sat Jun 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | Kansas |
| Posts: | 21180 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 03:17 am | 36th Post |
|
Sheila, it all sounds like a wonderful fairy tale! Something you only get in dreams. Thanks for sharing it with us and welcome home! 
____________________
Deb
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
|
grinningramps
Founders
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 03:32 am | 37th Post |
|
Thanks, Sheila! I hope I get the chance to meet you one day....seriously!  If I do, I'll try to remember to bring you some cheese...
|
Catnip
Charter Member
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 02:30 pm | 38th Post |
|
seawitches wrote:
I liked Amsterdam,
The smoke shops were everywhere, not just in one area, and quite frankly they were smoking dope everywhere anyways, walking down the streets, in all the bars, and cafes. You actually passively smoked it everywhere. The buildings were neat, and canals very picturesque.
Zeebrugges is the port and Brugges is the town. This place is stunning…… It is a city that time has conveniently forgotten, and then splashed in a few hip stores to keep you happy. It is filled with lace and chocolate, cafes, and good food. Cobbled streets, old buildings, swans, and canals.
I will never forget seeing the castle ontop of that hill in France, or my fresh orange roses from St Paul de Vence, and the cat curled in the ancient window filled with flowers in the artists home. Then there's the view of Florence, red roofs everywhere that the eye can see. And my non RC sister lighting candles in every church she stepped into, she literally prayed her way across Europe (wonder if she prayed for the cheese delivery).
The rivlets of sweat trickling down by back as I drove myself up Mt Vesuvious only to give in three quarters of the way there. I sat on the side of that damn mountain so ticked at myself, and shed a few tears, then nearly killed myself slipping and sliding back down frightened because a small avalanche of rocks had started behind me.
And the lemons........ ahhhhh the lemons. The size of cantaloupes.
The pine trees shaved half way up, the lean tall cypress, the bridges and canals, and bikes. The train station piled high with bikes parked for the day. The nuns in their habits wisking into the doorways, and the swans quiding their young grey gosslings down the canals.
And bells keeping time everywhere we went.
WELL DONE, SHEILA!!!!!!!!!! A most excellent review! 
Parts sound crazy and exhausting, others sound magical! I would like to visit Amsterdam and now after reading your review, Brugges is a place I want to go, too!
____________________
33 previous cruises..
Next up: Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3-09/ QM 2 11-09/ Queen Victoria 1/10
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
When only cops have guns, it's called a "police state"
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 11:57 pm | 39th Post |
|
| Rotterdam Bridge off ship Port side Attachment: resizeR.JPG (Downloaded 61 times)
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Tue Jun 26th, 2007 11:58 pm | 40th Post |
|
| Amsterdam Quiet Street Attachment: resizeA.JPG (Downloaded 61 times)
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 12:02 am | 41st Post |
|
| Brugges.... One Money Shot after another. What a wonderful place to spend a few days before Christmas shopping eating etc. Attachment: resizeb.JPG (Downloaded 60 times)
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 12:03 am | 42nd Post |
|
| We walked out of the park and nature area and trails and stepped into this! Attachment: resizebr.JPG (Downloaded 59 times)
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 12:06 am | 43rd Post |
|
| and finally............... Attachment: resizes.JPG (Downloaded 58 times)
|
hstrybuf
Founders
| Joined: | Sat Jun 17th, 2006 |
| Location: | Kansas |
| Posts: | 21180 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 12:27 am | 44th Post |
|
| Great pictures!
____________________
Deb
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
|
xpcdoojk
Charter Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 19th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3342 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 12:30 am | 45th Post |
|
seawitches wrote: one very wierd piece of art.........looking very much like some phallic symbol with a kicker.......and yes, that's the fat old lady.
I shouldn't touch this one, but you know how I am.
You don't look fat or old.
____________________
jc<----- Proud member of the O crew
Let's get it right this time!
|
xpcdoojk
Charter Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 19th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3342 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 12:34 am | 46th Post |
|
Brugges is a city stuck in time, and is the main reason we are going to go to France next summer. My wife went after we got engaged 27 years ago without me, and she has wanted us to go ever since.
____________________
jc<----- Proud member of the O crew
Let's get it right this time!
|
Catnip
Charter Member
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 12:34 am | 47th Post |
|
xpcdoojk wrote: and yes, that's the fat old lady.
You don't look fat or old.
That's what I said!!!!!
____________________
33 previous cruises..
Next up: Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3-09/ QM 2 11-09/ Queen Victoria 1/10
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
When only cops have guns, it's called a "police state"
|
seawitches
Charter Member
| Joined: | Sun Jun 18th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5101 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 02:11 am | 48th Post |
|
| Great spot for a second honeymoon. It's so romantic. You must go to the courtyard in the monastery and envision the whole courtyard filled with fresh blooming yellow tulips. Even the air in this town is quiet and fresh.
|
goodml
Charter Member
| Joined: | Mon Jun 19th, 2006 |
| Location: | Canada |
| Posts: | 2186 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Posted: Wed Jun 27th, 2007 03:02 am | 49th Post |
|
| Awesome review Sheila and I love your pics. It's all definitely on my "to do" list.
____________________
ML
|
pcur
Charter Member
back to top
|
Posted: Thu Jun 28th, 2007 04:15 am | 50th Post |
|
| Sigh....Sheila, it was like going on my trip all over again. I totally agree about Brugges, and my avatar is one of our pictures from there. I had forgotten how gorgeous St. Paul de Vence is. I am so glad you had a good trip, after all "our" planning!!!
|
Current time is 12:00 am | Page:   1 2 3   |
|
