4 November
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We did breakfast in the hotel, packed, put our luggage in the hotel storage room and checked out. With a couple of hours to checkin time, we decided to do a walk. We wandered off east of the hotel and got into Old Town again. We found the cathedral, begun in 1390 for the congregation formed in 1058. Huge pile of stone with ancient artworks.
Then back to La Rambla and a cafe for a glass. Then up to the Plaza to watch people and pigeons. It came time, so we returned to the hotel, claimed our luggage and got the taxi to the ship. The taxi driver was fast but smooth and got us there safely but somewhat alarmed.
The checkin process was new. Show all our documents again despite having uploaded them earlier. Then the dreaded nose jab which tickled terribly. We were then put in a waiting area until all the tests for our group showed negative. While waiting, we struck up a conversation with Silki from Frankfurt, Germany. Another short wait, then onto the ship. A short lecture on safety was given, then we were released to our cabin.
Our little home for the next three weeks (Verandah 7067) is just like our last Azamara cruise - compact but functional. It is NOT large enough for handicapped folks. Room enough to store the stuff we brought (we pack lightly). We'll be purchasing things as we go but there's room to store them.
We started a load of laundry, then went to the Sunset Bar where Silki joined us. She said some of us Cruise Critic users were gathering in the Drawing Room for a meet and mingle affair put on by the ship so we joined them - about 20. Introductions (which we will forget in a few minutes). There is a Mike from Jacksonville present.
O moved the laundry to the dryer and returned. Then to the Windows Room for dinner. This is the former buffet, now all is served to table by staff. Good food, so we can't knock it.
We ran up to the Cabaret for the Captain's toast and ran into Ed & Cathy (Asheville, NC) from our last (virus) voyage. We chatted with them for a bit, then sat and watch the performers (some from the last voyage). While engaged in this, Quest got underway for the island of Mallorca, a short distance into the Med from Barcelona. We'll wake up there in the morning.
Then back to the cabin and bed.
Below: Sunset Bar (aft on deck 9) 11/4/2021, Barcelona, Es.
A modern city with an ancient past, Palma’s rich history is yours to explore. Architecture admirers must visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, an iconic Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral that has stood for nearly 800 years. For nature lovers, don’t miss the Caves of Drach, where light and shadow dances across the rock formations, creating incomparable visuals you won’t see anywhere else.
5 November, Palma de Mallorca 0800-2000
Here, we'll do the Palma Highlights 4-hour tour.
Up, prepared, went to breakfast, quite nice. At 0845 we were in the lounge. They grouped us so we wound up in the first bus. It took us through the harbor part of town and to the cathedral.
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We were driven to the Castell Beyvell and dropped off. Then we went uphill to the old castle. It has moats inside moats to a circular palace inside. The circular thing held the animals and supplies on the ground floor while the royalty had the second floor. There are four towers used for various purposes at various times; at one time the most uncivil tower was a prison for the worst prisoners.
We hiked back down out of it to the bus.
Which took us down the hill to the cathedral. The cathedral (right) is 121m long and 144m to the ceiling made of limestone quarried locally. The palace of the king and of the queen are nearby. It has the usual period artwork. The extreme inside height allows for huge painted glass windows on the ends. It has a very large organ, but a smaller one is mostly used. A small cloister and a good-size Chapter House are attached. Again we hiked all over the place and stood for explanations, and again did steps up and down into the upper old town and then into the lower old town, and finally to the bus. And we returned to the ship.
We had a nice lunch in Windows, returned to the cabin, took aspirin and looked through shore excursions to see what we might do in the future.
After lunch we did some administrivia having to do with shore excursion selection and loyalty-program level fixes. The weather took a turn for the worse in mid-afternoon, blustery wind out of the north and totally overcast. We're happy we had good weather for our tour.
We decided against going ashore, or rather it was decided for us. Azamara has said they will not run shuttles to the city, fearing covid spread. O thinks this is hoo-hah.
We joined Nick & Robin from Dallas at dinner and found we have many common experiences - RVing & Cruising, grand-children ages among them. We continued our talk to the performance center.
The Captain perceived that the sea might be a little rough this evening, thus threatening the dancers. So Cruise Director Amanda Poulson (good Norwegian name) put on a one-person show, singing everything from show tunes to opera pieces. Outstanding singer from Madison WI & UofW-Madison. O had a chance to congratulate her and mention Wisconsin backgrounds.
Then it was time for bed.
Marvel at the stunning mix of innovative architecture and gothic beauty when you visit Valencia. This Spanish city is home to many avant-garde buildings, including the breathtaking City of Arts and Sciences cultural complex. Elsewhere, palaces and mansions constructed in the 15th century dot the cityscape, while The Silk Exchange resembles a medieval fortress housing many mysterious carvings.
6 November - Valencia 0800 - 2000
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Today we visit Valencia. The Destination Celebration (replaced Azamazing Evening) is scheduled this evening to watch the show brought aboard to demonstrate local performers. We have the 2000 performance for that.
Here, we're taking the same tour - Panoramic Tour of Valencia, a four-hour jaunt around town.
The tour, guided by Fernando (a very vocal person with decent English) was very satisfactory. Turns out the cruise ships are at the far end of the port, on the muella/breakwater. Takes several minutes just to get to the oceanfront.
A terrible flood hit here in 1968, wiping out most of the town. So they did a large river diversion project then used the old riverbed for public uses. We stopped to see them and take pictures - the iMAX theatre, the Science Museum, the Palace of Arts, the aquarium, etc. Spectacular modern architecture.
The up the riverbed, which is now a "garden" with trees first from the south of Spain, then from more northern regions of Spain the farther north you travel. This turia, as it is called, also is full of kid's playgrounds, soccer pitches, and all sorts of outside game sites. Very nice use of space.
Further down that street is Plaza de la Virgen wherein is located the Cathedral, with its associated church Mother of God. Mass was ongoing, so D went to communion. She bought her church pin and later a city pin. O hit the ATM for more Euros.
We walked back to the gate, to the bus. It took us farther upstream on the turia riverbed and went "downstream". We stopped just short of all the public builds at the Fallas Museum. Fallas is a festival (20-22 March) celebrating spring. It is also the building of wood-and-cardboard figures that get burned (some 600 of them) to start the festival. It is said no one sleeps for three days.
From there we went on past the public buildings where we started, then out to the beach and promenade (miles long to the north). There were many surfers in the rough water, which Fernando said was probably around 70f.
Then around the corner and back out the long drive to the cruise ship muella, and the ship.
Up to lunch at the Sunset Bar where we met waiter Tin, also a veteran of the 2020 covid cruise. Then back to the cabin to do these notes.
O took a 2.5 minute video of the Flamenco dance routine. You can view it here but be patient - it's a big file (192 MB). Low-memory devices will have problems displaying the video. Some video viewers will have interruptions during the first playing - once it has played the whole file, it should be loaded in device memory and can be played again without interruptions.
We still have no idea how they move that fast.
