The Vacation of a Lifetime continued

A spectacular 12-day Mediterranean cruise! Departed from Barcelona, Spain and made stops in Cannes/Nice/Monaco/Monte Carlo Casino in France. Then on to Italy with stops in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Next up was Rome, Italy where we toured the Colosseum and Vatican City. Then on to the Acropolis in Athens Greece. Another stop in Mykonos, Greece for great food and ouzo. Up next was Santorini, Greece (Mamma Mia!). Our last stop was Valetta, Malta with a special trip to Mdna or Città Vecchia- the Silent City, a fortified medieval city.

Malta: Valetta, Mdna or Città Vecchia

 

Malta

Valetta, Malta

Blue Grotto Malta

The Blue Grotto, Malta

Maltese Port

Ancient fishing village of Marsaxlokk, Malta

Medieval City of Mdina

Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.

Medieval Mdina

Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.

Casa Mdina

Casa Mdina. Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.

Mdina Door

Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.

Mdina Statue

Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.

Mdina Streetscape

Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.

Mdina Wall

Mdna, a medieval walled city originally settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC.

Mediteranean Volcano

A smoldering volcano in the Mediterranean.

Mediterranean sunset

A beautiful end to the trip of a lifetime!

The Vacation of a Lifetime continued

A spectacular 12-day Mediterranean cruise! Departed from Barcelona, Spain and made stops in Cannes/Nice/Monaco/Monte Carlo Casino in France. Then on to Italy with stops in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Next up was Rome, Italy where we toured the Colosseum and Vatican City. Then on to the Acropolis in Athens Greece. Another stop in Mykonos, Greece for great food and ouzo. Up next was Santorini, Greece (Mamma Mia!). Our last stop was Valetta, Malta with a special trip to Mdna or Città Vecchia- the Silent City, a fortified medieval city.

FRANCE:  Cannes, Nice (French Riviera), Monaco, and Monte Carlo 

Monaco Port

Principality of Monaco in the French Riviera

Monaco Palace

Prince’s Palace of Monaco

Monaco

Principality of Monaco in the French Riviera

Monaco Street

Principality of Monaco in the French Riviera

Monaco Pink Flower

Saint-Martin Gardens in Monaco

Monaco Gardens and view

Saint-Martin Gardens overlooking Monaco

MonteCarloCasino

Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco

FrenchRivieraSunset

Sunset on the French Riviera

The Vacation of a Lifetime

A spectacular 12-day Mediterranean cruise! Departed from Barcelona, Spain and made stops in Cannes/Nice/Monaco/Monte Carlo Casino in France. Then on to Italy with stops in Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Next up was Rome, Italy where we toured the Colosseum and Vatican City. Then on to the Acropolis in Athens Greece. Another stop in Mykonos, Greece for great food and ouzo. Up next was Santorini, Greece (Mamma Mia!). Our last stop was Valetta, Malta with a special trip to Mdna or Città Vecchia- the Silent City, a fortified medieval city.

This is Barcelona, Spain

Hotel Condes de Barcelona

The Hotel Condes de Barcelona

 

Barcelona Streetscape

Barcelona streetscape – Gaudi architecture

Gaudi Building

Gaudi Building

Gaudi Shop

Barcelona shopping

Gaudi

Architectural details

Barcelona Fountain

Placa de Catalunya

Barcelona Church

Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona

Barcelona Cathedral

Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona

Barcelona Angles

Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona. Spires!

Barcelona Angel

Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona. Angel!

Barcelona Doorway

Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona. Bubbles!

Roman Stone

A Roman stone in Barcelona somewhere

Cathedral Spires

Barri Gòtic – the Gothic district in Barcelona

Rooftop in Barcelona

Nightcap from the rooftop lounge at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona

Hotel d'Barcelona Rooftop

After the rains in the evening. From the rooftop lounge at the Hotel Condes de Barcelona

Leaving Spain

As we sailed off into the sunset leaving Barcelona. Headed for France.

A Pacific Coast Vacation

The sea! the sea! the open sea!
The blue, the fresh, the ever free!
— Bryan W. Procter excerpt from “The Sea” ca. 1837

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