good afternoon...
All rested and recovered. High Holy Days completed and back to work on Saturday. Pictures (all 1700) of them, currently uploading and I will publish the link shortly.
While nothing compares to downtown, Stonybrook, L.I. (yes, Jim, i'm done now) the trip was just awesome.
Arrived 9/1 8 am (after pleasant flight) to Marriott Champs Elysees. Room was waiting and was an upgrade. This hotel rocks. The Free breakfast for platinum Elite was a true buffet, not a special lounge. It sold for 40 Euros pp. A great way to start the day. Service was impeccable...
Paris was more than expected. 1str day (after nap) we rode the Big Red Bus, just to get oriented. Snagged a 2 day pass with river cruise (1 hr) for 40 euros. A real nice way to start. Interestingly, we were looking for fine french cuisine at a sidewalk cafe, but they all promote variations of "pizza". Visit to Tower for dinner 58 restaurant was off the charts nice. Greg posted photo. Versailles palace was as expected. Only 1/2 day needed. We did a Louvre tour with wine tasting. This was completely unecessary. You can get there with Metro, buy a ticket and self guide. We did take a private car, walking tour of Paris. This was really great (but pricey) but the guide knows all the little nooks and crannies. The locals were very helpful with newbies. The Metro is easy with English Instructions. Paris is very easy for the self explorers, with a planned itenerary and pre-game planning including mapping out the Metro stops you wil need.
One Helpful hint, If you visit Tower..don't go to Tower Metro station. Take #6 line to Trocadero, get your pix there and cross bridge to tower. The tower station lets you off in a seedy area where you will be innundated with sales people and "carny" games trying to take your coin!!!
On 9/5 off to Barcelona. Took the rail. 2 nights in Barcelona not enough. Really nice place. Did hop off on bus again. Dinner at Flamenco Cordobes, an awesome show on La Rambla. Hotel 1898 is awesome.
9/7 cruise time.... This cruise was awesome 12 days is just perfect 7 too short, 14 too long. Island Princess mids ize by today standards, with impeccable service. I am now a cruise snob as it is only suites for me!!! Although very pricey, the extra room is crucial!!! They treat you like gold, with many upgrades and perks including free room service (crucial on those 7 am port days with early excursions...
Won't bore all with review of every port. We did a mix of Princess tours, private tours and self exploration. The Todd and Carol self exploration of Venice was quite an experience. We missed the last Vaporetta (water bus-publix at midnite on the overnight. Our waiter called us a water taxi and he escorted us to the pick up at the Accademia Bridge. This was right out of a James Bond movie!!!
Speaking of Bond, we visited the Amalfi Coast Highway (opening chase from Quantum of Solace). We also saw the little island from World is not Enough, where Bond shoot sthe girl then jumps on the submarine to save all of Istanbul and Denise Richards.
Dropped some coin on a new dining set from Ceramic factory in Poisatano and a new rug... Of course it's pricey but just gorgeous.
Anyway, It was a great trip....but glad to be home... will postthe link to pix when they finish uploading...
Jim- Haha- I never knew that about the Stony Brook post office (not that I really cared...). But I do remember the days when the medical center was merely a metal frame and the once famous Bridge to Nowhere was a renowned university highlight. DH and I both received our undergrad degrees from SUNY at Stony Brook.
