Terceira Island: Part of the Azores

Terceira as seen from Mount Brasil

I really had no idea what would actually kickstart me to go back and post on my blog. It seemed like nothing. I went back and realized it is now the beginning of June and I have not posted anything at all so far this year. But what is weird (funny) is that whenever I speak to friends about travel, I reference something I did and need to go back and check the names/dates/places on my blog, so if for nothing else, it can serve as a personal reminder of my trips. 

I had decided to do a transatlantic cruise again. Kind of a silly ideas as I typically travel solo, and this would be a lot of time on a ship and out to sea by myself. I picked the brand new ship from Holland America, the Nieuw Statendam, which I thought while planning was a good choice. How bad can brand new be? Well I found out, it really wasn't the greatest choice but I will leave that for another post.

The first port we came to after some rather glorious days at sea was the island of Terceira in the Azores. We docked at Praia di Vitoria and I went on an excursion called Terceira Island Highlights with Lunch. 

Botanical Garden, Terceira 

The island is lush and green. It tends to rain or mist every day in parts of the island, which gives it its emerald green grass color. Just beautiful. There are more bulls and cows than people on the island of Terceira.

Bulls on Terceira

They have some unusual customs that include a very odd type of bullfighting and ceremonies that they say are not religious, but surely look to be. I will write another post about that. The island is so unique, I really wish I could go back and check it out more.

Our group from shore excursion at the Adega Lusitania restaurant

But for now suffice it to say, if you have a delicate stomach, avoid the dish called Alcatra. It is meat marinated in spices for 12 hours. I ended up in bed for 2 days after with my stomach out of sorts. It is not that it was bad, just bad for me. The restaurant where we ate was really charming and very old. It was called Adega Lusitania and the sign outside says it is a typical fish and shellfish restaurant that has been there for 50 years.

Outside of the restaurant where we ate on Terceira Island

Hail to Captain Bas Van Dreumel

Captain Bas Van Dreumel photo courtesy of hollandamericablog.com

When I met Captain Bas Van Dreumel on the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam on the transatlantic sailing last year, I was impressed by his warmness, professionalism and how often we saw him around the ship. He stopped to speak to us, and offered advice to our 19 year old niece about a career on the ship. What I didn't realize at the time, actually until today, was that I had sailed with this Captain twice before on the Eurodam, when he was the Chief Officer. 

Moises and me on the Transatlantic cruise

I love how Holland America gives us the cruise log at the end of the cruise. I often use that to remember where I was and when. Having sailed on the Eurodam frm Barcelona to Dover in 2011 and again doing the Med Glamour in 2012, I got to know the Eurodam and some of the crew quite well. On the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2014, my husband and our niece sailed with us on the Transatlantic from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona. We were in such capable hands. 

Dining staff on the HAL Nieuw Amsterdam

Our room sat on the floor under the bridge, in room 7008, and we got to see the goings on up their every day. It was fascinating to watch. I loved this room. We had a balcony room and the interior room right across, 7006. Everything about the cruise was amazing, including Lavinia from the Spa. She even did a tour with us to Gibraltar. 

Lavinia from the Spa on the Nieuw Amsterdam and Jimena our niece

I love Holland America line. I am impressed by the staff, the interior design, the cleanliness, the flowers and the fact that they focus on education and history, not non-stop partying. I cannot wait to go on my next cruise in June on the Zuiderdam to the Greek Islands!

Some Great Architectural Features of the Palma Cathedral

inside the Palma de Mallorca Cathedral

I was having a very bad camera day on the day we went to Palma de Mallorca. For most of our Transatlantic cruise, I was so bummed that I had forgotten my camera. So I had to take most of the photos with my old Blackberry phone. Getting the right lighting was difficult. I think one day before we arrive in Barcelona, I found my camera tucked under my computer bag in my suitcase. Talk about a frustrating experience.

The ironic thing is though that the pictures I took turned out unique. I wouldn't call them good, but they are definitely different. I tried taking my usual architectural photos, but with the low light inside the Cathedral, it did odd things to the photos. Most turned out terrible. These are a few that came out interesting or okay.

Hoping I don't lose my camera next time I travel.

Note the way the light plays off the stain glass

Friendliest Crew on the Seas: Holland America Line

Dining staff including a manager on HAL Nieuw Amsterdam

Hats off to the crew of Holland America! I find their staff to be so friendly. They are super well-trained and very polite as well. We had such a wonderful Transatlantic crossing, and a lot of that was due to the great crew.

Our wonderful maitre'd

Our fab cabin steward

We also were so well taken care of by our team of cabin stewards. I need to dig out their names. Here is one of them here. He could make over 40 towel animals. Every night we got to enjoy a new one!

Lavinia our spa receiptionist and friend on the left

We also made friends with the spa receptionist, Lavinia. She even went with us on a private tour of Gibraltar. She greeted us each day and spent time with us. Her smile and welcoming ways always made our day. We will see her again in October here at our home town of Cozumel!

Memories of our Transatlantic Cruise

Nieuw Amsterdam Lobby

Here are some random photos from our Transatlantic Cruise on the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam. They made me happy to look at again.

my husband Moises our photographer
at Barcelona

Fun place to sit on the ship

Horta Portugal tour

Stop on our Horta tour

We only did one organized tour while on our Transatlantic from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona. It was a stop at Horta, Portugal. We were disappointed enough that we canceled the rest of our tours. I love ship shore excursions. I love the experience of getting on the bus, sitting near the front whenever possible, half tuning out the droning voice of the guide and just taking in the sights, sounds and smells. My husband hates bus tours. So we did the rest of the stops on our own. 

Horta stop

I have to admit Horta was not what I expected It is green. It is full of cows, and lots of whales come in during parts of the year. It is also windy, rainy and downright cold. We froze from the cold wind and rains when we were there end of April.

One stop was kind of cool. It was a park-like place. Not quite sure what it was. I spent most of the time on the bus, as it was just too cold to get out. But the buildings looked super old. Does anybody know where this is?

Our niece with a lady she met on our tour of Horta

Note the coat our niece was wearing. I had only a jacket and was freezing!

Transatlantic Journaling Part 2

Hubby Moises and our niece Jimena

April 10th

Started on my third book today. Still not bored. I am thinking about Sunday, when we reach Horta, Portugal, not because I need to get off the ship. More just something to look forward to. Each day I think of little things to do, whether it is a dinner or just a trip to the Crow's Nest, the place where I am now writing this. After walking two miles on the deck (I am now up to 7 miles all together) ... I sit with my shoes off and look out to sea. There are windows that wrap around the front of the ship with cream leather chairs and big corduroy chocolate sofas. Jazz playa in the background.

Some of my best times are when I am alone, reading or writing.

Crow's Nest Lounge where I read my books

April 15th

Boat is making a very strange noise under the Explorer's Bar deck 3. Tried to go to the Dutch Tea, but it was so crowded with many people waiting. I am ready to get off the boat. It is our last sea day. Don't want to leave but am looking forward to excursions and getting off the boat for the days ahead. Gibraltar, Motril, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and finally Barcelona.

I am up to 12 miles walking. 

Through a hole in the Castle in Salobreña

Transatlantic Journaling Part 1

Sunset from the evening of April 6th, 2014

April 7th

Yesterday we embarked on our journey. Line was about an hour to get on the ship. We left too early, so we had to wait. Moises said it was no problem at all. Immigrations when we arrived Friday night was a nightmare. Two hours to get through Immigrations. It bothered me more than Moises, so I decided to call this trip The Land of Waiting. But now that we are here, it all seems so worth it. There is a different rhythm to a transatlantic cruise. No one is in a hurry. I sit now on the balcony with the sound of waves in my ears. The air is fresh and cool, not cold. It is delightful. I am so happy to be here.

The ocean is the color of blue ink. There are almost no waves. The sky is a lighter shade than the sea, with a murky quality to it. I see no birds. No land. But instead of feeling panic, I feel complete peace. The only other sound is that of the ship's engine, a quiet hum that says all is well. I could sit here forever.

me and Jimena

It is now after noon, and the air smells so different. I am not sure if someone is wearing bug spray or perfume, or this is the way the ocean smells far away from shore. The rhythmic lapping of the water is hypnotic and the colors fade in to each other. The light hazy blue of the sky interacts with the inky blue of the sea in a jagged line that pleases me. I wonder if it might rain. I am still dressed in my jogging outfit, and there is no hurry to dress. Should I shower before dinner or earlier? I am thinking of attending a lecture on Ferdinand and Isabella. So far, I like the transatlantic cruise more than I could ever imagine. I am reading a book on my deck. So grateful I got a balcony cabin. I can pretend I got the balcony cabin for Jimena, but I am the one using it most. 

Motril and the Surrounding Area

Jimena and Moises at a local restaurant in Motril

We had a great time the day we docked in Motril. We didn't expect much and it was so much better than we hoped for. For one, Motril is a very industrial port. Other than the La Cabeza Cathedral, which I will post on another day, there was just a few restaurants to visit, but we had fun there. We started the day off with a great breakfast and espresso coffee near the Cathedral. We then took a taxi to Salobreña, which is a lovely white village in the mountains. We had an excellent day there at the Castle and wandering the narrow streets. 

Castle at Salobreña

More information on this charming village can be found here. It is an amazing area of the Costa Brava, Spain.

Lemon drink

Then we returned to lunch in Motril at a restaurant Moises had spotted earlier. I was in the mood for something to drink besides water so I had the lemon soda shown above. It was really good. I had a wonderful sandwich for lunch. My husband opted for a more elaborate meal. I need to ask him what it was, but it is a dish we also have in Mexico and he said it is much better here in Mexico, not Spain. Of course knowing him, it is probably just different, which he definitely doesn't like.

Moises' meal at Motril

Transatlantic Professional Photos Part 3 at Gibraltar

me at windy Gibraltar

The candid shot of me getting off the boat at Gibraltar came about as I went back on the ship to look for Lavinia, the spa receptionist we befriended. She was to meet us at the gangway, but there were two gangways getting off that day, one front and the other midship. So I popped back on to check to see if she was at the midship location. When I came back off, I had the photographer take my photo. 

Lavinia from the Spa with Jimena

Having Lavinia with us was super fun. She is not only a great receptionist at the Elemis Spa on the Nieuw Amsterdam, she is also a very sweet and wonderful person. She made our day extra fun!

It was a super windy but sunny day. In the shade, it felt quite cold, but the day warmed up as it went on. That was my second time in Gibraltar, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. So much to see and do, and the Barbary apes are so fun. We did have a little incident at the Trafalgar Cemetery. A group of Barbary apes made their way down from the Rock, and one of them grabbed my shopping bag. I forgot I had marshmellows and licorice in the bag, but a stern warning did the trick. He let go. Not only is it illegal to feed the Barbary apes, it is also just a really bad idea. If one gets something, the others come running and the adults are really large.

Jimena, Moises & Lavinia 

We took a lot of photos of Gibraltar, as witnessed above. I even took one of a Street Cleaner. I loved his attire with the flip flops.

Lavinia and a Street Cleaner

More information on the Barbary apes, which are actually a stub-tailed monkey, can be found here. I just read an article that they may try to reintroduce about half the population back in to the wild, as so many have become fearless of humans due to their being fed. Please don't feed the Barbary apes, as that leads to them becoming aggressive. I even saw a tour guide feeding them. What a shame.

Transatlantic Professional Photos Part 2

Moises at second formal night

We were happy with the package of photos we purchased on our Transatlantic Cruise. As we spent eight days at seas total of the 14 days aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, it gave us plenty of time to get some night shots. We purchased a package of two portraits and seven candid shots for about $200 dollars. 

Moises at first formal night

I am not sure which photo I like better, from the first or second formal night of my hubby. I think I like the second formal night better. What do you think?

me and Jimena on second formal night

I opted for a more casual look for the second formal night. I think we were the only two women not wearing black. Having these photos to look back on is great, and we got the package that included digital images ... which is why I can post them here. Que bueno!

Transatlantic Professional Photos Part 1

me, Moises and Jimena

Here we are after making our way to the Fort Lauderdale Port (Port Everglades) to embark on our transatlantic cruise on the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam. First we spent two nights at the Cambria Suites, which was as nice and comfortable as ever. My only complaint was the menu changes in the restaurant. I liked the old menu with many options of vegetables better. The new menu seems really limited, but the staff are great and we had a productive two days. Mostly we shopped for clothes and Moises got his eyes examined and he got new glasses, seen above.

me and Moises

Jimena on first formal night

Jimena and I spent some time at the hair salon before the first formal night. I had my color done and my hair washed and blown out. Jimena had her hair washed and straightened. Our hair dresser was from the Ukraine, so we discussed the problems there with him while he worked on our hair. I loved how he whipped on his "tool" belt, when he got ready to dry our hair, reminded me of a gunslinger from the Old West.

Dimitro with his tool belt in place

It was a really fun night, very festive with a great dinner in the Manhattan Dining Room. We did Anytime Dining and found it to our liking. We only waited about five minutes one night for a table. Other nights, we were whisked immediately to our four-top table. We were always a party of three.

HAL Nieuw Amsterdam on Cozumel Island

So our cruise is all set, and we are psyched. We are going on a transatlantic cruise on Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam. My husband and our niece are going too, with stops in Horta, Portugal, Gibraltar and Motril, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca, Spain ... before arriving at Barcelona! 

So to my utter surprise and delight, what sat docked in Cozumel when we went to lunch at Chi downtown today, but our ship ... the Nieuw Amsterdam. I love Holland America, and one of the main reasons is the awesome crew. Hailing mostly from Indonesia and the Philippines, the crew are just amazing ... warm and well-trained, always with a smile and a kind word.

I introduced myself to a few of the guys off the Nieuw Amsterdam shown above. Can't wait to see them again in April! Thanks for being so awesome even off-duty. You should be proud, Holland America!

Bye Bye Norway

Bergen, Norway

I have spent a better part of the last six months looking forward to my solitary cruise, just like I have done the last three years. I pick a wonderful place in Europe to get on a cruise and then go to other wonderful places. This year I picked Norway. It was all set up. The airlines tickets were booked. The cruise was paid for. Then I happened to notice a major reduction in the fare for a Transatlantic from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona. The only problem was I would get back home and have to leave again eight days later. Not only would it be exhausting, it would be way too expensive.

Seven Sisters waterfall

So I did something totally unexpected. I began the process of canceling my Norway cruise, so I can travel with my husband and our 19 year old niece on a Transatlantic cruise. I am so psyched. Canceling and moving the money for the cruise was fairly painless. There was only a small amount of money that needs credited back to us. But the airlines tickets were not easy. Being that I booked in Mexico on American, it will take about 6 weeks for me to get the taxes back.

Old Bergen

So Norway, I will miss you this time. We must meet at a later date. More to follow on our upcoming Transatlantic cruise!