Starting in Barcelona and then a birthday cruise with friends in Virgin Voyages. Did I mention we got upgraded to Mega Rockstars?
Thursday, June 26
Not an auspicious start to the trip. On the way to the airport and our first flight was just delayed by an hour and seventeen minutes. Connection in Madrid is now one hour and three minutes. Doable but tight. 🤞
Just delayed again! Now we will not make our connection. We aren’t even to the airport yet. We will see what the agent can do for us when we get there.
Got the second flight changed and if they will stop delaying the first flight (just delayed for the third time) we should make it to Barcelona only a little over an hour late.
Good new is we have a comfy place to wait. Aperol Spritz and Texas Brisket Chili Pie helps to make things better.
Fourth delay. Back to a one hour connection. *sigh*
Fifth delay but at least they didn’t change the arrival time in Madrid.
Friday, June 27
Landing in Madrid at 12:02 pm. Next flight starts boarding at 12:15 and departs at 12:45. Time to start praying!
Well we have been rebooked on another flight. I guess we are spending seven hours in the Madrid airport lounge. 😳🙄
I’ll give Iberia credit. They were waiting when we got off the plane with new boarding passes and meal vouchers for lunch and dinner. A quick lunch and then to the Salas VIP lounge (I do appreciate my status!) this is our third time in this lounge and the first time they offered us a nap. We were given access to two very small rooms with a small bed for an hour and a half. Once the baby in the next room quit crying 🙄 I got about a thirty minute nap. A drink and a snack and we are better equipped for the next five and a half hours waiting for the next flight.
Boarded our last flight at 9:00 pm. We have been traveling for 27 hr. Looking forward to getting to our hotel (around midnight) and sleeping in tomorrow. We have terrible seats but we have seats.
Time for bed. Only eleven hours late but we made it. Tomorrow – Barcelona!!
Saturday, June 28
We met up with some friends we met on last year’s transatlantic cruise. It will be Doug’s 60th birthday and we are here to help celebrate. This morning we started with coffee and pastries around the corner from their hotel. Then a stroll over to see Casa Batlló, a house designed by Spanish designer, Antoni Gaudi.
Next was a metro ride over to see the Museu de la Xocolata (the Chocolate Museum) where our entry ticket was a bar of chocolate.
Some of the chocolate sculptures were over twenty years old. Next we walked to the Arc de Triomf. No, not the one in Paris, but the one in Barcelona. we stopped for a sandwich and a beer on the way.
Since the heat was starting to get to us, it was time to go back to the hotel and cool down (ok, and maybe a quick nap to catch up on the jet lag. 😉😴)
After resting for the afternoon we took a stroll to our dinner reservations at Piñata Cocktail Cantina. Robert’s eyes just about popped out of his head when he saw the tequila selection!!!
Before dinner the owner and tequiliero came and gave us a custom tasting.
After the tasting we had to hurry because we had timed tickets for Casa Battlló by night. It was just as interesting on the inside as the outside.
Tomorrow we get on the boat and find out what it’s like to be a Virgin Voyages Mega Rockstar!!!
June 29
Yay! We get on the ship today. Breakfast at the coffee shop next to our hotel and now waiting for our ride to the port.
Made it onto the boat and digging our upgrade. Not much to report except checking out the boat. Tomorrow Palma de Mallorca.
Monday, June 30
I’m not going to lie, sitting on the chaise on our balcony with my chai in Palma de Mallorca is not a bad way to start the day. may have to switch to iced chai, though, it is early and already 80 degrees.
Today is Palma de Mallorca. We decided to take the bus into the city and just wander. While at the bus stop we picked up some friends. They thought we looked like we knew what we were doing. We rode the bus down to Plaza España and then wandered over to the market. Then we wandered around and finally figured out which bus to take back to the port. Pretty laid back day. Finished the evening with trivia and drinks.
Tuesday, July 1
Today was little more subdued. We were sitting in the Sip Champagne Lounge at midnight when we realized it was now Doug’s birthday. So, the celebration began. At around 3 am I realized I am now too old to party like a college kid. Somehow we made our breakfast reservation and the Bridge Tour which was scheduled for this morning. After the Bridge Tour (which was really impressive) we went back to our cabin and had a three hour (no not a tour) nap. Revived we made it to the Galley for a snack, saw a floatie out in the open sea (not sure where it came from 🤣), and then saw an amazing magic show with David Maestro. After dinner with David and Luz, another member of the Happenings Cast (Virgin’s version of a cruise director is a cast of twelve amazing performers) we had an awesome array of desserts, donned our trivia uniforms and competed in the next round. We finished the day in the hot tub with more champagne and went to bed at the more reasonable hour of midnight. Tomorrow Cannes, France.
Wednesday, July 2
Today was Cannes, France. Supposedly this is where the beautiful people are seen. I guess that’s makes us beautiful!!🤩 we had to tender to the shore which is always interesting. Robert found one of his favorite French brands, Blanc du Nil, and had to get another shirt. We visited the place where the Cannes Film Festival takes places and saw some of the handprints, got our pic taken on the stairs, and had a drink while chillin’ next to the yachts.
It is very hot here so we decided a little spa time was in order. Then we were invited to a secret party. Another late night. *sigh* We are just too old to keep this up. 🤣
Thursday, July 3
Today in Ajaccio, Corsica, France. Ajaccio is a smaller town so didn’t take long to see what we wanted to see. We got off the boat and went straight to the market. For those of you we will see next week, we may have picked up a surprise. 😉 Today it was my turn to shop and I found a dress. Chillin’ at the market, back to the boat for spa time and Scarlet Night. IFYKYK!!! Tomorrow, Pisa!!!
Friday, July 4
Today we docked in Livorno and took an excursion to Pisa. I was expecting to be underwhelmed but was happily mistaken. The tower was very cool!
We found a secret speakeasy on board but they took our phones so don’t have any pictures.
Saturday, July 5
Today we were at sea. Since tomorrow we dock in Civitavecchia (near Rome) it is a little bittersweet. However, we will make the most of this half of the trip before we leave tomorrow to head to Abruzzo. Two classes before we leave – ChocoLit and Bubbles and Bites.
Sunday, July 6
So we had to say goodbye to our lovely Scarlet Lady this morning but headed to Rome to meet up with our friends to head to Abruzzo. Follow the next post for the second half of our trip. Ciao!!
