Dreams do come true **Updated 7/24** THREAD 2 *COMPLETE* - Page 15 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
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There are other changes as well.
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Moving on with the current of the years.
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It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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For the rest of our time there, we wandered around a few shops and got some postcards and some presents for friends and then it was time to get back to the pre-arranged meeting point, except not everyone showed up at the agreed time. When we stopped in Florence at the square one woman had asked Marco to get her DH to come back by telling her on the headset that he was late. His name was Tim. Can you guess who the one person was who wasn’t there when everyone else was? That’s right, Tim! After a few minutes of waiting, his wife disappeared after him and then we were waiting for both of them. Eventually they made it back, but by then, we were running about 20 minutes late.
The bus ride back to La Spezia took about 40 to 50 minutes and was fine, again not much new to see. La Spezia is a lovely town though and probably the most picturesque of the ports we’ve visited so far. Apparently Tom McAlpine said that La Spezia is a beautiful place, when asked they we were docking her and not in Liverno, which is nearer to Florence and the more usual stop for cruise ships. Yes I can see his point, but it would nicer to be closer to Florence as well.
The marble from Carrera The rest of the photos are from La Spezia: How weird to see orange trees in the centre of La Spezia!
We got back to the dock about 6.15, which was the time they promised to get us back by after the farce in Pisa. We boarded the tender and grabbed some photos and who do we see walking on to the boat, but Tim and he’s clutching a six feet high Leaning Tower of Pisa. So I guess that’s what we waited 20 minutes for then? I hope it was worth it and I hope he’d thought about how on earth he’s going to get that back home.
Megumi from Treasure Ketch
… and the two of us with the sign we were following all day!
Great update, Cheryl! You're right about that orange tree looking odd in the centre. And, what on Earth would one do with a 6 foot tall Leaning Tower of Pisa?!? More please
What, no photo op of the infamous Tim and his six foot tower?
danielle
I was thinking the same thing! 5000 photos and not a single ONE of the six-foot-tall Tower of Pisa?! For SHAME, Chez!!!
So, now I am REALLY wondering how on Earth he got it home. I mean, how awkward would that be to tote through the airport? And how's it supposed to fit in the overhead bin?!
OK, OK, I should've got a photo of Tim and his darned six foot high Leaning Tower of Pisa. My excuse? I think I was too busy being mad at him for having delayed us that I couldn't even think straight to get a photo of him. You're right though - I now wish I'd managed to sneak one!
We got back on to the Disney Magic at about 6.55 and by then, we felt it was way too late to go anywhere near the show. It was the cruise talent show featuring Joey Fantone (thanks everyone who explained who he was – at least I now know that! ) and it was a shame, but I couldn’t see the point of going in 25 minutes late. Instead we went back to the room for a bit and then headed down to Shutters to pick up some more photos, this time from semi formal night and then we went in search of more characters. Finally I found my beloved blue alien, he’s my favourite on board with no donkey around.
Then we headed out on deck. La Spezia is a beautiful port and we wanted to see one more time before we left it.
See how blue the water is?
Then it was time for dinner. We were back in Lumiere’s and this was the best meal we’ve had so far in there. Finally it has lived up to its potential. For appetiser, I had the Spanish melon cup soaked in Moscatel sweet wine and fresh mint, while Mark had the melon cup and the cold shrimps and artichokes “agrodoice” – an Italian sweet and sour on Belgian enclives with confit lemon, pine nuts and raisins. Obviously the portions really aren’t big enough this cruise! Then I had the radicchio, chicory and cauliflower salad Caesar style and Mark had the spicy tomato soup “Romesco” with almonds, garlic and red wine vinegar.
I forgot to rotate this photo!
For main course, I went with the turbot, which was a special that night and not on the menu, so I can’t tell you what it came with, while Mark had the lamb sirloin stuffed with preserved lemons and herbs.
The dessert menu was better than the night before, but mainly because it had a chocolate dish on it, the Chocolate Delight from Provence (flourless chocolate lake layered with lemon infused crème brulee over dark chocolate mousse, served with blackcurrant coulis) which I went for. Mark had the caramelised blood orange mousse, which was a no sugar added dessert. I loved my dessert, but Mark wasn’t over keen on his.
Lumiere’s – Flavours of the Mediterranean:
Appetiser 7½ 7
Soup 8 8
Main course 9½ 9
Dessert 9 6
Service 9½ 8½
Atmosphere 10 10
Average score: 8.50
A word about the service – it feels like we’re finally gelling with Vlado and Sara. He escorted me to our table tonight and we talked quite a bit. He’s convinced I’m a professional photographer and that I must work for the BBC. I confused things when I told him that I had worked for the BBC, but in radio and not photography.
After they finally threw us out, OK so they didn’t actually throw us out, but it came close. You know when they put the lights back up to full that they’re making a not so subtle point. Anyway, we weren’t ready to finish the night, so along with Rob, Keith, Bruce, Marta, we found a couple of chairs overlooking the lobby and chatted for half an hour or so, before heading off to bed.
The weather today was cloudy with a real mix, some sunshine, some cloud and rainstorms with lightning and temperatures in the low 70’s. Today we walked 3.52 miles The best thing today was Florence. The worst thing today was being rushed past the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. The funniest thing today was Tim and his Leaning Tower of Pisa statue, although it wasn’t funny at the time! Today we tried the Florence and Pisa tour. And the result was it was a good tour and I’m glad I’ve seen Pisa, but I wouldn’t go back there, although I would definitely go back to Florence. The most magical moment today was seeing the view over Florence outside the restaurant.
Sounds and looks like a wonderful dinner! I'm still puzzled about that 6 foot tall Leaning Tower of Pisa - - that's one of the oddest things I've ever heard! He's lucky that he didn't end up overboard!
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Cheryl,
We just got back from our Disney Med. cruise and I am getting caught up on your reports. You did some different tours then we did and I am enjoying your TR and photos. We skipped the Pisa trip because I had been there before and did a whole day in Florence (Florence and Michelangelo tour). Unfortunately, we had trouble with our "speaker system" and our guide was not very good. She seemed to have a historical academic background that wasn't right for this group. Even after receiving replacment equiptment, I still could not hear her in the ear phone very well and ended up taking it out most of the time. She rushed us through everything and did not get along with our guide from the bus, who also felt we were being rushed from site to site. This was the only bad tour we had on the cruise but I think it was a difficult port to plan for given the long bus rides involved.
The best part of the Florence tour for me: We sat at a table at lunch with a cast member who would only tell us she was in "entertainment". She was very petite (about 5 feet tall) and my guess was Minnie or Mickey. She wouldn't disclose her role on the ship only saying "there is only one Mickey Mouse." She did tell us how they "bid" on the contracts they want on the two ships and also told us she had just found out that she could put her name on a list to go on the tours (for free I believe) and that 1 cast member often accompanies the tour groups to "help out". However, she was very embarassed to have gotten our group lost on the ship when she was supposed to be leading us to the debarkation area. She is not very familiar with the non-employee areas of the ship and had to ask for help 2 times to get us to the proper location to get off the ship for our tour.
My goodness, how neat that was to meet that Cast Member! What a shame the tour wasn't better though. I know people who did that tour on our cruise and they had a much better experience with their tour guide.
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After a few minutes of waiting, his wife disappeared after him and then we were waiting for both of them. Eventually they made it back, but by then, we were running about 20 minutes late. 
I hope it was worth it and I hope he’d thought about how on earth he’s going to get that back home. 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
And, what on Earth would one do with a 6 foot tall Leaning Tower of Pisa?!? 
More please
And how did he manage to get that home 
) and it was a shame, but I couldn’t see the point of going in 25 minutes late. Instead we went back to the room for a bit and then headed down to Shutters to pick up some more photos, this time from semi formal night and then we went in search of more characters. Finally I found my beloved blue alien, he’s my favourite on board with no donkey around. 
the photos and your meal sounded wonderful! More please
Love the pics of you and Mark 
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