Cruising the Med with Mickey and the Crew **Updated 11/25** COMPLETE - Page 20 - 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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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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We go on to the joy and through the tears
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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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Wow, your pictures are amazing. I am planning on going to Europe in 2010 too. I am hoping Disney Cruise Line will be out there with the new ships, if not...I will have to take another line
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2011 - Pop/B2B Disney Dream, 2009 - Port Orleans Riverside, 2008 - Disney Magic - 7 night Western, 2007 - Pop/Disney Magic - 7 night Eastern, 2005 - Pop Century/Disney Wonder/Grand Floridian (Concierge) ,2004 - Wilderness Lodge (Concierge), 2000 - Caribbean Beach Resort, 1995 - Polynesian, 1994 - Grand Floridian (Married in Disney World), 1983-1993 Four trips - off property
30+ Trips to Disneyland since 2002
I am just getting caught up and all I can say is WoW!
I was so excited to read Perla's name. She was one of our favorite CMs on our last cruise. Hallie was quite attatched to her! Thanks for sharing your photos. I love the one of you jumping!
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Since mom and Jolene were still on their VIP tour of the Vatican - it was just dad and I for dinner this evening. While we were at dinner - they had an opera singer come around - and he sang to me - but dad didn't get the picture in time..... oh well. I don't remember what we did after dinner - I know I took a few photos, and then I think I headed to the Rain Forest for a bit of relaxation before mom and Jolene returned and got pizza for dinner (Miss J's choice).
Dinner photos - we were in Lumier's -
I had the shrimp appetizer
The Caprese salad
The steak and polenta dinner
And the ice cream for dessert
Mickey at the Helm
The singer from dinner in the Atrium
Those were the only photos I took after returning from Rome.
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La Spezia - Florence
This morning we were at the Port of La Spezia for excursions to Florence and Piza. Today was also our first day of tendering from the ship to shore. Mom, Jolene and I were scheduled on the Florence tour - and dad was going on the tour of the Ferrari plant. We had tried to book this for home on numerous occasions via the web before the cruise without success. A few days after we boarded - I went to guest services and found out that there were a few open slots - so I canceled Dad's previous excursion (some wine tasting thing if I recall) and surprised him with the Ferrari tour!!
Ok - back to touring.
Mom, Jolene and I were going to Florence to see Michaelangelo's David - "Florence and Michaelangelo" - Get lost in the grandeur of the Palazzo Vecchio, "Il Duomo" and Ponte Vecchio during a walking tour of Florence before beholding Michaelangelo's undisputed masterpiece, David, at the Accademia museum.
Dad was taking the VIP tour of the Ferrari tour - "Rev your engines during a visit to the Galleria Ferrari, the Fiorano racetrack and a local restaurant, before reaching the Hombre ranch for a tour of the famous Maserati museum".
We steamed into La Spezia's harbor - passing ships waiting at anchor and the harbor light.
We started the morning with breakfast in Parrot Caye -
Breakfast - my usual - fruit and an omelet.
The gangway to the tender vessel
Italian Naval vessel near by
Onboard the tender vessel headed to the dock
The magic in the distance. You can see how gray it was this day
The tender vessel at the "cruise ship facility" in La Spezia harbor
We boarded our bus, and headed out along the highway for the almost 2 hour drive to Florence. As we drove along - we passes the marble quarries.
You can see the white in the mountains - that is where Italian marble comes from
Italian marble
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We arrived in Florence - and parked near the Arno River -
One of the original towers of the city walls
Looking downstream toward downtown Florence
We walked about a quarter mile - we passed the National library
And then we arrived in the Piazza of Santa Maria. There is a lovely basilica there that is just amazing to view. I would like to return to Florence and get to tour inside of this beautiful building.
The front of the Basilica de Santa Maria
Our guide - Sophia
Shops and buildings along the plaza
We walked from the plaza toward the Piazza della Signoria (also called Palazzo Vecchio) which is the heart of Florence. This is the center of the old city - full of statues and in front of the old city hall. I love this area - it is a wide open Piazza (plaza) that is just loaded with artwork and statuary - just open for all. I love it. The David used to be here - but the concerns about pollution eroding away the marble, the statue was move to the Academie gallery and a replica was placed in the piazza.
Statue of Neptune
Entrance to the city hall - with the replica of the David in front of the entrance and the statue of Cain and Abel.
The "Rape of the Sabine"
The replica of David up close
Perseus and Medusa
After hearing about the piazza and the building around it - we walked toward the Duomo (cathedral) and on the way - crossed the famous Ponte Vecchio (The old bridge). This was the only bridge in Florence not bombed during World War 2. It started as a market for the locals - and has now evolved into a gold and jewelery market.
Looking into one of the shops on the Ponte Vecchio
Looking downstream from the Ponte Vecchio
Mom and Jolene on the Ponte Vecchio
Me on the Ponte Vecchio (Jolene took this one)
Looking down the street of the Ponte Vecchio.
I think if you didn't know you were on a bridge - you might not know it until you reached the river overlook.
After the Ponte Vecchio - we headed toward the Duomo - and passed the open air market of Florence - but we didn't get to stop (another thing to spend some time at in 2010).
Wonderful updates Terri - you're bringing back very fond memories of Florence. I can't wait to hear what the tour of the Ferrari factory was like - I know Mark was interested in that one.
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Il Duomo -
We finally arrived near the famous Duomo of Florence.... And didn't go in. We walked passed it and headed to the Gallerie Academia (somehow I didn't take photos at this point....) for our appointment to see the statue of David that was carved by Michaelangelo. No photos are allowed inside the gallery - and we only spent time seeing the David as well as 6 unfinished sculptures in the lead in toward David.
I wish there had been a way to spend more time here - exploring the other rooms of the gallery (another to do list item). We got to spend about 20 minutes with the David statue - WOW - what a wonderful piece of art - SO realistic!!! I am in awe of the realism presented in this statue.... and how artistic that realism is (I know -- weird to think that realistim of veins, etc.... can be artistic... but it is just breathtakingly beautiful). NO photos (even without the flash) are allowed in the gallery.
After seeing the David - we headed back to the Duomo - and this time we went in.
The back of the Baptristry
The front of the Duomo - which is the first free standing domed structure in Europe.
Doors of the Duomo
Secondary entrance to the Duomo
Entrance to the Baptistry. These are called the "Doors to Paradise". Up to the 1940's - the unbaptized could not enter the cathedral. Even infants. So there was a separate building where the baptisms took place - once a person was baptized - then that person could enter the cathedral. These doors are covered in gold leaf and display scenes from the bible. The doors we see now are replicas (again due to pollution) - the original doors are in storage.
After viewing the outside of the Baptistry - we lined up to enter the cathedral itself - and the skies decided to open and pour. Luckily - I had purchased cheap ponchos and had one of them in my backpack - so mom and Jolene shared it and I got wet until we got closer to the door of the cathedral.
The facade of the Duomo and the bell tower. The green, pink and white marble are common throughout Florence.
Rainy square in Florence
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) for our appointment to see the statue of David that was carved by Michaelangelo. No photos are allowed inside the gallery - and we only spent time seeing the David as well as 6 unfinished sculptures in the lead in toward David.
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