September Mediterranean Magic Trip Report updated 10/25/2017 - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Wow, Montserrat looks amazing! That will be a must do whenever I make it to Barcelona!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
It was amazing!
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Hooray, I think I can make it work to do Montserrat. Love Viator! Thanks for your pictures - I'm sold that we must do this!
So glad you can work it out to make it out there!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Monserrat is beautiful and in fairness, when we visited (we were in our own car), we probably didn't spend more than a couple of hours there, as that's about all the time we could afford on our schedule on that trip.
I agree a few hours is the right amount of time to tour. Just really cuts into it when this is also supposed to be your "lunch" time!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Your photos of Monseratt are amazing with such spectacular views! Too bad you didn't have a couple more hours to explore the island as I'm sure it would be worth it. I like how they have a funicular to take you up the mountain, which I'm guessing may be the volcano, which I knoiw has errupted in the past and not too long ago!
I don't recall anything about a volcano but there was definitely a lot to explore!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jandsdennis
wow beautiful pictures! It is too bad that you didn't have a little more time to explore.
We would have loved to have gotten here a tad earlier, but we were also pretty beat by this point!
We made our way back to the hotel via the same short walk we had taken this morning. But this time, the Disney Store was open so I did of course pop on in! No purchases made though, just didn’t love anything.
When we arrived back at the hotel, we got our free welcome cava that came with the package I booked (which we had skipped the day earlier but they were very accommodating) and then the inevitable happened… I fell asleep Mom spent some time taking photos while I rested.
here was my mistake... I went horizontal!
It was a short nap in our room but jet lag, it gets you! We woke up and it was still very much in the Barcelona-dinner time range so we looked into Tapas options nearby. We knew we didn’t want to venture too far! We picked Babia based on good reviews and the fact that it was super close - on the street right behind our hotel!
We freshened up and headed out for our dinner at Babia around 8:30. We found a table but the restaurant was small and busy! At home, whenever we go to tapas restaurants it’s always about getting several things and trying a few and sharing but here we each just picked one thing. We were tired and not overly hungry but knew we had to eat. Of course we had some sangria again too!
Sangrias!
green tomato and cheese toast
potato croquettes
Dinner was tasty and the place was still very full when we left! We walked out around the other side of the hotel and saw a lovely place called Chocolate-Box was delightful looking gelato in the window. There’s always room for ice cream, right? RIGHT! We each picked our flavors and enjoyed it the rest of the way home.
Pretty shortly after returning we were sound asleep! We had a big day ahead of us tomorrow
Day 2
Location: Barcelona
Activities: Barcelona Highlights Tour, Monstraat, Dinner
Weather: Stunning!
Highlight: Monstraat
You are so right about jetlag! Coming this way, it takes no prisoners, so I really feel for you. Been there, done that many, many times - except usually for us we have to get back to work! Your dinner sounds fun and I loved the ice cream, although now that's making me hungry....
Making a note of the restaurant, and Chocolate Box was already on my list, as it's next door to the hotel we'll be at! The name got me, and now that I know there's gelato?! I am there!!
Jetlag can be really tough on you and especially from the USA to Europe. The best way they say to combat it is adjust immediately to your new timezone and not nap. It's difficult to do this, but the adjustment will be easier by day two. Your meal looks very good and always love tapas!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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You are so right about jetlag! Coming this way, it takes no prisoners, so I really feel for you. Been there, done that many, many times - except usually for us we have to get back to work! Your dinner sounds fun and I loved the ice cream, although now that's making me hungry....
I can't imagine going to work after a flight that way! Eep!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Making a note of the restaurant, and Chocolate Box was already on my list, as it's next door to the hotel we'll be at! The name got me, and now that I know there's gelato?! I am there!!
You'll be right in the same area we were then (unless it's a chain?), it was great!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
Oh, wow, your gelato looked amazing!! Yum!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
It was soooo good!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Jetlag can be really tough on you and especially from the USA to Europe. The best way they say to combat it is adjust immediately to your new timezone and not nap. It's difficult to do this, but the adjustment will be easier by day two. Your meal looks very good and always love tapas!
Yeah I can never make it without a nap, but we always adjust pretty quickly!
We woke up and packed everything up since we’d be saying goodbye to the Hotel Colon today! Mom got a few last photos outside while I finished getting ready. When all was set, we headed downstairs for our wonderful breakfast buffet when we were ready to go and had another delicious meal here. Fueled up, we were ready for the day ahead!
The hotel got us a taxi and helped us with our luggage and soon we were heading out of the old part of the city and towards the sea! It was another beautiful morning in Barcelona and a pretty easy drive over to the port.
So when I booked this cruise I knew that I had booked a VGT and that meant we could end up having a white wall verandah. Low and behold when our room got assigned a few weeks prior, that was exactly what we got. Mom was NOT fond of this idea so after we checked in we asked about upgrade potential and were sent off to another line.
We were able to upgrade to a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Veranda - so we’d get the clear veranda and extra space. I will tell you, this was NOT cheap. We didn’t need the extra space but this was the last upgrade they had available so it’s what we went with. This also moved us up to Deck 8. Having just gone on a cruise on the Wonder with a white wall veranda, I do now have to say that I prefer the clear and I think I would pay a bit more for it. (But the Wonder cruise we didn’t have great weather so we didn’t get much use out of it either way)
Catching lots of Pokemon along the way!
There was very minimal waiting here which was nice and in no time we were getting ready to board the ship!
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Nice photos on your way to the port. Glad you were able to get the stateroom upgrade but too bad it was so pricey! That's Disney for you!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I'm hoping we don't regret our inside stateroom. We started with those our first few cruises, and loved how well the kids slept in there. Then we started doing verandas. I'd say it's required for Alaska, but was thinking with so much time on open seas, we didn't really need it for WBTA. We used DVC points, so didn't really want to use more points. I figure there are plenty of spots on deck for watching the world go by.
What time did you get to the port?
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At least you were able to get an upgrade, even if it was pricey....
Yeah we got lucky there!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Nice photos on your way to the port. Glad you were able to get the stateroom upgrade but too bad it was so pricey! That's Disney for you!
Yeah but we got what we wanted in the end
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
I'm hoping we don't regret our inside stateroom. We started with those our first few cruises, and loved how well the kids slept in there. Then we started doing verandas. I'd say it's required for Alaska, but was thinking with so much time on open seas, we didn't really need it for WBTA. We used DVC points, so didn't really want to use more points. I figure there are plenty of spots on deck for watching the world go by.
What time did you get to the port?
If you've done it before and were fine I doubt you'd regret doing it again! I think we got there around 11:30 - I always do the earliest boarding group possible!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
Just found this. Sounds and looks like a fabulous time in Barcelona! Can't wait to hear about your cruise!
Once they did the typical family announcement we headed to the pool so we could camp out with our carry ons. I’m about 90% positive we had put our swimsuits on under our outfits before we headed to the port. Since we were so close, we already knew it would be a nice day. I had really struggled to find swimsuit cover ups/dresses before this trip to go with my bathing suits, so I actually had stolen mom’s dress today!
We got some Drink of the Days (I forget what it was now and didn’t upload the Navigator pics, but something tropical!) and I settled in for some relax time. It was so lovely being on the ship with so few people! We basically had the pool area all to ourselves I think we got to port around 11:30 and it was maybe 12:30 by the time we got through everything and settled onto the ship.
seriously... no one around!
Okay… maybe there were several rounds of drinks
Mom eventually went off on a walking photo adventure around the ship. I think she was searching for the smoking area but definitely explored more than that!
Peek into Palo
Kids play area slide
Some entertainment by the family pool - Flamenco!
Eventually we realized it was past time for rooms to be ready so we took a break from the sun and headed off to find our stateroom and drop our carryons.
I forget our stateroom number now Something in the 86## range I believe. Again, it was a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Veranda. So there’s an extra set of drawers by the veranda essentially and I think and extra bed if you needed to sleep 5. Had I known those were the differences, I would have taken more specific photos for you - sorry!
We got dressed and headed off to find a late lunch…
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Too bad you didn't have a couple more hours to explore the island as I'm sure it would be worth it. I like how they have a funicular to take you up the mountain, which I'm guessing may be the volcano, which I knoiw has errupted in the past and not too long ago!
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Mom spent some time taking photos while I rested.
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Coming this way, it takes no prisoners, so I really feel for you. Been there, done that many, many times - except usually for us we have to get back to work! 
Your dinner sounds fun and I loved the ice cream, although now that's making me hungry....
That's Disney for you! 
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