tsahall01

When we were in Santorini, we were the only ship in port (NCL Epic).  We thought it would be an easy day with the cable cars.  WRONG!!  Since we were the only ship in port, they decided to do maintenance that day on the cable cars!!  So the cars were delayed by about 45 minutes.  Line grew outrageously long.  Once it opened, though, it moved pretty fast.  We were on an independent tour and our guide was aware of the situation with the cable cars starting late.  We had a wonderful day and a wonderful tour.  Our guide dropped us off towards the cable car pickup spot--there, we noticed a HUGE line of people waiting to go down--the line went down streets around corners and down some more streets--it was incredible.  Since we were the only ship in port, I knew that the ship would NOT leave this many people behind (lots more people joined the line after we got in line).  Some people got nervous and decided to walk down--poor choice when it is dark out and you cannot see well.  Very dangerous situation.  When we finally got down and boarded the tender, so many people were saying NEVER AGAIN.  What a sad ending to a wonderful day, but I agree with them--one and done!!  If I ever go to Santorini, I will either stay on the ship, or just take the tender to the little shore area.  There are boats that leave from that area and will return you to that area, so that may be an option to avoid the cable cars.  It is my understanding that the cable cars and donkeys are owned by one family that has a monopoly over the situation.  They are making money hand over fist and have no desire to improve things for the betterment of everyone.  This attitude may be their undoing in the future!

3 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

This is the major reason I cannot eat shellfish of any kind--they look like bugs and I can't eat bugs.  The worst is when people choose which lobster they want out of a tank!!  Oh NOOOOOO!  Don't pick George!  Oh no, George!  Nice knowing ya!!  BIG NOPE from me!!

10 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

Ughhhh I semi know that situation. Was notified ours had lapsed because of non payment. Thought we were on auto also because they had previously sent me a notice that I was and didn't need to do anything for it to renew.

By the time I read the notice 4 days had passed of us driving with no insurance. Same situation trying to find new insurance spur of the moment and the old insurer telling us we can't go with them again until a year has passed. We had it thru AARP and had an unbeatable rate.

Turns out the credit card on file for payment so I could get airline points had expired and it was on me to know this and fix this🤨

Last week we got a check for almost a thousand dollars with a letter stating that our car insurance had been canceled.  WHAT?????  We had no accidents or anything and could not figure out what was going on.  What happened was that we had bought a car in November.  My husband paid the premium to add the car.  For some reason, they never recorded the payment, and cancelled the insurance!!  We had not had insurance on our cars since January--the check was the first notice of our insurance being cancelled.  Once we proved that we had, in fact, paid the premium, our insurance was reinstated.  Had we had an accident or anything during that time that we had "no insurance", we would have been covered because we had proof of payment.  I now have at least a dozen new grey hairs, but all is well.

We always enjoy the Goslings Rum evening cruise.  NCL offers an excursion for it.  With the $50 credit plus the Latitudes discount, it is REALLY CHEAP!!!  Lots of free flowing rums, and you get to taste some of their other offerings.  Lots of fun and laughs and RUM!!

YES!!!  The one and only Sid is back!!  I feel like an addict and can finally get my fix back!  You were missed.  Hope you had a fantastic time and can hardly wait to hear and see all your adventures for the past week.  The wait is over!

19 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

For my last dinner in Barcelona, I went back to my tapas restaurant Ciutat Condal for the third time. I will miss sitting at the bar and chatting with the waitstaff in Splanglish mixed in with newly learned poorly pronounced Catalan. They promised to be there when I return in a few months and I promised I would be fluent in Catalan. 
 

I ordered Iberian presa with chimichurri sauce and piquillo pepper montadito. Do you see any chimichurri sauce here? Neither did I. 

 

 

So I asked the waiter in my best Splangish “donde esta la chimichurri?” He took one look at the poor looking montadito, returned it to the chef and exchanged words with him. 
 

The montadito looked much better second time around. Shout out to Señora Heller my high school Spanish teacher before I switched to Latin because I was told a dead language would be helpful to me.

 

 

Squid Andalusian style and patatas bravas

 

My tasty dinner was €18.10. It’s going to be a rude awakening when I am back home. 

 

 

 

Here are some pics of the restaurant. By 8:00pm every table is taken. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm also doing the Escape TA in November--I only have 2 days in Barcelona (been there 4 times already), but I have added this restaurant to my list of must do things this time around!  That and Palau de la Musica Catalana.  I've done all the Dali, Gaudi, and Picasso before, so this will be a new one for me!  thank you!

12 minutes ago, mamiamjo said:

Sorry to hear that you got COVID, I hope you get well soon.

I just tested positive also 😞

Yikes!  Get well soon!

10 minutes ago, Roscoe13 said:

Went to minor league baseball in the city next to my current residence. Hillsboro. The Hillsboro Hops!  Yep the main ingredient in beer! 

Perfect day and the Tribe's new favorite minor league team won 4-0. 

I lived in Aloha Oregon for 9 months--managed the Garcia's Of Scotsdale restaurant in Beaverton.  Loooooong time ago!  Don't know if the restaurant is still open or not!

5 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Hey tribe. My teen got sick on our recent Alaska cruise. Now I have it. It’s Covid.

Oh no!!  Feel better soon!

38 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

This is absolutely perfect! But, what gourmet meal did he have? Those Ruben sandwiches he made a while back looked pretty delish! 
 

I love those posts! Hmmmm….im gonna go with some kind of pizza place they order from, and he’s going to have a crazy, unique kind of personal pizza…let’s say a bourbon bbq fig…bbq chicken, figs, bourbon bbq drizzle…something crazy like that. Oh we gotta give it cheese….lets do something fancy, Gorgonzola!

Put some sardines on top!!

My favorite place in Barcelona is the 4 Cats. It was a hangout of Gaudi, Picasso, and Dali (though not all at the same time. The food is excellent, but if you go, be sure to make a reservation. The bar is neat as well with absinthe and other drinks 

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

Ugggh. Don't own dogs if you can't take care of them. One of the reasons I don't own them anymore is so I can travel easier.

 

 

 

We just added a new member to our family.  Poor Salty was rescued by a lady who found him surrounded by big dogs.  She took him in and called the vet from the rabies tag that he had on.  Salty's owner told the lady to take Salty to the Humane Society as she did not want the dog.  The dog didn't like her and she didn't like him.  She then proceded to tell the lady that she was going to get another dog!  OMG!  The lady who rescued Salty couldn't keep him as she had 3 large dogs of her own and was concerned with Salty's safety.  She put a post in that book of faces that we saw and just knew that we had to take him.  We had a dog that looked just like him that was attacked and killed by 2 large dogs.  We had to rename the rescue Salty 2.  He gets on really well with our other two dogs.  Perfect fit!  Here is Salty 1

And here is Salty 2

Megan better hide her eyelashes!

57 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

Okay. Need to shake this off. But I’m also so glad it happened. Dang, man. 

You had me crying!!  What an awesome thing to happen--your Dad is with you!

1 minute ago, coondog99 said:

 

As a matter of fact he did. Friday can't come soon enough. The only thing that keeps me sane is the thought of my air fryer chicken wings and of course, a margarita. 

Don't forget the sardines and crackers, with hot sauce, of course!

Wow!  Sounds like some of you had a wild and wooly holiday weekend!

@graphicguy--so sorry to hear about your car/accident.  Hope you are feeling less sore!  I hate it when things happen that we cannot control.  Hope everything is better by the time you go on your cruise.  Sounds like you will be getting another new car--I don't think I would want to drive a car that has been that damaged in an accident.

@TravelGirlinDallas and @dmet0225--mother nature can be real nasty when she wants to!  Texas sure got the brunt end of it this weekend.  I am not looking forward to this year's hurricane season--they are already tracking 3 tropical waves!

@Hogladyrider--beautiful pictures as always!!  Looks like you had a fun day off!

I've been loving the Sid review in his absence!  We need more food p0rn!  I was hoping that he might post something when he had shore side internet.  Sure hope he is having a great time!

Bathroom in Michigan!  Love the TP holder

2 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

At this point I ran down to grab a beer from the room and see if we luggage was there. I saw it on a card, asked the guy if I could take it, and voila! The ugly warhorse is all mine

 

That sure looks like it's seen a few miles!!  Ain't nobody wanna steal that thing!

I figured people were in need of some food p0rn--here you go!!  This is right up Sid's alley!

24 minutes ago, dmet0225 said:

My son might play golf 3-4 times a year, and that has been the norm his whole 30 year old life.  He came this close to a hole in one today.

 

Oh, and call me stupid for setting an appointment for tomorrow morning, the first day after a holiday weekend, for a follow up blood test to check my diabetes.

 

I did one better--full physical including blood work up (diabetes runs in my family) 1 day after getting back from a 2 week cruise that had 9 sea days!  

10 minutes ago, ggooglyboogly said:

How far is the 'hike' to the baths?  I've been eyeing that one

It is not a far hike, but would not recommend it with a 5 year old--might be too much for them.  The Baths are amazing!

3 minutes ago, ggooglyboogly said:

Have any of you been to Tortola with NCL before?  My cruise swapped St Croix for Tortola and was wondering if you all knew of anything fun to do there.  (I do have an 8 and 5 year old that will be with us, we had looked at Jost Van Dyke but that sold out quickly)

You can take a taxi to Cane Garden Bay--nice beach with facilities.  Or you could try to do Jost on your own without a NCL excursion--should be some companies going there.  Soggy Dollar and Foxy's are both fun and the beach there is decent.

@TravelGirlinDallas  Happy Birthday!  Have a good one!🎉🎂

Safe travels home!  Thanks for another excellent (but short) review!