Eli_6

We bought Edam and Gouda so looks like it is OK so long as we don't open it.

We also saw how they make wooden shoes:

Windmill at the village the excursion stopped at.

Hoping to see them on the way out, but it might be dark. Also, may not be able to stay awake that long. I don't know why, but I got really motion sick last night (ship was moving but nothing crazy) and put on a scopolomine patch and have been super sleepy ever since. I even fell asleep on our tour bus and my husband and kids said I was snoring. We went into town this morning and walked around Amsterdam. At 2, we left on an excursion to an old-timey village with windmills. It was cool. Then we went to a cheese making place and got to sample the cheeses. I literally purchased about 100 euros of cheese. Hope customs doesn't take it. Not sure what the rule is on cheese.

We are subbing in Amsterdam for Paris. I slept through this morning.

The captain keeps saying the ship will go through the locks at 6 tomorrow morning. Is this worth waking up to watch? If we get up, can I watch from balcony or should we go up to lido? Front or back of boat? This is our substitute port for Paris.

There are shows in the theatre and comedians. I have been too tired to go to eirher. We are doing 9 to 10 ports in 12 days. Only thing I have listened to is amazing violin trio and the singers by alchemy. Not many teens on board. Mainly adults.

Yes. There are not many kids on here, but it only takes a couple.

I think ccl needs to make a rule that kids under 12 need to be supervised. Some punk kids locked my husband and kids and 4 other adults in the basketball court cage yesterday.

Eggroll, jalapeño popper, and pasta plate. Food on the ship has been best we have had on ccl since before the shut down.

Also, this cruise has been awesome. Total turn around from last year. Obviously, they have a different crew... Only bad thing was some punk kids locked my husband and kids in the basketball court by messing with the gates and somehow locking them in from the outside. There were 4 other adults who were locked in, too. They had to wait for someone to come along to let them out. Hubs was furious...not at Carnival but at the kids. My kids recognized one of the kids and knew his name from the kids' club and my husband turned his name over to security. I was taking a nap so unaffected by the whole thing. The kids were like 9-11. Apparently, some people just let their young kids run around the ship unsupervised and check themselves in/out of Kids Club. I really wish the kids had to be at least 12 to be unsupervised. My husband said he saw the same group of kids throwing ice cream in the pool and an adult (not Carnival employee) getting on to them.

We went to LA Rochelle yesterday and just walked around. Loved it! Everything we did was free. Even went to a free animal park. Carnival had shuttles from the ship to the town.

You use your sail and sign card. $3.50 to wash and same amount to dry.

We had very good luck in Southern Spain and Portugal. My SIL is Spanish (and Colombian) and was from Malaga and she is very friendly, warm, outgoing, loud, will welcome you with a big hug, etc. I mistakenly thought all of Spain would be like that and I don't think it is. I think Southern Spain is more like my sister-in-law as everyone seemed very friendly to touristas. However, the Basque people are an entirely different ethnicity and culture. And a VERY different language. They have literally lived in the region since pre-historic times and their language isn't related to anyone else's language in Europe, but pre-dates all of them. At one time, they were outlawed from even speaking it until the 70s or 80s. I think this has made them a little separate from the rest of Spain. I know there is even a movement for them to get their independence. Long story short, I guess I was expecting the "feeling" and "reception" of Barcelona and Southern Spain and I think I was a little taken aback when I didn't get it. And I was scared to even try to speak Spanish to them as they might be offended as though I was "assuming" they speak Spanish when some may not.

Yes! They are working! We all have clean laundry now.

TV is better this year than last year on the pride...but still no T C M. But we are getting more channels than we did last year. Maybe because we are not in the North Sea for this cruise...

I literally can't recall if I posted this or not. From vigi "Galician Historical Gardens" tour:

The days are running together on me. 3 days ago in Vigo we went to "Galician Historical Gardens" and it was AWESOME!!! Highly recommend. 5 stars. Toured gardens and had tasting and yummy food and toured a cool castle. Next day we went to "Galician Special" in A Coruna and the Santiago part was AMAZING but the garden/pazo part was just ok. I think I would probably have been more impressed had I not been to the more impressive gardens just the day before or if I had not previously been to some insanely gorgeous gardens in other countries.

I wish I could post this bagpiper playing from yesterday. Interesting to find out the Galician culture is rooted in the Celtic culture and their "state" or "regional" (for lack of a better word) instrument is the bagpipe.

Tuna singers from yesterday. 20230603_125151.mp4

My kids also said this is their favorite Kids Club. I think because the people let them play video games.

Key lime pie

Apple tart