Azamara Quest - Mediterranean Cities, October 28-November 4 2021

[tcmagnum]

On 11/8/2021 at 9:48 AM, Bimmer09 said:

We had been in an airport already for 7 hours plus a 2 hour flight.

 

Rome was off the menu for today.

 

The Saga continues.....

Norris

 

 

 

 

 

Just getting started reading your blog and WOW!!  I would be crying by now.  Hoping this was the last 'ugly' thing that happens on your trip.

[tcmagnum]

On 11/8/2021 at 1:31 PM, Bimmer09 said:

"Lost Luggage"

 

This would be my 3rd day wearing the same clothes.

 

Meantime with all this delay I had informed Rome in Limo what was happening. 

 

Norris, mentally exhausted at the time

Since I'm behind, I don't know if your luggage showed up or not.

I hope so because I doubt you want to wear Carol's panties.

But if you are like me, you will get on that cruise ship with or without your luggage.

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, tcmagnum said:

Just getting started reading your blog and WOW!!  I would be crying by now.  Hoping this was the last 'ugly' thing that happens on your trip.

Welcome aboard!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Trying to keep citizens healthy

 

 

 

 

For the kids

 

 

[Bimmer09]

PALAIS DES PAPES

I put a 16mm lens on the camera as I knew this building would need a wide angle to fit it into the frame. Its still standing so obviously not the work of a shepherd. The Popes just needed some simple lodging while in Avignon, nothing fancy or palatial.

 

 

 

 

There was no time to go into this vast structure so we followed Camille up and away from the square to see the viewpoint.

 

[Bimmer09]

We left the imposing square with its beautiful buildings 

 

 

and climbed a wide flight of steps towards the viewpoint

 

 

 

a memorial to the dead from two World Wars

[Bimmer09]

ON A CLEAR DAY, RISE AND LOOK AROUND YOU...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get your bearings

 

[Bimmer09]

While Camille was talking about what we were seeing-that's the Rhone river down there folks, I spotted a garden area and took a look-see.

 

 

 

There was a coffee shop. That's right up Sir Norris and Lady Carol's street (rue)!

 

 

Back at the tour group Camille was winding up. We had about an hour of free time. Carol nixed my idea of lunch at the Bistro d'Horloge saying that we'd only have 40 minutes to eat and pay the bill once we got there. She went in search of a restroom and luckily one was nearby. While she was gone I investigated the cafe-seats by the water, restrooms inside and texted her where I was.

 

[vagporto]

Hi... Not technically a full lurker... But a very occasional poster, and your live/delayed reports are one of the exceptions (although I usually stumble on them long after finished...). But if you mention Portugal, I need to say Hi. 

BTW, recent bimmer here... Waiting for my ordered 4 gran coupe (to be delivered in march, if bmw does not run out of chips).

[norn iron]

6 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

No, he was a Captain for John Kelly Ltd.

Norris

FWIW, I know Kelly Wilson well, who was the MD, through my involvement with Ulster rugby.

[Jasperdo]

19 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

A 10 day road trip in France would solve a lot of problems, John. I see myself in a Citroen.

Nothing so fancy on our two road trips in France. The first was in a Toyota Yaris, and the second was a Renault Clio. But they both got us where we wanted to go, which was the amazing Medieval towns and Chateaus of France.

[LT Hambone]

19 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

A 10 day road trip in France would solve a lot of problems, John. I see myself in a Citroen.

 

Norris -

 

 

We found the perfect Citroen for you in the the village of Eygalieres!

 

 

[Jasperdo]

Too bad you didn't have time to visit the Palais Des Papes. It's a fascinating place. You'll have to go back.

[PrincessDano]

Norris, saw your post on the Princess board a few days ago!  I’m still catching up but happy you’re back cruising and posting your travels for us to follow along.  Fantastic! 

 

Diane 

[Bimmer09]

31 minutes ago, Jasperdo said:

Nothing so fancy on our two road trips in France. The first was in a Toyota Yaris, and the second was a Renault Clio. But they both got us where we wanted to go, which was the amazing Medieval towns and Chateaus of France.

This was the Citroen that always caught my eye when I was living in London in the 1970s-Citroen DS Pallas with the air suspension and one spoke self-centering steering wheel.

 

[Bimmer09]

4 minutes ago, PrincessDano said:

Norris, saw your post on the Princess board a few days ago!  I’m still catching up but happy you’re back cruising and posting your travels for us to follow along.  Fantastic! 

 

Diane 

Thank you Diane and welcome!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

34 minutes ago, LT Hambone said:

 

Norris -

 

 

We found the perfect Citroen for you in the the village of Eygalieres!

 

 

Wow, what a classic! Those look like bank vault doors. A Citroen 2CV?

[Bimmer09]

43 minutes ago, Jasperdo said:

Nothing so fancy on our two road trips in France. The first was in a Toyota Yaris, and the second was a Renault Clio. But they both got us where we wanted to go, which was the amazing Medieval towns and Chateaus of France.

 

Thanks John, the important thing is they got you driving around France and enjoying the beauty there. You are one up on me! How long did you tour?

Norris, envious

[LT Hambone]

2 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

A Citroen 2CV?

 

Yup - and that's the owner in the background, laughing, because it seems no one wants to take a picture of his car, for some reason. I was eating a pâtisserie while walking through a quintessential Provence village taking a picture of an iconic French automobile - not sure I could get any more French than that!

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, vagporto said:

Hi... Not technically a full lurker... But a very occasional poster, and your live/delayed reports are one of the exceptions (although I usually stumble on them long after finished...). But if you mention Portugal, I need to say Hi. 

BTW, recent bimmer here... Waiting for my ordered 4 gran coupe (to be delivered in march, if bmw does not run out of chips).

Hello again.

Delayed reports are my thing. I don't like writing "lives" as they interrupt one's cruising.

Why do you have to wait for your 4 series BMW until March?

I ordered one from the factory in Regensburg and picked it up in Munich but chose the pick up to coincide with the end of a BMW lease in 2003. Still driving it.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

[Bimmer09]

We spent a pleasant half hour watching the birdlife and enjoying our excellent coffee

 

Fall color in the leaves

 

 

then retraced our steps, fully refreshed

[Baynanno1]

19 hours ago, takemewithyou said:

That’s got to be our next cruise!  Dying to visit both places!  Either river cruise or on Azamara!   Preferably Azamara!

Azamara will take you to Porto.

A river cruise will take you from Porto to Vega de Terrón on the Portugal / Spain border. From there you can do a day trip to Salamanca before cruising back to Porto. Beautiful countryside and great wineries all along the river and of course a few locks, 5 to be precise, including the deepest in Europe.

The river water was rather discoloured when we did the cruise in 2011.

 

Do both if you are able. 🙂

[vagporto]

44 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

Why do you have to wait for your 4 series BMW until March?

Aren't you aware of the current chaos in the auto industry? Perfect storm combination of sudden demand for new cars and worldwide shortage in all kinds of chips, aluminium, man power, etc... Wait time for new builds is now close to 6 months, but some car makers only guarantee delivery in 2023... BMWs are coming without power seats (no parts) and many bmw produced in november are coming without touchscreen (which is standard... Not an optional - you have a large 10 inch screen that should be tactile, but that is only voice or knob operated...). And no hifi sound... And no special lights... And no lumbar adjustment... Seriously: when I placed my order (last week of september) the dealer went through the excel sheet that he received in the morning that listed all components that cannot be ordered anymore. He receives a new excel file every monday morning. 

Edited November 18, 2021 by vagporto

[Baynanno1]

3 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

ON A CLEAR DAY, RISE AND LOOK AROUND YOU...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get your bearings

 

The Peddlers "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever"

 

Thanks for the memories, both musical and travel! 🙂