The Fleet Report and Daily for Friday March 1st, 2024

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

After our day in Florence in 2016, we decided the crowds were just getting too big.

 

My pictures are a collection from our visits in 2001, 2002 and 2016.  I'll begin with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Flore, also know as the Duomo, and the Baptistry. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze, which has the tombs of many famous Italians or at least monuments to them.

 

 

 

 

A replica of Michelangelo's David and another statue outside a church near the Uffizi Gallery, and the gallery.

 

 

Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River.

 

 

Looking toward the Uffizi Gallery from the Pone Vecchio

 

In 2001, we took a ships tour to Florence as it was our first visit to the city.  The tour buses were not allowed in the main tourist area.  We had to board these little buses to go from the parking lot into the main area. 

 

Lenda

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

That, and our charming personalities.  😇

 

But thank you!

Yes that is true too Sandi.

[AncientWanderer]

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit  🐇  🐇  🐇

 

Good morning and hello March!

 

We have been to the area around Livorno on a land trip years ago -- went to Pisa, Florence to see the wonderful statue of David.  God willing, we will be there again in May of 2025 on the Oosterdam.  Speaking of which, @kazuJacqui, I see on the future cruises that you are doing the TA.  We are booked for that as well -- have the additional May 14 10-day one as a separate booking, in case it ends up seeming like too much as we get closer.  It will be wonderful to sail with you again!  I hope you feel better soon.

 

As @Quartzsite CruiserLenda said the other day, we really do worry about one another here.  How much?  Awhile back I had a dream that DH and I swung by and picked up @smitty34877Terry to go on a cruise together to.... the Catskills!!

 

On that note, I hope everyone has a good start to the new month and that we welcome spring.  It may come in slowly, but it's coming!  🌹

Maxine

[grapau27]

17 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

On several of our visits to Livorno, we have rented cars are toured the countryside of Tuscany.  These pictures are from visits to three different towns in the area.

 

We visited Lucca in 2004 while on Noordam III.  The two of the gates to the walled city.

 

 

Inside the walls

 

 

 

 

 

In 2008 while on the Prinsendam, we drove to San Gimignano, which is known for it's square towers.  This is the Piazza del Duomo

 

 

An interesting building in the Pizza del Cisterna

 

 

The countryside west of San Gimignano with the town in the background of one picture.

 

 

 

Our final stop that day was Volterra, which sits on top of a hill as the name implies.  It is a climb from the parking garage to the main part of the town.  The first picture is Volterra from the highway.

 

 

 

 

We found the best gelato in a small shop on one of the narrow streets.

 

Lenda

Excellent photos Lenda.

[puppycanducruise]

@superoma  @0106  I love the Louise Penny books too.  October seems like a long time to wait.

[rafinmd]

Thank you Rich, Jacqui, Vanessa, Dixie, Ann, and Debbie.  I had not heard of Endometriosis, would love to sleep like a baby, and will pass on the peanut butter.  I love the Huxley quote.

 

I have not been to Livorno, nor much of Italy, really.  Almost all my touring in Italy has been in 2010 on the ship @LAFFNVEGAS will board tomorrow, visiting some of the less frequently visited stops.  Happy Birthday @aliaschief.

 

Three great days in US history, especially the first National Park.

 

I'm unsure about the meal.  My alternative is Chilled Peach and Ginger Soup, Pork Piccata, and Peach Crisp, as served on MS Prinsendam March 1, 2019:

Roy

[dfish]

Hey, no error message today!   

 

@marshhawk Annie, try the cottage cheese without the pineapple.  I love fresh pineapple, but it spikes me like crazy.  I can eat fresh tomatoes, but stewed tomatoes and tomato products will spike me.  

[rafinmd]

@kazu according to cruisetimetables it looks like Koningsdam's entry tomorrow should be At sea Destination Raitea ETA 03-05,

 

Roy

[smitty34877]

1 hour ago, AncientWanderer said:

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit  🐇  🐇  🐇

 

Good morning and hello March!

 

We have been to the area around Livorno on a land trip years ago -- went to Pisa, Florence to see the wonderful statue of David.  God willing, we will be there again in May of 2025 on the Oosterdam.  Speaking of which, @kazuJacqui, I see on the future cruises that you are doing the TA.  We are booked for that as well -- have the additional May 14 10-day one as a separate booking, in case it ends up seeming like too much as we get closer.  It will be wonderful to sail with you again!  I hope you feel better soon.

 

As @Quartzsite CruiserLenda said the other day, we really do worry about one another here.  How much?  Awhile back I had a dream that DH and I swung by and picked up @smitty34877Terry to go on a cruise together to.... the Catskills!!

 

On that note, I hope everyone has a good start to the new month and that we welcome spring.  It may come in slowly, but it's coming!  🌹

Maxine

That is so nice that you and DH picked me up! The Catskills are beautiful and maybe we found a lake or two to float around in. Thank you for the good laugh!

[rafinmd]

Today's sunrise is from my 2018 Crystal World Cruise.  On March 1  Crystal Symphony was on an overnight in Tauranga, New Zealand:

 

 

Roy

[AncientWanderer]

14 minutes ago, dfish said:

Hey, no error message today!   

 

@marshhawk Annie, try the cottage cheese without the pineapple.  I love fresh pineapple, but it spikes me like crazy.  I can eat fresh tomatoes, but stewed tomatoes and tomato products will spike me.  

 

@marshhawkand Debbie, years ago I saw a suggestion to add mustard to cottage cheese to liven it up without making it more caloric or unhealthy.  I've eaten it that way ever since.  Grey Poupon all the way.

[AncientWanderer]

10 minutes ago, smitty34877 said:

That is so nice that you and DH picked me up! The Catskills are beautiful and maybe we found a lake or two to float around in. Thank you for the good laugh!

 

Dreams can be very wild.  That one was so vivid.  I hope someday we make it to an ocean!  

[Overhead Fred]

 

[Overhead Fred]

@aliaschief

 

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  

 

[kazu]

2 hours ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

We have been to the area around Livorno on a land trip years ago -- went to Pisa, Florence to see the wonderful statue of David.  God willing, we will be there again in May of 2025 on the Oosterdam.  Speaking of which, @kazuJacqui, I see on the future cruises that you are doing the TA.  We are booked for that as well -- have the additional May 14 10-day one as a separate booking, in case it ends up seeming like too much as we get closer.  It will be wonderful to sail with you again!  I hope you feel better soon.

 

Great news, Maxine! 🙂.  There’s already a roll call up and running and 2 planners on it 😉. For our Livorno day, I’m going to Lucca - a fabulous town.

 

 

2 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

 

 

Jacqui, I'm sorry about the pain and the funk.  

 

Koningsdam returned to Kona on Wednesday night, and she is now at sea on her way to Raiatea, and should be there on time.  The captain had hoped to get close enough for a helicopter to evacuate the passenger, but they wound up returning to Kona and disembarking two patients, spouses and luggage by tender.  The delay was enough for the captain to decided to skip Fanning Island.

 

All this information is on the live from thread from the current Koningsdam cruise.

 

Lenda

 

Thanks Lenda.  I haven’t been reading as much as usual the last little bit so I didn’t know about it.

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

@kazu according to cruisetimetables it looks like Koningsdam's entry tomorrow should be At sea Destination Raitea ETA 03-05,

 

Roy

 

 

Thanks Roy.

[rafinmd]

Today's alternative maps.  Most of the non-HAL ships are just estimated position but should be close.

 

 

 

 

Roy

[luvteaching]

Rabbit, rabbit, White Rabbit! 

 

Good morning, 

 

Off to run errands in a few so checking in before I go. Happy Birthday @aliaschief!

 

Still have power and all the appliances survived so all is good. I don't want to experience those big booms again if I don't have to. Today is errand running this morning then off to see The Music Man this evening at McIntyre Hall which is at our local junior college. It's a great venue and I'm really looking forward to it. I love the music and who remembers Ron Howard lisping through "Gary Indiana" and "The Wells Fargo Wagon.." The show is sold out for this weekend (the last run of it) so am very glad my friend and I got our tickets early. DD DH bought the tickets on Valentines Day since I used his checking account! He continues to spoil me even if he's not here. It's been 8 months and I'm doing well. 

 

Have a great Friday! 

 

Karen

[sailingdutchy]

Thank you for another very nice Daily to all the contributors . I am again late to the party today but could not let the Port of Livorno go without posting some pictures . 

We were a few times in Livorno going on small group tours  ( I believe 9 times now) to visit different places like Pisa , Florence , San Gimigliano , Luca , Voltera and Sienna etc.

 

Hope I am not duplicating too many pictures already posted today 

 

 This very special photo was not taken with a special purpose . DW wanted to take this nice ice cream cart through this store's window and only when we came home and I sorted all of our pictures on my computer and it showed  in the reflection the famous tower of Pisa !  It would not have come out this nice if she had tried to do this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is only a picture of the “doppleganger “ of the real David , who of coarse stands proud and well protected inside this nice museum  ( It was a long time ago that I looked like David but if you want to I can go through my pictures later on.......) 

 

 

 

 

That was Pisa, Florence , San Gimigliano and now a few pictures from a different cruise in 2022 when we went to Sienna which is another lovely place to visit.

 

 

 

 

Amazing to see all of the details on the facade and the workmanship 

 

 

 

 

 

The famous piazza where the annual " Palio di Siena " horse race is held . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And to finish the day this was a beautiful spot for a tasting of the heavenly wines , oils and foods of this area.

 

 

 

A wonderful weekend to all . We are slowly starting to get ready for our next cruise to the Caribbean , to Rotterdam ( The Netherlands ) and our first big visit to the Canary Islands at the end of April.

 

Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend , it will be 14 C on Sunday here what is usually snow country but until now we have not had to shovel snow all winter , fingers crossed that I did not jinx it now .

 

I better stop now before I get in trouble 

 Tony 😄😄

[AncientWanderer]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

Great news, Maxine! 🙂.  There’s already a roll call up and running and 2 planners on it 😉. For our Livorno day, I’m going to Lucca - a fabulous town.

 

 

I peeked at the roll call!  You guys sure as heck are getting busy already.  I'll sign on when I feel more certain that it will be a go.  Lucca sounds really pretty -- and we've been to most of the other local attractions, so it has a lot of appeal.  I looked at what HAL has on offer and their day is a lot longer -- nine hours -- so might want a fuller day there.  

In any case, it's a beautiful itinerary.  If anyone is looking for a really interesting TA, April 19, 2025 is a winner winner chicken dinner.

[dfish]

2 hours ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

@marshhawkand Debbie, years ago I saw a suggestion to add mustard to cottage cheese to liven it up without making it more caloric or unhealthy.  I've eaten it that way ever since.  Grey Poupon all the way.

 

I never thought of mustard.  Mustard does help rev up the metabolism, so it might be worth a try.  Grey Poupon would be good or stadium mustard with the horseradish.  

 

I've never been to Livorno, but I have been to Florence and Pisa on land trips.  When I was in Florence with mom and dad we stopped in a souvenir t-shirt shop.  There was a lovely young woman waiting on us when an older man walked in, puffed up his chest and proclaimed, "This is my daughter."  My dad puffed up his chest and said, "And this is my daughter."  The man puffed his chest up even more and said, "I have two daughters!"  Dad replied, "I have four daughters!"  It was kind of nice to hear two men bragging on their daughters.  

 

Mom and Dad on the steps of San Lorenzo in Florence.  

[kazu]

50 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

I peeked at the roll call!  You guys sure as heck are getting busy already.  I'll sign on when I feel more certain that it will be a go.  Lucca sounds really pretty -- and we've been to most of the other local attractions, so it has a lot of appeal.  I looked at what HAL has on offer and their day is a lot longer -- nine hours -- so might want a fuller day there.  

In any case, it's a beautiful itinerary.  If anyone is looking for a really interesting TA, April 19, 2025 is a winner winner chicken dinner.

 

Jose and I went to Lucca years ago on a HAL tour and it just wasn’t enough time there for us.  I’m delighted to go back and really take it all in properly.  the theatre, walls and town are dear to my heart.

 

Mary (woodinvillecruisers) has arranged for us to have more time and I’m quite pleased with the tour.

 

And yes, this itinerary is a very nice one.  I prefer TA’s the other way but this one isn’t repeated so…. 😉 

 

I hope you two can join us 🤞 

[bennybear]

Rabbit rabbit rabbit!  Good morning and thanks all! 
 

@kazu we saw the Koningsdam coming into Kona about 11 pm. It was gone by yesterday morning as a princess ship was in port.  Hope you feel better.   That TA sounds great.   We love Lucca and have visited a few times,  if you can ride a bike around the walls.   

We too have visited Florence a number of times and have stayed there.   If you visit try Vivolis gelato by Santa Croce. Some more photos of Lucca.  

[AV8rix]

7 hours ago, 0106 said:

 

According to a 2021 study by University of Michigan researchers, eating a hot dog shortens your life by 36 minutes while a peanut butter and jelly sandwich adds 33 minutes to your life.

 

 

SERIOUSLY??  And I suppose they got a grant for that?

[0106]

35 minutes ago, AV8rix said:

SERIOUSLY??  And I suppose they got a grant for that?

The project was carried out within the frame of an unrestricted grant from the National Dairy Council and of the University of Michigan Dow Sustainability Fellowship. 
 

 "Our findings demonstrate that small targeted substitutions offer a feasible and powerful strategy to achieve significant health and environmental benefits without requiring dramatic dietary shifts."  

 

Seriously…on National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, I was just pointing out that peanut butter is good for you and the planet.

 

Edited March 1 by 0106

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

5 hours ago, AncientWanderer said:

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit  🐇  🐇  🐇

 

Good morning and hello March!

 

We have been to the area around Livorno on a land trip years ago -- went to Pisa, Florence to see the wonderful statue of David.  God willing, we will be there again in May of 2025 on the Oosterdam.  Speaking of which, @kazuJacqui, I see on the future cruises that you are doing the TA.  We are booked for that as well -- have the additional May 14 10-day one as a separate booking, in case it ends up seeming like too much as we get closer.  It will be wonderful to sail with you again!  I hope you feel better soon.

 

As @Quartzsite CruiserLenda said the other day, we really do worry about one another here.  How much?  Awhile back I had a dream that DH and I swung by and picked up @smitty34877Terry to go on a cruise together to.... the Catskills!!

 

On that note, I hope everyone has a good start to the new month and that we welcome spring.  It may come in slowly, but it's coming!  🌹

Maxine

 

Maxine, I hope you can take that cruise in 2025.  Our dreams can really take us to some unsual places.

 

5 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Excellent photos Lenda.

 

Thank you, Graham.

 

1 hour ago, dfish said:

 

I never thought of mustard.  Mustard does help rev up the metabolism, so it might be worth a try.  Grey Poupon would be good or stadium mustard with the horseradish.  

 

I've never been to Livorno, but I have been to Florence and Pisa on land trips.  When I was in Florence with mom and dad we stopped in a souvenir t-shirt shop.  There was a lovely young woman waiting on us when an older man walked in, puffed up his chest and proclaimed, "This is my daughter."  My dad puffed up his chest and said, "And this is my daughter."  The man puffed his chest up even more and said, "I have two daughters!"  Dad replied, "I have four daughters!"  It was kind of nice to hear two men bragging on their daughters.  

 

Mom and Dad on the steps of San Lorenzo in Florence.  

 

Debbie, what a nice picture of your parents and what nice memories from your trip.

 

Lenda