slidergirl

That’s why they called him “McDreamiest”. I knew the show but totally lost the name. He was really nice. Watched the jousting and fireworks with us. Would come out and talk with us when we were hanging out on the main deck aft patio. It’s just him and his deckhand, Thomas, so he was always very hands on with maintenance and such. Barges are very intimate so you interact with everyone in a casual manner. The fires aren’t affecting me. I did just see that a few have popped up in Tuscany. The heat and fires are terrible. Planes can’t fly in places because the runways are melting (!), trains having issues because rails are buckling. Heard that about Great Britain. The heat is just oppressive for me. Can only go so long before I go back to the hotel. What I noticed today was one of the few wearing a hat. Weird. My day bag gets rather heavy with the water I carry but it’s a necessity. Cynthia - I saw a message today that, due to major luggage issues at Schiopol that only carry on will be allowed on flights. Yikes! That’s going to put a kink in a lot of people’s vacation plans!!! some random pics from Bologna. No food porn yet. But one of the most interesting fountain porn. Anatomically correct guy, ladies with water flowing out the boobs….

Re the lavender fields: I guess farmers will allow folks to go in the fields until it is abused. I was going to take a photo of all the people in the first field. I guess these folks don’t worry about bees. I forgot to mention the wonderful mix of women on the barge. My roommate and I were the only 2 solos. 2 friends from Chicago who were never seen without a glass of wine. A couple from Los Angeles who married the first day it was legal in CA. 2 longtime friends from Oxnard, CA who always take a trip together. 2 sisters, 1 who was 93 years old! She out walked and out biked everyone. I only hope that I am that vigorous at that age! It’s a kind of down day. Staying out of the heat and going out later. Did I mention that the ladies, started by the Chicago 2, called our Captain “Captain McDreamiest”? A play on Dr. McDreamy on that tv hospital show. No trip pics today so I figured I’d post this. What do you think?

The train won’t be any of those if denied boarding because you didn’t have a KN95 mask😛

Well, it has to do with being prepared to take the train between Rome and Civi. it is mentioned multiple times on the Trenitalia site. I heard it on the PA systems in the Milano and Bologna stations.

I have been using my Anker Power Port 6 for the past 2 weeks in France and Italy. Just need the adapter plug and I can charge up all I need. I was on a canal barge in Southern France and it was perfect for the two of us in the cabin to charge.

NOTE: you must still have a KN95 mask to wear on all public transportation in Italy. Today, as soon as my train crossed into Italy from France, the announcement was made. They were rather assertive with people not masked.

If you’ve not been to Da Cesare, give it a try. It’s out of the tourist area but easy to get to via the #8 tram. It’s at the end of the line. Best to go with at least one more person so you can try a bunch of their antipasti. The fried gnocchi in Gorgonzola is freakin amazing. Wish I had room to try their frito mixto- people next to me had it and it looked scrumptious. Reservations absolutely necessary. I’ve been to La Pergola, but not to dine. One of the concierges took me up for a look at the view. I was staying there on an award for a Hilton employee contest.

I’m over in France now, on my way to Italy. Teens and young women are wearing short jean shorts, short tops and a variety of white sneakers, including high tops. A lot are wearing cute flouncy mini dresses with both sneakers or flat sandals.

I’m on the train now from Lyon to Bologna. It’s my relax day since it will take most of the day. I paid for Executive class so I’d have a big comfy seat and 3 meals. Basically the same time and price a flight would have been. I couldn’t smell the lavender until I stopped and got out of the car. Tons of bees, of course. Since I am allergic to the 🐝, I stayed at the start of the rows and didn’t venture in. The drive up to Lyon was a hot one. Stopped at Ponte du Garde for a look (too hot to do much more). Lots of people playing in the water. As I was l leaving, 2 buses of older folks came in, probably from a river boat. Most of them looked like they wouldn’t be able to make the unshaded walk down to the Ponte, especially in 99 degrees. Cynthia - I was so tired when I got to Lyon I didn’t get out to see anything. The restaurant at the hotel had a nice menu so I stayed there. You’d like the hotel Globe et Cecil. My single room was larger than the cabin on the barge! A nice little quirky place .

I don’t collect but I love looking at it. Only 97 today. Spent the afternoon literally wandering through the area around Sault. Heard there were still good lavender fields up there. Google maps took me all different ways, on little roads and through little villages. I have no clue where I was, but it was a nice drive and Google navigated me right back to my parking garage. Didn’t come home same way- no idea how that happened. I found a few nice fields. Cynthia- I saw somewhere that a bunch of that luggage is being brought to Detroit for sorting and hopefully delivery.

Yes, it is freakin hot. It’s 92 right now at noon. Cooler than yesterday. It was 81 last night at 10pm when I was at dinner and it felt cool! Waiting until later to head up into the hills. Today is the antique market. Again, good thing I don’t have any space. Jewelry, silver, crystal, oh my. Wandered some streets behind my apartment and found a small farmer’s market. Picked up some cherries and a fougasse ( a savory pastry with goat cheese).

The ranch didn’t have that touristy feeling. The kids joined us for snacks. Nothing fancy. No more traditional boule fighting at the colosseum, but they do the boule chasing. The ranch lady has one of hers in the meet this weekend.

You also need to buy tickets in advance.

Armando has always been a hard ticket, even back in the mid2000s. It’s small, family-run. Every time I go, it’s a nice mix of locals and tourists. I can’t think of any place near Termini. I’d maybe check Mercato Centrale at the Termini. A food hall with choices. Not like a food court, but good offerings.

Absolutely make a reservation! Both are small and always full.

Hi all! Cruising through a national park on a canal does have some communications issues. The barge trip was fantastic! I will write more later. The Carmague horses and boules were as cool as I hoped. The rancher lady, her daughter and kids from the daughter’s riding school gave us a good Demo of riding, herding the boules and cutting from the herd. The herd would get running so fast! We got to tag the little baby boule and then one of the kids played boulechaser with it. So good to see kids being taught the traditions of the ranches. We all had a picnic with good foods and wine. I’m going to try to catch up when I can. Some food porn will come. I was so hungry that I forgot to take photos of Chef’s food. How he could do delicious food and make the dessert too in that TINY kitchen… I’m in Aix now, baking in the 99 degree heat. Made a trip to Monoprix by my apartment to get water and yogurt. OOTD: my Flaherty striped dress, my white olu kai sneakers and my hat. It is definitely dress time here! IMG_1065.MOV

Yay good news Lois! quick checking as our cell/Wi-Fi gets very spotty in the park. It’s been really fun so far. LOTS of wine. The food on the barge has been outstanding-how they turn out the meals in that tiny galley boggles the mind. Today went to a woman-owned organic vineyard and winery. We started “tasting” at 11am and just continued through dinner. Our purser also does his 12:30 happy hour with a specialty cocktail. We found a cool organic clothing store and we all did some damage. I found the white linen shirt I had been looking for, linen shorts and pants. Just have to find space in my bags for it! 3 showers a day is the norm- hot and humid. ootd: my outdoor voices zip panel pants done capri length, green wool tank (they have been great), my hat and Olu Kai shirt sneakers (comfy and good from the start)

I did get some Tunisian food. Couscous with chicken. Came with a nice broth with lots is big pieces of veggie. Tasty. Added a little harissa and spiced up nicely. staying on the Vieux Port at The Residence du Vieux Port. Nice place. I had a balcony overlooking the port. Sat there last night and drank my beers. Leaving in about 20 minutes to meet up with the others and go to our barge in Arles.

I’ve had a few of my photos post upside down, too. No idea why.

I’m in Marseille right now. Didn’t notice any tshirt shops in le panier district. No T-shirt shops per se in Vieux Port. There is one T-shirt kiosk in the little white huts along the Vieux Port walkway. It had a nice “Vieux Port” T-shirt that you may like. Most things lining the street are restaurants.

Right now I’m in Marseille France, going to Arles tomorrow for my canal barge cruise, so from SLC to MRS. oh, forgot SLC to CAI for my Nile cruise back in the mid 2000s

Watching some white boat in the port playing Below Deck Med 😉. Registered in the Caymans. Looks like a group of 6 - served lunch on the aft deck. 2 stews attending them. Lucky to be rich, I guess. News flash: I wore a dress today!!! Turquoise muscle shirt dress and my hi tops. Dress was cool, but showed every drop of sweat 😓 lessons learned. There is a silk performance across the street. He hangs in the and twists and turns on the silk. He is tethered on a crane, so he goes wasaaay up in the air. Impressive. 2 ships at least in port today - Viking Sky and an MSC ship. Saw herds with name tags being shepherded around by people holding signs. Looked like an older crowd. Dinner is next after I finish off the craft beers I bought from a vendor across the street. Really good beer. An unfiltered mango sour and a hibiscus pale. Yummmy! I might look for a North African place for dinner. Marseille is filled with people from there.

Lois - so glad that the staff took special care of you. You deserved it! Got up this morning and walked the perimeter of the Vieux Port before it gets too hot. Stopped off and grabbed a cafe e croissant afterwards. I’m feeling human after all the travel yesterday. That Timeshifter app seems to have helped with the jet lag. off to get more Euros and buy sunscreen

Lucked out at CDG. Got through passport control in under 10 minutes. Business class has its perks. The train to Marseille was brutal. SNCF has a product called OUIGO. Kind of like Spirit Airlines, train version. Overhead racks that would only fit a briefcase, everyone had bags everywhere. I sat in my single seat with my bags in my foot space. And no kind of cooling. A hot muggy 3 hours. But I made it. 91 degrees at 6pm but a nice 79 at almost midnight. The waterfront is still busy- even families are out. I can sit on my balcony and just watch. Tried to use the night mode in my iPhone to take a shot of the cathedral up on the hill…

Had to post. Dropped off at SLC at 11:15, sitting in Sky Club by 11:35. Moose wanted to travel with me, so I now have a partner. Here’s Moose enjoying his pre-flight snack. And it’s the first photo taken with the new phone. Don’t know why it’s upside down.