Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Two

[UKCruiseJeff]

JP,

 

This trip sounds so meaty, I guess because it is real travel and with a real meaty heart to it. The car. And real places to visit.

 

I know you will be busy but any moresls you post I think will be salivated.

 

What is your favourite German word!

 

Jeff

[mysty]

That is such a shame.

 

We must lure him back. Bagels may do it.

 

Almost everyone enjoys a bagel, although 99.99999999% will never experience the joy of a perfect bagel because they have no point of comparison. They have to be made at home.

 

Show him these and promises that if he makes a perfect baguette then I'll help him make bagels and some lovely variants.

 

Tell him that he could do this. For you. A test of his love.

 

Jeff

 

 

Well, I think the bagel porn will definitely light a fire under him! He loves bagels! He has a slight food intolerance to eggs and most of the bagels he tries give him headaches. If he could make his own at home, he would be a very happy camper!

 

However, any mention of doing so as a test of his love would have him rolling on the floor laughing. :) He would say, and rightly so, that he has aced that test long ago! I can be a bit of a pain in the arse! However, the pain is definitely worth it in my humble opinion!

[UKCruiseJeff]

More reason. There should be no egg in bagels. Unless they aren't made properly and they are substituing an egg glaze instead of the natural glaaze you get when boiled in malt.

 

Proves my point. Not ating real bagels!

 

 

Jeff

[mysty]

I got to tag along with Myster on a business trip to Australia in 2004. We spent a week in Adelaide then took the Ghan to Alice Springs followed by a tour to Uluru (Ayers Rock). It was an awesome experience.

 

Here is a picture from the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

 

 

And here is a picture of Uluru.

 

 

The camera was not a DSLR so the images are not quite as crisp. But they do serve as wonderful memories! :)

[mysty]

More reason. There should be no egg in bagels. Unless they aren't made properly and they are substituing an egg glaze instead of the natural glaaze you get when boiled in malt.

 

Proves my point. Not ating real bagels!

 

 

Jeff

AGREED! Bagel Porn pictures will be on display when the lad returns from golf! Thanks for your encouragement Jeff! :)

[TLCOhio]

Friday!! We signed the loan paperwork and dropped off the down payment 2 days ago. All the paperwork from Audi's HQ have arrived, so all over but the waiting. We'll get an early train to Ingolstadt next Monday morning, they will pick us up and take us to the factory, then we drive it away! So close... And yes, very excited to get back on the Autobahn with a powerful car, and let it fly! Still thinking about a few laps on the Nürburgring Nordschleife before I bring it home - would be awesome! :cool: Yummy bagels - think we'll pick up a few for breakfast ourselves.

 

Super appreciate the bagel pictures and details, plus the great update on the upcoming Germany adventure. YES, the Autobahn can be wonderful. From my experiences there, I liked much better the areas with three lanes in each direction. That made things much easier to handle with the range of different vehicles/trucks and travel speeds. Good luck with your Audi pick-up and travels there. We are expecting lots of nice pictures.

 

On bagels, I just finished enjoy two of them this morning on our screened porch. Wonderful!!! I like the "all everything" bagels. Sorry, don't do the homemade type as Jeff can so wonderfully produce. My bagels, however, worked well. Plus, I shared some "bites" with Roxie and Rudy, our two Labrador dogs. They were happy, too!!

 

Great sharing of Australia pictures by mysty. Wonder shot of Ayers Rock/Uluru. We did not make it there in early 2014, but hopefully will visit there during an upcoming, return trip down under.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 117,699 views for this posting.

[mysty]

Thanks Terry for your kind words! The trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs on the Ghan was great fun! It was a long overnight trip though. The train schedule did not work well for our return to Adelaide so we took the bus. That was another interesting overnight ride. Many aboriginals use the bus to travel across that big country. In some spots, the bus driver would pull over to let off passengers in the middle of nowhere. There was no terminal or even a town in sight. Vast and seemingly endless desert across the middle of that country!

[TLCOhio]

The trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs on the Ghan was great fun! It was a long overnight trip though. The train schedule did not work well for our return to Adelaide so we took the bus. That was another interesting overnight ride. Many aboriginals use the bus to travel across that big country. In some spots, the bus driver would pull over to let off passengers in the middle of nowhere. There was no terminal or even a town in sight. Vast and seemingly endless desert across the middle of that country!

 

Appreciate your wonderful details from your bus ride back from central Australia to Adelaide. Very interesting and fascinating!! Hope that overnight bus was air-conditioned.

 

As we flew south from Cairns to Melbourne on the way to Adelaide and Kangaroo Island, we got to see some samples of the dry, vast interiors of Australia. Your trip and what we saw from the air provides keen insights about the huge size of their interior areas within this massive nation/continent.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 203,557 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Here are three of my visuals from Adelaide. These do not do this nice town full justice, but it offers a little sampling. First is its historic theatre there. Second is part of the Chinatown area with their many dining options. Third is the exterior for the Italian dining place we visited and enjoyed during one of our two evenings in this city. Adelaide is Australia's fifth-largest city with 1.3 million people. It is a cosmopolitan coastal city with nearby wineries and other cultural/tourism options that can be of interest. Its airport is nice, very modern and not too large or confusing.:

 

 

 

 

 

[mysty]

Great pics Terry! :) I would love to retire in Adelaide! One of my absolute favourite cities!

[TLCOhio]

Great pics Terry! :) I would love to retire in Adelaide! One of my absolute favourite cities!

 

While we liked Adelaide very much, we are not ready to retire there. BUT, we hope that misty does, buys a very large home in that town and it is available for us to stay and visit there. When should we plan on coming down there?

 

Below are a few more visuals from Adelaide, plus a fun example from Kangaroo Island.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Super loved Dubrovnik!!! See more details and lots of great visual samples/examples at this link. Have had over 29,825 views on this posting and appreciate those who have tuned-in and dropped by.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

 

 

Here are three more views from Adelaide. First, was our first impression as our plane was getting ready to land. This visual shows the residential development around and near the various water parts in and nearby, plus many parks, trees, etc. Next are two other downtown views and examples. Fun, interesting city!!:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is one more from Kangaroo Island and its dramatic coastal rock formation.:

 

[jpalbny]

Loving the Australia pictures from Terry and Mysty... It's been too long since we last visited - time to go back for a good length of time!

 

By the way, we have decided on Barcelona for the Christmas weekend. Thanks to all of your great alternative suggestions, I think we have our Holiday weekend getaways covered until 2025! Since most of the Germany trip is already well-planned, we're starting to look at Barcelona details already. Strange to start planning the next trip before the current one is even underway, but that's how we roll...the more irons in the fire, the more we like it!

Edited August 31, 2015 by jpalbny

[mysty]

That's wonderful JP! I'm sure you will have an awesome Christmas holiday! Planning is half the fun of travel to my mind! Enjoy!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Always follow the heart! I'm sure you'll have a great time JP.

 

:)

 

Jeff

[specialcruisegirl]

Hello Coolers,

 

Lots of good pics again....Australia, New Zealand and myself met up way back in 1971/2 so once more l see changes since l was there...it was very very quiet back then!

 

Great choice with Barcelona JP...I also love planning many trips in advance...plenty of research to occupy one on what will soon be cold dark nights! Hope you have fun and enjoy your forthcoming trip to collect the car.

 

Think autumn has arrived overnight here in North Wales....raining all night and still is.. plus it's gone a bit chilly so I've turned the heating on :eek:

 

Typical Bank Holiday weather l may add!!

 

Pre lunch Merlot is going down very well right now before Scampi, chips and salad to follow.

 

Sophia :)

[mysty]

Enjoy Sophia! Our next national holiday is a week today for Labour Day. The weather has been quite nice so far. Autumn here is usually quite pleasant and I can hold off on turning the furnace on until about the middle of October. Your meal sounds delicious! :)

[TLCOhio]

Loving the Australia pictures from Terry and Mysty... It's been too long since we last visited - time to go back for a good length of time! By the way, we have decided on Barcelona for the Christmas weekend. Thanks to all of your great alternative suggestions, I think we have our Holiday weekend getaways covered until 2025! Since most of the Germany trip is already well-planned, we're starting to look at Barcelona details already. Strange to start planning the next trip before the current one is even underway, but that's how we roll...the more irons in the fire, the more we like it!

 

mysty: I'm sure you will have an awesome Christmas holiday! Planning is half the fun of travel to my mind!

 

specialcruisegirl: Hello Coolers' date=' Lots of good pics again ....Australia, New Zealand and myself met up way back in 1971/2 so once more l see changes since l was there...[b']it was very very quiet back then![/b]

 

Great news that JP and Chris are already starting their planning of Barcelona for Christmas 2015 time. Below is a little more on some dining options to consider. Many very good to great potentials there.

 

Interesting insights and comments on the changes in Australia/NZ as to how things were more "sleepy" back in those days a few decades back. As noted earlier, we really enjoyed BOTH the nature/wildlife/scenery of those areas, plus the wonderful people, enjoyment of life, etc.

 

Before our cruise near our first hotel we did the Barcelona Tapas place named Neyras that we enjoyed so much. They are in the neighborhood of Sant Pere Santa Caterina i la Ribera with an address of Laietana, 41, 08003 Barcelona, Spain and their phone is +34 933024647. You can see more detailed reviews at:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187497-d751585-Reviews-Neyras-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

 

After our cruise in Barcelona on a Sunday night we did dining out at Les Quinze Nity in the La Place Reial just off of the La Rambla. Great meal and value at this place. This location is a popular square that is a social focal point especially at night. It was filled, even on a Sunday night, with Barcelonian's and tourists soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying some food or drinks at one of the many restaurants or bars that surround this interesting square. The only downside with Les Quinzes Nits is that it is very popular and their can long lines/waits.

 

There is also the famed Mercat La Boqueria. We had breakfast there before starting our cruise. WOW!!! It is easy to see why this popular Boqueria Market is not to be missed. It has a wide range of fresh meats, cheeses, produce and delicious food options to enjoy. They had beautifully-stocked fruit stands, busy breakfast stands and other places to sit down and eat.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 117,771 views for this posting.

 

 

Here is a night view of the "action" at the La Place Reial just off of the La Rambla. Plus, a visual of people dining out at Les Quinze Nity in this plaza area that gets lots of the locals there.:

 

 

 

[spinnaker2]

JP:

hotel la gran florida on mt tibadabo...

check it out.

views amazing, air perfumed with fresh herbs

[UKCruiseJeff]

Good Morning from the balcony in Devon.

 

Lovely day emerging ... ipad panny .....

 

Jeff

 

 

[lincslady]

Looks lovely Jeff - and as if your view is to the east; I imagined it would be west, somehow. Yesterday - a general holiday in the UK - it poured down almost everywhere, now people are back at work it has improved of course.

 

jp, you will get heaps of recommendations for hotels in Barcelona, but two I think worth looking at are 1898, on the Rambla - probably a room at the back, but very central for walking most places, and as I said before, Casa Fuster, which is just a beautiful atmospheric building, in a quieter spot north of the Rambla. A look at their websites probably worth it,as well as many others I am sure. They are both rather elegant old style hotels.

 

Lola

[UKCruiseJeff]

Good Morning Lola,

 

We're very lucky in that we're on the Northern side of an east facing bay .... so our balcone faces due south if you get my drift.

 

Just getting fully immersed in my latest learnings. I am obsessed with social history.

 

Really stunning learning about how advanced ancient civilisation was in the Indus river/valley civilisations. Roughly 5 million people living in around 1000 cities so far discoverd. The civilisation is very ancient and turns my concepts of the degree of advancement some of these civilisations enjoyed.

 

Enough from me!

 

:)

 

Jeff

[mysty]

You have a beautiful location and view Jeff! Enjoy your lovely day! I often wonder what the civilizations that follow us will think when they look back on ours. I don't think we will come off very well in comparison to those that have come before us.

[specialcruisegirl]

Jeffers...l could sit and admire that view from the balcony all day :)

 

I've spent a lovely morning mooching around the small market town of Llangollen ...http://www.llangollen.com for those interested....it's actually pronounced Llangothlen and is a pretty little place with lots of interesting individual shops.

 

Back home for lunch as the heavens opened :rolleyes:

 

Sophia :)

[spinnaker2]

Sophia,

what a charming village!

enjoyed the visual tour and commentary on the website.

 

Jeff,

the view is gorgeous. waiting for the food photos from the balcony.

 

the tropical storm, Erika, was supposed to bring us days of rain, but no such luck. We had some, but not enough and South Florida is parched and hot.

 

Fall is almost here, and that means football in the US, first big college game Thursday night with Michigan playing Utah.

[mysty]

Jeffers...l could sit and admire that view from the balcony all day :)

 

I've spent a lovely morning mooching around the small market town of Llangollen ...http://www.llangollen.com for those interested....it's actually pronounced Llangothlen and is a pretty little place with lots of interesting individual shops.

 

Back home for lunch as the heavens opened :rolleyes:

 

Sophia :)

Beautiful spot to wander Sophia! Thanks for sharing that!

[mysty]

Sophia,

what a charming village!

enjoyed the visual tour and commentary on the website.

 

Jeff,

the view is gorgeous. waiting for the food photos from the balcony.

 

the tropical storm, Erika, was supposed to bring us days of rain, but no such luck. We had some, but not enough and South Florida is parched and hot.

 

Fall is almost here, and that means football in the US, first big college game Thursday night with Michigan playing Utah.

Are fires a threat there Spinnaker2? Our provinces of British Columbia and Alberta have had a rough go this year with fires.

 

And how is your dog doing these days? I hope all is well on that front!