Please join us - Spain to the New World on a new ship - LIVE from Oceania Riviera

[kazu]

we could only tax ourselves so far as we had our reservations at Casa Patas that night.

 

 

Casa Patas is a very famous flamenco spot. If you book dinner there, they guarantee you a good seat at the show...so that's what I had done.

 

Unlike the touristy Flamenco places, dinner is not served in the same room as the show. Here, you have dinner at the restaurant and then go into the show at the proper time.

 

The restaurant was filled with pictures of the famous flamenco artists that have performed there.

 

 

 

 

Dinner was not cheap but not outrageous either, it really depended upon what you ordered. my fish was delicious.

 

 

sorry about the pic = DH reminded me I forgot to take a food porn pic. LOL

 

[kazu]

after a nice bite, a bit of wine, it was time to head to the show

 

 

DH & I are Flamenco afficionados. I totally confess it - he more than I but we both love it and I worked hard to try to make sure he would have a good show.

 

Our seats were right at the stage. I could literally feel the sweat from the dancers hit me a couple of times. Our seats were reserved because we had dinner reservations. These pics will be blurry because the dancers were moving so fast, but I did try.

 

I have NEVER seen such good flamenco in all of my travels.

 

There were only 6 performers but when they are all excellent, that's all you need.

 

This will be my last post for a bit as I have to meet friends for dinner but later, I will try to post a video or two for those that might be interested. They are very short as I don't think CC likes long videos.

 

 

 

 

[buggins0402]

Thanks Jacqui, found the restaurant on TA. It was closed tonight, but may check it out. Love your pics.

[Paulchili]

Kazu,

I am enjoying your wonderful pictures and commentary. These bring back great memories of our visits to Spain a few years back.

Please keep it up :)

[kazu]

Thanks Jacqui, found the restaurant on TA. It was closed tonight, but may check it out. Love your pics.

 

 

you are most welcome and glad the pics are not boring.

 

We found another spot for lunch after we left Museo Prado.

 

It is just off the corner of Calle Cervantes and Paseo Prado..

 

 

don't you love the street signs in the Bourbon part of Madrid?

 

this is what you will see across from the restaurant.

 

 

 

 

It is called VIP and there were a ton of locals there.

 

Lunch was very generous and very good. Cost was 21 euros and we were fully satisfied. I forgot to take food porn pics though - sorry.

 

 

We went there after our visit to Prado. OMG what a place. You could spend days there. The Velasquez', Goyas, El Grecos are amazing to mention just a few.

 

The Rembrandt there is a very special one.

 

It was an amazing place and it can be difficult to get around the maze of rooms of art. All beautifully lighted and just overwhelming.

 

 

 

just some passing moments in Madrid

 

[canuck.qc]

Thank you Kazu for your posts. I very much enjoy this travel- type of review the pictures are wonderful and not boring at all!

[ronrick1943]

Not boring at all........can't wait till you get to the ship. Great job for us, but don't forget to enjoy your trip------looks like you are!

Rick

[ski ww]

We are enjoying your pictures and write up of your trip so far, keep up the good work.

Allan & Marlane

[buggins0402]

Can't wait to see the Palace, after seeing your pictures. We had a sidetrack today into the Spanish health system...fell on run in Ritero....eight stitches and no charges...I love the Spanish health care system and all the helpful Spanish people that helped us today.

 

We began in a pharmacia which cleaned the wound, then moved to a clinic, which cleaned it more and recommended going to the hospital. Then onto the hospital, where admissions didn't want to deal with paperwork or charge us cash...the admissions person just came out from the plexiglass, said it was free today and after a hug told me where to wait. One hour later we were walking out (after further assistance from some english speaking patients in the waiting room on how things work there (you are given a ticket and wait for your number to come up on a tv screen and then they either come and get you or you go to a designated room.

 

Lol....if we were back home in a Detroit area hospital this would have been a very expensive visit and would have taken 6 hours minimum.

 

I sincerely hope love your cruise and Riviera.

Edited November 17, 2015 by buggins0402

[Lizzie68]

Just caught up with this thread and all your wonderful photos, Jacqui.:) So glad everything worked out so well after the stress of threatened strike action affecting your flights. Now to wish you and Jose a hearty Bon Voyage for the cruise and just wish we were on there with you! Say Hi to Georgina, too.

[Scrapnana]

You two have had a busy week! Some nice 25 hour sea days will be a great way to relax. Enjoy!

[cat shepard]

Thank you for sharing your pics. I love the sense of movement you captured in your pictures of the dancers. You have quite an eye.

[ski ww]

Bon Voyage, fair winds & smooth seas. With the time difference you should be well out to sea by now. Have a drink we'll be thinking of you.

Allan & Marlane

[sail7seas]

Your photos are fabulous, Jacqui. Thanks for posting them all.

 

[kazu]

thanks everyone. We are onboard the Riviera.

 

I am a bit backlogged on the thread now as the stupid wifi wasn't working on board. The hours of the internet manager are somewhat limited (especially considering that this is a "sign up for internet day" and I had to wait to see him to find out what was going on.

 

Long story short, for whatever reason the log in screeen just blanked out on me and wouldn't come up. It has been fixed so while wifi is working, I can hopefully get caught up. Wifi is NOT great. No comparison so far to what I have experienced other times but hopefully it improves. We are in Cartagena tomorrow on a private tour, so hopefully if tap a talk will work and the wifi will let me upload, I can try to catch up tomorrow or Friday at the latest when we are in Malaga.

 

Thanks so much for your patience.

[1of4]

Oh dear; I hope the internet is the worst of the issues. It is raining hard and the temp is dropping so you know what that means! Give a smile and know that you won't encounter any of that 4 letter stuff for a while!!!

 

You made it and all is well!! Enjoy.

[sherifa]

Jacqui,

 

Enjoying your photos and info. Thanks for taking the time to post and share these wonders with us!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just catching up on this "Live" cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hope your Internet improves.

Great Pictures!!

[Cruzin Terri]

Thank you Jacqui for all the wonderful photos. Looking forward to your reports on the Riviera.

Terri

[kazu]

Sitting in the Plaza de Merced in Malaga & DH and I came back to the same spot where we were many years ago. He still has some sentimental thoughts :)

 

He is going to get a hair cut at a local spot leaving me here to have a sip of wine or whatever and play with wifi, so I will be trying to catch up.

[kazu]

1 0f 4, I am sorry to hear about the weather. We have been really luck here. Weather was quite decent in the north of Spain (around 17-20 degrees celsius), 20 in Madrid and beautiful in Barcelona. I took my jacket in Cartagena and never needed it. Today in Malaga I am in a three quarter length top. It is going to be 23 or around 75 degrees F.

 

So, backing up to Madrid for a moment - we had a great day with the Museo Prado

 

 

 

 

 

so many lovely things to see in Madrid - just a little taste

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

the last picture above is an enlargement of the bottom of the Columbus statue here is the full view....

 

 

Our hotel was right on the plaza of Coulombe (Christopher columbus)

 

 

you found the neatest things on walks in this city besides all the lovely squares and buildings...

 

 

The next day it was time to fly to Barcelona and meet up with CC friends gigianne & Skippers Mom & then meet our roll call. We had a busy time planned.

 

We all connected and decided to go for a bite together. Surprisingly, we had found what appeared to be a nice restaurant very close to our hotel which suited us just fine (Hotel Colon).

 

It is called Victors and just down the side street from the Plaza a smidge. Because we were 6 we were put in a separate dining area and ended up with that section all to ourselves so that was very nice.

 

The food was very good (and I am VERY fussy). Paella was reported good by all who had it (I didn't - I make it, I don't eat it much) and there were various types.

 

Here's a little food porn

 

 

[kazu]

salmon, calamari, etc. It was all well done and we thought reasonably priced considering the location.

 

 

 

 

 

dessert was a cross between a Creme Brulee & a typical Creme Caramel. It was quite good :)

 

[kazu]

Our friends had just arrived that day from across the pond so, needless to say they were tired. We called it an early night as the next day we were all scheduled to go on a private transfer to Montserrat.

 

DH and I have spent many days (and a week in Barcelona) so this is one thing that we have not done. I didn't want to take the cable car so I had arranged a transfer that would drive us there and show us some key stops.

 

I can't describe how beautiful Montserrat is and I took way too many pictures. You can actually see it for free (other than the cost to get there) unless you want to take a private tour there to go in the upper area of the church. Are you ready???

 

 

we made a scenic stop to see how high we were already (and we weren't there) and the tram (or venicular - whatever the right word is). Now do you see why I didn't want to take it.

 

 

just to give you an idea of how high we were all ready and how much further we had to go - our ears were already popping!