The Daily for Friday Mar 19, 2021

[Sharon in AZ]

1 hour ago, dfish said:

Today is also my dad's birthday.  He would have been 92.  He said that as a kid he wished he had been born on St. Patrick's Day, but when he learned about the feast of St. Joseph on the 19th, he was very happy that he shared the date.   He proudly told everyone that he was born on the Feast of St. Joseph.

 

 

Happy heavenly birthday to your father. And I love his shirt!!

[Sharon in AZ]

2 hours ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

wanted to share photos we took on our sunset walk by our house last night! So nice out and the sunset was beautiful! David took the pics with his phone. This is called Grandview at the end of our street which is one way! 

At first I thought these were paintings of yours !!!  They looked almost too perfect. So beautiful !!

[Sharon in AZ]

2 hours ago, lcand1923 said:

 

I am a bit down today because a dear friend, 63 years old, passed yesterday.  I’m still in a state of shock.

 

Also, My Dad and his older brother were both born on St. Joseph’s Day.  I miss them both.

I am so sorry about your friend, so very young. 
 

Happy heavenly birthday to your father and his brother!  

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning.  I'll be celebrating backyard day this afternoon by sitting on the patio with a good book.  Certified nurses should be celebrated for continuing their training, and all nurses and healthcare workers should be celebrated everyday, especially after the year they have just been through.  We can all celebrate laughter.

 

@mamaofamiGreat news that you have a plan for getting the vaccine and that you'll also be able to return to a normal life.  Fingers crossed there isn't a recurrence of the Bell's palsy.

@ger_77 There is more to Alaska than glaciers.  The scenery is spectacular.

@dfish It isn't often that one can celebrate a load of laundry.  Enjoy your new appliances.

@lcand1923 Condolences on the loss of your friend. 

@Vict0riann I also agree that Dr. Bonnie's decision is counterproductive.  I may not be Canadian, but we're all in this together, and what one province, state or country decides affects everyone in some way.  @Horizon chaser 1957 and @kazu your reasoning about he decision said it best.

@DeeniEncinitas The pictures are beautiful.

 

Lenda

Edited March 19, 2021 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[JazzyV]

Looks like we'll have our first eaglet soon. A pip in one of the 3 eggs was seen.

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by JazzyV

[Vict0riann]

1 hour ago, Horizon chaser 1957 said:

@lcand1923 I am so sorry for your loss. This has been a difficult year.

@Vict0riannthere are two reasons I hope Dr. Henry reverses her decision later. First, I have a trip booked for late November I’d really like to take, if all else levels out. Second, and most important, it is a HUGE mistake not to let those who are vaccinated have more freedom than those who are not. Too many people are on the fence about getting the vaccine at all. If there turns out to be zero incentive to have it, guess what they’ll decide. Especially at that rate, we will never reach herd immunity. Do we just ban public gatherings and international travel until the end of time because someone’s feelings might be hurt? This was a truly bad call, IMHO.

I agree -  also, the border closure is really a federal decision, and Trudeau seems to extending it month by month, so how can she say we can't travel abroad until next year?  I'm waiting for some clarification, hopefully SOON! 😄

[Mtn2Sea]

Like many of our fellow Rotterdam passengers, we took an excursion to Florence and Pisa after the ship stopped in Livorno.  Although it was a long day, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

I decided to break my post into two posts.  We've been to Livorno seven times and missed it once due to wind.  

 

The in 2000, we took a tour to Florence and Piza.  Walking into Pisa from the parking lot was one of those moments where it was better than expected, with the Baptistry, Church and Tower backed by a clear blue sky.  After that, we have done our own thing, renting cars most times.

 

In 2002, on the Noordam, the Leaning Tower had just opened to visitors,  With the suggestion from the port guide, Barbara H, we left the ship early.  We were at the ticket office by 7:30 am and had tickets for the 8 am climb.  Your are allowed 35 minutes to go up and back.

 

Here are a couple of different views of Pisa.

 

This is one of the anchors cables attached to the town were attached to in the latest attempt to straighten the tower.  IIRC, it did pull it back several degrees and concrete was poured under the foundation of the raised area.

 

In 2016, on the Prinsendam, we rented a car and drove to Florence and then to Sienna.  This is what I call the $120 picture.  We were driving through the walled part of the city, not knowing we were not supposed to be there.  A year later, the day before we were leaving for another long Pdam cruise, we got a letter from Italy, that was a fine for driving in a no auto area.  The funny thing was, I got the ticket even though DG was driving, since my name was on the rental agreement.  This is the cathedral in Sienna.

 

 

In 2019, on the Veendam, we were in Livorno three times.  Since we had never really explored Livorno, we decided to stay in town that year and avoid the crowds in Florence.  

 

The first day, we took the Ho-Ho and visited the village of Santuario al Montenero, by funicular which was included in the Ho-Ho ticket.

 

The next two stops there, we rode the local bus., stopping once at the beach.   At several areas of the beach you have to pay to get in, but we found a nice place where we could sit and get a coke.

 

Livorno is not a tourist town, but we still managed to enjoy the days there, since they were slow paced and we could take it easy.

 

Lenda

[kazu]

2 hours ago, garlictown said:

☕Good Morning from Maui🌴...only 7:30 a.m. here so I will be "late" every day, lol! 😉 I'm working from my tablet while being away from home....👍Thank You for the Daily! 😁We have been to Livorno several times and enjoyed tours with Cruise Critic groups.

🙏 Prayers to all in need.🌴

 

Love it but someone needs to tell my backyard (and it has the least snow) and my front yard and mound of snow that I can’t see beyond and have to honk before I back out that it’s the last day of winter.

 

 

See what seems to be dark spots in the shadows?  It’s not grass - it’s solid ice.  

 

 

The whole thing is a mine field to pick up the dogs’ you know what and sadly it has to be done as Master Marley is a poop - sickle eater in the winter time.  

I lose sometimes as with the ice I can’t move fast enough 😔 so, until it really warms up there is chicken and rice broth added to their food with the probiotic to prevent a deadly problem 😉 

 

Of course once it warms up, I’ll complain about the mud and wet being tracked in 😂 

[1ANGELCAT]

Great news. I just scored an appointment for my 1st vaccine for Monday morning. It took me 30 minutes to wait on the website till I reached my turn in line😱

       Not sure if it’s Pfizer or Modena. 

[Divi]

We have appointments for our first shots! So happy!!

Canada has approved AstraZeneca for over 65. It’s 100km drive each way but so worth it. Road trip. 😀

[sailingdutchy]

Thank you for another very nice Daily Rich , Roy and all other contributors . I am 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  (8) different times to Pisa , Florence , San Gimigliano and Voltera  ( Love to also see Sienna next time ) 

 

Hope I am not duplicating any pictures already posted today 

 

Tony 😀

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by sailingdutchy

[Seahorse99]

Thanks to all for posting photos of the towns reachable from Livorno. Have been to Florence, Siena, and San Gimignano and enjoyed all tremendously. The photos brought back such happy memories. And the gelato was so wonderful. I liked the way they could get as many flavors as you liked into a single serving. 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Another town near Livorno and Florence, that is easy to reach if you rent a car is Volterra.  It is an old, walled city southeast of Livorno on top of a hill at about 1740 feet.  We enjoyed wandering through the narrow streets, and we had the best gelato there.  The views are good too.

 

Lenda

[Overhead Fred]

I just got back from our 4 hour (RT) drive to get our son his first Moderna shot. It is now sunny and in the 50s! I need to scrounge up something for the grill...

 

We stopped in Livorno on the Koningsdam on April 20, 2018. We saw very little of the town since we took a tour to Lucca. Lucca is a beautiful town and we would go back in a heartbeat. We walked all around for quite awhile and did not want to leave. We met Puccini and Boccherini, saw beautiful flowers & architecture, and had a delicious buccellato pastry and coffee in the Piazza San Michele.

[rafinmd]

3 hours ago, kazu said:

 

I so agree with you on this one 👍 

 

There should be a benefit to being vaccinated.  We’ve all hunkered down long enough.  

 

The cruise ships beginning to sail in June are showing a benefit.  No vaccine (unless you are under age 18), no cruise.

I'm just in partial disagreement here.  First, I think masks should be required until it is conclusively shown that the vaccinated are not potential asymptomatic spreaders.  The other thing is I don;t think it's fair to discriminate while so many are unable to get the vaccine.  Once the vaccine is available to all, there should be benefits (beyond the obvious health benefits) to being vaccinated.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

6 hours ago, lcand1923 said:

I am a bit down today because a dear friend, 63 years old, passed yesterday.  I’m still in a state of shock.

So sorry to hear this.

 

Roy

[kazu]

25 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

I'm just in partial disagreement here.  First, I think masks should be required until it is conclusively shown that the vaccinated are not potential asymptomatic spreaders.  The other thing is I don;t think it's fair to discriminate while so many are unable to get the vaccine.  Once the vaccine is available to all, there should be benefits (beyond the obvious health benefits) to being vaccinated.

 

Roy

 

We can agree to disagree 😉. We don’t have our vaccinations yet but until we do and unless things are somewhat safe, we won’t be going anywhere.

 

To your point, by the time the ships are sailing everyone in North America (at least, the U.S. and Canada) will have access to the vaccines (unless something goes abysmally wrong).

 

In the United States it’s earlier than here - but even here, it’s by September at the latest.  I suspect it will be sooner IF someone wants it.  
 

Why penalize those that are protecting society?  Those that choose not to vaccinate have made a choice.  The only thing I worry about is those with health concerns that can’t.  But I suspect that down the road there will be a a solution to that , I hope.

[Tbay]

I have to agree with all the comments on Lucca. It is a beautiful spot.  We have spent a week in Florence, between 2 visits, taking the train from Rome once  and from Venice the other time.  Stayed in a lovely old fashioned hotel, a 3 block walk from the train station. While in the crypts under the Duomo, the power went out for several minutes, leaving us in the dark! There are so many sites to see there, a day tour from a cruise ship doesn't leave time to see a fraction of them.

 

@ger_77  We grew up in Northern Ontario, so we know cold and snow.  Alaska is a trip you should take.    Bacon chicken ranch is one of my favorite pizzas.

[TiogaCruiser]

6 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

When you type in the @baltic17, a list will appear with all the similar names - just click on the one you want and it will be highlighted in your post.

@baltic17 The person you “highlights” also gets a message that they have a response (like you just did).

 

I suspect  @lcand1923 didn’t light up as I thought the first letter was a capital i and not a lowercase L. 

Edited March 19, 2021 by TiogaCruiser

[Vict0riann]

DS (an optician) just called to say he has registered to get the vaccine - probably in early April.  Yay!

[erewhon]

Thanks Rich and Roy for the daily and the lists.

Seeing all the Italian photos brings back many happy memories.  Thank you all.

@lcand1923 condolences on the loss of your friend.

Keep well, stay safe everyone.

 

Lamb Chops (not Pork) for dinner, to be cooked on the BBQ this evening.

Edited March 20, 2021 by erewhon
food

[Cruisepucks]

As I retired nurse, I must salute all nurses.  My niece, who has an MN and is a nurse practitioner would certainly meet the criteria explained by @TiogaCruiseras a certified nurse.

 

As it is DH's saint day today, we had a special treat of Zeppole. Zeppole is an Italian pastry filled with cream and cherries and are popular amongst those of Italian decent to celebrate the Feast of St Joseph.

Sadly, today is also the 16th anniversary of my dear father's passing.

 

We've never been to  Livorno but were scheduled to be there this past October for a family cruise with our 2 DSs to celebrate my "special" birthday. Perhaps we can reschedule that cruise in 2022?  DH and I visited  Florence as part of a land trip when DH was still working as a high school teacher. We took a group of high school students to Italy during spring break and spent a few wonderful days in Florence as part of our trip seeing all of the main sites. The photos others have posted of Florence are very similar to ours.

Edited March 20, 2021 by Cruisepucks

[highland cruiser]

15 hours ago, cat shepard said:

Love this. !  My motto today but I did get a lot done.  Slow to check in this evening. Have spent the day getting ready to take the trailer south to the redwoods on Sunday.  Have reserved a spot north of crescent city.  Rain gear is packed.  It is after all spring break here and typically will be wet.  But we have books, a jigsaw puzzle and wine packed so we should be good.  
Thanks for all the posts.  Stay safe and well everyone.  

[cat shepard]

8 hours ago, highland cruiser said:

 But we have books, a jigsaw puzzle and wine packed so we should be good.  

Glad to see you have your emergency survival kit packed! Enjoy yourselves!