Barely A Live from Escape May16-26 2024 Trieste (Venice) to Barcelona/10-Day Mediterranean: Italy Croatia Greece France Spain

[Sugar Magnolia]

More scenes from Trieste 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

If you complain about the absence of cookies on board, you get chocolates instead. I wonder if the inverse is true. 
 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Desperate times lead to desperate measures…grissini and pistachio cookies with gooey pistachio curd center…at the village of Forza d’Agro in Sicily…€2
 

 

If there is a heaven and I somehow end up there, they would be serving these pistachio cookies. 
 

 

Edited May 20 by Sugar Magnolia

[CruisnHallelujahs]

11 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Desperate times lead to desperate measures…grissini and pistachio cookies with gooey pistachio curd center…at the village of Forza d’Agro in Sicily…€2
 

 

If there is a heaven and I somehow end up there, they would be serving these pistachio cookies. 
 

 

Cookies got me again…are they better than Canadian maple?? I need to branch out in Sicily.  All my calories there are in cannoli form…but those pistachio cookies…tempting. 

[cruiseny4life]

19 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Desperate times lead to desperate measures…grissini and pistachio cookies with gooey pistachio curd center…at the village of Forza d’Agro in Sicily…€2
 

 

If there is a heaven and I somehow end up there, they would be serving these pistachio cookies. 
 

 

Oh, those do look heavenly! And I'm sure more delightful than any cookie (possibly) served onboard. 

[Sugar Magnolia]

14 minutes ago, CruisnHallelujahs said:

Cookies got me again…are they better than Canadian maple?? I need to branch out in Sicily.  All my calories there are in cannoli form…but those pistachio cookies…tempting. 

The Canadian maple Oreo cookies have a longer shelf life 😉 though it was never an issue when I bought them a few weeks ago. 
 

These pistachio cookies are simply luxurious. I dare you not to try them. 
 

[ontheweb]

8 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

It was raining when I arrived in Trieste on Wednesday so I woke up extra early on Thursday embarkation day to explore Trieste. I did not know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. Trieste has a nice city vibe without the big city grime. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are some of those buildings leaning, or does it just look that way from your pictures? 🤦‍♂️

 

We actually got to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa on our first cruise, though we did not mean to as we meant to go to Florence instead.

 

So, the story of how that happened--- First, how we ended up on a cruise, subtitle how you compromise in a marriage. In late 2001, I said to DW our 25th anniversary is coming up next summer, why don't we do a cruise? She thought that was a good idea. I suggested Bermuda as we could drive or take the bus to NYC, and who at that time wanted to fly. She said not to Bermuda, (We have since cruised to Bermuda.) She suggested Alaska, and now I said no. (We have since cruised in Alaska.) I then sent away for brochures and found a Barcelona round trip cruise that included among other ports the port for Rome, Florence, and Nice, I knew that the world's finest elementary art teacher would love that. So, our working compromise to make the marriage work was instead of Bermuda or Alaska, the Western Mediterranean,

 

And now why Pisa when we meant to go to Florence. We did it on our own. We got on the train, and I "corrected" her, except I was wrong and got us going in the wrong direction! 😒 Partially her fault as after 25 years (and a few days) she well knew I had no sense of direction, and anyway in my defense the signs were in Italian. We got the train back, but did not have time for Florence, but did go to Pisa. I really thought I had blown 25 years of marriage.

 

And now for the happy ending! 😊 10 years later for our 35th anniversary, I suggested we basically duplicate that first cruise, and she agreed. This time, though more experienced and could probably have done it on our own, we booked a ship's tour, Florence on Your Own. (actually on the much too large NCL Epic,) She booked online in advance admissions to the 2 most major museums. And except for the extreme heat that summer, we had a wonderful time.

[Sugar Magnolia]

2 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Are some of those buildings leaning, or does it just look that way from your pictures?

I am just a bad photographer. 
 

[cruiseny4life]

4 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

I am just a bad photographer. 
 

Different perspectives that create a unique view. 

[Roscoe13]

9 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

I am just a bad photographer. 
 

I resemble that remark! 

Although I am better in the morning before cocktail hours 

[ontheweb]

10 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

I am just a bad photographer. 
 

But a great travel writer! 😉

[Sugar Magnolia]

Today is Day 5 and the Escape is docked in Messina, Sicily. However, the Freestyle Daily on the NCL app displays Day 6 in Naples. I am so sleep deprived that when I woke up this morning, I thought that I had skipped a whole day, or entered some portal.

 

Anyway, here is Day 6. I will take a photo of Day 5 Daily and post that separately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

11 minutes ago, Roscoe13 said:

I resemble that remark! 

Although I am better in the morning before cocktail hours 

 

Everyone should have cocktails before looking at my photos. Then they would seem normal.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

23 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

But a great travel writer! 😉

 

Then I shall write more but post less photos as to not offend anyone.

 

[Fruitpunch76]

NOOO!! 😱 Please continue posting photos! I love them - also before having a cocktail😜 - especially the photo with the cookies!!!🥰😉

Photo reviews are always the best👍🏻

Thanks for your amazing review👍🏻😊

[Sugar Magnolia]

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Then I shall write more but post less photos as to not offend anyone.

Absolutely, thous shall not.  Post as much photos as you can take, regardless of how little and how much you can write otherwise, before cocktail hours and/or while you on a slope ... struggling with 4 hours of sleep.  Otherwise, I am going to call in the troops from the Prima TA to twist your arms and I will not tell you where the best Vietnamese dining can be found on the Jersey shore ... the secret isn't the Pho. 

 

Seriously, you are doing an excellent reporting, barely-a-live 😁

[graphicguy]

33 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Absolutely, thous shall not.  Post as much photos as you can take, regardless of how little and how much you can write otherwise, before cocktail hours and/or while you on a slope ... struggling with 4 hours of sleep.  Otherwise, I am going to call in the troops from the Prima TA to twist your arms and I will not tell you where the best Vietnamese dining can be found on the Jersey shore ... the secret isn't the Pho. 

 

Seriously, you are doing an excellent reporting, barely-a-live 😁

I 2nd that!!!!!!

[Sugar Magnolia]

I took my own advice and dined al fresco today at Bayamo the seafood restaurant. Walked up at 5:30 and was seated right away. 

 

 

 

I ordered the crab cake and the grilled fisherman’s platter. Both were good.

 

When I finished the crab cake, I realized that I did not order any sides and really wanted some vegetables with my meal. I flagged down my waiter and mentioned that I forgot to order sides. He replied that my entree did not come with any sides and that I would have to pay extra. I asked him whether the platter came with anything or is it just a plate of seafood with nothing else on it. He relented and said that he would order the vegetable medley for me. 
 

 

 

I went to grab the little oven hot metal pot with the veggies and burnt my thumb and forefinger. Karma?

 

The waiter heard me yelp and gave this to me…

 

 

Amazingly the cream did stop the pain.

 

Other than my dinner performance, this was the show. It was another beautiful evening on the Escape.

 

 

 

 

 

I was more than satisfied and happy with my pistachio cookies earlier so no dessert for me at Bayamo. 

 

 

 

Edited May 20 by Sugar Magnolia

[Sugar Magnolia]

39 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Otherwise, I am going to call in the troops from the Prima TA to twist your arms and I will not tell you where the best Vietnamese dining can be found on the Jersey shore ... the secret isn't the Pho. 

Are you threatening me by withholding valuable food information?

 

Edited May 20 by Sugar Magnolia

[Sugar Magnolia]

At Bayamo I overheard someone asking the waiter if they could take the food back to their room because they were unable to finish their entree. I can understand NCL not allowing this request because…seafood poisoning?

 

[mking8288]

38 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Are you threatening me by withholding valuable food information?

Noooooo, would I do that and get myself into trouble ... but, good comfort food on this side of the Atlantic is matched by what's near you.  Okay, since you are Escaping this Sunday in Barcelona, this one is good, we're there several times in 2023 alone - check their dinner hours in between your quest for tapas, co-owned by 3 brothers ... It's near the Areo train stop to BCN airport near the University on a side street. 

 

 

 

If only Food Republic on NCL can come anywhere close 😆 ... I know they tried but maybe, Indulge Food Hall 2.0 

 

 

Vietnamese crepe a la omelette-like with fillings.  Below, a place called Sydney in NJ ... went there for lunch. 

 

 

[bedfordmom]

On the Getaway last year, not only did the fisherman platter come with the fries and micro size Cole  slaw but was able to get the two sides. In last months Escape they said no extra sides they let me substitute the eye drop sizes slaw  ( even smaller than last year) and fries for my favorite potato au gratin and asparagus so maybe it’s an Escape thing.  Really.. this is the ultimate in nickel and diming in dining. 

Edited May 20 by bedfordmom