Mediterranean Cruise (2015)
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Here is another shot that attracted me because of the door. This was in Peratallada (Spain).
This is our first view of Saint-Tropez from the ship. This is the first (and only) day in a port that we did not go on a shore excursion. While this is not a large town, it is a place where really nice boats are parked. Little did we know that although the boats parked here were very nice, that got bigger and better in the next couple of ports. This was a great place to sit in one of the waterside cafes and people watch.
Arriving in Cannes. Took a panorama from atop the ship. Our shore excursion doesn't really highlight much of the city. We saw a thing or two on our way to other places (which will be shown in subsequent days). Cannes, a resort town on the French Riviera, is synonymous with glamour thanks to its world-famous film festival. Its Boulevard de la La Croisette, curving along the coast, is lined with sandy beaches, upmarket boutiques and palatial hotels. It’s also home to the Palais des Festivals, a modern building complete with red carpet and Allée des Stars – Cannes’ walk of fame.
While docked in Antibes (France), we travelled by bus to visit a small village perched at the end of a rocky spur about a mile up in the mountains, Gourdon. Upon climbing up to the entrance, you are greeted by a large fountain. This was one corner of the fountain. What caught my eye was that this face appeared to float above the rest of the fountain...
This picture was taken in Barcelona (Spain) overlooking the Olympic Harbor where some of the 1992 Summer Olympic events were held. Unfortunately, like other Olympic site cities, Barcelona doesn't have the money to keep some of the venues that were built for the competition in good shape. But, they weren't too bad, but probably will be...
Time in Palamos Spain has come to a close. Encountered very nice people in the various medieval villages we visited. We stopped at museums, markets, churches, small cities, and our first (of many) gelato shops. All very nice. People were laid back, countryside was vast. Shot this from the bridge of the ship prior to departure. We are off to our first stop in France, Marseille to be specific...
Once you get off the ship in Saint Tropez you head to the downtown area. This is what you see. All of the big boats to the left, and shops to the right (not pictured). You can literally hop off of these boats and walk 50 feet and sit down and have a cappuccino. BTW, these are not just a couple of boats. Boats like this go one as far as the eye can see...do you think you could afford to fill up these boats with fuel ? As big as these boats are, in subsequent ports (Cannes, Monaco) the boats got bigger, but not as many...
While touring around Cannes, we stopped so we could see where the "Man in the Iron Mask" was held -- the Fortress of Pignerol.
While up in the mountain village of Gourdon France, we looked up and saw this guy rising and falling through a valley on the mountain side. He played to the tourists (and photographers) and he flew right over our head. I bet he had a great view...
This is a shot of the port city of Palamos from the top of the cruise ship. It is located on the eastern shores of Spain’s Costa Brava, Palamos is a small and walkable city with beautiful beaches and a lovely promenade lined with restaurants and cafés.
This is a photo of one of the many open air markets we encountered in Aix-en-Provence (France). Very interesting way to shop -- completely different to what we do in the states. The smells are amazing. Fresh produce, fresh bread products, home products, etc. There are several different markets in the various areas we visited.
Beautiful day in Cannes.. Major boating port. All of the boats are not just the big power boats, although there is a nice one behind the sailboat ! The picture reminded me of a Styx song -- Come Sail Away: "I'm sailing away, set an open course for the virgin sea I've got to be free, free to face the life that's ahead of me On board, I'm the captain, so climb aboard We'll search for tomorrow on every shore And I'll try, oh Lord, I'll try to carry on"
Open air markets are very common in Europe. They are amazing to visit and one thing that is usually on display are flowers. This was shot in Nice France.
It seems everywhere you travel in France, you see perfume. Before we travelled to Gourdon, we toured a perfume factory in Grasse -- considered the world's capital of perfume. This was a picture of a shop window in Gourdon...I might of bought something, but we already spent our allowance at Galimard earlier in the morning...
As we left the city of Palamos, we travelled to a couple of medieval villages. The streets are very narrow and there is no way that a tour bus could navigate the streets, so this was our transportation !
One of the most popular and lively places in Aix En Provence is Cours Mirabeau. This street has wide sidewalks planted with double rows of trees. At one end of this street is this fountain. It is in a roundabout that divides the city between the "new" and "old" part of this city. At 12 meters (about 40 feet) high it’s the biggest fountain in Aix-en-Provence, and a genuine landmark for visitors, dating from 1860. Three allegories occupy the basin, statues representing unique characteristics of the city in the 19th century: Agriculture, Justice and the Arts.
Plenty to do in Saint-Tropez, even parasailing. I am sure the views would be great from up there, but you wouldn't get me to do it. The other challenge would be doing this in these waters with all the boats around would seem like another challenge. Oh well...
We visited the Cours Saleya in Nice. It is a famous open-air market just a block off the beach in Nice's Old Quarter. It's open every day, although on Monday's the vegetables and farmers are replaced by antiques dealers. This building caught my eye at the end of the market. I liked how the color of the building and the blu sky "popped" when I looked at them together. I wasn't disappointed when I processed it on my computer.
"On the Road to the Violet Village"
We have bid adieu to Gourdon, and are on our way to Tourrettes sur Loup. It is not a large town, so we wandered around its pretty, narrow streets, its vaulted passage-ways while taking in the tastefully restored stone facades, and climbing some of the stepped passages, bordered with pretty flower baskets... Flowers you say. It is actually called the "Violet Village". Why ? Because for over a century this shy, pretty flower has been grown in the village. Even today it's one of the main activities in the village. The flower is honored each year in March with a flower festival, decorated floats and a flower battle.
As we walked through the various medieval villages in Spain, you couldn't help but look at entries to the living quarters that people had who lived in these towns. This was shot in Pals (Spain). You walk through the very narrow streets and come upon entrances like this around a corner. It makes you wonder what the inside is like if this is the outside.
This was taken as we were leaving Marseille France. No pictures of the harbor because it is a very industrial port with shipping infrastructure as far as the eye can see. This was shot from the top of the ship. I wouldn't say the sunsets were all that great (lack of clouds and good reflections), but some were pretty good...
The sun is setting and it is time to leave this wonderful village on the French Riviera. After the war, Saint-Tropez became an internationally known seaside resort, renowned principally because of the influx of artists of the French New Wave in cinema. Later, it became a resort for the European and American jet set and a goal for tourists in search of a little Provençal authenticity and an occasional celebrity sighting. Next stop Cannes, France...
While in France, you see these signs on buildings all over the place. Tabac is the French word for Tobacco. It wasn't the sudden need for a smoke that appealed to me, it was the convergence of color and shape. The color of the sign against the building and the shutters. Also the sign was tilted at an angle, the shutters were open at an angle, etc. Just something that caught my eye while walking down a street in Nice...