RHK's Fall escape
Oct 18th, 2016, 10:04 AM
#47
rhkkmk - sorry you are having posting problems - can i suggest making a word doc first and then copying into the post box? or even just copying what you want to post before you press the button?
anyway, i just spent a very nice 10 mins catching up with your travels and this particularly caught my eye as i used to live near Oxted:
<<Enjoyed the best coq de vin last night at our friend's house. Today we ventured into the local countryside and visited the national trust property Standen. Very livablelarge country house lived in by family until 1972. Delicious lunch in their barn cafe.
Tonight Italian is on tap ata local Oxted restaurant.>>
just nice to hear it, and Westerham mentioned, as well as Standens. Shame that more people don't visit that area - it has a lot to offer as i hope you agree.
Interesting to read about Dubrovnik too - we went there over 30 years ago and after the troubles in the area, I'm not sure that I want to go back to see what they have done to it, albeit i'm sure that it has been well restored.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip and get your hardware sorted out!
anyway, i just spent a very nice 10 mins catching up with your travels and this particularly caught my eye as i used to live near Oxted:
<<Enjoyed the best coq de vin last night at our friend's house. Today we ventured into the local countryside and visited the national trust property Standen. Very livablelarge country house lived in by family until 1972. Delicious lunch in their barn cafe.
Tonight Italian is on tap ata local Oxted restaurant.>>
just nice to hear it, and Westerham mentioned, as well as Standens. Shame that more people don't visit that area - it has a lot to offer as i hope you agree.
Interesting to read about Dubrovnik too - we went there over 30 years ago and after the troubles in the area, I'm not sure that I want to go back to see what they have done to it, albeit i'm sure that it has been well restored.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip and get your hardware sorted out!
Oct 18th, 2016, 11:52 AM
#48
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I am enjoying reading about your trip - sorry that you are having posting problems - I know what it is like!
On Oct 12, you mention a taxi ride to base of the cable car for 120E each!! Was the 120E each for the cable car? That seems really expensive!
On Oct 12, you mention a taxi ride to base of the cable car for 120E each!! Was the 120E each for the cable car? That seems really expensive!
Nov 7th, 2016, 01:30 PM
#54
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Finally back to business on my own computer with Word.
Oct 13, cont.
Trains were very comfortable, even the 2nd class one. We had two double seats facing each other. Countryside was enjoyable. I had originally planned to drive across Italy but car costs and available sizes (too much luggage) changed my mind.
The Renaissance in Naples is a nice hotel, older but modernized. It is centrally for touring and very close to the harbor. We ate in their small dining room the first night (btw, there is no club in this hotel). Decent meal.
Oct 14
The top floor of the hotel is a semi-open glass walled breakfast room with great views over the harbor. We enjoyed our two breakfasts there—decent spread.
We took a taxi to the square where the hop on hop off bus terminates (most people would walk). Fare is 19E with a small discount from the hotel.
Naples is a city in decay, run down really. I found the 1st ½ of the tour boring. The 2nd leg however took you by nicer buildings and up high above the city.
Between routes we went to a nice pizza restaurant across from the switchover point---Baffo D’Oro.
After the tours we had an ice cream stop on our walk back to the hotel.
For dinner we selected Ristorante Amici Miel, an old fashioned Italian eatery. Via Monte di Dio, 77/78. Tel: 081-7646063. Res essential. Charming place with charming service and fantastic food. Decent English. Family run. Among things selected from the large menu: beef carpaccio, salami platter, T-Bone steak, veal marsala, veal with mushrooms and whiskey sauce, mushroom pasta with wine sauce, 2 platters of grilled veggies, bottle of rose, bottle of prosecco, water, vodka, tiramisu, flan, white cake with sauce…. 158E—4 people. Naples seems fairly reasonable.
Oct 15
Off to Capri after breakfast. Taxi to dock. I had bought tickets for ferry on line. No such sailing existed for that day. Requested refund and took shuttle bus to hydrofoil boat dock. The assistant on the bus helped us move luggage to dock, otherwise I would still be there crying…
Our hotel came to meet us at the capri ferry pier (10E each). Hotel Weber Ambassador. Beautifully located hotel overlooking the sea. Large property. Road to and from the hotel is windy and narrow in a lux neighborhood. Free shuttle to and from town square.
Food so, so. Nightly dinner fixed price 20E. Nice service. Smallish rooms with ocean views for us, but decent terraces. Hotel may be passing it’s glory days.
Oct 16
Hotel breakfests included—decent. Spent most of the day around the hotel—pool/beach. Took shuttle into town in late afternoon. Excellent dinner on alleyway outside main square. Al Grottino—via Logano, 27. Small intimate place overseen by the older owner. Eats: shrimp cocktails, gnocchi, ravioli, veal marsala, veal limone, fried spinach, semifredo, tiramisu, bottle of very good white wine, prosecco, water, vodka. Simply fab meal and great service. Suggest res.. 081-837-0584. Approx. $150 we think???
Got an email from our friends Jack and Karen, our companions for the transatlantic crossing, that they were in Capri too. Set up a meeting for the next day.
Oct 17
Breakfast at hotel, hung around till late AM. Shuttle to the square. J&K met us there. Girls sought out a place with a view for lunch. Selected Da Giorgio, via Roma, 34. Down a set of stairs overlooking the water. a/c. K had pasta nd clams, I had pizza. Fun time for the 6 of us.
P & I took shuttle back to hotel, L&K took bus to Anacapri, the highest section of the island---scenic drive. Long wait for bus back to town. Many of the shops and restaurants were closed already for the season. Beautiful weather.
Oct 18
Up early to catch the early hydrofoil back to Naples---9:35. Hydrofoils r.t. 40E.
Taxis right at dock in Naples. Taxi to central train station 28E, incl luggage charge.
Pizza and sandwiches at café in station. McDonalds next door btw.
12:30 Business first class train to Rome central. Found a porter for help in the station.
Our hotel reservations were at Little Queen Apartments overlooking Piazza Argentina, the site of Caesars murder and probably the place where he invented the Caesar salad.
We have stayed with them before near-by at another of their apartments in the former Ghetto. Our rooms at Via Florida, 20 were small but comfortable. The advantage of this location is the small covered terrace and a very nice included breakfast buffet. 180E per night. 2nd floor, their 1st floor. Rooms 5 and 6 make a nice family room. Plenty of taxis and the tram is right there too. Easy walk to many tourist locations and restaurants. While we are not Jewish, we love the Ghetto area and it’s restaurants.
For dinner we decided the local Asian restaurant. Mistake.
Oct 13, cont.
Trains were very comfortable, even the 2nd class one. We had two double seats facing each other. Countryside was enjoyable. I had originally planned to drive across Italy but car costs and available sizes (too much luggage) changed my mind.
The Renaissance in Naples is a nice hotel, older but modernized. It is centrally for touring and very close to the harbor. We ate in their small dining room the first night (btw, there is no club in this hotel). Decent meal.
Oct 14
The top floor of the hotel is a semi-open glass walled breakfast room with great views over the harbor. We enjoyed our two breakfasts there—decent spread.
We took a taxi to the square where the hop on hop off bus terminates (most people would walk). Fare is 19E with a small discount from the hotel.
Naples is a city in decay, run down really. I found the 1st ½ of the tour boring. The 2nd leg however took you by nicer buildings and up high above the city.
Between routes we went to a nice pizza restaurant across from the switchover point---Baffo D’Oro.
After the tours we had an ice cream stop on our walk back to the hotel.
For dinner we selected Ristorante Amici Miel, an old fashioned Italian eatery. Via Monte di Dio, 77/78. Tel: 081-7646063. Res essential. Charming place with charming service and fantastic food. Decent English. Family run. Among things selected from the large menu: beef carpaccio, salami platter, T-Bone steak, veal marsala, veal with mushrooms and whiskey sauce, mushroom pasta with wine sauce, 2 platters of grilled veggies, bottle of rose, bottle of prosecco, water, vodka, tiramisu, flan, white cake with sauce…. 158E—4 people. Naples seems fairly reasonable.
Oct 15
Off to Capri after breakfast. Taxi to dock. I had bought tickets for ferry on line. No such sailing existed for that day. Requested refund and took shuttle bus to hydrofoil boat dock. The assistant on the bus helped us move luggage to dock, otherwise I would still be there crying…
Our hotel came to meet us at the capri ferry pier (10E each). Hotel Weber Ambassador. Beautifully located hotel overlooking the sea. Large property. Road to and from the hotel is windy and narrow in a lux neighborhood. Free shuttle to and from town square.
Food so, so. Nightly dinner fixed price 20E. Nice service. Smallish rooms with ocean views for us, but decent terraces. Hotel may be passing it’s glory days.
Oct 16
Hotel breakfests included—decent. Spent most of the day around the hotel—pool/beach. Took shuttle into town in late afternoon. Excellent dinner on alleyway outside main square. Al Grottino—via Logano, 27. Small intimate place overseen by the older owner. Eats: shrimp cocktails, gnocchi, ravioli, veal marsala, veal limone, fried spinach, semifredo, tiramisu, bottle of very good white wine, prosecco, water, vodka. Simply fab meal and great service. Suggest res.. 081-837-0584. Approx. $150 we think???
Got an email from our friends Jack and Karen, our companions for the transatlantic crossing, that they were in Capri too. Set up a meeting for the next day.
Oct 17
Breakfast at hotel, hung around till late AM. Shuttle to the square. J&K met us there. Girls sought out a place with a view for lunch. Selected Da Giorgio, via Roma, 34. Down a set of stairs overlooking the water. a/c. K had pasta nd clams, I had pizza. Fun time for the 6 of us.
P & I took shuttle back to hotel, L&K took bus to Anacapri, the highest section of the island---scenic drive. Long wait for bus back to town. Many of the shops and restaurants were closed already for the season. Beautiful weather.
Oct 18
Up early to catch the early hydrofoil back to Naples---9:35. Hydrofoils r.t. 40E.
Taxis right at dock in Naples. Taxi to central train station 28E, incl luggage charge.
Pizza and sandwiches at café in station. McDonalds next door btw.
12:30 Business first class train to Rome central. Found a porter for help in the station.
Our hotel reservations were at Little Queen Apartments overlooking Piazza Argentina, the site of Caesars murder and probably the place where he invented the Caesar salad.
We have stayed with them before near-by at another of their apartments in the former Ghetto. Our rooms at Via Florida, 20 were small but comfortable. The advantage of this location is the small covered terrace and a very nice included breakfast buffet. 180E per night. 2nd floor, their 1st floor. Rooms 5 and 6 make a nice family room. Plenty of taxis and the tram is right there too. Easy walk to many tourist locations and restaurants. While we are not Jewish, we love the Ghetto area and it’s restaurants.
For dinner we decided the local Asian restaurant. Mistake.
Nov 7th, 2016, 02:16 PM
#55
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Oct 19
Nice breakfast on terrace. Taxi to Emmanuel monument to catch hop on hop off bus. Bait and switch. They sold us tickets to another company’s bus, not the giant red bus… BEWARE. Purchase was from red bus guys on scooters. 18E.
Got off in same area and walked into ghetto from there for lunch. Il Portico is one of several outside restaurants in the ghetto square---walking street. Eats: famous fried artichokes, jewish style, zucchini flowers fried, salads, mussels, ossobucco.
Walked back to apartment but had gelatos next door on the way after having made res for dinner tonight and tomorrow in the walking street.
Dinner tonight was at Sora Margherita, P.zza delle Cinque Scole, 30, a hole in the wall where res are essential. We have eaten there before and everything is authentic and servings are large. The wait staff are brusque, but amusing. The menu is in Italian, but that really doesn’t matter….. 2 seatings.
Menus were presented. We began to study them. The waitress asked us: “artichokes???”… we said no. She grabbed the menus and walked away. She brought artichokes, and then a huge meal followed, whether we wanted it or not… with the chokes came stuffed fried zucchini flowers, then we ordered drinks, next a plate of prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella, then pasta, then more pasta with ricotta and parmesan cheese, then a pasta stuffed with sausage in a spicy red sauce, next was eggplant parmesan, sausage and spare ribs in a bean sauce. She refused to bring the next course until everything on the table had been fully consumed. For example, I had some mozzarella left on my plate---she demanded, “finish it…”---- she picked it up and stuffed it into my mouth. We laughed and laughed. I kissed her hand and she kissed me on the cheek.
We were finally allowed dessert. Tiramisu and panacotta…
SO MUCH FUN AND SUCH GOOD FOOD…… reasonable
Rolled back to apartment.
Oct 20
Breakfast on porch. P, L & K took taxi over to Colosseum. Self tour 12E. I’ve been before. The ticket also allowed them entrance to Forum.
They collected me and we went to la Carbonara for lunch. Good fun lunch.
For dinner we had our res at the lovely Giggetto. An old building at one end of the walking street. Large place…. Old world.. delicious.
Eats: veggie soup (I was starting a cold), artichokes, Dory fish, spinach, Ossobucco, wine, water, really good bread (we had that throughout Italy), vodka, 5, yes 5 desserts… great waiter 156E for 4 of us. GREAT LAST MEAL TOGETHER, EXCEPT FOR NEXT BREAKFAST…
P&L are probably the best people we have ever travelled with!!!!
Nice breakfast on terrace. Taxi to Emmanuel monument to catch hop on hop off bus. Bait and switch. They sold us tickets to another company’s bus, not the giant red bus… BEWARE. Purchase was from red bus guys on scooters. 18E.
Got off in same area and walked into ghetto from there for lunch. Il Portico is one of several outside restaurants in the ghetto square---walking street. Eats: famous fried artichokes, jewish style, zucchini flowers fried, salads, mussels, ossobucco.
Walked back to apartment but had gelatos next door on the way after having made res for dinner tonight and tomorrow in the walking street.
Dinner tonight was at Sora Margherita, P.zza delle Cinque Scole, 30, a hole in the wall where res are essential. We have eaten there before and everything is authentic and servings are large. The wait staff are brusque, but amusing. The menu is in Italian, but that really doesn’t matter….. 2 seatings.
Menus were presented. We began to study them. The waitress asked us: “artichokes???”… we said no. She grabbed the menus and walked away. She brought artichokes, and then a huge meal followed, whether we wanted it or not… with the chokes came stuffed fried zucchini flowers, then we ordered drinks, next a plate of prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella, then pasta, then more pasta with ricotta and parmesan cheese, then a pasta stuffed with sausage in a spicy red sauce, next was eggplant parmesan, sausage and spare ribs in a bean sauce. She refused to bring the next course until everything on the table had been fully consumed. For example, I had some mozzarella left on my plate---she demanded, “finish it…”---- she picked it up and stuffed it into my mouth. We laughed and laughed. I kissed her hand and she kissed me on the cheek.
We were finally allowed dessert. Tiramisu and panacotta…
SO MUCH FUN AND SUCH GOOD FOOD…… reasonable
Rolled back to apartment.
Oct 20
Breakfast on porch. P, L & K took taxi over to Colosseum. Self tour 12E. I’ve been before. The ticket also allowed them entrance to Forum.
They collected me and we went to la Carbonara for lunch. Good fun lunch.
For dinner we had our res at the lovely Giggetto. An old building at one end of the walking street. Large place…. Old world.. delicious.
Eats: veggie soup (I was starting a cold), artichokes, Dory fish, spinach, Ossobucco, wine, water, really good bread (we had that throughout Italy), vodka, 5, yes 5 desserts… great waiter 156E for 4 of us. GREAT LAST MEAL TOGETHER, EXCEPT FOR NEXT BREAKFAST…
P&L are probably the best people we have ever travelled with!!!!
Nov 7th, 2016, 04:24 PM
#56
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Oct 21
Breakfast on terrace. Bob’s limo pick-up at 10:30, shared van to port of Rome, 71E. About 1 hour.
Check-in very easy as we travel concierge class on Celebrity. Celebrity Reflection Rome to Miami—15 days.
Wheelchair took us directly to Sushi on 5 where we had sushi for lunch---$51. Good but not fab.
Our room was ready before we finished lunch… Room 2171 on deck 12. Located on the backside of the bump out at mid-ship, near to elevators, which gives you extra veranda space because of the bump out.
Almost immediately I stubbed my big toe coming inside from the veranda and got a big gash in the end. K was able to stop the bleeding and bandaged me up and we kept watch on it every day. I have finally taken the last bandage off today.
It seemed like a good time to visit the future cruises office as I knew we wanted to reserve a Spring, 2017 cruise from Tokyo to Vancouver in May---15 nights. Easily done at a better price than I had seen online at various sites including Celebrity.
We met up with Jack and Karen in the dining room at our 8:30 sitting time.
The ship sailed at 5PM. Tomorrow we will visit Villefrance (Nice), France for the day.
Our room man was from Bali and he was very nice and kept us tidy. Our wait staff was a man from Central America and a woman from Montenegro. All 3 were fantastic. Our table was a table for 4, even though we had requested a larger table. On this cruise the late sitting was only ½ full.
Food throughout the cruise, while plentiful, was only so so. We have become used to this and unlike many others do not cruise for the food.
Tomorrow I will complete my report I hope.
Breakfast on terrace. Bob’s limo pick-up at 10:30, shared van to port of Rome, 71E. About 1 hour.
Check-in very easy as we travel concierge class on Celebrity. Celebrity Reflection Rome to Miami—15 days.
Wheelchair took us directly to Sushi on 5 where we had sushi for lunch---$51. Good but not fab.
Our room was ready before we finished lunch… Room 2171 on deck 12. Located on the backside of the bump out at mid-ship, near to elevators, which gives you extra veranda space because of the bump out.
Almost immediately I stubbed my big toe coming inside from the veranda and got a big gash in the end. K was able to stop the bleeding and bandaged me up and we kept watch on it every day. I have finally taken the last bandage off today.
It seemed like a good time to visit the future cruises office as I knew we wanted to reserve a Spring, 2017 cruise from Tokyo to Vancouver in May---15 nights. Easily done at a better price than I had seen online at various sites including Celebrity.
We met up with Jack and Karen in the dining room at our 8:30 sitting time.
The ship sailed at 5PM. Tomorrow we will visit Villefrance (Nice), France for the day.
Our room man was from Bali and he was very nice and kept us tidy. Our wait staff was a man from Central America and a woman from Montenegro. All 3 were fantastic. Our table was a table for 4, even though we had requested a larger table. On this cruise the late sitting was only ½ full.
Food throughout the cruise, while plentiful, was only so so. We have become used to this and unlike many others do not cruise for the food.
Tomorrow I will complete my report I hope.
Nov 8th, 2016, 09:14 AM
#57
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Our cruise stops were: Villefrance, France; Marsailles, France; Barcelona, Spain; and Tenerife in the Canary Islands. We had been to all of those places before, so we often did not leave the ship, although we went into Nice and K went into Tenerife.
For the Villefrance stop I wanted to visit the Nice Mephisto shoe shop for some new sandals (bought 2 pair and K got a pair of short boots---all a savings of $100.+ each over USA prices, plus VAT refunds. K&J went along---we took a taxi from the pier to central Nice (45E). We had a nice lunch on the walking street and then taxied back to the pier (35E by meter). We also bought some bandage dressings for my toe maintenance.
We did not leave the ship in Marsailles
Two days later K, J and K left the ship in Barcelona for the hop on hop off bus.
We had 2 days in Barcelona.
This was followed by 2 sea days. We had a full day in Tenerife. K took the hop on hop off bus with K&J in Tenerife. We had stayed there for a week 30+ years ago. WOW, so different now.
Following this we had 8 sea days, arriving in the early AM on Nov 5 to Miami.
The sea days were beautiful and uneventful.
As mentioned above the food was so so in the main dining room and the oceanview café (cattle call). We ate a couple of times in the speciality restaurants and especially enjoyed our steaks at The Lawn. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts when making your reservations for these venues---30-50%.
We had a res for a “limo” upon arrival in Miami (ship was slow in clearing customs and immigration, so don’t make plane res until afternoon.
We had A/A FF tickets to Boston at 12:50 and then a bus ride directly to our town.
Good trip, but long.
Looking forward to Panama for a week over Thanksgiving with the whole family, then 2 weeks home then Bangkok for 2 weeks followed by a quiet winter in NH.
We have booked a cruise from Tokyo to Vancouver in May, 2017 preceded by a couple of weeks in Japan.
BEST HOLIDAY WISHES (MERRY CHRISTMAS, ETC) AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
Can you hear the silence now that the election is over---thank God.
Bob
For the Villefrance stop I wanted to visit the Nice Mephisto shoe shop for some new sandals (bought 2 pair and K got a pair of short boots---all a savings of $100.+ each over USA prices, plus VAT refunds. K&J went along---we took a taxi from the pier to central Nice (45E). We had a nice lunch on the walking street and then taxied back to the pier (35E by meter). We also bought some bandage dressings for my toe maintenance.
We did not leave the ship in Marsailles
Two days later K, J and K left the ship in Barcelona for the hop on hop off bus.
We had 2 days in Barcelona.
This was followed by 2 sea days. We had a full day in Tenerife. K took the hop on hop off bus with K&J in Tenerife. We had stayed there for a week 30+ years ago. WOW, so different now.
Following this we had 8 sea days, arriving in the early AM on Nov 5 to Miami.
The sea days were beautiful and uneventful.
As mentioned above the food was so so in the main dining room and the oceanview café (cattle call). We ate a couple of times in the speciality restaurants and especially enjoyed our steaks at The Lawn. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts when making your reservations for these venues---30-50%.
We had a res for a “limo” upon arrival in Miami (ship was slow in clearing customs and immigration, so don’t make plane res until afternoon.
We had A/A FF tickets to Boston at 12:50 and then a bus ride directly to our town.
Good trip, but long.
Looking forward to Panama for a week over Thanksgiving with the whole family, then 2 weeks home then Bangkok for 2 weeks followed by a quiet winter in NH.
We have booked a cruise from Tokyo to Vancouver in May, 2017 preceded by a couple of weeks in Japan.
BEST HOLIDAY WISHES (MERRY CHRISTMAS, ETC) AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
Can you hear the silence now that the election is over---thank God.
Bob
Nov 8th, 2016, 09:55 AM
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Caesar salad haha. I never have over 4 vodkas :/
Enjoyed your report....felt like I was there. Am going thru my pics and the pics of that lady stuffing your face with cheese is priceless. Will email to you soon. Happy happy to you all. Hope the Panama and Thailand work out well. See you in Tokyo practice up on your Japanese...wakari maska?
Aloha!
Enjoyed your report....felt like I was there. Am going thru my pics and the pics of that lady stuffing your face with cheese is priceless. Will email to you soon. Happy happy to you all. Hope the Panama and Thailand work out well. See you in Tokyo practice up on your Japanese...wakari maska?
Aloha!
