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Three weeks ago, we embarked on our first trip to visit 2 of the 63 National Parks located here in the United States. This trip came about in March after our Canadian Rockies trip was canceled for the second time. After some research, we decided to spend ten days in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
Attendance at the National Parks is at a record high. It started last year at the height of the pandemic and is continuing this summer. In June 2021, Yellowstone saw record attendance with 938,845 visits, making it the most visited June on record. So far, Yellowstone has hosted 1,587,998 visits, and that is up 17% from 2019. The National Park Service has told people to expect crowds and to plan ahead. Here are ten tips to help plan your next trip to one of our 63 parks!
Before sharing my tips, I want to preface this by saying these tips worked for my family. We are new to exploring the National Parks, new to hiking, and some of these other outdoor adventures. If you have followed me for a while, you will see this was a bit of a different vacation for us. We were not sure what to expect, and I wanted to maximize our time in each park.
1) Purchase a U.S. Park Pass.
The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass can be used at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. The pass includes admission to parks for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free. The cost to enter Grand Teton and Yellowstone is $35.00 for seven days for each park. We plan on hitting Acadia later in the summer, that is another $35.00, for a total of $105.00. The U.S. Parks Pass is $80.00 for 12 months! Well worth the price. You can find more information here.
2) – Stay in a Central Location.
Many of the National Parks are pretty vast. Did you know that Yellowstone is the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined? To cut down on driving, I highly recommend either staying inside the parks or finding lodging near where you plan to spend your time. For our ten-day trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, we stayed in 4 different hotels.
For the first 4 nights, our home base was Jackson, Wyoming, located 15 mins from the south entrance to Grand Teton National Park. It made the ride to and from the parks easy and convenient. There were restaurants, shops, a grocery store and other activities nearby in downtown Jackson.
When left Jackson and Grand Teton and headed to Yellowstone; we entered from the south entrance and followed Grand Loop Road along the eastern side of the park, all the way to the northwest entrance of the park. It made for a great day of sightseeing. When visiting Yellowstone for five days/four nights, we stayed in two locations. The first was Gardiner, MT, which allowed us easy and quick access to Mammoth Springs and Lamar Valley.
The third hotel was located in West Yellowstone, which made seeing the western part of the park much more manageable.
Plus, when we left Yellowstone to head back to Grand Teton and Jackson, we were able to make stops along the western side of Grand Loop Road that we have missed. Our last hotel was back in Jackson. It was close to the airport and our remaining activities.
3) Plan Meals Ahead of Time.
I mean all meals and snacks! As mentioned, attendance at the parks is at an all-time high. This includes the towns bordering the parks as well. In Jackson, we soon learned if we did not have a dining reservation, we were not eating. Thankfully we had a small kitchen in our cabin, and there was a grocery store. We made sure to pack a breakfast and lunch for the days we were out in the parks, especially when exploring Yellowstone. Fortunately, every tour we booked included meals and snacks. On another note, we soon realized the lodges and hotels inside Yellowstone only had quick serve. The majority of the restaurants were closed, and it made for very long lines. We waited 30 mins for ice cream at the Old Faithful Lodge.
4) Water, Water and More Water
Hydration is vital when exploring and hiking the parks. The higher the altitude, the drier the air, and the more you will need to hydrate. I was a bit fearful we would all get altitude sickness, so I made sure we hydrated well before leaving Boston. Once we were in Wyoming and Montana, we bought cases of water and made sure to have at least two bottles per person with us at all times. While hiking, we carried backpacks that had hydration bladders in them.
5) Book a Tour or 2.
As I mentioned, this was our first time visiting the parks. We had ten days, and I wanted to see as much as possible. Over the ten days, we went on six different tours. All of them were amazing. In Grand Teton, we did an all-day tour of the park, a sunrise safari that included breakfast, and a 10-mile float ride down the Snake River. In Yellowstone, we did an all-day tour of the park, a Bear and Wolves Wildlife tour, and a guided hike around the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. We maximized our time; it gave us an excellent overview of the parks and gave us an idea of what we wanted to go back and see on our own. I highly recommend it.
6) Pack and Wear Layers.
We had a lot of early mornings, and it was rather chilly in the parks. We always had sweatshirts to start with a short-sleeved shirt underneath. More times than not, I had on workout pants that fared well in cool and warmer temps.
7) Grab a Map.
Either grab a map at the entrance or download one to your phone. There is minimal service in the parks, and the car’s GPS may not work. I found the maps the park rangers provided to be very helpful.
8) Download Park Apps.
The National Park Service puts out an app that lists all the parks. You pick a park, and it details what to see, things to do, self-guided tours, a park calendar, and more. I found the individuals parks each have apps as well. The best part is you can save the app for offline use.
However, my favorite app is called The Gypsy Guide. It is a narrated audio tour that gives behind-the-scenes stories about the history, geology, hikes, wildlife, and cultural highlights that play automatically along the route. The app is used offline, so no need to worry about the lack of signal. We used it when we drove from Jackson through Grand Teton and Yellowstone. The only downside, they don’t have a tour for every park. I would love one for our Acadia National Park trip. Check it out here.
9) Essential Toiletries.
The air is dry in Wyoming and Montana. It affected every part of the body, from our nasal passages, lips, and skin. We made sure to have saline, chapstick, and moisturizer. The saline is a lifesaver. Without it, Nicholas and I would not have been able to breathe through our noses.
10) Have Plenty of Storage on your Phone and Memory Cards
The amount of photos we took is crazy. Everywhere we looked, we were surrounded by beauty. I wanted to capture every moment!
Happy Exploring!
Chatham is a seaside town located on Cape Cod, MA. Once you cross over the Cape Cod Canal, it is about a 45-minute drive.
Chatham is one of the more upscale towns on the Cape. It has historically been known as a fishing community. In the summertime, the population soars to 30,000, but in the winter, most homes are empty. Are you looking to buy a second home in Chatham? The average price of a home is 1.3 million dollars.
As I mentioned, Chatham is located on the elbow part of the Cape. The town includes two narrow strips of land, which serve as a barrier between the Atlantic and the mainland. There are several islands, including Monomoy, a 7.25-mile-long island south of the corner of the town, home to the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.
With six major saltwater beaches, Chatham is a great place to come for the day or take a week-long vacation. There are many cottages or houses to rent in the summer. If you want to pamper yourself, the Chatham Bars Inn is a beautiful place to stay. It is known as the Cape’s Premier Resort and Spa. Rooms start at over $1,000 a night in the summer, so be prepared to pay for such luxury. You have your choice of staying in the main inn, a cottage, or a spa suite. There is a beach, pool, cabanas, and plenty of dining. It offers activities such as boating and tennis. Oh, and don’t forget the spa. For more information, click over to their website.
We did not stay at the inn or even in Chatham. My family and I rented a couple of houses in nearby Dennis Port. However, we took a few day trips to explore.
Seal Watching
Our vacation started with a boat ride to see Chatham’s most famous residents, seals! I recommend Monomoy Island Excursions out of Harwich Port, MA. The tour lasts about 1.5 hours, and it takes you through Wychmere Harbor in Harwich Port, down to Stage Harbor in Chatham and through narrow channels. The final destination is Monomoy Island, a barrier island off the coast of Chatham. Here we found the seals swimming and sunning themselves. A naturalist narrates each tour. This was our second time going on a seal watch, and we were not disappointed.
As we approached Chatham, we learned the history of the area.
Stage Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1880 and one of the youngest lighthouses on the Cape. It was built at the entrance of Stage Harbor to assist the Chatham Lighthouse light the way for sailors as this area is known for being one of the foggiest on the east coast. Fifty-three years later, the lighthouse was decommissioned and is now a private home. Though I don’t think I would want to stay in it any time soon. To this day, it has no running water or electricity. One must use an outhouse if nature calls.
As can see, if you are lucky enough to have a boat, you can head out to the sandbars and spend your beach day there. However, please do not swim with the seals. They may look cute and cuddly, but they are not. Plus, you never know what is lurking behind them. The Cape has seen an increase in shark activity in recent years due to our large seal population. If you happen to be swimming with the seals, the seals will use you as a human shield and push you toward the sharks!
Chatham’s Fishing Pier
Not in the mood for a boat ride? Head down to the fishing pier and see what the catch of the day was (literally) and check out all the seals there.
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
My youngest son has taken up birdwatching. We have a couple of bird feeders in our yard that attract all sorts of birds. He was excited to see what we may find down the Cape.
The Monomoy Wildlife Refuge was established in 1944 to provide habitat for migratory birds. The Refuge Headquarters is located on a 40-acre unit on Morris Island and consists of a visitor center, beach, and trail system. It was sweltering and humid on the day we went, but we managed to walk one of the trails. The visitor’s center was closed due to the virus, but we downloaded a map from the website and set off. Next time we plan on staying longer and walking out to the Monomoy Lighthouse.
It is a beautiful and peaceful place to spend an afternoon.
Chatham Lighthouse
The Chatham Lighthouse is an American icon. Pre-COVID the lighthouse was open a few hours each week in the summer for visitors. Unfortunately, I was only able to grab a photo. It is one of 16 lighthouses remaining on the Cape. Cape Cod shore is rugged and has not made it easy for ships to come in. It is has been said that over 3500 vessels have been wrecked along the Cape’s coast. The lighthouse has a fascinating history, and I encourage you to read more here. Oh, and a fun fact, it is now home to the US Coast Guard.
In addition to what we did, there are plenty of restaurants and shops to visit in Chatham. Whether you are here for a day or a week, you will find something for everyone.
Renting a vacation home is, by far, one of my favorite things to do. I am an hour away from the beautiful beaches of Cape Cod and have stayed there many times. This summer, we were skipping the vacation home and headed north to the Canadian Rockies. Then COVID hit, and all our summer plans were canceled. We have all been home since March, and a much-needed change of scenery is in order. We rented a beach house in July for two weeks, and I can’t wait!
Over the last few years, I have learned a thing or two about what to look for in a beach house.
Here are seven things to look for when renting a beach house.
- Rent from a reputable source. The company should offer protection policies and guarantees. It should have updated photos on its site.
- Location, Location, Location. We prefer to be right on the ocean. If that was not feasible, we like to be at least within walking distance. Our rental this year is 1/10th of a mile from the beach, so not too bad. Another tip about location, stay close to town. It allows for easy access to restaurants, the grocery store, ice cream shops, and more. We can drive or choose to walk to these places.
- Prioritize your amenities. Do you plan on doing laundry while on vacation? If so, make sure the house has a washer and dryer. Do you plan on eating meals in or out? A fully stocked kitchen is vital, along with a nice grill for BBQing if you plan on eating at home. Does the house come with linens, beach toys, and beach chairs? If you are driving to your destination, it may not be a big deal to bring these items, but if you are flying, you want to make sure the house has these items. Does it have air conditioning? Some homes on the Cape do not have air conditioning. No air conditioning is a deal-breaker for me!
- Two words, NO CARPETS! It makes such a difference when the kids come traipsing through with wet, sandy feet. We prefer hardwood and tile floors in our rentals.
- Delegate the space ahead of time. This is particularly important when traveling with another family. A house may sleep 10, but 4 of those beds may be in one room. This may not work if you have a mix of older and younger kids or males and females. If the house has more than one bathroom (which I highly recommend by the way), assign each family their own bathroom.
- Outdoor shower. Keep as much sand out of the house!
- A shaded area outside to eat, sit, and relax. The sun can be brutal, so always nice to have a shady, cool spot waiting for you.
I hope these tips have given you some ideas of what to think of when renting your next beach house. If you have any of your own ideas, you would like to share, and please do. I would love to add them to my list. Happy vacationing!
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Last month we spent a full glorious week on Topsail Island, North Carolina. Topsail is one of my favorite places on Earth. It is quiet, the beaches are gorgeous, the waves are enormous, and for some reason, though she had never been, it brings me close to my Mom. She loved the ocean and had always wanted to see the North Carolina coast. Perhaps, this why I feel her presence when we are there.
The seas were rougher than usual this trip, and there were warnings of rip currents. We knew the kids would want to be in the water all the time, so we decided to take a break and head down to Carolina Beach, about 45 mins south, and check it out. Unfortunately, it left a lot to be desired. While the beach was gorgeous, there wasn’t much to do until the evening hours. It appeared that nothing was open on the boardwalk, and we were left saying, “Now what?”
We talked about going to see a plantation, but time was not on our side. Most of the estates were closing in an hour, and the ones of interest were 30 minutes away. As we were poking around on our phones, Kim pulled up Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, NC. It sounded interesting, it was opened later than the others, and we all had enjoyed Wilmington when we were there on our last trip.
Bellamy Mansion is located in downtown Wilmington. The grounds include the mansion, the carriage house and the slave quarters and replicas of the original gardens. Though the mansion and other structures were built by 1861, it was not until 1870; the beautiful gardens were planted.
Dr. John Bellamy lived in the home with his wife, Eliza and their ten children. For eighty-five years, members of the Bellamy family occupied the house. The last remaining child of Dr. and Mrs. Bellamy was Ellen Bellamy, and she passed away in 1946.
The house has quite a history. It was built between 1859 and 1861. It has Greek Revival and Italianate styling. The home consists of twenty -two rooms and was built by both enslaved and local freed black artisans. Dr. Bellamy wanted his family’s home to include modern amenities. This included a specially designed ventilation system to keep the house cool in the Carolina heat.
The Bellamys moved into the house in 1861. Mrs. Bellamy was pregnant with their tenth child. The Bellamy’s moved into the main house, and their nine enslaved workers moved into the slave quarters. The home was taken over by federal troops during the Civil War and survived a disastrous fire in 1972. It served as home to two generations of Bellamy family members, restored in 1992 and now following extensive restoration and preservation is a functioning museum.
As I mentioned above, Mrs. Bellany had beautiful gardens planted on the property. However, by the time the restoration of the mansion happened in 1992, traces of the formal garden had disappeared. Today, what you see for gardens is based on historical research and archaeological investigation. In 1996, through significant funding from the Cape Fear Garden Club, the Bellamy gardens were recreated and maintained today through volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Bellamy Mansion 
When we first arrived, we checked into the carriage house, which now serves as offices and a gift shop. Our guide was a local college student that had a great interest in history. He gave us the history of the home, told us a bit about the Bellamy family and painted us a picture of what life was like for the family back in the times of the civil war and beyond. Two months after moving into their new home, North Carolina seceded from the Union. Dr. Bellamy was in favor of the succession and quite proud of his state for taking such a stance. A few years later, in 1865, Fort Fisher had fallen to the Federal Troops. Federal Troops came into Wilmington and took over the city. The Union occupied the nicer homes, as many of them had been abandoned during the war. The Bellamy’s had been staying on their plantation, so their home soon become headquarters to the military staff. When the war ended, the Federal Government seized many of these properties, including the Bellamy’s home. Due to Dr. Bellamy’s ties to the Confederacy, initially, he was not allowed back into Wilmington to reclaim his home. Finally, after a lengthy process, he received a pardon from President Johnson to retrieve his property.
As we toured the home, we saw the formal dining room, the ironing room where the children often ate with the slaves, formal parlors, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
After a tour of the home, we were able to explore the slave quarters. The rooms were tiny, and the bathroom was quite something to see.
As we toured the slave quarters, we were told the story of William B. Gould. Mr. Gould was an enslaved Bellamy plasterer. In 1862, he escaped and joined the Union navy. He kept detailed notes of his time in the war. His great-grandson William B. Gould, IV edited his great-grandfather’s diary into a book titled Diary of a Contraband: The Civil War Passage of a Black Sailor. When I got home, I researched him a bit more and found out he was discharged from the Navy, right here at the Charlestown Navy Yard, married a local woman and raised their family in Dedham, MA, two towns over from me. Pretty cool!
I found the tour fascinating, as did my friend and her family. We had five children with us, ranging from 12 to 17 and all enjoyed the tour. It was a nice change from the beach, and next time we will make sure to visit another one of these historic homes in the Wilmington area.
On Day 3 of our Alaskan cruise, we spent a day sailing through Endicott Arm Fjords toward Dawes Glacier. Endicott Arm Fjord marks the southern edge of the Fords Terror Wilderness area in Tongass National Forest. It is located about 50 miles south of Juneau. Breathtaking, rugged mountains dominate the region with steep valleys sparkling with high waterfalls. There are pieces of ice scattered throughout the water. Mountain goats, eagles, and bears can be seen in the mountains. Seals sunbathe on top of the chunks of ice and whales can be seen swimming in the waters.
Whale! 
At the head of the fjord is the tidal wave glacier, Dawes Glacier. The glacier is over 600 feet tall and wide. There are approximately 250 feet of ice below the surface of the water.
Fun fact: Why are glaciers blue? According to the USGS, glaciers are blue because the red (long wavelengths) part of white light is absorbed by ice and the blue (short wavelengths) light is transmitted and scattered. The longer the path light travels in ice, the bluer it appears.
Our boat spent a few hours anchored, enjoying the views. There was hot chocolate served on deck. For the adults, a shot of Kaula could be added. It was yummy! Of course, these views made for some great photos with the family and some special friends.
This was probably my favorite sea day of all the sea days I have done on any cruise. The views were breathtaking. Seeing the glacier brought me back in time. It is an experience I will never forget.
Before the start of our Alaskan cruise, we spent two days in Vancouver, BC, exploring. One of the things on our to-do list was a whale watch. We went back and forth on whether to do one in Vancouver or wait until we were in one of the Alaskan ports. We ultimately decided on Vancouver.
I booked the trip through Viator.com. Viator is a marketplace for tours. We used them for a couple of other tours with great success. The cost of the tour was roughly $100.00 per person. It included pick up and drop off at our hotel, bottled water, and snacks. The whale watch itself was to last anywhere between 3-5 hours, depending on the whales.
The tour left from Steveston, a little fishing village, 40 minutes away in the city of Richmond.
In addition to being a little fishing village, Steveston has been the site for various television shows and movies, such as The X-files, Godzilla, and Power Rangers. You may also know it by its other name, Storybrooke. Yes, this was the onsite location for Disney’s hit show Once Upon a Time.
We arrived in this quaint village, checked into our tour and was given some whale watching gear to put on. I must admit, I felt like Gorton the Fisherman!
The boat was a high-speed zodiac vessel. Let me tell you, this boat could move! After we went over a safety drill, we were off. As we were leaving the harbor, we saw this beauty.
The boat took us through the Strait of Georgia all the way down to the San Juan island, which are part of the State of Washington back in the United States. We spent a fair amount of time sailing the strait. Here we saw seals, beautiful scenery and a humpback whale.
After seeing the humpbacks, our guide received a call that there was a pod of Orcas further south. He sped the boat along and we were cruising at a pretty good clip. Soon we were back in the good old USA, off the coast of Bellingham, WA. Here we saw, what we all had been waiting for, Orcas.
Unfortunately, the whales did not breach, so this is all we saw. The photos do not do these creatures justice. I was mesmerized watching them swim across the water.
Our ride back to the port was just as pretty. We continued to see the stunning coastline and islands that make up this beautiful area of the world.
When all was said and done, the tour was about 5 hours. It was a great place to do a whale watch and I would recommend it. I wished we had spent a little more time in town, but we had dinner reservations and tickets to a show over at Canada Place. Next time we will know better.
Our adventure last summer came to an end on the Spanish island of Majorca. We spent some time in the cities of Soller and Palma. Palma is the capital city of Majorca and is famous for its beaches. Soller is a typical Mediterranean town with narrow streets, cafes, open markets and beautiful architecture. Upon arrival to Palma, we rode a bus over to the Palma Railway Station. There, we boarded the Ferrocarril de Soller, an electric train. This vintage train leaves the capital of Palma and heads north through plains, the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range, verdantwoodlands and a valley of orange groves en route to the city of Soller.
The ride to Soller took about an hour or so. Once we arrived, we took a walking tour of the city. Like all our other excursions, in addition to our Adventures by Disney guides, a local guide was there to provide the history and highlights of this city. Eventually, our tour lead us to an olive oil experience and tasting at Tafona Can Det. Tafona Can Det is a family owned business dating back to 1561! The olive mill has not changed much and the way the oil is produced has stayed the same. The family feels if it were to move to a more modern continuous production, it would lose its high quality.
We watched a short video on the history of the mill and then saw how the oil is made, beginning with the olives being washed and ending with with a delicious meal. We were able to sample the delicious oil, along with breads, meats and freshly squeezed orange juice. It was amazing. We were given a bottle of olive oil to take home and an orange or two for the road. Once we finished our tour of the mill, we enjoyed a leisurely walk back to the center of Soller, Plaza de la Constitucion.
When we arrived back to the center of town, we headed to lunch at La Vila Hotel. It is a quaint hotel with a beautiful garden in the back. This is where we enjoyed our traditional Spanish lunch.
Our course, like every other meal on this trip, it ended with gelato from a local gelato cafe.
After lunch, we had some time to shop and take in this charming little city.
Soon it was time to head back to Palma. Instead of taking the electric train back, we took the Soller Railway. This was a trolley that ran between the two locations and made numerous stops along the way. It reminded me of the green line in Boston.
Once we were back to Palma, we were treated to this view.
It was a great way to end our vacation. I hope you have enjoyed following along our European vacation. I have loved reliving the memories and look forward to sharing more trips with you all.
Today I are going to talk about Day 6 of our embedded Adventures by Disney (ABD) trip. For those of you that don’t know, an embedded ABD is an Adventures by Disney trip that is done while on a Disney cruise. Instead of booking excursions through the cruise line, all the excursions are done through Adventures by Disney. I highly recommend it and looking forward to doing many more in the future.
The boat docks about an hour and half away from Rome. We were the first ones off the boat, onto the bus and off to our first stop…the Vatican. I was looking forward to visiting Rome, especially the Vatican. I am Catholic and as a Catholic, this is it. This is the where it all happens. There is so much history and power in this tiny little country. With that being said, as beautiful as it was, I was kind of sad that is has become this big tourist attraction. I had always envisioned walking up to it by way of the square. Well.. you don’t. You enter from the back (you do see the old Vatican wall, which is cool) and it is like entering any other museum. Oh and by the way, the square looks so much bigger in t.v.
First, our ABD guides and our local guide took us aside and told us what we would see in the Sistine Chapel. They had a map and pointed out all the different paintings. They did because, no is suppose to speak inside the chapel or take photos. I was disappointed about the photos, but I understood.
However, prior to touring the Sistine Chapel, we walked the museum. It is very lovely and holds so much history. It is also very crowded. You really don’t walked the museum, you do the Vatican Shuffle. There were different rooms that we walked though along the tour. There is a Gallery of the Maps, the Gallery of the Tapestries, the Gallery of the Candelabra and much more. Here are a few shots as we moved room to room.
The last room we were to see was the Sistine Chapel. I wish we could have taken photos. However, the photos probably would not have done it justice. It is simply breathtaking. Prior to going in, I mentioned our guides gave us a bit of history lesson on the chapel and Michelangelo. The chapel was created in 1508-1512. It is named for Pope Sixtus IV. Despite what people think, he did not paint the ceiling lying down. He had special scaffolding made so he could stand. There are over 300 figures painted in the chapel. There are numerous biblical scenes, such as the creations of Adam and Eve, the sacrifice of Noah and the Great Flood. Thousands of visitors tour the chapel each year. It is also where the cardinals meet to elect a new Pope. I encourage you to look online for photos. It is quite remarkable.
After visiting the chapel, it was on to St. Peter’s Basilica. This was another breathtaking work of art. I was hopeful we may run into Pope Francis. He has been known to wander about and meet people. No such luck for us. Inside the Basilica, we saw The Pieta, the statue by Michelangelo depicting Jesus in the arms of his mother after the Crucifixion. My photo does not do this justice either.
After visiting St. Peter’s we had our photos taken and then some time for shopping. From there we had another fantastic lunch. The food in Italy was amazing. Even our oldest, who will not eat pasta here at home, loved it. From there we did a walking tour and saw iconic sights, such as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia where the Vittoria Emanuele ll Monument is located, ancient Rome, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.
The Trevi Fountain was another must on my bucket list. While it is beautiful, it was extremely crowded. One has to really push their way to the front to have their picture taken. Of course, we had to throw a coin over our shoulder. This will ensure that we will return to Rome one day.
Our last stop in this incredible city, the Colosseum. This was remarkable. From a distance, it looked fake. It reminded me of a backdrop on a movie set.
The adults and kids split up and the kids did a separate tour that involved gladiator costumes. My oldest did that, but my 13 year old stuck with the adults. In his words, he did not need it to be dumbed down for him. God help me. This kid a something else! Some interesting facts about The Colosseum. It was built in under ten years, mostly by Jewish slaves. Over a million animals and over a half million people died in The Colosseum. Also, The Colosseum had a marble facade and marble seats, however when St. Peter’s Basilica was being built, they took the marble from the Colosseum and used it there. Finally, it is the most visited site in Italy. The Vatican does receive more visitors, but that is not part of Italy. It is its own principality.
All and all, it was a fantastic day in Rome. We saw so much, yet there is still so much to be seen. I am looking forward to heading back in the next few years.
Our first stop on the cruise was Marseilles, France. Marseilles is the 3rd biggest city in France and the largest port. Once the boat docked, we boarded a bus and drove to Les Baux-de-Provence. Les Baux -de-Provence is a commune in France (what we call a town here in the US). It has been named one of the most beautiful villages in France. It certainly lived up to that description. It is a picturesque village, perched on a rocky hilltop. It reminded me of the village in Beauty in the Beast.
At the top of the town are the ruins of a 13th century stone fortress. Lavender fields surround it. The show, The Amazing Race, was filmed at that very spot. It has many historical buildings, such as a hospital, church, chateau, town hall, houses, etc. The views were gorgeous. The village has been restored and is just so charming. There were many craft shops selling Provencal products and goods. I bought some lavender satchels and cookies from this amazing bakery.
We left the village and headed to lunch at a local restaurant. The restaurant was closed to everyone but our group of 40. The adults were seated in one section and the kids in another section. The restaurant was warm and cozy. It was like being in someone’s home for dinner. After lunch, we went to Carrieres Des Lumieres. Carrieres Des Lumieres is an abandoned limestone quarry that featured over 2,000 digital images projected on the surfaces. The photos were of Picasso’s work. It was amazing.
Of course, the day is not complete without heading back to a wonderful dinner on the ship and a photo or two with the characters.
As you can see, day 2 was full of adventure. Stay tuned for the rest of the trip report over the next couple of weeks.
