The last week of July and first two weeks of August my wife and I were in Valencia with the kids. What a wonderful summer!
Seeing my son brave the waves to slide into the Mediterranean sea from a high boat slide, my daughter ride her horse into the sunset, or enjoying movies on a big screen in our terrace overlooking the sea and the city, were memories that I will cherish forever.
After the cruise my wife and I took our American relatives to Barcelona for 3 days. Nothing new for me there except the Sagrada Familia (yes, its true: after countless trips to Barcelona, I had never visited the amazing architectural wonder), although there are some things I can never get tired of, like Gaudis architecture, or Picasso`s museum.
Staying at the convenient and elegant Hotel España, next to the Liceu, was a great idea, made even better by their Martín Berasategui`s restaurant Fonda.
The day at Palma was very nice. We strolled through town, enjoying the Cathedral`s altars (by Gaudi and Barceló), the typical architecture, tried some sobrasada, bought some ensaimada, and went back to the ship feeling at home. After all, I spent many summers in nearby Ibiza and visited Mallorca many times.
Knowing that the organized excursion to Tunisia was going to be exhausting, the kids did not come with us, so we had plenty of time to explore La Goulette, Sidi Bou Saïd, and the National Bardo Museum.
There is no doubt Sidi Bou Saïd is picturesque and nice to visit. Clearly Mediterranean in its colors and folklore, it reminds you of the Greek islands or even Ibiza (the old twon).
My visit to Palermo was a brief one, because there is not much of interest for the kids and in any way I prefer the North of Italy to the South: climate, personality, food, culture… so we disembarked, were incessantly approached and solicited by local “tour guides” and other merchants as you would expect in the North of Africa, took a walk – fortunately the seaport is near the city center – and went back to the ship.
On day 3 of our cruise we stopped in Civitavecchia (Rome).
As a thank you gift to my parents, we had arranged three private minivans with bilingual guides, that picked us up in Civitavecchia and took us to Rome.
Much has been written about Rome, with so many archeological remains, and art, combined with a very lively city life and character.
We did not have much time and the group was large, including kids and a person in a wheelchair, so we started at the Spanish Steps, and went to Villa Borghese, one of Romes most famous parks, right above Piazza del Popolo.
On day 2 of our cruise we stopped in Genoa.
After a short cab ride to the city center from the seaport, we explored its very eclectic cathedral, an old crumbling palazzo turn into antiques store, beautiful arched galleries and narrow streets.
