Christmas markets in Europe and Caribbean cruise (RTW)

[Pushka]

I had pretty much the same breakfast in La Terrazza eveyday on our Silver Moon cruise 2 weeks before yours, I tipped 2 of the Silver bowls of Strawberries, Blueberries and Raspberries into a ceramic bowl topped with granola and Natural Yoghurt. Strangely most days the ceramic bowls were also in short supply on our cruise, so usually had to ask a staff member to please find bowls. Also for the 1st 10 days of our cruise all the Yoghurt tubs were neatly standing up in the chilled zone, but the labels identifying whether it was Natural, Strawberry or whatever were hidden on the sides of the tub, so everyday people had to rifle through all the tubs to find the flavour they wanted. Finally on day 10 some staff member must have gotten approval to lay the yoghurt tubs on their sides so the passengers could self-select

This can't be something they've never encountered before surely.

 

[Clayton]

This can't be something they've never encountered before surely

It seemed to be situation normal on Silver Moon. Same thing happened daily with the butter pats on small plates, which for some reason the Toast monitor never noticed was running out.

 

[zig]

It seemed to be situation normal on Silver Moon. Same thing happened daily with the butter pats on small plates, which for some reason the Toast monitor never noticed was running out.

It is for these sorts of issues that I always avoid the buffet in LT and head to the restaurant / Atlantide. I prefer to have everything brought to me, rather than wandering a buffet trying to seek out items that I need

 

[drron]

We are allergic to buffets.

 

[RooFlyer]

I found the quality of a buffet pretty good and I detest all the stuffing around that happens when you have to have order a la carte breakfast. Besides sitting on the back open deck is very pleasant for breakfast in the tropics .

And I never have cooked breakfast.

 

[RooFlyer]

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria was built between 1577 and 1612. In 1586, while still under construction, it was attacked by the English privateer Francis Drake, which caused severe damage and delayed its completion. Wikipedia again:

Drake, “El Draque”, appeared before the coasts of Cartagena with a fleet of up to 23 ships of war and more than 3,000 men, and attacked the city, in which it was the most important military action carried out in the 16th century against the ports of America. Cartagena was taken and Drake was devoted to looting: It reduced to ashes a little more than half of the city and, before the refusal of its inhabitants to pay the juicy ransom that demanded, threatened to demolish to cannonades the cathedral, that at that moment had to be the most precious good of the city. Then he made the first warning shot, which was enough to seriously affect its structure, as the bullet struck one of the columns, knocking it down and taking two more. Arches that supported the three columns and part of the ceiling. Finally, the Cartagenians paid 110,000 silver ducats and Drake agreed not to continue the destruction of the city, after having it in its possession for 6 weeks.

 

[RooFlyer]

I made a beeline for Ábaco Libros y Café, a recommended coffee shop, inside a bookshop.







I left the Byron in Spanish to other readers.

 

[Disco]

I made a beeline for Ábaco Libros y Café, a recommended coffee shop, inside a bookshop.

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I left the Byron in Spanish to other readers.

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Thank you for a great TR. We are not really interested in cruising. However, there are places that are best accessed by boat. In that respect it's been terrific to read a practical (dress codes , I pack for likely weather conditions) and honest report of the up and down sides of getting to places by sea. And, possible problems and quirks once having arrived. Illuminating and helpful.

 

[RooFlyer]

Well, Happy New Year to everyone; here at DFW its a fine, chilly day as I wait for QF8 tonight.

_________________

Almost the entire perimeter of the Old Town, is lined with defensive fortification/wall, which was constructed in the early 1600s after the repeated attacks by pirates, including Drake and Hawkins. More-or less encompasses all of the below, bar the NW and SE extremities.



A lot of the wall, or curtain is still well in tact as is much of the fortifications or bastions along the top.








You can walk on top of, or along most of the NE and SW parts facing the sea and its very pleasant wit the sun going down and a sea breeze.



And it attracts all types



In fact so many narcissists posing and re-posing and re-posing etc all along the wall.












At the NE end, there are Las Bóvedas de Santa Clara - a row of dungeons built into the wall , with each cell now a souvenir shop.

 

[RooFlyer]

I kept exploring as it grew dark and after dark, beteen about 5:30 and 6:30pm.

The evening diners were coming out



Some streets with decorations



Back to the Plaza de los Coches and the Torre del Reloj where most of the action was





This was actually much brighter, but it flickered.











Then back to my hotel, and the park opposite was well lit up too

 

[RooFlyer]

For dinner, my host at the hotel suggested Mistura, just a few doors up and it was a great choice. In fact some people in the check-in area when I asked made the comment that everywhere is fabulous and a couple of days later, having been to this and another place, and talked to others, I have to agree.

In the following, if you click through to menu, and then on the actual dishes, it has English.

Mistura

Restaurante bar

mistura-1.cluvi.co

I could only get a seat at the bar and there was no lack of effort to reach the top shelf. No pics around, as it was a bit crowded. Live music



First off, local beer. Just what i needed



Menu was on-line (QR code) and zero English at the bar, so I took screen shots of what i wanted, and that worked.



Fantastic. A$15 - menu prices include tax.



then



Divine A$22



Total, with 2 beers and 10% tip on the bill (put there by them, which I didn't mind) - A$50.

Best meal of the trip so far.

 

[RooFlyer]

Next morning, an early Brekkie at the hotel - nice, then a 20 minute walk to the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, which I saw on my first drive in.

Any one view (except air) only shows a portion of it





Wikipedia:

Construction on the fortress was finalised by 1536 and expanded between 1639 and 1657. It was built in a triangular shape on top of a hill, with eight batteries and a garrison of 200 soldiers and four gunners. Its name was given in honour of Philip IV of Spain.

In the 1697 raid on Cartagena, during the War of the Grand Alliance, the castle fell to the French privateer Baron de Pointis. The castle was repaired by José de Herrera y Sotomayor in 1739. British Admiral Edward Vernon attacked the fortress in the 1741 Battle of Cartagena de Indias, an important conflict of the War of Jenkins' Ear. Vernon's forces were repelled by the Spanish admiral Blas de Lezo. Another expansion was made to the fortress in 1763 by Antonio de Arévalo.

A ticket office (need to say here that credit card payments are very slow here. Usually a good 10 seconds to het the OK) then a climb to the top
via ramps.





The castle effectively enclosed a hill.





These 2 guys. One on the right takes a pic of the one on the left. Leftie inspects it, comments. Photo re-taken, rinse repeat. Prime photo spot with Colombian flag.













Oh, some occupational safety by the grounds workers. He was near a step fall-away.

 

[RooFlyer]

Walk back to the hotel. Getting very warm and humid







La Chula - restaurant with shows











Coffee section in most convenience stores is good

 

[RooFlyer]

After a shower and a bit of a rest, time to hunt for some more coffee. I headed down to the Getsemani district, wich is sort of the LH half of the island in the centre here



Its best know for its arts, street life and joi de vivre.. First, coffee and a snack. Cafe de Mural, perfect.

Cafe del Mural | Cartagena

Cafe del Mural, Cartagena de Indias. 1,324 likes · 1 talking about this · 1,415 were here. Cultura y experiencia en Café

www.facebook.com

I just had a latte and some banana bread, but I was fascinated with what the couple beside me were having. Coffee poured into some sort of upright filter then into a pewter pot. Little cups of calabash, it all looked rather ritualised; running commentary (Spanish )

 

[RooFlyer]

The del mural in the name comes from it being in the heart of the 'mural zone' and otherwise artists showing their stuff on the street

 

[RooFlyer]

More of the area


















Late lunch snack - ginger infused water (needed that!) and a ham and cheese criossant at Manna

 

[RooFlyer]

I asked for another dinner recommendation, and this time it was Carmen, just across the park

Carmen Restaurante Cartagena – Colombian Inspired Contemporary Cuisine 🇨🇴❤️🇨🇴

Another winner. A short walk across the park







A few quick snaps as I walked in; its quite big with a number of rooms here and there; was busy at 7pm; I thought people would eat later. Like last night, the centre of the restaurant is open to the elements.





My spot, again at the bar



Beer again, then an amuse bouch of pineapple, apple and other things



The entrée of ceviche, ginger and other things. Delicious ****



Mains, essentially a spicy fisherman's basket; mussels, lobster, prawns, octopus on fragrant rice. Bread rolls and spicy dipping sauce.



No dessert, I said, but they insisted on some lovely gelato, gratis.



Barman was fantastic - some English this time and I struck up a conversation with some Americans, down from LA. They were staing on the beach strip, to the north of the old town and had come her on a recommendation too.

A$90 this time, including tip and worth every penny - and more. Now took best meal of the trip.

A peak at my neighbours dish which looked equally good. Whole place was amazing and I think the bar was the place to sit.

 

[RooFlyer]

8:30am flight tomorrow, so an early flight with a 5:45am alarm.

Easy Uber, streets very quiet, made it in 15 mins not the suggested 30.

Check-in - Priority line much longer than Main Cabin, but it didn't take long



Immigration and security easy and quick. Then the gate lounge. Ugh. I knew there wasn't a lounge, but wasn't expecting it to be this basic. Hard plastic seats - 2 hours to wait.



There was a coffee shop and I got a latte - one of the most disgusting brews of anything I've had. Colombia loses some points. Maybe I should have had a shot.





AA2162 dep 8:23am arr MIA 11:22am, 25 mins early ~ 3hrs. B737-Max (proudly shown)


Seats were comfy - well padded. No problem for a 3 hr flight





I was in row 4 and by the time they got to me, it was 1 omelette or oats. I chose the oats. Not my favourite brekkie, but nice enough.



The guy in front needed something stronger ...



Surprised there was only paid wi-fi. I opened up my long dormant AAdvantage account to pay with any miles that might be in the bottom of the barrel, but they had all expired.

On arrival, MIA reverted to type, contrasting with my good experience before. 40 mins through immigration, 20 mins for bags. Then re-check bag and through security. Lots of shouting at the pax, mostly unintelligible to me. 30 mins security, after having been broken off very long line and led to a new checkpoint. Being shouted at all the time.



AA Flagship lounge. Offerings pretty limited. Spirits over there. Wine over somewhere else. I had a 4 hour layover to my flight to MIA. It was originally 2 hrs, so glad a schedule change by AA allowed my TA to open it up.


Couscous, chicken. cod. Also veges and soups. Biscuits and sweets elsewhere.

 

[RooFlyer]

AA1646 MIA-DFW dep MIA 15:30 arr DFW 17:56 local; 3H22 schedules, 3H actual. 1D, A320CEO

PDB of G&T, warm towel



Post DB of another G&T, with warm nuts (the wine selection was 'orrible). 'Lunch was offered at about 4pm DFW local; I declined

Dreadful arrival experience at DFW. We arrived Terminal C, which is ancient. I had managed to make my phone inoperative during the flight so I got out my back-up, gave it a charge while we waited an hour for bags. I was told that was pretty normal.

I was staying at the Grand Hyatt DFW (expecting to arrive at Terminal D ) and there was conflicting advice how to get the the Hyatt. A hotel shuttle or the airport OrangeLine bus. I asked a guy who was waiting with a sign to collect someone how to get the the bus areas and he confidently gave me .. the wrong instructions. While waiting there, I asked someone else and they said oh, no, construction ... you need to go down there. Fortunately, as I trudged along, an Orange Bus for TD stopped in front of me. Confirming it was OK for the Grand Hyatt, off we went. A grand tour, via Term E and dodging roadworks. Eventually got to the Hyatt 2 hours after arriving.







Bar snack, remembering the potion would be large, stilnox & bed.

I paid for a 4pm check-out and was planning to go to GrapeVine Mills mall, but with the holiday no-one was sure about the bus timing or the shops, so I just hung out in the room, read, walked and got up to date in the is TR

 

[RooFlyer]

Check-in opened 4.5 hrs before departure for QF8, departing at 8:30pm. The security which had a very long line, but moved quickly. So quite a long wait at DFW AA Flagship lounge, interspersed with laps around the terminal. I wanted to find a pharmac_/drugstore, but was told there was not one in Term D "after it closed for Covid".

The food and wine at the Flagship lounge was pretty good. Helpfully, they had a menu posted.











They even had a dry Riesling!



QF8, DFW-SYD, B787, 5A. Boarding started at about 7:40 and was quite orderly (except for an entitled couple who just wafted to the front of the J queue when it started boarding. I think everyone was too shocked by such a brazen move to object!!) Boarding was completed by about 8:10 but we had to wait for the last bags and cargo to be loaded, so we pushed back on time. Forecast 16H42 min to Sydney, but in the end it was pretty much as originally blocked 17H15m

On boarding, cleaning had been cursory - this stain wasn't as prominent as the pic suggests and might have been old. But the crumbs on the table were fresh! When I popped the table out, and the FA saw them, simply brushed them away.