Mediterranean Trip 2012 - Part 1

David and I are off once again for new travels of Europe via two back-to-back Regent cruises starting in Barcelona and ending in Istanbul.  We left Houston on Sunday, September 23rd to Barcelona.  Our hotel for the next few nights was at Hotel Casa Fuster.  There we met up with our friends and travel agent, Sonny and Jennie as well as their friends, Laura and Kirk.  Jet lag was overcome with a little nap then off we were to a great tapas dinner for six.

After a good night's rest, we all met at 9:30 am for a tour of the Penedes Wine Region with wine guru, Paddy Manion.  Our first wine tasting was at the Winery of Albert I Noya after a tour of their winery.  What a beautiful country!  We traveled on to Villa Franca where we climbed a very tall, ancient bell tower.  The steps were tiny and wedge-shaped barely able to be called a step.  They curved round and round a center pole for a total of 155 steps before arriving at the top for a spectacular view.  See the picture below of the ancient weather vane standing about 10' tall that was somehow relocated to a center floor of the bell tower.

 

 

After the exercise of climbing up and down the bell tower, we were all ready for lunch.  Off we went to Masia Aran for a great lunch of Catalan Specialties.  Our tour continued at the small Cavas Nadal winery where we sampled Cava, the sparkling wine of Spain.  Our first full day in Barcelona was filled with spectacular landscapes, great food, wine and company!

 

On Wednesday, September 26th we slept a little longer because we were not scheduled to meet until noon.  Packed and ready to be transported to the Regent Mariner, we all loaded up and traveled to the port in good time; albeit a circuitous route through Barcelona.  Checking in was swift and performed onboard where we were met with our first glass of champagne as we stepped onboard.  Our first night onboard included dinner for all six at the alternative restaurant, Signatures.  David and I have the cabin suite at the center back of the ship on the 10th floor.  It has a great view of everywhere the ship has been.

 







Thursday, September 27th we were docked in Marseille, France.  We had a full morning to ourselves before meeting our guide at 1:30 pm for a Provence Wine Tour.  It was a special treat for it was Sonny's birthday.  Gaetane was our wine guide taking us to the region of Bandol to taste their famous red wines.  This winery was even more beautiful than the ones in Spain.  The winery we visited was the Chateau de Pibarnon.  We not only tasted their red wine, but also their rose wine which I much preferred.  Afterword we visited the Cassis and the Chateau Fontblanche to taste their famous white wines of Cassis.  We even toasted Sonny's birthday with a special bottle of champagne! 

I hope to take time tomorrow to post more pictures and catch you up to the current day of travel.