Hot day in Barcelona 炎热的巴塞罗那
July 10, 2024
Today was extremely hot,......
今天非常炎热。。。
July 10, 2024: Today was extremely hot, making it unbearable to walk under the direct scorching sun. Fortunately, the tall buildings in the city provided ample shade, making our stroll through the streets more manageable.
In the morning, we took a taxi to Parc Güell, another of Gaudí’s accomplishments. We could definitely see his architectural signature. However, compared to his masterpiece, the Sagrada Família, the park seemed less impressive. Climbing up and down the hill was exhausting in the heat.
After a coffee break, we visited Casa Vicens, the first house designed and built by Antoni Gaudí. The vibrant colors of the house stood out in the neighborhood, but we didn’t go inside as we had a lunch reservation coming up soon.
Our delicious lunch was at Paco Meralgo. The grilled octopus with cured pork and grilled razor clams were the highlights of the meal.
Then we walked to see another of his masterpieces, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), a unique residential building with an undulating stone facade and wavy walls. After taking a few quick pictures, we hopped on the subway then funicular to the cable station. The cable car took us to Montjuïc Castle. At the castle, we learned more about Spanish history and the complex relationships between Spain and Catalonia.
Dinner was at Arume, located in the El Raval area, which is often considered less safe. It was recommended not to walk in the area alone. The dinner was excellent, especially the duck paella.
After dinner, we went to the rooftop café at our hotel, enjoying a drink and a panoramic view of the city. Tomorrow, we would say goodbye to Barcelona.
炎热的巴塞罗那
2024年7月10日：今天非常炎热，走在烈日下让人有些难以忍受。所幸城市中的高楼挡去不少太阳，沿着大楼阴凉处行走感觉稍微凉快一些。
早上我们打车去了帕克·古埃尔（Parc Güell），这是安东尼·高迪的又一杰作。我们确实能看到他独特的建筑风格。但因为我们昨天刚看了他最著名的杰作 - 圣家堂，与之相比，今天这个公园就显得不怎么样了。此外在炎热的天气里，上上下下的山坡让人疲惫不堪。
路途中小息喝完咖啡后，我们去了由安东尼·高迪设计和建造的第一座房子——卡萨·维森斯。这座房子的鲜艳色彩在街区中非常显眼，但由于我们有午餐预订，没能进去参观。
我们的午餐在Paco Meralgo餐厅享用。烤章鱼配腌肉和烤剃刀蛤蜊是这顿美餐的亮点。
酒足饭饱后我们继续前往高迪的另一杰作——米拉之家（La Pedrera），这是一栋具有起伏石质外墙的独特住宅建筑。
看够了高迪，我们乘坐地铁和缆车来到了蒙特惠奇城堡（Montjuïc Castle）。在城堡里面的小展览厅中，我们进一步了解了西班牙的历史以及西班牙和加泰罗尼亚(Catalonia)之间复杂的关系。
晚餐是在阿鲁梅餐厅（Arume)享用的，这家评价不错的餐厅位于通常被认为不太安全的拉瓦尔区，昨天导游建议不要单独在该区域行走。从外面看一点不起眼的小饭店生意兴隆，晚餐非常美味，尤其是鸭肉海鲜饭。
回酒店后又上了酒店的屋顶酒吧，继续在那里享用甜品和美酒，最后再欣赏一下城市的全景。明天我们将告别巴塞罗那。
Barcelona, Spain 巴塞罗那
July 9, 2024
We had a full schedule today in Barcelona......
今天我们在巴塞罗那安排了满满一整天的行程。。。
July 9, 2024: We had a full schedule today in Barcelona. After enjoying the breakfast buffet at our hotel, we headed out to join the free Gothic Quarter walking tour. Although termed "free," these tours typically end with participants paying what they feel the tour was worth. We've taken several of these tours in various cities over the years and have found them to be quite informative. We usually do them on the first day at a new destination so we can explore the area in more detail later.
Our tour guide was young and very knowledgeable about Barcelona's old neighborhood. He not only shared fascinating stories about the area but also pointed out the “fake” old buildings, which had been renovated to look clean and attractive to tourists. We’ve noticed similar trends in many places around the world.
After the walking tour, we went to a nearby Tapas Bar for some quick bites and then took a taxi to the Sagrada Familia, the most famous church under construction for the last 142 years. Both the interior and exterior of the church were stunning and awe-inspiring. The vibrant light streaming through the stained glass windows inside the basilica was unlike anything we had ever experienced before. The columns branching out like trees were also very intriguing.
We then took a taxi back to our hotel for a short nap before heading out again for a Spanish cooking class. There were 19 participants in the class. First, we went with the chef to La Boqueria Market to get some fresh squids, shrimp, and mussels before walking to the kitchen. We started by sitting down and drinking Sangria, a famous cocktail in Barcelona. After a glass of the drink, we gathered around the kitchen table to prepare seafood paella. The chef showed us how to make the dish, and we helped with the cooking. Meanwhile, we also learned how to make Sangria. It’s a mix of two bottles of red wine, four shots of whiskey, four shots of gin, vodka, and some juices. We realized why it tasted so strong!
While our fellow travelers managed to finish two jars of the drink and became quite high and talkative, we focused on the cooking. The seafood paella turned out to be very good, and we’re eager to try making it at home using the techniques we learned. After the class, everyone was offered a free shot at another bar, but we decided to head back to the hotel directly. It was definitely the best experience we’ve had in Barcelona so far.
巴塞罗那
2024年7月9日：今天我们在巴塞罗那安排了满满一整天的行程。享用完酒店的自助早餐后，我们出发去参加免费的哥特区（Gothic Quarter）步行游。虽然称为“免费”，这些游览通常在结束时由参与者根据感受支付费用。多年来，我们在不同城市参加了几次这样的步行游，发现它们非常有益。我们通常在到达新目的地的第一天参加这种步行游，让我们对城市就个初步了解，以便之后能更详细地探索该地区。
我们的导游很年轻，对巴塞罗那的旧城区非常了解。他不仅分享了关于该地区的有趣故事，还指出了一些经过翻新以吸引游客的“假”旧建筑。我们在世界各地都看到了类似的趋势。
游览结束后，我们顺路进了一家附近的小吃（Tapas)酒吧，里面挤满了人。我们点了几份小吃, 有熏沙丁鱼、火腿，橄榄等，再配上冰啤，每一样都非常美味。因为要赶场，我们站在吧台前，匆忙地吃完了小吃和啤酒，然后赶往下一个目的地。
打车来到了圣家堂（Sagrada Familia），这座著名的教堂已经建造了142年，还没完工。教堂的内外都令人惊叹且敬畏。像树枝一样分叉的柱子不同寻常，教堂内部的彩色玻璃窗透出的光线极其鲜艳，这是我们从未经历过的景象。
回酒店小憩了一会儿，我们再次出门去参加西班牙烹饪课，我们这组有19名学员来自世界各国。厨师首先带着我们一起去了波盖利亚市场(Mercat de la Boqueria)购买新鲜的红虾，墨鱼，鱿鱼和青口，然后步行回到厨房。我们先坐下来喝了巴塞罗那著名的鸡尾酒——桑格利亚汽酒，然后大家围着厨房大桌子准备海鲜烩饭。厨师向我们展示了如何制作这道菜，从准备各种海鲜到烹饪，我们全程参与。同时我们还学会了如何制作桑格利亚汽酒。一大罐酒是由两瓶红酒、四份威士忌、四份杜松子酒、伏特加和一些果汁混合而成。我们终于明白为什么它的酒味如此特别。
大家喝光了两大罐酒，变得非常兴奋和健谈，不知不觉饭已熟。海鲜烩饭非常美味，整整一大锅也是一扫而光。我们以前自己也做过海鲜烩饭，但完全不一样。这次等回家后一定会尝试用新学到的技巧来做正宗的海鲜烩饭。课后大家都被邀请去另一家酒吧继续喝免费的酒同时看欧洲杯足球赛，西班牙对法国。但实在是太晚太累了，我们直接回了酒店。这无疑是我们在巴塞罗那最难忘的一次体验。
西班牙赢了，大街上人们兴高采烈，高声唱歌为此庆祝。
Nîmes and Barcelona 尼姆和巴塞罗那
July 8, 2024
Since we could only book seats on the morning train to Barcelona,......
由于我们只能订到早上去巴塞罗那(Barcelona)的火车座位。。。
July 8, 2024: Since we could only book seats on the morning train to Barcelona, we left Avignon early and made our way to Nîmes first. Upon arrival at the Nîmes station, we dropped off our luggage at a nearby hotel for 5 euro per bag.
In Nîmes, besides transferring the train to Barcelona, we want to visit the amphitheater of Nîmes, also known as the Arènes de Nîmes, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. Built around 70 AD, it shares a similar design with the Colosseum in Rome, though on a smaller scale. The amphitheater is still in use today for concerts and other events and is open for tours. As we arrived before it opened, we took the opportunity to visit another historic landmark, the Maison Carrée, a beautifully preserved Roman temple. Nîmes, often referred to as the "French Rome," is rich with historic Roman architecture, and we found ourselves wishing we had more time to explore the city.
After a quick espresso, we returned to the amphitheater for a brief 20-minute tour. We climbed up and down the stadium steps, enjoying the unique experience of having the place almost entirely to ourselves.
Next, we embarked on a four-hour train ride to Barcelona. The journey was smooth, and we both took advantage of the time to rest. Although we arrived at the station on time, it took an hour and a half to book seats for our future rides—a frustrating experience that highlighted the need for a better ticketing system.
Once we settled into our hotel, we set out to explore the city. Our hotel was located right next to one of the busiest streets in Barcelona, and the sheer number of people on the street was overwhelming. We had heard stories of protests against tourists, but we were unprepared for the crowds that greeted us.
We sampled local tapas before heading to Barcelona beach, where we relaxed for a while. Later, we tried Thai tapas, which turned out to be delicious.
With the sun setting around 9:30 pm, we found ourselves ready for bed after dinner, wrapping up our first evening in Barcelona.
尼姆和巴塞罗那
2024年7月8日: 由于我们只能订到早上去巴塞罗那(Barcelona)的火车座位，我们改变了计划，一大早就离开了阿维尼翁(Avignon)，前往尼姆(Nimes)，另一个法国南方小镇。到达尼姆车站后，我们将行李寄存在车站旁的一家酒店，每件行李5欧元。
在尼姆除了转车去巴塞罗那，还想去参观尼姆斗兽场（Arènes de Nîmes），世界上保存最完好的罗马竞技场之一。它建于公元70年左右，结构设计与罗马的科洛西姆相似，但规模较小。这个斗兽场如今用于音乐会和其它活动，同时也对游客开放。由于我们到达时斗兽场尚未开放，我们先去看了另一处历史遗迹——梅森卡雷（Maison Carrée），一座罗马神庙。尼姆常被称为“法国的罗马”，因为这里有许多历史悠久的罗马建筑。真希望我们有更多的时间探索这座城市, 只能说是计划跟不上变化。
在斗兽场边上找了家咖啡馆边喝咖啡边等开门，然后第一个买票进斗兽场，来了个20分钟的快速参观。我们上串下跳攀登了整个斗兽场，没其他游客，我们二个人几乎拥有了整个场地，非常不错。
接下来是四小时的火车旅程前往巴塞罗那。旅途平稳，我们都得到了需要的休息。火车准时到达了巴塞罗那火车站。因为后面行程中有二程火车手机上无法预订座位，我们又在火车站排队花了一个半小时的时间将这二程座位预订好。这个票务系统的管理确实需要改进。
我们的酒店就在巴塞罗那最繁忙的La Rambla大街上。入住酒店后，我们开始探索这座向往已久的城市。但街上的人之多，我们的头都开始晕了，有些不知所措。前几天我们有听说过这里抗议游客的故事，虽没遇到抗议者，但没想到街上会有这么多游客。
我们从酒店往巴塞罗那海滩方向走，沿途先找了家店品尝了当地的塔帕斯（Tapas)。来到海边坐海滩上休息了一会儿后，我们又去尝试了泰国塔帕斯，非常美味。
这里的日落大约在晚上9:30，晚餐都吃得很晚。基本上晚餐后就已经是我们正常的就寝时间了。 但到了这里也就入乡随俗跟着晚吃晚睡了。
Avignon 阿维尼翁
July 7, 2024
Unlike yesterday’s gloom, today’s weather was......
与昨天的天气完全不同，今天阳光明媚。。。
July 7, 2024: Unlike yesterday’s gloom, today’s weather was sunny with a gentle breeze—perfect for an outdoor adventure. We set out before seven o’clock to explore the local market, known for its fresh produce and diverse food booths. He opted for a hearty pork chop with French fries, while she chose the pain aux raisins. Both were delicious and reasonably priced.
After breakfast, we took a leisurely stroll along Rue des Teinturiers. This charming cobblestone street, running alongside a canal that once powered water wheels for textile drying, was peaceful in the early morning with only a few tourists around. Due to last night's heavy rain, which caused a huge mess, the cleaning crew were busy on the streets. The old buildings, shaded by big trees, added to the tranquil atmosphere.
At nine o’clock, we joined a small group of travelers for a tour of three picturesque towns outside Avignon. Our first stop was the bustling Sunday market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the largest in the region and the biggest we've ever seen. With only an hour to explore, we could barely scratch the surface, but we did manage to pick up a hefty chunk of 12- and 40-month-aged cheese as travel snacks. It was a delightful experience, witnessing the vibrant market that caters primarily to locals.
Next, we visited Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, a 12th-century Cistercian abbey surrounded by fields of lavender in full bloom. The sight of the vibrant purple flowers against the backdrop of the historic abbey was breathtaking, and we took our time wandering through the fields, savoring the beauty of the moment.
Our journey continued to the hilltop village of Gordes, one of the most beautiful in the Luberon region. Known for its stunning architecture and rich history, Gordes offered breathtaking views and a sense of timeless charm. However, our time there felt all too brief, and we wished for more time to immerse ourselves in its unique culture.
Our final stop was the ochre cliffs of Roussillon, famous for their striking red, orange, and yellow hues. Once a center for natural pigment production, the cliffs are now a popular tourist attraction. We enjoyed lunch nearby, with the beautiful scenery and pleasant weather making it a perfect stop. The tour was fantastic, giving us a deeper appreciation of the Provençal countryside.
Back in Avignon, we hurried to join a guided tour of the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes). We were surprised to learn that this massive Gothic fortress was the seat of the Catholic popes during the 14th century when the papacy was based in Avignon rather than Rome. Despite its emptiness today, the palace’s sheer scale and historical significance made the visit worthwhile. The time-slotted ticket system, used to manage the crowds, added a modern touch to the ancient setting.
Feeling fatigued, we took a break at a café on the plaza of the Pope’s palace. As we sipped espresso and sparkling water, we watched an art performance in the square, soaking in the lively atmosphere. After our brief rest, we walked to the Pont Saint-Bénézet (Pont d’Avignon), which now stands only partially intact. Both the bridge and the palace are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Avignon is renowned for its annual arts festival, one of the world’s most important contemporary performing arts events, featuring theater, dance, music, and more. Although we didn’t catch any formal shows due to the limited number of English-speaking performances, we were enveloped by the festival’s vibrant energy. Posters for performances were everywhere, and street performers worked the crowds, promoting their shows. The city was alive, with restaurants and bars buzzing well past midnight. The combination of good food, drink, and art created an unforgettable atmosphere. Of course, we ended our day with a simple yet satisfying French meal at Restaurant EAT.
阿维尼翁
2024年7月7日：与昨天的天气完全不同，今天阳光明媚，微风轻拂，正是户外活动的完美天气。我们在七点前出发去了镇里的小集巿场。那里出售农产品，还有几个食品摊位。除了一个羊角面包，一个葡萄圈，我们还点了一份带炸薯条的大猪排。俩人吃得津津有味，再配上咖啡，太享受了。所有东西还是一贯的美味可口，价格合理。感觉现在全世界就美国物价最贵了。
早餐后，我们悠闲地漫步在Rue des Teinturiers，一条由鹅卵石铺成的街道。它沿着一条水渠，而这条水渠驱动着三个历史上用于纺织染色工艺的水轮。街道两旁是许多老建筑和大树，清晨游客稀少，显得非常安静。时不时能看到清洁工在将被昨天大雨搞得面目全非的街道冲洗的干干净净。
九点钟，我们与另外六位游客参加了当地一个游览阿维尼翁（Avignon)外面三个小镇的半日游。导游首先带我们去了L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue的一个大型周日市场。这是该地区最大的市场，也是我们见过的最大的户外综合市场。导游给了我们一个小时的时间来自由行。这点时间根本不够，进入巿场没多久就开始就点迷路了，一小时内逛完所有摊位是不可能的。我们买了一大块12个月和一小块40个月的奶酪作为旅行小吃，再加上一小袋薰衣草就匆匆赶回小巴。
接着我们往山顶历史名村Gordes方向去。距离Gordes不远的Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque有着名信片般的美景。这座12世纪的西多会修道院被盛开的薰衣草田围绕着，风景如画。Gordes是卢贝隆（Luberon)地区最美丽的村庄之一。它以其令人惊叹的建筑、历史意义和壮丽的景观而闻名。可惜我们没有足够时间来充分欣赏这里的氛围和文化。
我们的最后一站是Roussillon的赭石悬崖，以其红色、橙色和黄色的土壤而闻名。天然颜料的生产在合成颜料出现之前非常繁荣。现在这里只是一个旅游景点。借着今天的好天气，我们在悬崖附近的饭店吃个午餐，享受美景和美食，最后再来份薰衣草冰淇淋。这个半日游很棒，通过走出城市，我们对乡村有了更多的了解。
回到城市后，我们急忙赶去下一个行程，参观教皇宫（Palais des Papes）。之前我们并不知道阿维尼翁这个巨大的哥特式堡垒曾是天主教教皇的驻地，直到14世纪教廷才搬到罗马。它是欧洲最大和最重要的中世纪哥特式建筑之一。由于访问该地区的游客众多，许多景点，包括这个教皇宫都采用了时段票系统来控制人流。游客只能在票上的时间段进入场馆。尽管现在教皇宫对公众开放，但它基本上是一座没有多少家具或其它物品的空老建筑，但仍值得一看。
马不停蹄地忙了大半天，我们感到很累，于是在教皇宫广场的咖啡馆坐了下来。一边喝着咖啡和苏打水，一边观看广场上的艺术表演。稍作休息后，我们参观了现在仅部分保存完好的圣贝内泽桥（Pont Saint-Bénézet）。桥和教皇宫都是联合国教科文组织的世界遗产。
阿维尼翁因其年度艺术节而闻名，艺术节包括戏剧、舞蹈、音乐和其它表演。它是世界上最重要的当代表演艺术活动之一。然而，由于只有有限数量的英语表演，我们没有机会看到任何正式的演出。尽管如此，我们还是感受到了艺术节的热烈氛围。介绍演出的海报满大街都是，街头免费表演随处可见。表演者经常在街上举着他们的海报，吸引观众来看他们的演出。今天是个好天气，餐馆和酒吧都在户外摆满桌椅，午夜后仍然熙熙攘攘。吃饭、喝酒、欣赏艺术表演——多么美好的生活！当然我们也继续享用我们的法国餐。
Strasbourg and train in Europe 斯特拉斯堡和欧洲火车旅行
July 6, 2024
We started our day early by heading straight......
一早醒来，第一件事就是去酒店对面的火车站，。。。
July 6, 2024: We started our day early by heading straight to the train station across from the hotel to change our reserved seats for an earlier train. Afterward, we stopped by a nearby bakery, where we ordered the chocolate croissant, the raisin swirl, a cup of latte, and an Americano. We sat by the entrance, enjoying our breakfast and people-watching. The pastries were fresh and delicious, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable—much cheaper than in the U.S. It was a pleasant surprise to be able to find breakfast so easily at such an early hour, especially considering how difficult it was to find any breakfast during our last trip to Europe two years ago.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral here, a historic Catholic church, was built in the 14th century and remained the tallest church in Europe until the 19th century. After an early visit to the cathedral hall, we climbed the 330 steps to the church’s viewing platform, though the narrow, winding stairs were quite challenging, especially for older visitors. This observation deck used to be a gathering place for residents during holidays and weekends. From up there, we enjoyed a stunning 360-degree view of the city. After visiting the cathedral, we continued exploring the town center. Last night, we only had time for a quick walk after arriving, but today, with a closer look, we found the town even more charming.
As lunchtime approached, it began to rain, so we headed to a highly-rated small restaurant we had found through a Google search. The waitress was incredibly kind—seeing us outside with no place to escape the rain, she invited us in early to sit down, even though the restaurant wasn’t officially open yet. We decided to try a local specialty—plain crêpes, which were delicious and not greasy. We had initially planned to try another specialty dish—sausages—but they weren’t available for lunch, so we opted for a beef salad instead. The salad was a generous bowl of fresh vegetables topped with plenty of beef. The vegetables were crisp and refreshing, but there was so much beef that we couldn’t finish it.
After lunch, we returned to the train station to book seats for our next journey from France to Spain in advance, then went back to the hotel to collect our luggage and head to our next destination. During our 2022 train tour in Europe, we were impressed by the efficiency and convenience of the European railway system, especially in Switzerland. With our Eurail pass, we boarded and disembarked without issues, and delays were rare. However, our German friend had warned us not to expect the same efficiency level in other parts of Europe, particularly in Germany. This time, our first 30-minute leg train in Germany was delayed by over 40 minutes, almost causing us to miss our connecting train to Strasbourg. Today, in France, our train to Avignon TGV was delayed by more than 10 minutes, causing us to miss the 5-minute connecting train to the Avignon city center, forcing us to wait an hour for the next one.
One of the most frustrating aspects of train travel this time has been booking seats. Many trains require reservations, and the fees aren’t cheap—around $20-25 per person per trip. Additionally, finding and booking seats has proven to be difficult. France’s high-speed trains impose many restrictions on seats for Eurail pass holders, sometimes offering no seats at all, which has forced us to adjust our itinerary based on train pass availability. In Spain, seats on high-speed trains can’t be booked online. During our last trip in Switzerland and most other parts of Europe, we didn’t need to reserve seats, and even when we did, online reservations were simple.
We arrived in Avignon in the evening. Avignon is a historic city in southern France, and we chose to visit because it hosts France’s oldest summer arts festival. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side. As we made our way to the city center for dinner after checking into our hotel, the rain began to pour even harder. What should have been a lively weekend evening was dampened by the downpour. The only people on the streets were like us, looking for a place to eat. By the time we finally sat down to enjoy a delicious French dinner, we were completely drenched. Despite the simple meal, it tasted fantastic. We hadn’t experienced much French cuisine before; we always associated it with expensive, elaborate dishes. But we were pleasantly surprised by how simple, flavorful, and affordable everyday French food can be.
斯特拉斯堡和欧洲火车旅行
7月六日：一早醒来，第一件事就是去酒店对面的火车站，把今天下午预定的座位票换成早一班的。然后在酒店附近的面包房里，点了巧克力羊角面包、葡萄圈、拿铁和美式咖啡，坐在店门口边吃边喝边看过往行人。面包又新鲜又好吃，价格也很合理，比美国便宜。大清早这么容易就有早餐吃，这可是有点出乎预料。记得前二年来欧洲玩，因为起得早，常常为买不到早餐而发愁。
这里的天主教圣母教堂建于十四世纪，一直到十九世纪都是欧洲最高的教堂。赶早参观完教堂大厅后，又爬了三百三十三级台阶登上教堂的观望台，不过那盘旋式的狭小台阶对上了年纪的人来说不好走。这观望台是以前居民在节假日和周末聚会的场所。在那上面，360度的城市美景尽收眼底。看过教堂，又继续在镇中心走走。昨晚刚到匆匆走了一下，今天再多看一眼，越看越觉得这个小镇漂亮。
还没到午饭时间就开始下雨了，我们来到提前找好的一家评论很不错的小饭店。服务员态度真不错，虽还没到营业时间，看我们在店外没地方躲雨，就提早让我们先进饭店坐下。今天又要了一份当地特色原味薄饼，味道鲜美而不腻。原计划来这家饭店是要吃另一特色菜 - 香肠，结果午餐没有，就点了牛肉色拉。超大一盆新鲜蔬菜，加上许多牛肉。蔬菜新鲜爽口，牛肉实在太多吃不完。
午饭后我们又来到火车站，把后面从法国进西班牙的火车座位先订了，然后回酒店拿行李赶往下一站。上次我们在欧洲乘火车旅行时，对欧洲铁路系统的效率和便捷性印象深刻，尤其是在瑞士。凭借我们的欧铁通票，我们上下车毫无问题，延误也很少。然而，当时与我们同行的德国朋友提醒我们，说其它欧洲国家，特别是德国，可能就没有同样的效率。这次刚到德国，我们的第一段30分钟旅程的火车就延误了超过40分钟，让我们几乎错过了转乘到斯特拉斯堡的火车。今天在法国，我们前往阿维尼翁TGV的火车延误了超过10分钟，导致我们错过了前往市中心的5分钟接驳火车，不得不等一个小时才搭上下一班。
这次旅行中最让人纠结的是预订座位。首先，许多火车要求必须订位，而预订费并不便宜，每人每次需要额外支付20-25美元。其次，找到并预订座位并不容易。法国的高速列车对通票持有者的座位限制很多，甚至没有座位可供预订，这迫使我们必须根据火车通票的可用性调整行程。在西班牙，高速列车的座位无法在线预订。上次在瑞士和欧洲大部分地区，我们不需要预订座位，即使需要，在线预订也很简单。
我们傍晚到达阿维尼翁。阿维尼翁是法国南部的一座历史名城，我们选择这里是因为它有法国最古老的夏季艺术节。可惜天公不作美，当我们入住酒店后前往城中心吃晚餐时，雨越下越大。本来应该是一个很热闹的周末晚上，被一场大雨搅局。街头就只能看到像我们这样找地方吃饭的人了。等我们终于坐在餐馆享用美味的法式晚餐时，已经全身湿透。尽管晚餐很简单，但味道很好。 之前法国菜吃的不多。每当提起法国菜，就觉得是那种很贵的法国大餐。没想到法国的普通菜简单，味道也这么好，物美还价廉。
Condor Airlines and Strasbourg France 康多尔航空, 法国斯特拉斯堡
July 4-5, 2024
We flew with Germany's Condor Airlines from Phoenix.....
第一次搭乘德国康多尔航空公司的飞机。。。
July 4-5, 2024: We flew with Germany's Condor Airlines from Phoenix to Frankfurt for the first time. A few months ago, we saw that Condor started a direct route from Phoenix to Frankfurt, and the business class price was acceptable, so we quickly booked tickets to give it a try. The nine-and-a-half-hour direct flight was exceptionally smooth. In addition to being able to lie flat and sleep comfortably, the service, drinks, and food onboard were excellent, which made the long journey quite pleasant, a stark contrast to the budget Japanese airline Zipair that we flew with a few months ago. The plane arrived at Frankfurt on time, despite the fact that we had been tracking this flight for a couple of weeks, and it had consistently been delayed by one to two hours.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the arrival time, we opted not to book seats for our train ride to Strasbourg, France in advance. Passing through customs was quick and easy, leaving us with about an hour to spare before our train. We headed to the platform early, only to discover that our train was delayed by more than 40 minutes, which meant we would likely miss our connecting train. Luckily, the earlier train of the same route was also delayed by an hour, allowing us to catch it and make our connection with just a few minutes to spare.
Our hotel in Strasbourg was conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the train station. After checking in, we set out in search of some authentic Alsatian food. Our first choice of restaurants was packed both inside and out, as the France vs. Portugal match of the Europe Cup was being broadcast on big screens. We decided to try our second choice instead, which specialized in the local dish, Flammekueche (Flambees). These are flatbreads topped with a creamy sauce and various toppings. We enjoyed three half-flambees and a salad, and they were absolutely delicious.
After dinner, we wandered through the picturesque area of Petite France, known for its charming half-timbered houses, canals, and cobblestone streets. Even late into the night, the sports bars were still buzzing with people watching the game. We retired to our hotel room and caught a bit of the match on TV, but exhaustion soon took over. However, we were awakened by the sound of car horns, which likely meant that France had won the game.
康多尔航空, 法国斯特拉斯堡
七月四，五日：第一次搭乘德国康多尔航空公司的飞机，从凤凰城直飞法兰克福的九个半小时航程非常顺利。几个月前看到这家航空公司开启从凤凰城到法兰克福的直达业务，商务舱价格还能接受, 就赶紧下单想试试这家航空公司。除了一路趟平舒服地睡个好觉，还有飞机上的服务，酒水和食物都很出色，与前二个月刚乘坐过的廉价日本航空公司的Zipair有天囊之别。我们追踪这趟航班已有几个星期，它通常会延误一到两个小时。但令我们惊喜的是，今天的航班准时到达。
我们的目的地并不是法兰克福，而是法国小镇斯特拉斯堡。离家前我们买了欧洲火车通票，但许多火车必须订位。由于飞机到达时间不确定，我们之前没有预订去斯特拉斯堡的火车座位。过海关既简单又快速，我们有一个小时的空余时间来赶火车，正好把位子订上。没有直达火车，中间要换趟车。我们早早来到站台，但发现第一程的火车将延误四十多分钟，这意味着我们肯定要错过转车。很幸运的是，早一班与我们第一段相同行程的火车也延误了一个多小时，这样我们正好能搭上那班火车，并且让我们及时赶上了第二程火车顺利前往斯特拉斯堡。
我们预订的酒店离火车站只有几分钟的步行路程。办理入住手续后，我们外出寻找当地的阿尔萨斯（Alsatian)美食。先去了我们的首选餐厅，但由于正在播放欧洲杯法国对葡萄牙的足球比赛，饭店里里外外都挤满了人，根本没位子。于是我们来到第二选择，尝试了当地特色菜Flambees。Flambee是一种带有奶油酱和各种配料的薄饼，有点像在美国吃的那种薄的披萨。只是这里都不用蕃茄酱，且饼都是超薄。我们点了三种半份的Flambees和一份沙拉，非常美味。
晚餐后，我们在风景如画的小法国区散步，该地区以迷人的木筋屋、运河和鹅卵石街道闻名。入夜后，镇上的各个体育酒吧里依然挤满了观看比赛的人。有些酒吧在店的玻璃墙上放一个大电视，屏幕朝外，这样许多球迷站在店外也能一起看球赛。我们实在太累了，回到酒店房间看了一会儿比赛，但没能坚持看到结束。半夜被街上汽车喇叭声吵醒，猜测可能是法国队赢了球赛。
Aomori 青森
Apr 27, 2024
Yesterday, after arriving in Aomori and checking into our cozy hotel, ......
昨天我们一到青森入住酒店后，。。。
Apr 27, 2024: Yesterday, after arriving in Aomori and checking into our cozy hotel, we eagerly headed out to Hirosaki. Today, we enthusiastically explored several fascinating attractions in the city. Aomori’s DIY seafood rice bowl (kaisen-don) is a renowned local specialty, and we couldn’t resist trying it. At the bustling Aomori Gyosai Center, we spent 2,000 yen to buy twelve tickets. First, we exchanged one ticket for a steaming bowl of fragrant rice, then wandered through the vibrant market, selecting our favorite seafood to top it off. With around thirty different stalls to choose from, we used the tickets to get fresh slices of fish, succulent shrimp, delectable scallops, and more. The market provided large communal tables and chairs for everyone to enjoy their meals. The quality of the seafood was exceptional, with the sweet, tender Hokkaido shrimp leaving a particularly lasting impression.
After thoroughly enjoying our seafood rice bowl, we visited a larger nearby seafood market and savored a bowl of piping hot Chinese noodles to warm up our stomachs.
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is famously celebrated throughout Japan, attracting millions of domestic and international tourists every August. Since we couldn't attend the festival, we visited the Nebuta Museum to admire the award-winning floats from last year. These vibrant floats, crafted from colorful lanterns, depict scenes from mythology and are exceptionally unique and stunningly beautiful. If we get the chance, it would be wonderful to visit in August to experience the festival firsthand.
Next, we took a bus to the impressive Aomori Museum of Art and the ancient Sannai-Maruyama Jomon Site, the largest Jomon village site in Japan with a rich history of 5,000 years and a prestigious World Heritage site.
Returning to the lively area near the Nebuta Museum, we noticed an exciting event taking place at the museum entrance. Curious, we joined the crowd, where people were eagerly holding sticks over glowing charcoal fires. They were wrapping raw dough around the sticks and roasting it over the fire, turning it constantly to ensure even heating—much like roasting marshmallows during American camping trips. In just a short time, a small bread roll was perfectly baked. While the taste was fairly simple, it had a uniquely enticing aroma that made the experience memorable.
Aomori is Japan’s largest apple-producing region. The charming A-Factory store next to the museum sells various delightful apple varieties and an abundance of local specialties. We took a relaxing break there, enjoyed a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and indulged in a delicious apple pie.
This Japan trip was relatively short, and tomorrow we fly to Shanghai. In the evening, we went to the exquisite Hyakudai Japanese Restaurant to enjoy premium sake and an array of delectable Japanese cuisine, ending our memorable trip to Japan on a high note.
青森
四月二十七日：昨天我们一到青森入住酒店后，便立即出城前往弘前。今天的行程主要是在青森市内的几个著名景点打卡。青森的自助海鲜饭（海鲜丼）是当地的一大特色。在青森鱼菜市场，我们花了两千日元购买了十二张票。首先，用一张票换来一碗热腾腾的米饭，然后端着这碗米饭在市场内选择自己喜爱的海鲜。市场内约有三十几家不同的摊位，使用票可以换取新鲜的鱼片、虾、扇贝等。市场里还设有大桌子和椅子，供顾客使用。海鲜的质量非常好，尤其是北海道的甜虾，甜美粉糯，不负期待。
享用完海鲜饭后，我们又去了附近规模较大的海鲜市场逛了一圈，还吃了一碗热腾腾的中华面，给我们的胃增添了一点热量。
青森的睡魔祭在日本享有盛名，每年八月初举行的祭典吸引着数百万海内外游客。虽然我们这次无法亲临祭典，但还是前往睡魔祭博物馆，欣赏了去年获奖的彩车。彩车由色彩鲜艳的灯笼制作，描绘了神话人物的场景，独特又美丽。希望以后有机会能在八月份亲自体验祭典的热闹气氛。
接着，我们乘坐公交车前往青森艺术馆和三内丸山绳文遗址。三内丸山遗址是世界遗产名录中的一部分，是一个拥有5000年历史的日本最大规模的绳文村落遗址。
我们再次回到睡魔祭博物馆附近，恰巧博物馆门前这几天正在举行活动。看到许多人拿着棍子在炭火上烤东西，我们也凑上前去。原来他们是在棍子上串上生面团，然后放在炭火上烤，边烤边不停地转动，确保面团均匀受热，很像美国野营时烤棉花糖的方式。不一会儿，一个小面包就烤好了，虽然味道一般，但有一种特别的香气。
青森是日本最大的苹果产地，博物馆旁边的A-Factor店里售卖着各种品种的苹果和当地特产。我们在那里稍作休息，喝了一杯咖啡，品尝了一个苹果派。
这次的日本之行时间较短，明天我们就要飞往上海了。晚上，我们前往百代日本料理餐厅享用了一顿美味的晚餐，品尝清酒和和食，为此次日本之旅画上了一个美好的句号。
Goryokaku Tower and Hirosaki Park 五稜郭观光塔，弘前公园
Apr 26, 2024
Today was brilliantly sunny, ......
今天阳光明媚，我们还是去酒店附近的函馆朝市解决早餐。。。
Apr 26, 2024: We went to the bustling Hakodate Morning Market near our hotel for breakfast again. This time, we chose another cozy small restaurant and enjoyed a delightful sashimi set and a crispy tempura set, both incredibly satisfying.
After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel, stored our luggage there, and headed out to catch the first shuttle to the picturesque Goryokaku Park. We didn't go up the tower yesterday, but today was brilliantly sunny, since the weather was perfect, we felt it was worth another visit. The 90-meter high observation tower adjacent to the park offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the star-shaped Goryokaku blanketed in vibrant cherry blossoms. When we arrived, there was already a long queue, but buying tickets and getting on the elevator was quick, and soon we were on the observation deck. From the large floor-to-ceiling windows, we could clearly see the pentagonal walls surrounded by the shimmering moat, with the blooming cherry blossoms spreading like a pale pink carpet across the park. We didn't stay long on the observation deck and quickly returned to the lively city.
Another culinary highlight of Hakodate is the famous fried chicken burger at Lucky Pierrot. Besides the delicious food, the quirky decor of the restaurant is also unique. Since we had to catch a train, we got takeout: a mouthwatering fried chicken burger and a flavorful curry fried pork cutlet. We rushed to the train station and devoured our takeout once on the train. The fried chicken burger was delectable, but the curry fried pork cutlet was even better.
To travel from Hakodate to Aomori, we passed through the impressive 53-kilometer Seikan Tunnel, the longest undersea railway tunnel in the world and the second longest railway tunnel overall (the longest being Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel). After just over an hour, we arrived in Aomori. After checking into our comfortable hotel, we headed back to the station to take a train to the renowned Hirosaki Park. Since it was cherry blossom season, there was a dedicated bus line to Hirosaki Park right outside the Hirosaki station.
Hirosaki Park is renowned as one of Japan’s most cherished cherry blossom viewing destinations. When we arrived, we began our visit at the enchanting botanical garden, where we admired the various cherry trees still in full bloom, capturing vibrant photos and strolling leisurely through the picturesque setting. However, much to our disappointment, the cherry blossoms surrounding Hirosaki Castle and the scenic moat had mostly fallen. Although the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival was in full swing, this year’s blossoms bloomed eight days earlier than usual, meaning we missed the peak display—a small letdown in an otherwise beautiful experience.
As night fell, the cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Park became a little more magical under the twinkling lights. Strolling along the cherry blossom-lined paths by the river, we admired the mesmerizing night view of the cherry blossoms, making the trip worthwhile. We then hurried back to the station to catch the train back to Aomori.
By the time we returned to Aomori, it was past nine in the evening, and the shops near the station and our hotel were all closed. We ended up buying rice balls and instant noodles at a Lawson convenience store to satisfy our hunger.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be another beautiful sunny day.
五稜郭观光塔，弘前公园
四月二十六日：今天阳光明媚，我们还是去酒店附近的函馆朝市解决早餐。这次选了另外一家小饭店，一份生鱼片套餐，一份天妇罗套餐，吃得心满意足。回酒店退房把行李暂存在那里，就出门赶第一班专车再次去五稜郭公园。昨天没上塔，今天因为是个好天气，觉得有必要再去一次。在紧邻公园边90米高观光塔上可以俯瞰整个樱花铺盖的五角星形的五稜郭。到那里时已排着长队。不过买票，上电梯速度很快，不一会儿就登上观光层。从大片的落地玻璃窗望去，可以清楚看到被护城河环绕的五角形城墙，盛开的樱花🌸像淡粉红色的地毯铺满公园。在观光层没待太久就离开景区匆匆赶回城中。函馆另一美食是幸运小丑店里的炸鸡块汉堡，，除了美食，这家店铺的装潢也很别致。因为要赶火车，我们买了外卖，一份炸鸡汉堡，一份咖喱炸猪排。匆匆赶往火车站，上了火车后就狼吞虎咽地把外卖一扫而光。炸鸡汉堡好吃，但觉得咖喱炸猪排更胜一筹。
从函馆到青森要穿过53公里青函隧道，世界上最长的海底铁路隧道和第二长的铁路隧道（最长的是瑞典的圣哥达隧道），一个多小时后就到了青森。入住酒店后转身又上车站去弘前公园。因为是樱花季节，一出车站后就有公交专线去弘前公园。
弘前公园是日本最受欢迎的赏樱名胜之一。到公园后我们先去了植物园，在不同种类百棵樱花树盛开的樱花园里赏樱踏青照相。虽然弘前的樱花节正当时，可惜今年的樱花🌸却比常年早开了一个多星期，弘前城楼和护城河边的樱花都已是掉得所剩无几了。我们完全错过了，有点失望。
夜幕降临时，慢走在小河边的樱花大道欣赏樱花夜景。在灯光的照耀下，弘前公园的夜樱到是格外迷人，也算不负此行。
匆匆赶回车站坐火车回到青森。到青森时已是晚上九点多，车站和酒店附近的商店都已关闭，最后只能在劳森便利店里买个饭团🍙和方便面充饥。
希望明天又是个好天气。
Onuma Park and Goryokaku 大沼公园，五稜郭
Apr 25, 2024
Today was another rainy day, ......
今天又是个阴雨天，只能冒雨外出。。。
Apr 25, 2024: Today was another rainy day, but that didn’t stop us from exploring. Despite the weather, we made our way to the Hakodate Morning Market, conveniently located near our hotel and a must-visit destination. Arriving early, we found the market just waking up, with a calm and peaceful atmosphere. We picked a small restaurant within the market for breakfast and enjoyed a selection of local specialties: a popular sashimi rice bowl, a Japanese-style breakfast set, and some delicious fried pastries. The food was fantastic, although we hesitated to try one of the more adventurous local delicacies—live squid sashimi. Interestingly, the restaurant had phone holders on the tables, perfect for anyone wanting to snap a quick selfie while dining.
After breakfast, we took a train to Onuma National Park, located just outside the city. Known as Japan's smallest national park, it features 126 small islands scattered across its tranquil lake. The park is only a short walk from the train station and is free to enter. Once there, we started our visit with a half-hour boat ride on the lake. Although the guide provided a lot of commentary in Japanese, which we couldn’t understand, we still thoroughly enjoyed the stunning scenery. After returning to the shore, we spent time exploring the park's hiking trails, crossing quaint bridges, and wandering through serene forests, all while taking in the natural beauty surrounding Onuma Lake.
After visiting the park, we took the train back to the city, planning to get off at Goryokaku Station to visit the Western-style Goryokaku Fort. However, after boarding the train, the announcements kept reminding visitors who want to visit Goryokaku to return to the city first, get off at the bus terminal, and then take a bus to Goryokaku. We, who love walking, ignored the advice and got off at Goryokaku Station, only to find it was a lot further than we expected and it took us more than half an hour to walk from the train station to the site. We finally understood why the announcements advised everyone not to get off early. Although we walked a lot more, it gave us a chance to experience the old but clean residential area outside the tourist spots in Japan, where we hardly saw anyone. After the long walking, feeling cold and hungry, we finally saw a conveyor belt sushi restaurant and quickly went in for lunch. It costed us less than twenty dollars for the two of us, a great deal for the quality.
At Goryokaku, the park has about 1,500 cherry blossom trees. It was the cherry blossom peak season, and the scenery was beautiful and breathtaking. Despite the weather, strolling among the flowers was still enchanting. Photos couldn't capture the feeling. Occasionally, the sky cleared for a few minutes, making the cherry blossoms even more charming under the blue sky and white clouds.
Taking the bus back to the city was said to be easy, but not time-saving. The bus came once an hour, and we waited for half an hour at the station before boarding. After returning to the area near our hotel, we found a restaurant for dinner, continuing with sashimi but also ordering some grilled meat skewers and other hot dishes. Eating delicious sashimi from morning to night in Japan is great, but with the cold weather, our stomachs couldn't handle too much of it.
The cable car ride to the top of Hakodate Mountain offers a panoramic view of the bay area. Yesterday, it was closed due to strong winds. Today it was operating, but after being out in the cold all day, we didn't want to go up the mountain again. Instead, we chose to have a coffee and enjoy the night view from the lounge on the top floor of our hotel.
大沼公园，五稜郭
四月二十五日：今天又是个阴雨天，只能冒雨外出。酒店附近的函馆朝市是必须打卡的地方。在朝市里选了家小饭馆吃早餐，我们要了当地典型的刺身饭，日式早餐套餐和油炸饼，味道不错，但没敢吃当地的另一特色 - 活的尤鱼刺身。
早餐后乘坐火车去城外的大沼国家公园，日本最小的国家公园，大沼里有126座小岛。下了火车，从车站到公园只需要几分钟路程，公园免费开放。我们先坐公园里的小游船在湖里转了半小时，风景还可以。回到岸上后，又沿着园区里的徒步小径，过小桥，穿林子，观赏大沼湖的自然美景。
游完公园，我们坐火车回城，准备在五稜郭站下车去西式军营五稜郭参观。可是上了火车后广播里不停地提醒去五稜郭的游客先坐火车回城，在终点站下车然后坐公交车去五稜郭。喜欢走路的我们哪能听得进去，硬是从五稜郭站下了火车，结果从车站到景点走了半个多小时，终于理解为什么在火车上广播通知大家千万别早下车了。路是多走了许多，不过也让我们感受一下日本旅游景点外的小区，陈旧但干净，路上几乎不见人影。走了一个多英哩后，有点饥寒交加，终于看到一家转盘寿司店，赶紧进去吃了个午餐，俩人花了不到二十美金，真是物美价廉。
来到到五稜郭，公园里有约1500棵樱花🌸树。正是樱花盛开的时候，非常漂亮。虽然天气不给力，但漫步在花丛中，还是很让人陶醉的。照片根本无法拍出那种感觉。偶尔天空放晴几分钟，那樱花在蓝天白云的映照下就显得更加迷人了。
坐公交车回城说是简单，但也不省时，公交车一小时一班，在车站整整等了半个小时才上车。回到酒店附近之后找了家饭店吃晚饭，继续是吃生鱼片，不过同时也要了些烤肉串和其它的热菜。在日本从早到晚吃生鱼片，虽说好吃，但天气太冷，吃多了我们的胃有点受不了。
坐缆车上函馆的山顶可以俯瞰整个湾区，昨天因风太大，缆车停运。今天倒是开的，但我们一整天在外冻得不行，不想再上山了，便选择上我们酒店顶楼的休息厅喝杯咖啡☕️，看个夜景。
Zipair to Tokyo, Hakodate 去东京，函馆
Apr 22, 2024
Early in the morning, an Uber driver picked us up ......
一早Uber司机来接我们去机场，
Apr 22, 2024: Early in the morning, an Uber driver picked us up for our ride to the airport. In the car, we noticed the driver’s self-written autobiography, titled The Okoboji Kid, hanging on the back of the seat. This 75-year-old gentleman, who grew up by Lake Okoboji in Iowa, now drives in the early hours to earn a living—truly admirable. We shared our experiences of Iowa, had a great conversation, and before we knew it, we were at the airport to catch our Southwest Airlines flight to San Francisco.
At the San Francisco airport, we transferred to Zipair, a low-cost subsidiary of Japan Airlines, for our flight to Tokyo. This was our first time flying with Zipair, which offers reasonably priced flat-bed seats. Aside from the bed, nothing else is provided—not even blankets, pillows, or bottled water, all of which cost extra. When we booked our tickets, we opted for a package deal that included all these items. Being able to sleep flat on a flight lasting over ten hours from the U.S. to Japan was worth it. We woke up in Tokyo feeling refreshed. Since we arrived in Tokyo late, we stayed at a hotel near the airport for the night.
In the morning of Apr 24, before catching the train, we wandered around the neighborhood near the hotel. Then we took the Shinkansen to Hakodate. We purchased a seven-day JR Pass for convenience before this trip started. The train ride was smooth and we arrived in Hakodate, Hokkaido, around 2 in the afternoon.
The weather wasn’t in our favor, with wind and rain making us shiver, but we still managed to take a long walk around the bay area, visiting sights such as the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, Hachiman-zaka Slope, Hakodate Orthodox Church, and the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward.
In the evening, we dined at a small restaurant in Hakodate Daimon Yokocho. This area has over twenty small bars and restaurants, each seating fewer than ten people. We sat around the bar, eating, drinking, and chatting with others occasionally. Although we couldn’t understand their conversations, we enjoyed the lively atmosphere.
We had originally planned to visit the mountaintop for the night view but decided against it due to the cold weather. Instead, we enjoyed the night view from the hot springs on the rooftop of our hotel, which offered a unique and memorable experience.
去东京，函馆
四月二十二日：一早Uber司机来接我们去机场，车上放着他自己撰写的自传书 “The Okoboji kid”。在爱荷华州Okoboji湖边长大的七十五岁大伯早上二点外出开车赚钱，真不容易。因为有爱荷华的共同经历，我们一路谈得投机，不知不觉就到了机场，搭坐西南航空去旧金山。
在旧金山机场转机搭乘日航的廉价子公司Zipair航空去东京。这是我们第一次尝试这家航空公司，它提供价格还能接受的躺平舱。除了给床铺外，什么都没有，连毯子，枕头和瓶装水都要花钱买的。我们当初买票时索性一起买了个package, 这样所有的东西都有了。从美国到日本十几个小时的飞机，能一路躺平睡着去东京还是值得的，一觉醒来已到达东京。因为很晚才到机场，我们先在机场边的旅馆住了一晚。
第二天一早坐高铁去函馆，我们买了七天的JR通票，乘坐火车会方便些。下午二点多就到了北海道的函馆。
天公不作美，刮风下雨，把我们冻得瑟瑟发抖。但还硬撑着出去走了一大圈，把湾区里的景点金森红砖仓库，二十坡，哈利斯特斯东正教堂，旧函馆区公会堂等通通扫了一遍。
晚上在函馆大门横丁的一家小店里用餐。大门横丁里二十几家小酒店，每家就只能坐上不到十人，大家围坐在吧台边喝酒吃饭聊天，虽然我们听不懂他们对话，但觉得气氛有点意思。
原本想去山顶看夜景，实在冻得不行，就去旅馆房顶上泡温泉看夜景，别有一番风味。
At Sea & Back Home 海上行 & 回家
Jan 16-17, 2024
On the evening of the 15th, our ship departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico,……
十五日傍晚我们的船在濛濛细雨中离开圣胡安，波多黎各，直奔迈阿密。。。
Jan 16-17, 2024: On the evening of the 15th, our ship departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, in a light drizzle, heading straight for Miami.
Despite being at sea on the 16th and 17th, our days were packed with engaging onboard lectures covering topics like politics, science, history, and music, most of which were related to the Caribbean or current international affairs. Evenings were filled with a variety of performances, keeping us busy with back-to-back events and leaving little time for relaxation. On the night of the 16th, we attended Stardust Dinner club, a special intimate dinner party on the ship. Each cruise segment features one or two of these exclusive dinner shows with limited seating, requiring early reservations as soon as you board. Everyone dressed elegantly, enjoying fine wine and gourmet food while watching the performances and mingling with fellow passengers at our table.
The 17th was sunny and breezy, the best weather we’d experienced on this trip. After breakfast, we headed to the swimming pool for some exercise, fulfilling a pre-cruise goal. We had the entire pool to ourselves, with hardly anyone occupying the surrounding lounge chairs, making it incredibly peaceful. This was a stark contrast to other cruises we’ve been on, where the pool area is usually crowded. Besides attending lectures, we spent the day on deck looking for fish and birds, but unfortunately, apart from a few small flying fish, we didn’t see much else.
We had long dreamed of visiting the Caribbean, and this trip finally made that dream come true. The weather was perfect, with calm seas and sunny skies almost every day, except for two overcast days in Miami at the beginning and end of our trip. Our ship stopped at eight different islands, including U.S. territories, British, French, and independent islands, making the journey thoroughly enjoyable. The service and cuisine on Crystal Cruises were as excellent as always, truly top-notch. Before disembark, we had tried their famous egg tarts.
On the night of the 18th, we returned home smoothly and were ready to enjoy the best season in Phoenix.
一月十六，十七日：十五日傍晚我们的船在濛濛细雨中离开圣胡安，波多黎各，直奔迈阿密。
十六，十七日二天虽说是海上行，但白天船上安排了好些讲座，内容包括政治，科学，历史和音乐，大部分与加勒比海或者与目前的国际形势有关。晚上又有不同的表演，我们俩一场接一场的听，好像也没有什么空闲的时间。十六日晩上我们参加了船上小型的特别晚宴，每次行程游轮上都会安排一，二次这种晚宴秀，座位很有限，必须一上船就预订。大家盛装出席，一边品尝美酒佳肴，一边欣赏歌舞，同时也能有机会与同桌的游客交流。
十七日风和日丽， 是这次行程以来天气最好的一天。早餐后先去游泳池活动活动，也算是完成上船前订下的目标。整个游泳池就我们俩包场了，周围躺椅上也几乎没人，安静的不得了。完全不像之前坐过的其它邮轮，游泳池永远是人满为患，根本没法去。除了听讲座，白天还在甲板上找鱼，找鸟。只可惜这次除了小飞鱼，其它基本都没看到。
说想来加勒比海已久，这次总算如愿以偿。再加上老天爷帮了大忙，除了在迈阿密一前一后二天是阴天，几乎每天都是风平浪静阳光明媚。我们的船前后停靠了八个大大小小的岛，其中除了有美国的领地，还有英属的，法属的，以及独立的岛国，一路上玩得很开心。 Crystal 邮轮公司的服务和饮食还是和以前一样，的确是一流的。
十八日夜顺利回到家，也该享受一下凤凰城的最佳季节了。
San Juan(圣胡安，波多黎各)
Jan 15, 2024
Our nearly two-week Caribbean cruise is drawing to a close,……
近二周的加勒比海游接近尾声，。。。
Jan 15, 2024: Our nearly two-week Caribbean cruise is drawing to a close, and today we docked at our final destination: San Juan, Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. As we approached the port, we were greeted by a stunning double rainbow.
Early in the morning, we joined a cruise-organized tour of New and Old San Juan. We began with a bus tour around New San Juan before visiting Castillo de San Cristóbal in the old town. Built between 1631 and 1772, this fortress features tunnels, traps, mazes, and hidden devices. From the fortress walls, we enjoyed a breathtaking panoramic view of San Juan.
After leaving the castle, our guide took us to a street famous for its local food, lined with simple eateries. We sampled some fritters that reminded us of Chinese scallion pancakes, as well as fried meat and shrimp rolls — everything fried tasted delicious. Next, the bus took us to the luxurious hotel district by the sea. Our guide recommended visiting the beautiful Vanderbilt Hotel, Puerto Rico's first luxury hotel, and also suggested trying the local coffee. With limited time, we chose to skip the hotel tour and savor the coffee instead, which was indeed excellent.
Finally, the bus dropped us off at the entrance to the shopping district in the old town. We decided not to return to the ship with the bus and continued exploring the old town on our own. The area was bustling with countless small shops, bars, and hotels, making it a perfect tourist attraction. Many houses were still beautifully decorated for Christmas. Our guide had explained that locals have numerous holidays and continue celebrating with one festival after another well beyond Christmas. We walked from the old town all the way to El Morro Fort at the end of the coastline, enjoying the picturesque scenery and even encountering a few green iguanas along the way.
Overall, San Juan impressed us with its beautiful beaches, rich history, and vibrant culture, making it a destination well worth visiting.
一月十五日：近二周的加勒比海游接近尾声，今天停靠这次行程的最后一站，波多黎各的圣胡安，美国的领地。进港的途中迎接我们的是漂亮的双彩虹。一早参加游轮组织的新／旧圣胡安游，先坐着大巴在新圣胡安地区转转，然后去参观位于旧城区内的圣克里斯托瓦尔堡，建于1631--1772年，内有暗道、陷阱、迷宫和暗器等设施，站在城墙上眺望圣胡安的全景。
出了城堡导游带我们去当地人常去的饮食街，街道两旁都是简陋的小餐厅。我们要了油饼，有点像中国的葱油饼，还要了油炸的肉末卷饼和虾馅卷饼，感觉只要是油炸的都好吃。接着大巴开到了海边的豪华酒店区，导游推荐参观漂亮的Vanderbilt Hotel ，波多黎各的第一家豪华酒店，同时也推荐了当地的咖啡。时间不多，二者取一，酒店就免了，我们俩当然不会错过品尝咖啡的机会，味道的确不错。
最后大巴来到老城区的商品区入口，我们选择不跟大巴回船，而是下车继续我们的自由行去老城区的商品区转了一大圈。不计其数的小商店，酒吧和酒店，真是个吸引游客的好地方。许多房子还保留着漂亮的圣诞节的装饰，我们的导游告诉我们说这是因为当地的节假日特别多，圣诞节之后还有一个接一个的节日，会庆祝很久的。我们从老城区一直沿着海边走到尽头的莫罗古堡，沿途风景如画，在路上还碰见几只绿鬣蜥。
总的感觉是圣胡安除了漂亮的海滩外，还有它特有的历史和文化，很值得来看看。
Jost Van Dyke （乔斯特·范·戴克岛）
Jan 14, 2024
Yesterday's visit to St. Barts exuded luxury,……
昨天的St. Barts感觉是奢侈，。。。
Jan 14, 2024: Yesterday's visit to St. Barts exuded luxury, but today’s stop at the British island of Jost Van Dyke felt raw and untouched. It’s also the smallest island we’ve visited on this trip. Our ship anchored offshore, and we took the tender boat to the island.
From our online research, it seemed that apart from the renowned White Bay Beach, there were no other notable attractions. The cruise ship provided a complimentary shuttle service from the pier to White Bay Beach. The weather was pleasant, so after breakfast, we headed to the beach early. The sand was fine and comfortable to walk on, making it a perfect spot to relax. There were several bars along the beach, with plenty of lounge chairs. A large yacht was anchored not far from the beach, with a private club at the far end of the bay for its passengers.
The beach wasn’t crowded when we arrived, so we easily found two lounge chairs in the shade and went for a swim. Fortunately, we got there early because the beach soon filled with tourists, becoming noisy, and small yachts nearly occupied the entire shoreline. We decided to leave and walked around near the pier. Apart from two bars, there was really nothing else. After watching birds catch fish by the water for a while, we returned to the ship.
Having visited different islands every day for the past few days, we were a bit tired and used today to recover. We went back to the ship in the afternoon. We had a Latte and Mozart Torte at Bistro. Dinner was at Waterside restaurant where we ordered a grilled beef rib. It was well-cooked, very tender, and tasted great.
一月十四日： 昨天的St. Barts感觉是奢侈，而今天所停靠的英属小岛乔斯特·范·戴克是原始，它也是我们这次行程中停过的最小的岛。 邮轮抛锚在离岛不远的海里，还是用小船来回接送乘客。
上网查了一下这个岛，好像除了一个比较好的白湾海滩就再没其它什么景点。从码头到白湾海滩邮轮有安排免费接送。 天气不错，早餐后我们俩便早早去了海滩。沙子很细，走在上面很舒服，还的确是个挺不错的放松的地方。沙滩上有好几家酒吧，放了许多躺椅。离沙滩不远处的海里停着一艘大游艇，海湾尽头处是这条游艇的专用俱乐部。沙滩上人不算多，我们很容易就在树荫下找了二个躺椅，然后下海玩水。幸亏我们来得早， 慢慢地海滩就被游客占领了，变得嘈杂，还有那一艘艘小游艇几乎都停到沙滩边了。 我们赶紧撤退，回到码头附近走走，除了二家酒吧，那里真的什么都没有。在水边看了一会儿鸟抓鱼后就回船了。
之前连续几天每天都停靠不同的岛，路走了不少有点累，今天趁机恢复一下。晚餐在水边餐厅，要了一份烤牛肋排，烤的不错，很嫰，味道也不错。
Gustavia, St. Barts (居斯塔维亚，圣巴特)
Jan 13, 2024
Yesterday, we reached the farthest point of our Caribbean journey……
昨天的St. Lucia（圣卢西亚岛）算是我们这次行程走的最远的一个加勒比海岛了，。。。
Jan 13, 2024: Yesterday, we reached the farthest point of our Caribbean journey with a visit to St. Lucia (圣卢西亚岛). Last night, our ship started its return journey, and this morning we arrived at another French island, St. Barts. If the French island Les Saintes (勒桑特斯) we visited two days ago was beautiful, then St. Barts today is even more exquisite, a haven for celebrities and the ultra-wealthy. The first thing that caught our eyes were the enormous private yachts anchored offshore, sparking our curiosity about their illustrious owners.
Since the island lacks a large port for cruise ships, our ship anchored at sea, and we took the tender boat to shore. It began to rain as soon as we landed, fortunately we were prepared. Undeterred, we headed straight to our first destination: the island’s unique small airport. The runway is remarkably short, with the sea at one end and a canyon at the other, closely flanked by a road. Taking off and landing here is a challenge task, and it’s known as one of the world's most dangerous airports. Pilots need specialized training and special permits to land.
After a nearly thirty-minute walk in the rain, we reached the quiet airport, subdued by the bad weather. We found a restaurant at the end of the runway on the beach, where we rested and had lunch, enjoying the sea view while waiting for planes. It was then that we truly grasped the meaning of the world’s most expensive tourist destination: a bottle of water and a lobster sandwich cost over fifty dollars, and the average daily room rate is reportedly $1770. As the sky cleared, the airport buzzed to life with planes taking off. The most exhilarating part was standing by the road next to the airport, watching planes land seemingly just overhead, close enough to touch.
After visiting the airport, we walked back to the pier area, passing through the shopping street to another attraction, Shell Beach. The beach was covered with shells, and after getting our feet wet, we returned to the pier area to stroll along the shopping street. Though it was just a short street, it was lined with super luxury brand stores. We could only window-shop before taking the small boat back to the cruise ship.
Last night, we dined at another specialty restaurant on the ship, the Italian restaurant. Between the two specialty restaurants, we prefer Umi Uma by Nobu. Tonight, we’re heading to Umi Uma again for the third time on this trip. We ordered a variety of sashimi and sushi, indulging in Nobu's Japanese cuisine one last time. The sunset was beautiful and perfect. The evening show featured an Italian musical singer with a captivating voice, delivering each song beautifully. We look forward to hearing him perform again in the coming days.
一月十三号：昨天的St. Lucia（圣卢西亚岛）算是我们这次行程走的最远的一个加勒比海岛了，晚上船离开那里就开始往回开，今天早上来到另一个法属小岛St. Barts。如果说前二天到过的法属小岛Les Saintes（勒桑特斯)很漂亮的话，那今天的St. Barts岛就更上一个台阶了，是名人，超级富豪们的乐园。首先看到的就是一艘艘超级大的私人游艇停泊在海里，让人浮想联翩，揣摩着游艇的主人都是谁。 小岛没有邮轮可停的大码头，所以我们的船抛锚在海里，然后坐小船上岸。 天公不作美，刚来到岛上就开始下雨，还好我们有备而来。冒着雨直奔我们的第一个景点，岛上一个很特别的小飞机场。 机场跑道非常短，一头是海，一头是峡谷，且离边上的公路很近。飞机起飞，降落都是一个挑战。据说这是世界上最危险机场之一，飞行员都必须接受专门的训练，持有特别许可证才能降落。在雨中走了近三十分钟来到机场，天气不好，机场比较安静。我们就在跑道尽头的海滩上找了家餐厅休息也顺便吃个午餐，边看海景边等着看飞机。 那时才知道什么叫世界上最贵的旅游胜地，一瓶水和一份龙虾三明治花了五十几美金，据说那里客房平均日价是$1770。雨过天晴，机场也开始忙起来，一架架飞机开始起飞，最刺激的还是站在机场旁的公路边看飞机降落，飞机就在头边上飞过，感觉手都能碰到。
看完机场，走回码头区，穿过商品街来到另一个景点贝壳海滩。这里的海滩上全是贝壳，在那里湿湿脚后又回到码头区，在商品街上走走。虽说只是短短的一条街，超级奢侈品牌店一家挨着一家。我们只能饱饱眼福， 然后乖乖坐小船回邮轮。
昨天晚餐是在船上的另一家特色餐厅 - 意大利餐厅用餐。对我们俩来说二家特色餐厅我们更喜欢Nobu。今晚又去Nobu日本料理，这已经是这次行程中的第三顿了。叫了一大堆生魚片和寿司，再过上一次Nobu日本料理瘾。
晚上的演出是一位意大利音乐剧歌手，声音很不错，每一首歌曲都唱得非常动听。真希望在接下来的几天里能再次听到他的歌声。
Castries, St Lucia(圣卢西亚国)
Jan 12, 2024
Over the past few days, our cruise ship has been stopping at a different island each day……
这几天我们的邮轮每天都会停靠一个不同的岛。。。。。
Jan 12, 2024: Over the past few days, our cruise ship has been stopping at a different island each day. Today, we arrived at the island of Saint Lucia, docking in Castries, the capital of St. Lucia. We signed up for a seven-hour hiking excursion organized by the cruise ship to see the famous Pitons. The activity description mentioned that it was quite challenging and required good physical fitness. Since several moderately demanding activities we had signed up for in the past few days were canceled, we hoped this one wouldn’t be. However, we were a bit worried if we could handle it after yesterday’s exhausting hike.
When we gathered in the morning, we found that only eight people had signed up for this activity, and none of them were young. Unexpectedly, after boarding the minibus, we drove for two and a half hours to a nature trail on private land. The scenery along the way was quite nice, and our tour guide was very talkative, so we learned a lot. We hiked uphill along the trail to a viewing platform where we could see the two beautiful Pitons. The hike took just over forty minutes, and we didn’t even break a sweat. It’s said that this hiking tour used to involve climbing the Pitons, but the difficulty was too great and it took much longer than expected, causing the ship to delay its departure once before.
After we finished the trail, the minibus took us to a restaurant near the scenic area for a buffet lunch. From drinks to main courses, everything was traditional local cuisine. It was a delicious meal. When we returned to the dock, there were still two to three hours before the ship departed, so we walked to the nearby city center on our own, where there was a farmer’s market, shopping street, and church. Overall, Saint Lucia is the most underdeveloped island we’ve visited on this trip, but it has produced two Nobel Prize winners (in Economics and Literature).
In the evening, we dined at the ship’s main restaurant. The maître d' told us that a few weeks ago, he was robbed near this dock. If he had told us this a few days earlier, we probably wouldn’t have wandered around on our own this afternoon.
一月十二日：这几天我们的邮轮每天都会停靠一个不同的岛。今天来到了圣卢西亚岛，停靠在卡斯特里（Castries), 圣卢西亚国的首都。我们报名参加邮轮组织的长达7个小时的徒步活动，去看著名的岩钉山(Pitons) 。活动介绍称这个难度相当大，需要很好的体力。因为前几天我们曾报名的几个稍微需要些体力的活动都被取消，我们希望这个活动不要再被取消了。但同时因为昨天的爬山搞得我们俩人很累，有点担心今天是否能挺住。一早集合时发现只有八个人报名参加这个活动，且年纪都不轻。没想到上了小巴之后直接开车二个半小时去了在私人绿地上的自然步道，一路上风景倒是挺不错，导游小哥嘴说个不停，我们学到不少东西。沿着步道上坡来到观光平台，可以看到两座美丽的岩钉山。上下就花了四十几分钟，连汗都没出。据说以前这个徒步游是真的爬岩钉山的，结果难度太大，时间花了比预期的多得多，结果造成船延迟离开。我们走完步道后，小巴送我们去到景区边的一个餐厅吃自助午餐。从饮料到主食都是当地的传统美食。再回到船码头时离船开还有二，三个小时，我们便自己走去不远处的市中心，那里有农贸市场，商业街和教堂。 总的来说圣卢西亚岛是我们这次行程到过的所有岛中最落后的一个岛，但却出了二个诺贝尔奖获得者(经济奖和文学奖)。
晚上去船上的主餐厅吃饭，领班告诉我们说几星期前他就在这个船码头附近被抢过。估计如果他早几天告诉我们的话，我们下午就不会自己瞎逛了。
Les Saintes 法属勒桑特斯
Jan 11, 2024
Today, the cruise ship anchored in the bay off Les Saintes,……
今天游轮抛锚在勒桑特斯岛外海湾，。。。
Jan 11, 2024: Today, the cruise ship anchored in the bay off Les Saintes, and we were taken ashore by small tender boats. Les Saintes is an archipelago that belongs to Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory. The main street along the coastline is lined with restaurants and shops, giving an immediate impression of a picturesque French town, with red rooftops harmonizing beautifully with the blue ocean.
We embarked on a self-guided tour today, spending the morning hiking to the island's highest observation point, which involved a nearly continuous uphill climb. Our original plan was to ascend from the west and descend from the east, but upon reaching the summit, we found the eastern descent to be much steeper, requiring us to use both hands and feet. After attempting a few steps, we decided to turn back and retrace our route. The round trip covered 1,000 feet in elevation over 4.5 miles and took us three hours.
Once back in town, we decided that taking the tender boat back and forth to the cruise ship would be too cumbersome. Instead, we chose a random restaurant on the street for lunch and took a rest. Afterward, we headed to another attraction on the island – the old military barracks.
The Napoleonic barracks are situated on a small hill over 300 feet high, with no shade along the way, making the sun unbearably hot. However, the higher we climbed, the better the view became, and we were often accompanied by chickens and goats along the way. After more than a mile of walking, we finally reached the top only to find that the barracks are only open in the morning, and the gate was closed. This instantly dampened our spirits, especially since we still had to brave the scorching sun to walk back down the hill, leaving us quite disappointed.
Back on the ship, we first went to the Bistro for a latte, some fruit, and snacks, then returned to our room for a long nap. Today felt like the most exhausting day of the trip so far. We had dinner at the Waterside restaurant.
一月十一日：今天游轮抛锚在勒桑特斯岛外海湾， 由小船送我们上岸。勒桑特斯岛是法国属地瓜德罗普的群岛。沿着海岸线的主街两旁有餐厅和商店，一上岸就有法国美丽小镇的感觉，红的房顶和蓝的海洋相呼相依。我们俩今天自由活动，上午徒步上山去岛上最高的观光台，几乎就是不停地上坡走。原本准备从西边上东边下，到山顶上时发现东边下山是坡度更陡，必须手脚并用，走了几步后就打退堂鼓，原路返回。上下1千英尺走了4．5英哩，整整三个小时。
回到镇上后，因为嫌坐小船回邮轮来回太麻烦，就随便在街上找了一家餐厅吃个午饭，休息一会儿。然后又走去岛的另一景点-古军营。
拿破仑军营在三百多英尺高的小山上，一路往上一点遮阳的地方都没有，太阳晒得好厉害，不过越往上走风景就越好，沿途还时常有鸡，羊陪伴。结果走了一英哩多终于来到山顶却发现军营只在上午开放，门已关。一下子把我们剩下的热情全部打消掉了，关键是我们还要冒着酷暑走下山，别提有多失望了。
回到船上后先去咖啡厅喝杯拿铁，来点水果和点心，然后回房睡了个大午觉。感觉今天是这次行程到目前为止最累的一天。
St. John's (Antigua and Barbuda) 圣约翰
Jan 10, 2024
We woke up early this morning to find the ship docked at……
一早醒来船停靠在圣约翰 (安提瓜和巴布达)。。。
Jan 10, 2024: We woke up early this morning to find the ship docked at St. John's in Antigua and Barbuda. We were especially excited today because we were going to swim with the stingrays. After a half-hour drive in a minibus, we arrived at a small pier and boarded a speedboat. Ten minutes later, we reached Stingray City, a shallow sandy area in the middle of the vast ocean where stingrays gather. Over twenty years ago, locals started feeding a group of stingrays three times a day. Several generations later, even after the nets were removed, the stingrays stayed because they knew they would be fed. These stingrays seemed very familiar with the staff, allowing themselves to be handled and posed. We had never been so close to stingrays before. These enormous creatures swam around and beneath us, often startling us as we tried to avoid stepping on them. We fed them small squid and took photos with them, having a fantastic time.
After our stingray encounter, we returned to the ship for lunch, then headed back out to have the same minibus driver take us on a tour around the island. We visited Nelson's Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other attractions like beaches. As usual, after returning to the ship, we stopped by the Bistro for a strong latte and a small cake to recharge.
For dinner, we went to the main dining room and had seafood paella and T-bone steak. The food was delicious, though the steak was so large we couldn't finish it. Tonight's entertainment was another stand-up comedy show, featuring a performer who had made it to the semifinals of America's Got Talent.
一月十日：一早醒来船停靠在圣约翰 (安提瓜和巴布达)。 今天特别兴奋，要去与黄貂鱼（Stingray)一起游泳。小面包车开了半个小时后来到小码头，换上快艇，十分钟后就来到所谓的黄貂鱼＂镇＂。这黄貂鱼聚集的地方就是在一望无际的大海中有那么一小块水深不到一人高的浅沙地。二十多年前当地人围养了一批黄貂鱼，天天一日三顿喂它们，几代魚下来，把围网拆了，魚还是待在那里不走，因为知道会有饭吃。那些鱼好像对工作人员很熟，任他们抓着摆样子。从来没有这么近距离的与黄貂鱼相处过，一条条超大的黄貂鱼从我们身边和脚下游过，常常会吓我们一跳，怕不小心踩到它们。我们用小鱿鱼喂它们，还扶着它们一起照相留念，玩得很开心。
看完黄貂鱼后回船吃个午饭，又下船岀去请上午那位小巴司机带我们围绕小岛转了一圈，去世界遗产保护地的尼尔森造船厂和海滩等景点看看。还是老规矩，回船后去Bistro, 来一杯加浓拿铁和一块小蛋糕，补充一下能量。
晚餐去了主餐厅，要了海鲜饭和T骨牛排，味道不错，但牛排实在太大，剩下一半。今晚演出又是脱口秀，表演者曾到过美国的达人秀半决赛。
St. Thomas Island 圣托马斯岛
Jan 9, 2024:
Yesterday was another delightful day at sea……
昨天一整天又是海上行。。。
Jan 9, 2024: Yesterday was another delightful day at sea. Besides attending lectures, taking several laps around the deck, bird watching and working out in the gym, we savored the exquisite cuisine on the Crystal ship, renowned for offering one of the best dining experiences in the industry.
Today, we docked at St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Early in the morning, we took a taxi to Magens Bay Beach, renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. When we arrived, there were fewer than ten people on the one-kilometer-long beach. Despite the warning signs about strong winds and waves, the beach was one of the calmest we've ever visited. We spent a long time playing in the water, swimming, and watching pelicans dive for fishes, with small fishes swimming around our feet. When we left the beach, we saw groups of tourists arriving in 20-person taxis converted from trucks. Back at the pier, we noticed another large ship with thousands of passengers had just docked next to ours, and their passengers were noticeably younger. Compared to theirs, our cruise ship seemed a bit quiet and lacking in energy. We had booked two kayaking shore excursions on our cruise, but both were canceled due to low participation.
After returning from the beach, we had lunch on the ship and then went ashore again to explore the town. We walked the "99 Stair Steps" and visited one of the oldest synagogues in the Western Hemisphere.
We walked over 20,000 steps today. In the evening, we dined at Umi Uma by Nobu Again. This time, we skipped the main courses and focused on sashimi, accompanied by sake and white wine. After eating and drinking, we ended our day by watching a show and dancing a little. What a wonderful day, we felt completely satisfied.
一月九日：昨天一整天又是海上行。除了听听讲座，沿着甲板绕船走上几圈或者去健身房锻炼，剩下就是继续享受邮轮上色味俱佳的美食。
今天停靠美属维尔京群岛（US Virgin Islands )上的圣托马斯岛(St Thomas), 俩人一早就下船叫了出租车去梅根湾海滩（Magens Bay Beach)。据介绍梅根湾海滩是世界上最美的海滩之一，我们到那里还早，一公里长的海滩上就不到十个人。在海滩上有大风大浪的警告牌，但对我们来说，这海滩是我们去过的最为平静的海滩之一。在水里玩了很久，一边游泳一边看着从天直下的鹈鹕抓鱼吃，还有小鱼在我们脚边游来游去。当我们离开海滩时，看到成群结队的游客坐着由卡车改装的20人的出租车来到海滩。回到码头时才发现原来我们的邮轮边又来了一艘几千人的大船，而且游客的平均年龄要比我们的船低很多。相比之下我们的邮轮有点冷冷清清，少点生气。我们这次在船上订了两次划船的岸上游，后来都取消了，说是报名的人太少。
从海滩回到船上，先去吃个午饭，接着又下船去市区转一圈，走了＂九十九级台阶＂，又去参观了西半球里最古老的犹太教教堂之一。
今天一天走了二万多步，晚上又去Nobu日本料理店，这次不点主菜，而是以生鱼片为主，再来点日本清酒和白葡萄酒，吃饱喝足后再看一场表演，真是心满意足了。
Grand Turk and Nobu 大特克岛
Jan 7, 2024
Since departing Miami on the evening of the 5th,…..
自五号晚上离开迈阿密后，。。。
Jan 7, 2024: Yesterday was a full day at sea. Crystal Cruises claims to have the most diverse range of activities during sea days in the industry. There were several lectures on topics such as politics, culture, and history throughout the day, delivered by experts in their respective fields. We attended three of them out of curiosity and they were all very interesting. In the afternoon, we went for afternoon tea and grabbed a bunch of snacks. With so many carbs consumed, who knows how high our blood sugar spiked. In the evening, we dined at the main restaurant, ordering lobster and caviar, which were delicious. After dinner, we watched a comedy show and laughed all night.
This morning, the cruise arrived at the first port of this trip, Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We participated in snorkeling organized by the cruise line, which was reasonably priced compared to other cruise lines. The weather was sunny today, and the sea was calm. The yacht took us to the famous 7,000-foot-deep Grand Turk Wall. For safety reasons, we were only allowed to snorkel in a 20-foot-deep water area. We saw many small fish, making it one of the most rewarding snorkeling experiences we've had. After snorkeling, the yacht took us to a private beach with clear waters and fine white sand, allowing us to fully enjoy the perfect Caribbean scenery.
Another feature of the Crystal Serenity cruise ship is the renowned Nobu Japanese restaurant. During our last world cruise on the ship, we visited it every few days. The waitstaff got to know that we liked Japanese ramen and mochi, so each time we went, they would have the kitchen prepare these items, which were not on the menu, specifically just for us. Nobu has branches in some major cities, and it is quite expensive. Before boarding, we even made a point to visit Nobu in Scottsdale. Now back on the ship, we could finally indulge in several delightful meals again. Tonight, we had a fantastic dinner at Nobu, ordering all our favorite items from the menu. Despite being on a ship, the food was just as good as what we had at the Nobu in Scottsdale two weeks ago.
In the evening, we watched a Broadway show, which is also a highlight of this cruise and we enjoyed it very much. The ship offers unlimited internet access via StarLink, and the speed is decent. Since the Shanghainese drama "Blossoms" was about half way in the playing before our trip started, with good enough WiFi on the ship, we ended the night by watching two episodes before going to bed.
一月七日：自五号晚上离开迈阿密后，昨天一整天是海上行。水晶邮轮公司自称有着行业中最丰富多彩的海上行活动安排。整天有好几个面及政冶，文化和历史的讲座，而且讲解人都是行业中的专家。我们也凑热闹去听了三个讲座。之后又去了下午茶，服务员拿来一大堆点心，这么多碳水物吃下去血糖不知道要冲到哪个新高度了。晚上去了主餐厅用餐，要了龙虾和鱼子酱等，味道很不错。饭后去看了脱口秀，笑了一晚上。
今天早上邮轮来到这次行程的第一个港口，特克斯和凯科斯群岛的首府 - 大特克（Grand Turk)。我们参加了由邮轮组织的浮潜，相比其它邮轮，这次我们邮轮上提供的岸上游的价格比较合理。今天天气晴朗，风浪也不大，游艇带我们来到著名的七千英呎深的大特克墙边。为安全起见，只允许我们在二十英呎深的水域区浮潜。看到不少小鱼，算是我们仅有的几次浮潜中最有收获的一次。浮潜后游艇又把我们带到了私人海滩，清澈的海水，细腻的白沙，让我们尽情享受了一下完美的加勒比海风光。
水晶邮轮的另一特点是船上有一家久负盛名的Nobu日本料理店。上次周游世界时，在船上时每隔几天就会去一次。去多了服务员知道我们喜欢日本拉面和麻薯，之后每次我们再去那里时，都不用我们说，就会直接让厨房特意为我们做菜单上没有的拉面和麻薯。Nobu 在一些大城市里都有分店，价格不菲。上船之前我们还特地去了Scottsdale 的Nobu。这次回到船上，终于又能痛痛快快地吃上几顿了。一位难求，所以我们早早地就预订晚餐，今晚就在Nobu好好美食了一顿。饭店领班还是我们四年前周游世界时的领班，有几位服务员也是熟悉的面孔，真是不可思议。我们把菜单上我们喜欢的东西全叫上，还有日本清酒，不过没有拉面和麻薯。虽说是在船上，饭店并不大，但菜的味道不比二周前刚去过的Scottsdale 的Nobu 差。
晚上看了百老汇秀，也算是这邮轮的一大特色。邮轮提供无限量上网，用的是StarLink, 上网速度还不错。上船前，沪语版电视剧《繁花》正在热播中，我们也跟着追剧。StarLink让我们有机会在船上继续追剧，每晚看上两集语《繁花》后，才上床睡觉。
Returning to Miami & Crystal 重返迈阿密&水晶邮轮
Jan. 5, 2024
The last time we visited Miami was in the winter of 1989……
上次来迈阿密还是一九八九年的冬天，。。。
Jan 5, 2024: The last time we visited Miami was in the winter of 1989. We don't remember much about Miami from that trip, except that we dined at an expensive Cuban restaurant, which was quite a luxury for us as poor students at that time.
Yesterday, we took an overnight flight from Phoenix to Miami, arriving early in the morning at our hotel - InterContinental Miami. We paid an early check-in fee, so we could catch up some sleep in our room. The room was very nice with great ocean view. Once settled into our room and well rested, we went out and spent the rest of the day exploring the Bayside area near the hotel. The cat and dog sculpture garden and the Jimenez Deredia’s sculpture exhibition on the street were quite unique.
This trip is not about Miami though, we have some exciting activities waiting for us. In early March 2020, we had to cut short our ninety-day world cruise trip with Crystal Cruises due to the pandemic. Today, we will board the Crystal Serenity cruise ship again to start a two-week Caribbean journey. The ship is still the same, but the cruise company has changed ownership. The new owner made significant interior renovations, reducing the number of cabins from hosting nearly one thousand passengers to just over seven hundred passengers capacity. Each cabin now comes with a butler, who can be contacted directly if needed.
We woke up early this morning and headed to the Claughton Island near our hotel before boarding the ship. We had some great breakfast from one of the local favorite spots. From there, we saw our beautiful ship, the Crystal Serenity docked at the cruise terminal.
The waiting game was finally over, we boarded the ship around noon. It was an incredible feeling. We went to the Marketplace for lunch buffet，and immediately we felt so welcomed by the crew members. We settled into our room after lunch, and walked around to check out the ship. The new owner did a fantastic job and the ship just couldn’t look any better. We even saw a few familiar faces, crew members and fellow passengers from our last world cruise trip.
Found a photo spot to duplicate the photo taken four years ago.
Our ship left Miami at 6pm, with the song of “What a wonderful world” playing loud, we sailed away and said goodbye to Miami.
Four years ago, there was a Chinese restaurant on the ship, now it has transformed into an international restaurant, Taste, where we dined this evening. The waiter was one of the crew members from our world cruise trip, so we had a little catch up with him. We ordered four appetizers and two main courses, all in small portions, and the food was delicious. In terms of both cuisine and service, Crystal is above and beyond. None of the other cruise lines that we have cruised so far can compare.
The evening concert was scheduled for 9:45 PM. After attending the concert, we went to the bar and enjoyed some live piano performance for a while before returning to our room to call off the day.
上次来迈阿密还是一九八九年的冬天，当时的迈阿密是什么样都没印象了，只记得当时好像去了一家对我们穷留学生来说很贵的古巴餐厅。
昨天从凤凰城坐夜班飞机来到迈阿密，一早就到了州际酒店（InterContinental)。加付了提早入住费之后就先住了进去。补了个觉后，就在酒店附近的Bayside 区转了一大圈。狗猫雕塑花园和街头上的Jimenez Deredia 雕塑展都是别具一格。
这次行程并非是迈阿密游。二零二零年三月初由于疫情的缘故，我们无奈终止了水晶邮轮九十天的邮轮周游世界游。今天我们又将再次回到水晶尚宁号(Crystal Serenity)邮轮上，开始为期二周的加勒比海之行。邮轮还是同一艘，船公司却已换主人。新主人在收购之后对船作了重大内部装修，许多客房变大了，原本可供近一千人住宿的客房被改建成满客只能容纳七百多人。每间客房还配备了一位管家(butler)，有事可直接找他。
一早醒来先走去酒店附近的 Claughton Island。找了个当地人喜欢的地方吃早餐，简单却很好吃。 在那里可以看到我们的水晶尚宁号邮轮已经停在对面的码头，很兴奋。
中午的时候我们终于上了船，那真是一种难以形容的感觉。先来到 Marketplace 吃自助午餐, 热情的服务员让人感到宾至如归。午餐后我们在船上走了一圈，改建后的邮轮比以前更漂亮了。我们还看到一些熟悉的面孔，有四年前周游世界游时的服务员，也有当时一起的乘客。
晚上六点左右我们的船在“What a wonderful world”的歌声中离开迈阿密。四年前船上的中餐馆变回成了国际化餐厅，今天晚餐我们就选在那里。招待我们的服务员居然是四年前周游世界游时其中的一位，话题自然就从四年前开始了。俩人要了四个开胃菜和两份主菜，当然都是小份的，味道很不错。无论是船上的饮食还是服务，是目前为止我们所坐过的所有其它邮轮都无法与之相比的。
晚上音乐会安排在9:45, 听完后又去酒吧坐了一会儿后就回房睡觉。