Sintra, Portugal 辛特拉
July 19, 2024
We started early today to catch a train to Sintra.
今天我们早早出发。。。
July 19, 2024: We started early today to catch a train to Sintra. Due to incorrect information displayed on the screen, we ended up on the wrong train, which was heading in the general direction but stopping at a different station. Along with several fellow travelers, we realized our mistake in the middle of the ride and quickly hopped off to catch the right train. We finally arrived in Sintra before 9 am.
The shuttle to Pena Palace (bus 434) was conveniently located outside the train station. After a 30-minute ride, we reached the palace. Our ticket included transportation from the main entrance to the palace itself, saving us a 30-minute uphill walk.
Arriving at the magnificent Pena Palace a couple of hours before our time slot to visit the interior, we spent the morning exploring the outside. We were captivated by the breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding area and the colorful exterior and eclectic architectural styles of the buildings.
As the day progressed, more tourists arrived, and the place became quite crowded. Fortunately, it was time for us to enter the palace. Having visited many European palaces before, we found that this one, though beautiful, didn’t particularly stand out for us.
Next, we walked down to the medieval Moorish Castle, dating back to the 8th or 9th century. We climbed up the walls to the highest point, which offered an incredible panoramic view of Sintra.
We combined a bus and hike to reach Quinta da Regaleira, a Gothic-style mansion surrounded by lush gardens, enigmatic grottoes, and mystical symbols. Our main purpose was to see the Initiation Well, a spiral staircase descending into the earth, which was particularly fascinating.
After our visit, we took a train to the main train station to reserve seats for our next segment. We then headed to the shopping mall next to the station for a simple dinner. The food court offerings were more akin to the fast foods found in malls in the states, lacking various seafood and tapas bars. We guessed that salted fish, grilled shrimp, and cured hams might not be part of their daily diet. Instead, we had Brazilian pork and Pad Thai. On the terrace, people of different ages were dancing to DJ music, creating a lively yet peaceful scene. They certainly knew how to dance.
2024年7月19日: 今天我们早早出发，赶火车去里斯本外面的辛特拉（Sintra)。由于屏幕上显示的信息错误，我们上错了火车，虽然方向大致正确，但火车会停在不同的车站。和几位同车前往的旅客一起，我们在途中发现了这个错误，赶紧下车换乘了正确的火车。我们终于在早上9点前到达了辛特拉。
佩纳宫（National Palace of Pena)的接驳车（434路公交车）就在火车站外。经过30分钟的车程，我们到达了佩纳宫的公园门口。我们的佩纳宫门票包括从公园主入口到宫殿的交通服务，又省去了30分钟的上坡路程。
我们比预定参观宫殿内部的时间提前了二个小时到达，正好先在漂亮的佩纳宫外面游览。我们来的早，游客还不多，比较安静。佩纳宫色彩斑斓的外墙和精美的装饰绝对是个明信片的景点。除了王宫，附近还有城堡，庄园等历史古迹。
随着时间的推移，越来越多的游客到来，地方变得非常拥挤。但这时正好是我们进入宫殿的时间。可能是我们之前参观过太多欧洲的宫殿，一个比一个奢华，好像觉得这宫内并没有特别突出的地方。
接着，我们步行前往中世纪的摩尔人（穆斯林）城堡（Moorish Castle), 建于8、9世纪。我们爬上城墙的最高点，那里可以俯瞰辛特拉的全景。
我们乘公交车加徒步来到了雷加莱拉庄园，这是一座哥特风格的豪宅，周围环绕着茂密的花园、神秘的洞穴和神秘的符号。我们的主要目的是参观螺旋井，这是一座通往地下的螺旋楼梯，非常别致。
辛特拉一日游结束后，我们乘火车来达里斯本的火车总站，为下一段行程预定了座位。然后我们前往火车站旁边的购物中心，享用简单的晚餐。美食广场提供的食物更像是我们在商场里看到的快餐，没有各种海鲜和小吃吧，没有腌鱼、烤虾和风干火腿。我们吃了巴西烤肉和泰式炒河粉。
在购物中心露台上，不同年龄段的人随着DJ的音乐跟着台上领舞的一起跳舞，场面很热闹，他们确实很会跳舞。
Disembark at Lisbon 里斯本下船
July 18, 2024
Our 7-day cruise ended in Lisbon today,......
天下没有不散的筵席，。。。
July 18, 2024: Our 7-day cruise ended in Lisbon today, but our journey continued. We disembarked at 9 am. The cobblestone street is not suitcase-friendly, so we decided to take a taxi to our hotel, even though the hotel is not far from the cruise terminal. We immediately ran into an unpleasant surprise: a taxi driver demanded 30 euros for a trip that was less than a 10-minute walk. It seems taxis in Spain and Portugal aren't well-regulated. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. We decided to look for other options later on.
Our hotel is in the heart of a bustling restaurant and bar area. After a brief rest, we set out to explore the city. First, we joined a walking tour in Alfama, one of Lisbon's oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods. History is alive here. Initially built by Muslims, it later saw Jews opening stores and banks. Then, Christians conquered the area, leading to the conversion or execution of Muslims and Jews. But the story took an intriguing turn. On the morning of November 1, 1755, All Saints' Day, a massive earthquake struck Lisbon while Christians were at home celebrating, leading to fires that destroyed 85% of the buildings, including the royal palace. However, Alfama was largely spared since the converted Muslims and Jews did not observe the Christian holiday at home, preserving its medieval character. Today, it is one of Lisbon's top tourist attractions.
At the end of the tour, our guide took us to Pastelaria Santo António, where we tried our first custard tarts in Portugal. They were too sweet for our taste. Our guide also suggested a 5 euro sandwich café for lunch, which had a long queue. We didn’t want to wait; we had other plans: go to the Time Out Market. This market features high-quality food and drink vendors in a lively food hall setting. It was very crowded, unlike anything we had seen before. We ordered a few tapas and enjoyed the bustling atmosphere.
After lunch, we took a train to Belém to try the original and famous custard tarts (Pasteis de Nata) at Pasteis de Belem, based on a secret recipe created by nuns. The line wasn't very long that day, but the tarts, though famous, were still too sweet for us.
Having checked off that item on our to-do list, we visited the nearby Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We then walked to the Monument to Discoveries before heading back to the city.
Tonight, we had a fine dinner and Fado show at O Faria in Alfama. Dinner reservations are available from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and feature a fixed-price menu with a starter, main course, and dessert. The food was delicious and high quality. The Fado show started at 9:00 pm and had three sessions with 20-minute breaks for diners to enjoy their meals. The show ended at 11:00 pm. For us, it was a four-hour dinner. Exhausted, we returned to our hotel, but the streets seemed to just be coming alive.
2024年7月18日: 天下没有不散的筵席，我们为期7天的邮轮旅行今天结束了，但我们的旅程还在继续。我们在上午9点在葡萄牙首都里斯本（Lisbon)下船，却遇到了一个不愉快的小插曲：尽管从船码头到我们的酒店步行不到10分钟，因为拖着行李箱在碎石路上走太累，我们叫了出租车，结果出租车司机开口就要求30欧元。看来西班牙和葡萄牙的出租车监管都不好。连续二次被出租车司机骗，我们决定以后不再用出租车，而是寻找其它出行方式。
我们的酒店位于热闹的餐馆和酒吧区的中心。稍作休息后，我们便出门赶着去参加预定好的“免费”的阿尔法玛区（Alfama)徒步游。这里是里斯本最古老、最漂亮的街区之一。导游介绍说这里最初由穆斯林建造，后来犹太人迁入开设商店和银行。之后，基督徒征服了这个地区，穆斯林和犹太人要么被迫皈依，要么被处决。1775年11月1日是个圣徒日，基督徒在家生火做饭庆祝节日时，一场大地震袭来，因作饭的火而引发的火灾摧毁了85%的建筑物，包括皇宫。然而，阿尔法玛区大部分建筑幸存下来，因为皈依的穆斯林和犹太人没有在家庆祝基督教节日，其中世纪的建筑特色得以保存。今天，它是里斯本的顶级旅游景点之一。
昨天在船上的讲座有提到著名的葡萄牙蛋挞。今天导游介绍说葡萄牙蛋挞有二个版本。徒步游结束时，她带我们去了圣安东尼奥糕点店，这家是二个版本中的一个，我们在那里尝试了葡萄牙行的第一个蛋挞。中间用蛋黄酱制成，对我们来说实在太甜了，根本咽不下去。导游还建议我们去一家很热门的5欧元三明治餐厅吃午饭。看到那里的队伍很长我们就放弃了，而是来到Time Out市场，一家设有许多高质量饮食摊位，很有人气的室内市场。我们点了几份小吃，享受一下当地热闹氛围。炒蛤蜊非常新鲜美味，四季豆天妇罗也是绝佳。
午餐后，我们乘火车去了贝伦（Belem）， 那里是最著名的葡萄牙蛋挞（奶油蛋挞）所在地。修道院边上的蛋挞店卖的是另一个版本的蛋挞，也是原创版本，由修女创造的秘方制作。那天店排队的人不算太多，我们高高兴兴又买了几个。但很失望，所有这些著名的蛋挞对我们来说都太甜了。
接着我们参观了旁边的杰罗尼莫斯修道院，这是联合国教科文组织的世界遗产。然后我们步行到发现者纪念碑，之后返回市区。
今晚，我们在阿尔法玛的O Faria餐厅享用了一顿美餐并观看了法朵表演。晚餐可以在晚上7:00到8:30之间预订，提供固定价格的菜单，包括前菜、主菜和甜点。食物美味且高质量。法朵表演从晚上9点开始，分三个阶段，每个阶段间有20分钟的休息时间，让顾客享用晚餐。演出在晚上11点结束。对我们来说，这是一个四小时的晚餐。疲惫不堪的我们回到酒店，但街上的人们似乎才刚刚开始夜生活。
At Sea 海上行
July 17, 2024
Finally, we had a sea day to catch our breath......
今天终于迎来了一个海上休息日。。。
July 17, 2024: Finally, we had a sea day to catch our breath. Up until this point, every day of the cruise had brought us to a new port, and we had joined a shore excursion at each one. We consistently chose the most challenging options available, and the physical toll was starting to catch up with us as age began to take its toll. However, a sea day on a Crystal Cruise isn’t exactly a day of rest. The cruise always offers top-notch lectures and speeches, and this time was no exception.
In the morning, Dr. James Allison, a Nobel laureate in medicine, and his wife gave a talk on the cancer immunotherapy that Allison pioneered. In the afternoon, Nando Parrado, one of the sixteen survivors of a plane crash, recounted his harrowing experience. After spending two months stranded on a snow-covered mountain, he climbed out over ten days to seek help. His remarkable survival story has been adapted into several films, the most recent being "The Society of Snow," a Netflix show. The story was absolutely riveting. We also attended a presentation regarding the upcoming city and it’s culture. We can’t wait to try the famous Portugal custard tart.
Afternoon tea with live music was very nice. Both the pianist and violinist were fantastic. In the evening, we treated ourselves to Italian dishes at the special restaurant OSTERIA D’OVIDIO.
2024年7月17日：今天终于迎来了一个海上休息日。上船至今每一天我们都停靠在一个新港口，白天参加岸上游活动。我们总是选择所有活动中最具挑战性的项目，而船上每晩的音乐会又都安排在很晚。早出晚归，几天下来我们感到身体非常疲惫，很明显年龄的增长在影响着我们，体力一年不如一年。然而，Crystal邮轮上的海上行也不是一个放松的日子，海上行时总是会安排一些高质量的讲座，这次也不例外。
上午，诺贝尔医学奖得主詹姆斯·艾利森博士和他的妻子谈到了艾利森开创的癌症免疫疗法。下午，飞机失事幸存者之一南多·帕拉多(Nando Parrado)分享了他惊心动魄的经历，失事后，他和他幸存的鲁比球队队员们在雪山上度过了两个月后，他花了十天时间爬出山脉去寻求帮助。他们生存故事多次被改编成电影，最新的一部是Netflix的《雪之社》(The Society of Snow), 这个故事非常引人入胜。
接下来我们又听了一个关于葡萄牙里斯本（Lisbon)的讲座，除了历史和文化，对我们来说印象最深的就是著名的葡萄牙蛋挞。其实蛋挞吃过不少，自己也做过，但想到终于有机会可以品尝到最正宗的这款点心，还是很兴奋的。
下午讲座结束后有时间去享用下午茶，一边品尝喷香的绿茶和美味的点心，一边欣赏钢琴和小提琴演奏，弹琴是一位漂亮的韩国女孩，好像有不少优兔的粉丝。
晚上我们在船上的另一特色餐厅OSTERIA D’OVIDIO享用了美味的意大利菜肴。
Casablanca, Morocco 卡萨布兰卡
July 16, 2024
Africa is the seventh continent we have set foot on, ......
非洲是我们踏足的第七个大陆，。。。
July 16, 2024: Africa is the seventh continent we have set foot on, although Morocco represents just a small part of this vast continent. Our ship docked at Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, which serves as the economic and business center of the country. The city’s rich history has been shaped by influences from Berber, Phoenician, Roman, and Arab civilizations, as well as the French occupation.
We joined an 8-hour city tour focused on the diverse cultures of Casablanca. The tour included visits to a Jewish museum, a cathedral, and the Hassan II Mosque, the 3rd largest mosque in the world. However, the cathedral and the museum felt rather ordinary, reflecting the diverse cultures that Morocco has adopted over time.
Built on reclaimed land from the sea, the Hassan II Mosque is the most beautiful one we have ever visited, with stunning architecture, scale, and craftsmanship. Unlike many other mosques, it has no strict requirements for female visitors, which we appreciated.
Lunch was served in a beautiful Moroccan restaurant where we enjoyed six side dishes and chicken couscous, accompanied by live music. After lunch, our tour guide took us to an old gift shop, attempting to persuade us to buy Aloe oil. Not many of us were interested, preferring to explore elsewhere. However, the guide claimed the area was unsafe, perhaps as a strategy to keep us in the store. Despite this, we wandered around the city center near the public market, which was bustling with people and cars. Feeling quite safe, we briefly explored the market before returning to the bus.
Our final stop was at a rooftop bar overlooking the ocean and a public beach. The view was beautiful, but our time there was limited as we had to return to the ship. The ship left the port late at night. As we departed, we noticed the green laser beam from the tower of the Hassan II Mosque pointing east.
2024年7月16日：非洲是我们踏足的第七个大陆，虽然摩洛哥(Morocco)只是这个广阔大陆的一小部分，终于完成了走访全部七个大陆的心愿。我们的船昨晚离开直布罗陀后，前往对面的摩洛哥。今天一早停靠在卡萨布兰卡(Casablanca), 摩洛哥最大的城市，也是该国的经济和商业中心。这个城市的丰富历史受到了柏柏尔人、腓尼基人、罗马人和阿拉伯文明以及法国殖民时期的影响。
我们参加了船上组织的为时8小时的卡萨布兰卡深度游。行程安排包括参观犹太博物馆、大教堂和哈桑二世清真寺，后者是世界上第三大清真寺。哈桑二世清真寺建在填海造地的土地上，通体使用白色大理石砌成，宣礼塔高达200米，是我们见过的最美丽的清真寺，其建筑、规模和工艺令人惊叹。与许多其它清真寺不同，这里对女性游客没有严格要求，这一点我们非常欣赏。
午餐在一家很有当地风情的摩洛哥餐厅享用，有六道小配菜，再加鸡肉库斯库斯作为主菜。我们好像是第一次吃摩洛哥菜，今天的每一道都非常美味。另外午餐时还有现场音乐表演。之后导游带我们去了一个礼品店，试图说服我们购买摩洛哥坚果仁油（Argan oil)和芦荟精华液（Aloe)。我们中的大多数人对此并不感兴趣，而是更想去周围其它地方看看。然而导游声称该地区不安全，可能是为了让我们留在店里。尽管如此，我们俩还是走到礼品店附近的公共市场以及不远处的市中心，那里人车熙攘。我们感到很安全，简单游览了市场后便返回了大巴。
我们今天行程的最后一站是一个俯瞰大海和公共海滩的屋顶酒吧，景色很美。但由于时间关系，我们在上面喝了点酒水，稍作休息后便不得不返回船上。
船在深夜离港。离开时，我们注意到哈桑二世清真寺塔楼的绿色激光束指向东方。
Gibraltar, Britain 直布罗陀
July 15, 2024
Even if you haven’t visited Gibraltar before,......
即使你从未去过直布罗陀，。。。
July 15, 2024: Even if you haven’t visited Gibraltar before, you probably recognize its famous rock formation from the iconic logo of Prudential Financial. Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It is bordered to the north by Spain and overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. It is tiny but strategically important. Due to the Red Sea conflict, a significant number of commercial vessels are now passing through the area.
Our shore excursion took us via the cable car to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, home to the famous Barbary macaques—the only wild monkey population in Europe. The reserve has a narrow road along the ridge. While the road is one-way for taxis, people and monkeys can freely wander.
It is the Monkey’s kingdom. Monkeys jumped on the car or stole someone’s bread or ice cream. We were both nervous and excited to see so many monkeys and their babies.
We also visited a huge cave. The 5-minute film shown on the rock wall was unique and beautiful. Then, we toured the Great Siege Tunnels, created during the 18th century inside the north face of the Rock. Gibraltar now has a total of 30 miles of tunnels, longer than its roads.
The visit to Gibraltar was the best so far, but we are very excited about tomorrow’s port of call.
2024年7月15日：即使你从未去过直布罗陀（Gibraltar），你可能也会从保德信金融（Prudential Financial)的标志中认出那著名的岩石形状。直布罗陀是一个位于伊比利亚半岛南端的英国海外领地。它北接西班牙，在连接大西洋和地中海的直布罗陀海峡的南面就是非洲, 海峡最窄处仅有八英里。尽管面积非常小，但它具有极其重要的战略意义。由于红海上冲突，如今有大量商船通过直布罗陀海峡。
今天我们还是参加船上组织的岸上游。先是通过缆车带我们来到了上岩自然保护区，这是著名的巴巴里猕猴的家园——欧洲唯一的野生猴群。保护区有一条沿山脊的狭窄道路。虽然这条路是单行道，仅供出租车通行，但行人和猴子可以自由穿行。看到这么多猴子和它们的小宝宝，我们既紧张又兴奋。我们的导游一再强调千万不要投喂猴子，且必须看好自己的包包。猴子们会跳上车子找东西，我们眼看着它们抢走行人手中的食物。
山里还有一个巨大的岩洞，里面定时放映5分钟关于岩洞的影片，直接用洞壁作屏幕，360度全景，非常独特。随后，我们游览了18世纪在岩石北面挖掘的“大围攻隧道”。直布罗陀现在有总长30英里的隧道，比其道路还长。
这次直布罗陀之行是迄今为止最棒的岸上游。但我们对明天的停靠港也非常期待。
Cartagena, Spain 卡塔赫纳
July 14, 2024
Cartagena is a port city on the southern coast of Spain,......
卡塔赫纳是西班牙南部海岸的一座港口城市,。。。
July 14, 2024: Cartagena is a port city on the southern coast of Spain, boasting over 2,500 years of rich and diverse history. Our ship docked near the city center, and our tour began with a visit to the city hall and the plaza.
The city was ruled by Muslims at one time. In 1988, a Roman theatre was discovered buried during the Moorish Period under a ruined house during demolition. The tour we joined took us to see the Roman theatre and climb to the highest point in the city (350 ft up) for panoramic views. However, more than half of the group quit before reaching the summit. Then, we visited a bomb shelter cave used during the Spanish Civil War, during which much of the city was destroyed. Although Spain didn’t participate in World War I and II, the Civil War saw brothers killing each other, leading to a dictatorship under Francisco Franco.
New and Old Amphitheater
After three hours of walking under the scorching sun, we were exhausted and decided to go back to the ship for a break. We returned to the city for more exploration after a quick lunch. Away from the tourists, we wandered through the narrow streets to see a more authentic side of the town. We also visited more archaeological sites and museums.
Dinner was at Taste Café, and we watched the European Cup final in the Hollywood Theatre. Many Spanish fans were very happy.
2024年7月14日：卡塔赫纳(Cartagena)是西班牙南部海岸的一座港口城市，拥有超过2500年的丰富历史。它曾经被穆斯林统治过。1988年，在拆除破旧房屋时发现了一座埋在地下的罗马剧场。我们参加船上组织的岸上游带我们参观了这座罗马剧场，并爬上城市的最高点（350英尺）欣赏全景。然而，因为要走很多台阶，超过一半的团员在到达山顶之前就放弃了。接着我们参观了西班牙内战期间使用的防空洞，当时整个城市几乎被摧毁。虽然西班牙没有参与第一次和第二次世界大战，但在内战中兄弟相残，最终还导致了弗朗西斯科·佛朗哥的独裁统治直此1975年他的去死。
在烈日下上上下下走了三个多小时后，我们感到筋疲力尽，决定回船休息。简单吃过午饭后，我们再次下船自由行。远离游客，穿梭在小巷中看看这个城市更真实的一面。同时也参观了更多的考古遗址和博物馆。
晚餐是在船上的国际餐厅Taste享用的。之后我们俩一个听音乐会，一个观看了欧洲杯决赛。今晚是西班牙对英格兰。白天自由行时在一个广场上看到为了今晚的足球比赛而设置的户外大屏幕以及排得整整齐齐的椅子，估计晚上那里应该是人山人海了。我们船上西班牙球迷不少，除了影院，船上还在其它地方都安排了大屏幕实况转播，大家非常开心。
Mahón, Spain 马翁
July 13, 2024
We docked at Mahón, the capital of Menorca island in Spain......
今天我们来到西班牙梅诺卡岛的首府马翁。
July 13, 2024: We docked at Mahón, the capital of Menorca island in Spain. Known for being the second deepest natural harbor in the world after Pearl Harbor, Mahón offers a blend of history and natural beauty.
We joined a ship-organized shore excursion called Authentic Menorca. The tour first took us to Monte Toro, the highest peak on the island, providing the best panoramic views. At the summit, we visited a sanctuary and a small church run by six to seven nuns, who we encountered after they completed their prayers.
Next, we visited a local shoe store of a famous Spanish brand, which unfortunately turned out to be a waste of time for us. However, the following stop at a multigenerational family dairy farm was both informative and interesting. We observed the cheese-making process and toured the dairy farm, followed by a delightful tasting of cheese and sausage.
Our final stop was the famous cave bar, Cova d'en Xoroi, located on the south coast of the island. This natural cave, situated in the cliffs, offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. Each of us received a ticket to exchange for a drink. Cova d'en Xoroi is a popular spot for both daytime sightseeing and nighttime entertainment. Sadly, we didn’t have enough time to finish our drinks before we had to hop back on the bus to the terminal. We wished we had more time to relax and enjoy the view.
Dinner in the evening was at the Waterside restaurant, where we ordered a delicious T-bone steak that was too big to finish. The escargot dish was also top-notch.
2024年7月13日：今天我们来到西班牙梅诺卡岛（Menorca)的首府马翁(Mahón）。马翁被认为是世界上第二深的天然港口，仅次于美国的珍珠港。
我们参加了船上安排的“真实的梅诺卡”岸上游。首先大巴带着我们前往岛上的最高峰——蒙特托罗山（Mirador Cim del Toro），从那里可以欣赏到全岛美景。在山顶上有一个由六，七位年轻修女管理的一座小教堂。我们进去参观时碰巧遇见了刚刚完成祈祷的修女们。
接下来导游带我们去了一家西班牙当地生产的世界著名品牌的鞋店，可惜我们对品牌一无所知，对购物不感兴趣。倒是接下来的一站，一个几代相传的家庭奶牛场更有吸引力。我们看到了奶酪制作过程，参观了奶牛场，并品尝了美味的奶酪和香肠。
我们的最后一站是岛南海岸著名的洞穴酒吧Cova d'en Xoroi。这个天然洞穴位于悬崖上，提供了令人惊叹的地中海美景。我们车上每人都发一张可以兑换饮品的票。Cova d'en Xoroi是白天观光和夜间娱乐的热门地点。真希望我们能有多些时间在这里好好享受美景，只可惜我们连饮料都还没喝完就不得不跳上回码头的大巴。
晚上我们在船上的主餐厅用餐。法式焗蜗牛非常美味。点了一份T骨牛排，份量大到根本吃不完。另外可能之前在巴塞罗那海鲜饭吃多了，今晚的海鲜饭就觉得很一般了。
Port Vendres and Collioure 旺德尔港和科利乌尔
July 12, 2024
Our first port of call was Port Vendres......
我们游轮的第一站是法国的旺德尔港。。。
July 12, 2024: Our first port of call was Port Vendres. We joined the ship-organized tour of "Hike through Wine Country." The hike was a 3-4 mile trek through vineyards, over hills, and down to a winemaker, Cellier Dominicain, in Collioure, France. The cellar, originally a church, had been converted into a winemaking facility. We tasted six different wines there, but couldn’t tell the difference.
After the wine tasting, we spent an hour in Collioure. The lively town was noticeably more crowded than Port Vendres, with throngs of tourists filling the streets, making it clear that Collioure is a well-loved vacation destination.
We then took a trolley back to the tender port. Instead of heading back to the ship directly, we wandered around the town and noticed locals enjoying bowls of steamed mussels at a restaurant. The temptation was too great to pass by. We sat down and ordered a big bowl of garlic mussels with French fries to share. The mussels were exceptional, unlike any we've had before.
Tonight, we dined at Umi Uma by Nobu restaurant, a reservation we secured before boarding the ship. Instead of opting for hot main courses, we indulged in sashimi and tempura. As always, Nobu did not disappoint, leaving us completely satisfied with our meal.
2024年7月12日：我们游轮的第一站是法国的旺德尔港（Port Vendres)。我们参加了游轮组织的“葡萄酒乡徒步游”。这个徒步游翻过山丘，穿过葡萄园，大概走了3～4英里的距离，然后来到法国科利乌尔（Collioure)的酿酒厂，Cellier Dominicain。这个酿酒厂以前是一座教堂，现在改成了酿酒厂。我们品尝了六种不同的葡萄酒，喝不出什么名堂来。
品酒结束后，我们有一个小时的时间在科利乌尔自由活动。这个小镇比旺德尔港要漂亮的多。沙滩上不少人，街上都是游客，显然是一个热门的度假胜地。
然后我们乘坐小电车返回旺德尔港。我们没有直接回到船上，而是在镇上闲逛。路过一家小餐厅，看到当地人都在吃青口，人人一大碗。这个诱惑太大了，我们无法抗拒。于是我们也坐下来，点了一大碗蒜味青口和薯条分享。青口个头是比较小的那种，非常美味。其实我们俩平时并不怎么喜欢吃青口，但今天这碗真是好吃，这一大碗没几分钟就解决掉了。
今天晚餐是在Nobu的Umi Uma餐厅享用。早在上船前就已预定好了。今晚没有叫热的主菜，而是以生鱼片和天妇罗为主。Nubu还是一如既往地让我们吃得满意而归。
Picasso and Symphony 毕加索与水晶交响号邮轮
July 11, 2024
In the morning, we went to a small bakery ......
今天早上，我们去了酒店附近的一家小面包店。。。
July 11, 2024: In the morning, we went to a small bakery near the hotel to grab a couple of pastries for breakfast. Then we visited the Picasso Museum. As an adult, Picasso lived between Barcelona and Paris. He donated a lot of his early work to Barcelona, so the museum we visited exhibits mostly his early works, which allows us to see other sides of his artistic talents before the Cubism period.
Afterward, we picked up our luggage from the hotel and took a taxi to the cruise terminal to start our Mediterranean cruise with Crystal Symphony. Since taxis to the port are one-way business, the driver charged a fixed fee of 30 euro for the ride, probably twice what it should be.
The embarking process was smooth and fast. Ten minutes later, we sat down in the Marketplace to have our first meal. Crystal Symphony is a small ship with a maximum capacity of just over 600 passengers. Usually, the demographic on Crystal cruise ships leans toward an older population. On previous voyages, we always joked about being the youngest group. To our surprise, this time we felt like we belonged to the oldest group. There were a lot of young passengers, from babies to teenagers. We were told there are more than 70 kids on board.
We spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the ship. Although we have cruised on its sister ship Crystal Serenity several times, this is our first time onboard the Crystal Symphony.
Tonight’s dinner was at the Waterside. As always, each dish was done beautifully and tasted delicious. At 8 pm, as the song “What a Wonderful World” was playing, our ship left Barcelona.
2024年7月11日：今天早上，我们去了酒店附近的一家小面包店，买了几块小面包作为早餐。然后赶往我们在巴塞罗那的最后一个景点 - 毕加索博物馆。成年后，毕加索生活在巴塞罗那和巴黎之间。他向巴塞罗那捐赠了很多他早期的作品，所以我们参观的博物馆以他的早期作品为主，让我们看到了毕加索在立体派风格之前的艺术才华。
回酒店拿了行李便打车去了邮轮港口，又一次登上我们最爱的水晶邮轮公司(Crystal Cruises)的船，开始我们欧洲最南端的西班牙和葡萄牙邮轮之旅。由于去港口的出租车是单程业务，司机收了30欧元的固定费用，可能是正常价格的两倍多。到了船码头听到其他乘客抱怨，也有同样的经历。
登船过程顺利而快捷。十分钟后，我们已经在船上的Marketplace自助餐厅坐下，享用我们船上的第一餐。这次我们坐的是水晶邮轮公司的另一艘船 - 水晶交响号（Crystal Symphony), 她比我们之前坐过的水晶尚宁号稍小些，最大载客量刚刚超过600人。通常水晶邮轮上的乘客年龄偏大。在之前的航行中，我们总是开玩笑说自己是船上最年轻的一群。令我们惊讶的是，这次我们感觉自己是最老的一群。这次船上有很多年轻乘客，从婴儿到青少年，且有不少三代同游的。据说船上有近70个孩子，给船上带来巨大的活力。
今天晚餐我们选在主餐厅，每一道菜都做的精致，入味。晚上八点左右我们的船在“What a wonderful world”的歌声中离开巴塞罗那。音乐演出照旧安排在9:45，对我们来说虽有点晚，但还是不能错过的。
一直盼着能来西班牙和葡萄牙，这次终于成行，很兴奋很期待。
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。