• montage-02montage-03montage-04montage-05montage-06montage-07montage-08montage-09montage-10

From Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #16 – “Cagliari, Sardinia: The ‘Green City’ of Un-fouled Beaches, D.H. Lawrence’s ‘White Jerusalem’ and Magical Pink Flamingos.”

Karen in Castello, the old city of Cagliari, Sardinia

Karen in Castello, the old city of Cagliari, Sardinia

On the island of Sardinia, 120-miles west of the mainland of Italy, lies its capital city, Cagliari – an Italian municipality. It is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily. Although Cagliari has one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, there is no industry – making it a ‘green city,’ with sprawling, un-fouled beaches, botanical gardens, sixty wildlife preserves and three national parks.

Gates to the entrance into Castello, the old medieval town - Cagliari, Sardinia

Gates to the entrance into Castello, the old medieval town – Cagliari, Sardinia

Cagliari has faced occupation throughout the centuries due to the island’s strategic geography in the Mediterranean. Sardinia and Cagliari came under Roman rule in 238 BC when the Romans defeated the Carthaginians. During the French Revolution, France tried to conquer the city but was defeated by the Sardinians.  After a brief period of autonomous rule, the Allies then heavily bombed the city after the German army took control of it. Once the Germans retreated, the American army then took control of Cagliari and used it as an airbase for the remainder of the war.

Phoenician grinning mask (5th century BCE): National Archaeological Museum - Cagliairi, Sardinia

Phoenician grinning mask (5th century BCE): National Archaeological Museum – Cagliairi, Sardinia

From Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #15: Palma De Mallorca, Spain: “The City of Olive Tourism, Castle of Kings & Prisoners, And House of Wax & Taxidermy”

Overlooking Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Overlooking Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Palma De Mallorca is the capital and largest city of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The name of the island originates from an old Latin phrase ‘insula maior’ that means ‘larger island’. In ancient times, the Romans would use this term to refer to the island because Mallorca is the largest island in Spain. Over time, the phrase was mispronounced and corrupted. The British pronounced it as Majorca, while the rest of world simply referred to it as Mallorca.

Yachts with the Cathedral Palma Mallorca in the background - Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Yachts, with the Cathedral Palma Mallorca in the background – Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Today, Mallorca is one of Europe’s major holiday destinations. It is a city of modern hotel chains and flashy shops, yet still retains much of its old architecture. Football is a passion on the island, with the Real Mallorca team competing at its home playing field, the Iberostar Stadium. The island is famous for its many olive groves, which has led to the development of olive tourism on the island.

Bellver Castle - Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Bellver Castle – Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Gothic style structure of the Bellver Castle - Palma De Mallorca, Spain

Gothic style structure of the Bellver Castle – Palma De Mallorca, Spain

From Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #13: ‘The Great Freedom Port of Marseille & the Starry, Starry Night of Van Gogh’s Arles, France.’

Port of Marseille - Marseille, France

Port of Marseille – Marseille, France

Marseille is as cosmopolitan now as when the Phoenicians first founded it. Vital to the Crusades in the Middle Ages and crucial to Louis XIV as a military port, Marseille flourished as France’s market to the world – and still does so to this day. Marseille’s port is the second largest Mediterranean port, with over eighty-six thousand tons of goods transported annually. It has also served many travelers to freedom to America, including my great grandfather and his family – fleeing the Armenian Genocide.

Roman amphitheater built in 90 AD - Arles, France

Roman amphitheater built in 90 AD – Arles, France

Our tour began by driving fifty miles northeast of Marseille to the city of Arles, where post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived from 1888–1889 and produced over 300 paintings during his time there. Before exploring everything Van Gogh, we learnt about the city’s Roman history. We stopped at the Arles Amphitheatre, a two-tiered Roman amphitheater built in 90 AD – inspired by the Colosseum in Rome (built in 70 AD). The amphitheater was capable of seating over 20,000 spectators, and was built to provide entertainment in the form of chariot races and bloody Gladiator battles.

From Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #12: “The Towering Mountain of Montserrat and Why the Sacred Statue (the Virgin Mary and Child) is Black. “

Karen overlooking the clouds in Montserrat, Spain

Karen overlooking the clouds in Montserrat, Spain

Via a nail biting, narrow winding road, forty-miles outside Barcelona, Spain, we ascended by bus, 4,000 feet above sea level, to the astonishing Montserrat Monastery – that literally floats above the clouds. Dating back to 888 B.C., Montserrat is Catalonia’s most important religious retreat. Groups of young people from all over Catalonia make overnight hikes, at least once in their lives, to watch the sunrise and visit the Basilica.

Cross of San Miguel - Montserrat, Spain

Cross of San Miguel (to the right) – Montserrat, Spain

In Catalan, “Montserrat” means ‘saw mountain’ (as it appears serrated like a handsaw). The name describes the mountain’s peculiar appearance, with its multitude of rock formations that are visible from a great distance. The mountain is composed of strikingly pink conglomerate, a form of sedimentary rock. Montserrat is Spain’s first declared National Park.

Virgin Of Montserrat - Montserrat, Spain

The Black Virgin Of Montserrat – Montserrat, Spain

Amsterdam To Rome Cruise Post #11 – ‘Barcelona, Spain: The City of the Never-Ending Church, the Brilliant Gaudí and the 2nd Most Valuable Soccer Team in the World.’

Karen at The Church of Colònia Güell by Antoni Gaudí

Karen at The Church of Colònia Güell by Antoni Gaudí – Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, the capital city of Spain and the country’s 2nd largest city, is an important cultural center. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of the great Antoni Gaudí, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city has hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics and many other international sport tournaments, including their own famous, home soccer team, Futbol Club Barcelona. Unlike many other football clubs, the fans (which has included Pope John Paul II, an honorary member) operate Futbol Club Barcelona. It is the second most valuable sports team in the world, worth $3.2 billion, and the world’s second-richest football club in terms of revenue, with an annual turnover of $613 million (the richest being Madrid, Spain).

La Sagrada Família by Antoni Gaudí - Barcelona, Spain

La Sagrada Família by Antoni Gaudí – Barcelona, Spain

Amsterdam To Rome Cruise Post #10 – ‘Valencia, Spain: The City of Oranges, Giant-eyed buildings and Paella’

Turia Fountain, located in the Plaza de la Virgen - Valencia, Spain

Turia Fountain, located in the Plaza de la Virgen – Valencia, Spain

There are parts of the ancient city of Valencia, founded as a Roman colony in 138 BC, that have a definite futuristic quality to it. As an example, Valencia houses the bizarre and fascinating City of the Arts and Science complex– the largest leisure and cultural complex in Europe. Several of the buildings that make up this group of six, lay on their sides in water, their elongated windowed-eye gazing towards the seemingly constant Valencian blue sky. The futuristic set of buildings was created by Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela in 2005… they include:

L'Hemisfèric - Valencia, Spain

L’Hemisfèric – Valencia, Spain

Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #7 – ‘Oporto, Portugal: The City of Port Wine and Bookstore of Harry Potter Inspiration’

Historic Centre of Oporto from the Douro River - Oporto, Portugal

Historic Centre of Oporto from the Douro River – Oporto, Portugal

Oporto, also known as ‘Porto’, is the second largest city in Portugal (next to its sister city, Lisbon). Once an important outpost of the Roman Empire, Oporto is now one of the oldest cities in Europe, dating back to 275 BC. The Douro River, which was a Roman trading center, is now hallmarked by an extraordinary double-decker bridge, the work of the famous Parisian engineer, Gustav Eiffel (of the Eiffel Tower, Paris).

Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River - Oporto, Portugal

Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River – Oporto, Portugal

Porto is registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. One of the reasons for its fame is its unique, classical gilt-work architecture, reflecting the baroque-style and romanticism of the 19th and 20th century. I remember thinking the lacey balconies gracing many of the buildings, somehow reminded me of New Orleans.

Ribeira Square - Oporto, Portugal

Ribeira Square – Oporto, Portugal

Porto’s most internationally famous export is port wine, which is named for the city. The Portuguese take their wine so seriously, that the guidelines dictated by the ‘European Union of Protected Designation of Origin’ state that only port from Portugal may be labeled as Port Wine. I’ve personally never been a fan of port because of its overwhelming sweetness, but after visiting the Sandeman Winery and tasting a glass, I could possibly do a commercial! The port was memorable… smokey and sweet, delicate and bitter – all at the same time.

Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #6 – ‘La Coruña, Spain: The City of the Tower of Hercules Near the End of the Earth’

Palacio Municipal in the Plaza de Maria Pita - La Coruña, Spain

Palacio Municipal, located in the Plaza de Maria Pita – La Coruña, Spain

It was a rainy, overcast day as we walked through the ancient cobblestoned streets of historic La Coruña – one of Spain’s busiest ports. We passed unusual Celtic monoliths on our way to the remarkable Tower of Hercules, one of the oldest lighthouses in the world that is still in operation.

The Tower Of Hercules - La Coruña, Spain

The Tower Of Hercules – La Coruña, Spain

The Tower of Hercules is still standing at 187-ft and can be seen from 32-miles away. Now declared a National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was constructed by the Romans in the 2nd Century A.D. by the order of Emperor Trajan – dedicated to Mars. Through the millennia, many mythical stories of its origin have been told. According to a myth that blends Celtic and Greco-Roman elements, the hero Hercules slew the giant tyrant Geryon after three days and three nights of continuous battle. Hercules then—in a Celtic gesture— buried the head of Geryon with his weapons and ordered that a city be built on the site. This myth is represented by the skull and crossbones that can be seen atop the lighthouse and appears in the coat-of-arms of the city of La Coruña.

Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #5 – ‘Bilbao, Spain: The City of Guggenheim’

Bilbao, Spain skyline

Bilbao, Spain skyline

On June 15th, 1300, Don Diego Lopez de Haro V, Lord of Biscay, founded the Basque city of Bilbao. Seven hundred and fourteen years later, Bilbao encompasses almost 1 million inhabitants, nearly half the total population of the Basque Country and the fourth-largest urban population in Spain.

La Salve Bridge with spider sculpture “Maman” (1999) by Louise Bourgeois, next to the Guggenheim Museum

La Salve Bridge with spider sculpture “Maman” (1999) by Louise Bourgeois, outside the Guggenheim Museum

The main reason I had been dreaming to visit Bilbao, was to finally set eyes on the magnificent Guggenheim Museum designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry. Thanks to the ship’s itinerary, my wish came true. As we drove toward the shimmering vision of 30,000 sheets of titanium, suddenly there before us was the towering 257,000 square foot monumental masterpiece, built in the shape of a ship. The museum opened in October 1997 and overnight, became Bilbao’s main attraction worldwide. The enormous atrium, more than 150-feet high, is connected to the 19 galleries by a system of suspended metal walkways and glass elevators. The museum’s collection has featured the works of some of the most influential artists of the last century, including Pablo Picasso, Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollack, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning and Richard Serra.

Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #4 – ‘Le Verdon & Bordeaux: The City of Wine and Guillotines’

Plantation-style architecture on winery grounds - Le Verdon, France

Plantation-style home on winery grounds – Le Verdon, France

On a unseasonably sunny October day, we visited the Chateau Marquis de Terme vineyards and their winery, housed in ‘plantation’ architecture. We also toured their cellars and sampled some of their best wines. Following our ‘tasting of the vines,’ we headed from Le Verdon to Bordeaux, which is a UNESCO world heritage city. I soon discovered why…

Karen outside the Chateau Marquis de Terme vineyards

Karen outside the Chateau Marquis de Terme vineyards after a glass (or two) of their best wine

Victor Hugo described Bordeaux as, “Versailles plus Antwerp.” Conservative and refined, Bordeaux is an outstanding example of innovative classical and neoclassical architecture, and a melting pot of culture. The city is the world’s major wine industry capital. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century, with an annual production of approximately 960 million bottles – some of which, are the most expensive in the world… as an example, the Mouton-Rothschild wines.

The seven-metre-high work, entitled "Sanna," (Jaume Plensa, 2013), depicts a woman’s head.

The seven-metre-high work, entitled “Sanna,” (Jaume Plensa, 2013), depicts a woman’s head.