Vacation Time!

We pulled into port in Marseille at 0600.  We met for breakfast at 6:15 and then queued for our tour at 7:30.  We took a small group tour through town and then up to the Notre Dame De La Garde cathedral on some very narrow streets.  So glad I was not the driver! Climbed up 180 steps to the top and visited for 45 mins - and yes, both Pa Bill and Grandma Barb climbed.  Then back down through the city to the center.  Had 90 mins to shop and get some French pastries - where both Old People were glad to sit a rest a spell.  Received some history of the city and how it has changed over just the past 25 years.  Tourism and shipping are the largest industries. Marseilles has a population of 1.65 million (880k in city proper), making it the second largest city (next to Paris) but has a larger land mass of almost 93 sq miles (240 sq km).   Back to the boat for lunch and sun and even some water slides.  Explored the ship to learn where most things are l...

 We slept in a little this morning and then boarded the shuttle bus to the ship at 11:00 am.  Boarding was waaaay smoother than anticipated.  No issues at all. Got on and sat at the pool deck, well some of us did, Boppum Barb, Pa Bill, and Michelle took naps.  The rest of us were on the pool deck enjoying the sun and water slides. Went to buffet dinner and then back to rooms by 8:30 pm.  Andy, Michelle, and Austin went to a Beatles Cover Band concert.  The rest of us returned to our rooms. Got some good photos as we left port.  Next stop if France in the morning.  Gonna be an early one too as we disembark at 7:30 am.   Sun going down over the hills of Barcelona Sandy sitting on ship balcony working on tomorrow night’s dinner reservations From the upper sun deck on the ship On top that hill?  That’s the castle we visited yesterday. Different view from the ship. Pushing out to sea! The ship’s water slides that Andy and Austin are on The po...

Ate lunch at the snack bar in the hotel.  Wasn’t too shabby.  Grabbed two cabs and drove to the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia.  The Pope was here last week to bless the facility, and we are glad we didn’t have to fight those crowds!  The exterior of the facility is finally complete, like after 200 years or something.  The cranes and scaffold can still be seen, but they are being removed.  Next remodel is an addition and then interior work.  Very tall, very massive building! Walking up to the Basilica Standing in front of the building.  Tickets to enter are not available until Fri, Jun 26! Plan ahead if you’re ever wishing to see it from the inside! Next we took a taxi to the Castillo de Montjuic (built in 1640) - a beacon of Barcelona’s rich history standing like a sentinel atop Montjuic hill.  To get there, we took a single cable car up, but broke ourselves into two cable cars coming back down just for more room. One side of the “crew” as ...

 We left Mulberry at 8:30 this morning, Friday, June 12, 2026.  We met Andy, Michelle, Austin, and Bill at the airport.  Check-in and Security were simple and easy.  We were awaiting our flight to New York by 10:30.  Good thing we were not heading to Chicago as everything was delayed due to severe weather (tornados!). We fly overnight to Barcelona and spend the day there before embarking our ship on Sunday.  Out for the next ten days.  Sure to be an adventure! Will keep this blog updated for family and friends who wish to “travel” along with us. The kids stayed home to watch the house and feed the pets and run the puppy whilst we are away - much to their dismay, I’m sure. Me, Sandy, Grandma Barb and Grandpa Bill at gate in Indy airport Austin and Michelle (Andy is in the potty!) Flight out of Indy was delayed by 30 mins or so due to congestion in NY.  Then as we pushed back from the gate in JFK, there was a mechanical issue.  We got that fixe...

We got up early today and were at the pool by 8 - even after having breakfast.  Gorgeous morning with zero clouds.  Lunch on pool deck.  Then cornhole championships - Kathy and I beat Andy and Austin 2-1 for the World Title! Pool was warmer today.  Drank a lot and swam more than yesterday.  Showers and then to the steak house for our reservations at 5:45.   Watched some of the Purdue men’s bb team win their first game of March Madness, aka college tourney. Started the process of packing.  We leave here at 0700 in the morning.  Leaving nice weather but also returning to nice weather at home. Be back in a short 8 months! Adam taking a group photo at lunch. Note how impressed his bride is! The actual photo of our crew having lunch today The cornhole world championship underway Is that Moto-Moto? Nope, just Andy The finished art work as painted by Andy (fish), Michelle (cat w/ plate), and Austin (Purdue train)

It’s Groundhog Day!  Same thing as yesterday… To the pool by 0900.  Pool had been filled up to normal levels and the rain added some coolness.  Pool water was chilly today.  The sun?  It was hot.  Hit near 80F (27C).  But we didn’t complain. Lunch was next door at the pool deck restaurant.  But after lunch, as Alex was walking back up to the room, he missed the very last step, stumbled, and fell.  He poured his drink all over himself and cracked the screen protector on his phone.  He was angry and threw his now empty cup.  Nothing was hurt but his pride.  Sadly, there were no witnesses and no video.  We did enjoy his retelling of the events tho! More cornhole games in the afternoon.  Sandy and I tied Andy and Alex 1-1.  But the game Andy and Alex won had our team going back 3 times and them going back twice.  So technically we should have won 42-35 because that’s how many points we each scored!  Alas, t...