Melbourne street art and graffiti can be found through the Australian city, but Hosier Lane hosts the most intense display. Although some people claim that street artists can legally paint on buildings there, my research suggests otherwise. Unlike most street art in Montreal and the murals of La Jolla, most, if not all, of the street art on Hosier Lane appears overnight, painted furtively. Regardless of its legality, the short alley attracts tourists and locals alike.
Because street art, by its nature and location, can easily be replaced with something painted on top of it, the following gallery reflects a single day in Melbourne, October 21, 2024.
Due to their size, intricacy, and location, the following two images most likely are legal, perhaps even commissioned, artwork.
Most likely a commissioned mural
An intricate, probably commissioned, image
The images below have the hallmarks of more traditionally painted graffiti.
Melbourse Street Art: “Jailed” portrait
Street Art Elsewhere in Melbourne
Even though Hosier Street displays the greatest number of images, you can find street art throughout Melbourne. I loved discovering it around corners, by looking up, or simply encountering them in surprising places.
The Verdict
No one can legitimately equate the street art in Melbourne with the impressive art found in the National Gallery of Victoria, but one also should not dismiss the talent of some of these street artists. especially since they must paint furtively, in the dark. Images can be witty or satiric or profane. As with the graffiti in Montréal, tagging can be annoying since it defaces better work, but that also comes with the genre.
The Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Photo of the ship’s bow
By now, readers should know that I’m a huge fan of Norwegian Cruise Lines. Each trip and each ship is different, but I always get impeccable service no matter the cabin class. After a while, you begin to learn the differences, some subtle and some not, among the ships and their staterooms.
In January, we booked The Haven on the Norwegian Viva, sailing out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and into the Eastern Caribbean.
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Model of the Viva
The Haven on the Viva
Unlike some 0f the older and smaller ships, the newly-commissioned Viva has a real Haven, with its own lounge, restaurant, and elevators. The Haven is located aft in a bulbous portion of the ship.
Because Norwegian has shifted toward offering more high-end experiences on its newest ships (the Viva, the Prima, and eventually the Aqua), the Haven section is much larger than on older ships. More suites equals more people. For this reason, the bar can get crowded, although the restaurant always had seats when we wanted them.
The Haven Stateroom
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: King-size bed in the stateroom
The Viva Haven’s staterooms feel more like real, luxury hotel rooms than they do ship cabins. Our king-size bed was so comfortable that I wanted to find out the mattress brand and how to get one in place of my home mattress. (The answer: Bliss Bed Collection by Norwegian, and far too pricy for my budget.)
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Seating area within the stateroom
We had adequate seating both inside and outside on our balcony. Every afternoon, the butler brought snacks and placed them on the bistro table. This Haven service is consistent across Norwegian Cruise Line ships, even if the attentiveness of your butler may vary.
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Stateroom balcony
The shower and sink had luxury apppointments, although they lacked much space to place toiletries. I loved the larger-than-average bath towels. I also liked it better when Norwegian offered individual toiletries in the Haven instead of the wall-mounted ones on the Viva.
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Stateroom sink and shower
The in-room Nespresso coffee machine allows you to make espresso and larger lungo at any time of the day. Ours remained well-stocked throughout the trip. In-room glassware, plates, and utensils come in handy.
The one drawback of The Haven stateroom on the Viva is the complicated light switches. It took us the entire week to figure out the sequence we needed to set the lights where we wanted them and how to open the curtains. The controls did not always respond the way we expected.
The Haven Lounge and Bar
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: The bar before opening
You cannot get better drinks and service elsewhere on the ship than you can in The Haven Bar and Lounge. Too many people who book The Haven don’t know how special it is. You might figure that you can get the same drinks anywhere. While it’s true that Norwegian’s wine and spirit inventory remains steady across the ship, the touches you find at The Haven Bar exceed all others. For example, The Haven is the only bar where you can get a smoked Old-Fashioned or a smoked Manhattan.
If you’ve upgraded to the Premium Plus beverage package, you can order just about any premium spirit that the ship stocks. Elsewhere on the Viva, you have to find the bar that pours your favorite.
The Haven on the Norwegian Viva” Bartender preparing a smoked Old-Fashioned
The bar also has Luxardo cognac cherries for garnish as well as Bespoke bitters that the bartender will gladly tell you about. Because the bartenders are also the best on the ship, they will create just about any drink to your liking.
If you’d prefer not to sit at the bar or can’t find a space at it, the lounge offers ample and comfortable seating.
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: The Haven lounge, adjacent to the bar
The Haven Restaurant
Even though all Norwegian Cruise Lines Havens share the same menu, not all kitchens perform equally well. You’ll always find the best servers and managers on the ship in The Haven, although that doesn’t mean you won’t find their equals elsewhereon the ship. It just means that the best tend to be concentrated in The Haven. Your booking includes complimentary meals — all three of them, if you want — in this specialty restaurant. The one drawback is that the menus never change.
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Dinner menu at the Haven restaurant
One of my favorite aspects of the Haven Restaurant is the ability to customize your order. For example, instead of ordering the Surf and Turf with a filet and lobster tail, I ordered two lobster tails in place of the beef. I met another guest who ordered three lobster tails for dinner.
The distinction between the Viva’s Haven restaurant and those on other ships lies in the ability to deliver meals as described or with better presentation. For instance, the spaghetti squash with marinara sauce at lunch arrived — surprise! — as actually spaghetti squash rather than the julienned winter squash I found on other ships’ Haven/Suite restaurants. The breakfast waffles came not from a square iron but rather one with a prettier design.
Exterior Spaces in The Haven
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: Private Haven sundeck
In general, the Viva emphasizes exterior spaces over interior ones, and you can see this as well in The Haven. I never had trouble finding a spot on the pool deck as I’ve had in other Havens.
The Haven infinity pool overlooks the stern of the ship, and I loved watching us pull away from ports while cooling off in it. Due to its small size, the pool is more of a stand-around-and-socialize pool than a swimming one.
Review of the Haven on the Norwegian Viva: The Haven infinity pool
Other Perks in the Haven
Norwegian curates its staff so only the best work in the Haven. You will have an assigned butler to deliver snacks, arrange requested room service, restock coffee, and attend to other questions and needs. Your steward takes care of everything within the room. Depending on the size of the ship, you will have either one or a staff of dedicated concierges to handle entertainment, excursions, restaurant reservations, and communications with other parts of the ship.
Despite the cool idea of having a butler (believe me, it’s not like Upstairs/Downstairs), the most valuable asset on the Viva was the dedicated concierge desk. The concierge staff escorts Haven guests on and off the ship during busy times, from embarkation to disembarkation and everything in-between. For theater performances, you get preferred seating and an escort into the theater as long as you arrive 15 minutes prior to start. When we had issues with our excursions, one of the concierges fixed it. We didn’t have to wait in line at the main excursion desk.
The Viva has tucked-away elevators that go directly to the Haven floors. Your access is activated by your card key.
The Verdict
The Haven on the Viva is one of the better ones in Norwegian’s fleet, but it isn’t perfect. The staterooms try too hard to be modern with complicated light controls and a beautiful bathroom sink with no place to put toiletries. Still, the mattress is indeed Bliss-ful, and you get plenty of room to spread out. I would have liked more easy to organize storage, but we still had enough space to empty two mid-size suitcases.
I would book the Viva Haven again in a heartbeat. The accommodations are luxurious, especially for a cruise ship.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The city as seen from the Tokyo Sky Tree
I have been to Japan many times. My list of the best things to do in Tokyo combines both must-see sites and some more unusual ones. This last time, I stayed at The Celestine Ginza in the famous high-end district. Although we could walk to many places, we used the easy-to-use subway system for more far-flung destinations. Taxis make a reliable, safe, and clean option, even if they cost more.
Lately I’ve taken to booking a comprehensive tour on my first day in a city to get my bearings. I then plan to visit places either not included on such a tour or that entice me back for a more in-depth look. Given what I was able to see and do, I was especially glad this time to have booked a tour via coach bus.
One-Day Tokyo Bus Tour
This comprehensive bus tour may have taken all day, but it also hit so many highlights, without my ever feeling rushed, that I would recommend this for anyone. Especially if you don’t have much time, this is the way to go. The tour started at a little after 7 am and ended at about 5:30 pm. The price even included lunch, with various dietary restrictions accommodated. Our coach bus had air-conditioning and comfortable seating, with large windows to see out.
I recommend all the stops on this tour, even if you plan your own itinerary instead of booking it. The ability to get to a wide range of high-value sights without having to figure out transportation decided it for us. If we saw everything individually, we might not have been able to fit it all in.
Tokyo Skytree
Our tour not only included seeing The Tokyo Skytree but also skip-the-line admission to the observation deck where we could see the whole city sprawled underneath us, with 360 degree views. We had plenty of time to wander around before we needed to return to the bus. We even had time to grab a Starbucks at the adjoining mall.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The Tokyo Sky Tree observation deck
Meiji Jingu (Shinto Shrine)
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Meiji Jingo
Talk about serene! The wide, shady paths leading to the Meiji shrine felt like a refuge from the busy city we had just driven through. Our guide gave us a brief description of the Shinto religion before leading us to the shrine buildings. Don’t miss the empty sake and French wine barrels just outside the torii (gate.) The sake barrels represent gifts to the Gods made at the shrine. The French wine barrels were presented to the shrine as a gesture of friendship.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The torii leading to the Meiji shrine
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Sake bottles signifying gifts to the gods
Sensoji Buddhist Temple and Pagoda
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Sensory Buddhist temple
After having visited the Meiji Shrine and learning about the Shinto religion, we headed to Sensoji, a Buddhist temple, for a quick lesson in Buddhism. Unlike the Meiji shrine, Sensoji bustled with people and had none of the serenity. Still, the visit was well worth it.
We had ample time to stroll the paths, visit the main temple and outbuildings, shop at the stalls, and relax. The grounds include an impressive pagoda.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Pagoda at the Senjoji temple
The Imperial Palace
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: The moat surrounding the Imperial Palace
You cannot enter the inner Imperial grounds; however, you can walk around the outside. To get views of the moat and its bridge, we crossed a park where an impressive statue of a shogun on horseback dominates. Our guide gave us a historical overview of the palace and the role of the Emperor as we walked.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Statue of a shogun
Asakusa (and Lunch)
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Asakusa
We walked through the bustling Asakusa area, where we did the “Green Tea Experience.” Our guide gave us the choice of either matcha beer or ice cream. Even though it was right before lunch, we chose the ice cream. It came topped with an adorable bear cookie.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Matcha ice cream
Then it was off to a restaurant for a prepared lunch of chicken and accompaniments.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Lunch restaurant on bus tour
Tokyo Bay Cruise
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: View of Tokyo Bay from the cruise boat
Amazingly, we still had more to see. We went on a Tokyo Bay “cruise” that involved a boat going out on the water, turning around slowly so that we could see everything, and then returning to the dock. I found this last stop the least interesting part of the day, although with everything else we did, it rounded out the day’s activities.
Fish Market Food Tour
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Tsukijii Fish Market Food Tour
One of the best things to do in Tokyo — and one of the most unusual — is to book a tour of Tsukijii, the old fish market. Although the famous tuna auctions no longer occur there, Tsukijii captures the essence of a traditional Japanese fish market. We found that a tour enabled us to sample foods without being overwhelmed by the choices.
Our guide and his assistant provided excellent commentary and food selections. We had only four people on our tour, which made the whole experience more personalized. Plus, we could stay together more easily in the crowded market.
We sampled everything from dried fish to ramen to sushi to mochi.
teamLab Planets Tokyo
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: teamLab Planets
Probably one of the most unusual things to do in Tokyo involves a visit to teamLab Planets, a “digital art museum.” The immersive, interactive experience changes every few months, so what I encountered wouldn’t be anything like what you might. That makes the experience full of surprises. You never know how the individual rooms will be set up. Whatever the particular exhibit, you will see virtual reality images such as swimming koi or blooming flowers.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Wading pool room with virtual koi
TeamLab offers some helpful, pre-visit tips. Three of the most important notes help you plan what to wear that day: you will be barefoot; you will wade up to your knees in water; and you shouldn’t wear skirts or dresses. For the last, you may encouter mirrored floors that will allow an “up-skirt” view. Free lockers are provided for shoes, purses, and other belongings. Given its popularity, reserve tickets for specific time slots well in advance.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Mirrored orchid room in teamLab Planets
Shopping Under Tokyo Station
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Beneath Tokyo Station
For the ultimate Japanese experience, you should venture under Tokyo Station to shop and eat. From comic alley, where you can find boutiques dedicated to manga and anime characters, to the iconic Tokyo banana store, it’s tons of fun to wander around.
Afterward, stop up above the station for a Hitachino Nest Beer Lab break, where you can sip craft beer and purchase a snack to go with it.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Beer and nuts at the Hitachino Nest Beer Lab
Ueno Zoological Gardens
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Ueno Zoological Gardens
Whether you bring along the kids or visit as a couple as we did, a trip to the Ueno zoo offers a different kind of experience. The range of animals and the size of the zoo are impressive.
A lot of people come to see the pandas, although actually seeing them can be a challenge. They have two separate enclosures, and it’s not easy to figure out where they are at a given point. We thought that we wouldn’t be able to see them due to a long line in front of the exhibit, only to stumble upon them, with no lines, at the other side of the zoo.
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Panda at the Ueno Zoo
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Best Things to Do in Tokyo: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
The Japanese love their gardens and the nature they reflect. I found the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden another delightful way of escaping the noise of the city. Make sure you visit the rose garden, the greenhouse, and the Taiwan Pavilion.
The Verdict
Because of the sheer size of Tokyo, planning a visit can be daunting, especially if you have less than a week. We did a combination of booked tours and things planned on our own. The bus tour takes you to most of the iconic sites, freeing up days to explore other places. I highly recommend both the bus tour and the Tsukijii market tour since they give an excellent view of traditional and contemporary Japanese life.
Any review of the Norwegian Jade has to touch upon its history. Originally christened the Pride of Hawaii, Norwegian Cruise Lines bought the ship in 2008 and renamed it the Jade. That makes the Jade one of the oldest and smallest ships in the fleet with an awkward layout to match. Because the ship predates the company’s shift toward unique shipboard amenities, passengers tend to book for the itinerary, not for the onboard experience. The ship lacks distinctive bar spaces and most of the newer restaurants, although it does include the better-known specialty dining venues.
I booked an Aft-Facing Penthouse Suite. Below, you will find a review of that cabin.
My experience aboard the Jade was colored in part by my stateroom level. Although the Jade has a small Haven area, it doesn’t include its own restaurant, one of the major reasons to book the Haven. We decided instead on an Aft Penthouse Suite, one level below The Haven. The room comes with many of the same perks but for a lesser cost. Once outside our cabin and beyond the perks that come with it, we also experienced the ship as it is for all passengers.
A General Review of the Jade
The ship’s size allows it to dock at smaller ports, enabling passengers to see things not possible on the larger ships. We did a cruise out of Athens that docked at Greek, Turkish, Israeli (before the war), and Cypriot ports.
If you want to walk through public spaces instead of down long stateroom corridors, the ship can be difficult to navigate. Especially because we stayed at the back of the ship, we had to learn how to maneuver to across it. Sometimes you’ll find that a public deck gets blocked midship by a restaurant. Or you’ll find you need to cross the Garden Café on deck 12 where they require you to wash your hands, even to walk straight through.
Pool deck on the Norwegian Jade
Interior of the Norwegian Jade
For better or worse, the Norwegian Jade doesn’t have as many kid-friendlyactivities as do some of the larger ships. Maybe because of this, the passengers skew older. Still the Jade has a Splash Academy and pools.
Aft-Facing Penthouse Suite
Aft-facing penhouse suite on the Norwegian Jade
The jump between a Norwegian Cruise Lines mini-suite to a full suite (sometimes called a “family suite” or a “penthouse”) is enormous. The size of our room was the equivalent of any Haven room we’ve stayed in. It also comes with personalized concierge and butler service — more on that later. You also get a pre-cruise concierge available by phone or email, just as you would if you had booked The Haven.
Bistro table in Norwegian Jade suite
I appreciated the café table and three chairs since it had plenty of room even after the butler delivered the daily snacks.
Although our suite was roomy and comfortable, we probably wouldn’t book an aft-facing room of any class again. This is our second time in an aft-facing penthouse, but we booked this one before we had stayed in the other. When the captain backs into a port, you get a lot of shuddering and noise, often at 4 am. Plus, on the Jade, the aft-tilted smoke stacks spew small globs of grease or oil that can end up on the balcony furniture. It’s pretty disgusting and probably a sign of an older ship despite refurbishment.
Our particular suite included a “large balcony.” I loved ours. Especially in the morning and evening, we enjoyed sittng there and sipping coffee or wine. It’s too bad that our chairs were often spotted with oil. We learned to flip up the cushions when we weren’t using them.
Large balcony in aft-facing penthouse suite
Bed and Linens
King-size bed in aft-facing penthouse suite, Norwegian Jade.
The high king-sized bed is comfortable and soft. The white comforter and sheet feel cozy and look pristine. You also get four down pillows. If you have an allergy to feathers, you may ask the pre-cruise concierge or, once on ship, your butler, to exchange them for a non-down alternative.
The suite includes a chair-and-a-half that can be pulled out into a single bed. Heavy curtains can be pulled around the king bed for privacy, but it also cuts off the bathroom for whoever is sleeping on the pull-out.
Bathroom
The bathroom, while much better than those in smaller cabins, falls short of The Haven bathrooms on Norwegian’s newest ships. It has a single sink with modest counter space around it.
Bathroom in Norwegian Jade aft-facing penthouse suite
Based on my experience in The Haven and suites on more recent ships, Norwegian has swapped out individual toiletries for wall-mounted ones. I dislike this change since individual toiletries make staterooms seem more like luxury hotel rooms. At least they still use L’Occitane products.
The bathtub/shower combo drove me crazy because the tub was so high. I had a hip problem, and it wasn’t easy getting in and out of it. Getting in posed less of a problem because the shower wall had a bar to steady me in case I ran into trouble. Getting out was more dangerous, especially since the floor was lower than the bathtub bottom. (If you have hip or knee problems, you probably understand why a high tub with a shower door runner on the edge could cause issues.)
Other Stateroom Furnishings
Nespresso machine in aft-facing penthouse suite, Norwegian Jade
As with The Haven, you will have a Nespresso machine with as many capsules as you want. You see free movies on the large screen television, although as is the case with many of the smaller ships, you don’t have movies on demand. You see what is available, even if the film is halfway through.
The Aft-Facing Penthouse included a small, round table with three chairs; a built-in desk with an ottoman-like chair; and two small bedside tables with shelves underneath.
In one of the more unique touches, Norwegian squeezed in a vanity between the bathroom and the closets, with a stool. The three drawers next to the stool opening provide invaluable storage.
Electrical Outlets
All outlets were American, not European, and 110 volts. Regardless, you should take an adapter, just in case.
One of my pet peeves in hotel room is a lack of outlets for two people to charge multiple devices. Our suite on the Jade had the same problem. Although each bedside wall lamp has a USB port, most people will find it inadequate if they have both a smart watch and a phone they want next to the bed.
The desk had a single outlet that my husband used to plug in his laptop and his watch from there. I found an outlet in the corner, near the floor, that I could use for my tablet.
Steward, Butler, and Concierge
The steward, just as all the stewards across the ship, are the equivalent of hoursekeeping at a hotel. They take care of keeping the room clean, replacing towels and linens, and any maintenance problems.
The butler delivers daily snacks, ship invitations, and takes care of your general comfort. If you order room service, the butler will set up your table and deliver your meal. We always make a pre-cruise request to have M&Ms in our room, and the butler sees that they are there when we board. Butlers will take special requests for anything that has to do with your room. They do not wait on you exclusively but rather have several staterooms assigned to them.
The suite concierges help with excursions, reservations at entertainment venues, and dining reservations. They escort you to gangways at port and when you disembark so you don’t have to wait in line. They take care of anything that happens outside of your stateroom.
If you stay in a suite, either in the Haven or separately, as we did, you’ll have to bring lots of extra cash for tipping. While gratuitites are generally pre-paid at time of booking, the butler and concierge do not get a share of that pool. We generally give the butler $20/day, and the concierge(s) $10/day. Obviously, these gratuities can be adjusted up or down depending on service.
The Verdict
Even though the Jade is far from my favorite ship in the Norwegian fleet, we enjoyed our cruise nonetheless. If you can afford a true suite, then go for it. I suspect the even more expensive Haven rooms aren’t worth it, simply because the Jade does not have a dedicated restaurant and lounge. For a comparison of what a Haven stateroom looks like, click here for my experience on the Norwegian Joy.
For us, we chose the Jade because of the scheduled destinations. This smaller ship (it’s still not small!) allowed us to see things we would not have been able to see otherwise.
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Sunrise from the stern of the Norwegian Epic
When we took a Mediterranean cruise on the Norwegian Epic, we found a dearth of reviews, in part because Norwegian strangely prevents cruisers from posting them. In many ways, we booked blind. We knew certain things we wanted to see, such as Pompeii, but others we guessed at. The following provides descriptions and short reviews of the excursions we took, by port: Naples, Livorno, Cannes, Palma de Majorca, and Ajaccio.
Note: Norwegian cancelled a couple of our tours while we were on the ship. In the case of Barcelona, we took a shuttle into the city to explore on our own. For Rome, we had to take an airport transfer directly to the airport, where we sat for a full day awaiting our flight. Thank goodness we planned to return to Rome in the fall. Both of these ports have unreliable tour schedules because people embark and disembark there. You may get on in Rome, but others board in Barcelona.
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Pompeii as viewed from outside the ancient city
Although we knew we wanted to see Pompeii — we had tried four times during the pandemic but all those vacations had been cancelled — but we didn’t know which Pompeii excursion to book. At the time, the cruise line offered three options, including one to explore on our own. In recent years, we’ve discovered the benefits (and drawbacks) of a guided tour, so we chose Pompeii Excavations. We wanted a tour solely dedicated to the ruins.
Pompeii blew me away. Having visited ancient ruins all over the world, I never expected to experience the city as it stood in AD 79, when Mount Vesuvius buried it in ash. When you are on the ground, looking down streets and into buildings, you get an idea of the thriving city it once was. Unlike elsewhere, you won’t find replicas and non-original materials to help tourists get a feeling of what once was. Photographs do not do it justice.
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Mount Vesuvius behind the huge Pompeii square
Next, our tour guide made all the difference. She showed us areas and building that we never would have found on our own. In excellent English, she described the significance of each, pointing out details. For instance, I never would have known that certain buildings had been stores if I had explored on my own. She provided access to special houses and even showed where we could best photograph Mount Vesuvius in the background.
Without doubt, this tour was the best one we took while on our cruise.
Livorno, Italy (“Florence/Pisa”)
Pisa and a Taste of Tuscany
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
Having already visited Florence several times, we knew it would be a long bus ride from Livorno to the interior city, with little time to explore it. Instead, we opted for a tour that took us to Pisa and a wine tasting. We love our Tuscan wines, and even though we knew we wouldn’t be treated to high-end ones, we thought it might be fun. As for Pisa, my husband had never been, and I figured it would be a great opportunity to see it. After all, the Field of Miracles is impressive.
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: the Baptistry and part of the Cathedral
Our tour guide led us from the bus parking lot to the Field of Miracles. She gave a brief description of the buildings, complete with historical background, and then advised us to stand in line to get free tickets to enter the Bapistry and Cathedral. Because tickets to the top of the Leaning Tower are mostly sold out in advance, she rightly told us not to try, especially with our limited time there.
Because of our guides advice, we were able to enter the Bapistry just before the security guard sang to demonstrate the acoustics. (He does it every half-four.) He sings only for a minute or so, making it essential to arrive beforehand. We then headed to the Cathedral. We had enough time for photos of all the buildings, including the Leaning Tower.
Next, we went to a family vineyard, Fattoria il Poggio. After a brief tour of the vineyard, we went inside their visitor center. There, we tried six of their wines, three white and three red. For lunch, they served us pasta — papparadelle with meat sauce — and bread. (They may have had vegetarian pasta upon request.) We sat at long tables in a brick-arched room, and at least one other tour bus joined us. Although no one guided us through the tasting, we did get cards that described each wine that you then poured for yourself.
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Vineyard at Fattorio il Poggio
I liked that this tour didn’t require hours of bus travel but that we were still able to see famous sites. The wine tasting, while delicious, was a little chaotic.
Cannes, France
Cannes Walk, Saint-Honorat, & Wine
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: View from partway up the walk to the Cannes church
I had already seen Monaco and hadn’t found anything particularly interesting about it. And I had spent a few days in Nice several years ago, so I had seen parts of the other tours as well. We settled on Cannes Walk, Saint-Honorat Island, and wine.
Our guide took us up a steep walk through the old section of Cannes until we reached a church perched on top of the hill. From there, we could see fantastic views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea beyond. We then walked back down through the narrow streets lined with shops. Our guide gave us time to explore the Cannes market, with time to buy food. (Lunch is not included.)
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: The market in Cannes
After exploring the market, we boarded a boat to Saint-Honorat Island. There, we had time to explore the island. Afterward, we visited the monastery and enjoyed an outdoor wine tasting in the vineyard. One of the winemakers guided us through the tasting, explaining each wine. Afterward, we had time to explore the island on our own before boarding the boat back to Cannes.
While this tour was low-key, I enjoyed it. Despite the heat, I thought the tasting in the vineyard added a memorable touch.
Majorca, Spain
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: View of Palma and beyond
Magical Majorca and Train to Soller
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: A street in Soller
Again, I had visited Majorca (also known as Mallorca) before, but my husband had not. While I guided him somewhat when we chose our tour, I let him make the final decision. He chose Magical Majorca and the train to Soller in part because he loves trains. Of course, the description of the tour clinched it for him.
After a brief stop outside Palma’s Cathedral and information from our guide about the city, we boarded a bus to Soller, a small town located high in the mountains. Once in Soller, we had free time to wander the old streets, eat ice cream, and shop. We then boarded the train to head back to the port. Although some of the views from the train are impressive, they pale in comparison to the ones you can see if you explore the northern coast. (I don’t know if any of the tours take you there.)
This tour was a pleasant way to spend the day, although it also lacked anything truly memorable. I probably would have preferred one of the several food tours, Panaromic Coastal Views, or Palma in Depth. Still, Soller is a charming town.
Corsica, France
Highlights of Ajaccio
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: A coastal stop on Corsica
Norwegian Cruise Lines doesn’t always stop at Corsica on its Mediterranean cruises. We knew we’d would be unlikely to return to the island, so we booked an overview tour.
This tour took us to a stop along the coast as well as a walking tour of Ajaccio, including a walk-by of a house where Napoleon had lived as a child. We visited a church — and that’s about it. Our guide left us in town to find our way back to the cruise ship, which fortunately was large enough to be seen occasionally between buildings.
Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: the town of Agaccia
I felt that our guide was sub-par, particularly during our walking tour of Ajaccio. Unlike many guides, her heart didn’t seem to be in it. Part of that fault may lie with Corsica itself since, other than its beaches and its part in Napoleon’s childhood, not much remains to be seen. The large town of Ajaccio has it charms, however.
The Verdict
Out of all our stops in the Mediterranean, I wish we had had two days in Naples, both to see Pompeii and to see the city itself. Or to see Sorrento. The next best port was Livorno/”Florence” since seeing Pisa’s Field of Miracles is one of those iconic tourist moments. You don’t need to do it again and again, but you should see it at least once.
While our tour of Agaccio, Corsica was the weakest, we still got to see part of the island and its capitol city. What else would we have done?
Later in the year, we will repeat many of these ports during an upcoming cruise, and afterward I’ll review the different excursions we take in a separate blog. Stay tuned!
What to Do in Rome: View from the top of Castel Sant’Angelo
When in Rome . . . do all that you can. The question of what to do in Rome will depend on how much time you have and whether it’s your first visit. For instance, with only a day or two, you will want to visit the usual suspects. But what if you have more time, or if you have already been to Rome more than once? You may want to explore beyond the most famous sites. World Oyster will guide you through both.
When in Rome . . . do all that you can. The question of what to do in Rome will depend on how much time you have and whether it’s your first visit. For instance, with only a day or two, you will want to visit the usual suspects. But what if you have more time, or if you have already been to Rome more than once? You may want to explore beyond the most famous sites. World Oyster will guide you through both.
Review of Owamni in Minneapolis with its clever subtitle
I had the pleasure of dining at Owamni in Minneapolis earlier this year, before it received the James Beard Award for best new restaurant but after it had already received accolades. The unique concept ensures a menu that you’ve likely not encountered before: all ingredients must have been used by indigenous people prior to the colonization of the Americas. No dairy, no beef, no chicken, no egg. Non-vegetarians can order fish, bison, turkey, or elk. For the bulk of the menu, Owamni uses ingredients such as berries, corn, wild rice, beans, and maple syrup, making it largely vegan-friendly. Wines come from Mexico and Central America because of the regions’ use of non-European grapes.
If you’re looking for something free to do in Montreal, consider seeking out the street art scattered throughout the city. With over 3,500 murals dotting the cityscape, you can find art on the sides of buildings everywhere. Add in sculptures and temporary installations, and you have an open-air museum to explore.
Urban art defines this city. The city’s beautification project, MU, has contributed hugely to the effort. In particular, the MURAL Festival, much like the one I detailed in La Jolla, celebrates the transformation of otherwise drab places in June of each year. Afterward, the murals remain until –– or if –– they are painted over. A parking lot becomes an art gallery, and a narrow alley beckons you to explore.
Best Places to Eat in Anchorage: Blinis with caviar at Marx Brothers Café
The best places to eat in Anchorage range from food trucks to fine dining restaurants. On our trip, I tried to sample it all. Of course, salmon is to Alaska the way lobster is to Maine, so if you arrive during salmon season, as most visitors do, do as the grizzlies and feast on it. Keep in mind that different kinds of salmon run at different times, with king salmon starting off the season and silver salmon finishing it off.
In addition to salmon, look for crab, oysters, steelhead trout, and halibut. Due to its price, king crab can be found mostly in more expensive restaurants. The listing of reindeer on a menu can give out-of-state visitors the willies, but perhaps not as much if you think of it as venison.
Due to the city’s outpost town vibe, even upscale dining does not require the dressiness that you might find in a major lower-48 city. When in doubt for dinner, adopt business casual.
I’ve divided the best places to eat into categories, so scroll down to find what you’re looking for. The sidebar contains only some of the restaurants I review below.
Top Restaurants on the Maine Coast: Lobster tasting menu at Natalie’s
As you plan for an upcoming visit to Maine, you’ll need to make your dinner reservations early if you want to eat at some of the top restaurants on the Maine coast. You will be well-rewarded if you do. Note that many coastal restaurants do not open for the season until mid-April or May and then shutter for the winter.
Although I’ve already detailed the best lobster rolls on the coast, I wanted to share here some of the best restaurants for dinner. As in many New England towns, the top restaurants are often associated with inns. On our trip, we stayed at B&B and inns that didn’t have their own kitchens, so we had to venture out and explore.
