… to Palma de Mallorca, Spain …

… playground of the rich and famous, home of the Mallorca/Majorca pearl, and most importantly, the port where Mia joined us for a four day stay on the ship. The first order of the day was to complete the boarding process for Mia in time for a 9:00 excursion. In less than 10 minutes she was aboard, luggage dropped, ship card obtained and once again off the ship and ready for adventure. Outstanding!

Our excursion began with a short stop at the imposing Belver Castle, with a view over the city.

 

A photo stop at the Cathedral was next.

 

The highlight of the trip was a flamenco performance at Son Amar. Flamenco is usually loud – lots of stomping, clapping and shouting – so I took earplugs and really enjoyed the show! The pre-performance tapas and sangria were yummy!

     

Excursion over, we walked around in the old part of Mallorca, revisiting a Gaudi building we had discovered on a previous visit. It has fantastic touches!

  

   

One of Mia’s friends had told her to make sure to have an ensaimada, one of the specialties in Mallorca, so we sought out a bakery and tried one chocolate and one plain. They were much like a big round croissant, with the chocolate one filled with nutella. They were both delicious!

 

This seems to be the food edition of the blog! Mallorca is also known for its ham, and the display of baguette sandwiches in a butcher shop was enticing. We also visited a a beautiful church, ready for Easter week.

 

Some of the painted doors were terrific!

 

The iconic Mallorca windmills are visible from the harbor, as is Belver Castle and the Cathedral. 

 

Our day ended with a surprise “Welcome Aboard” cake for Mia at dinner, accompanied by the Indonesian song usually sung for birthdays. Hmmm, wonder what those words actually mean?… 

… to Valletta, on the island of Malta…

… in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The Knights of Saint John moved to Malta when they were expelled from Rhodes in 1530, and fortified its deep natural harbor so it could be defended against pirates and other invading ships. They brought a golden age of prosperity and security to Malta that lasted for 268 years, until the city surrendered to Napoleon. What’s left today is a charming stone city built on the hills, a popular vacation spot for Europeans.

Valletta was another new port for us, so we took an excursion which went first to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, then for a glass blowing demonstration, and finally a wine tasting.  We were lucky; the weekly market in Marsaxlokk was in full swing when we arrived, selling candy, fruit, veggies, clothing, cell phones, and souvenirs. Our guide said the people of Malta are in the midst of an obesity epidemic, and the many stands of local pastries and candies provided a clue to the cause.

  

The fishing boats in Marsaxlokk all have tiny protective eyes painted on their prows.

    

On the way to the Mdina Glass Factory, we passed Mosta Church, with one of the largest domes in Europe; this dome was pierced by a bomb in WWII, but miraculously, the bomb didn’t explode. Nearby was the ancient walled medieval city of Mdina.

 

 

Meridiana Vineyards were planted on the old runways of a World War II airstrip. The owners preserved the old sundial from the airstrip. The wines were just OK, but the local pepper-crusted cheese served with them was a stand-out!

  

Back in Valletta, we took the Barrakka Lift, an elevator on the side of the mountain, to ascend to the level of the old city. On the way up you can see the alternative meandering route to the top.  

   

The view of the harbor and its fortifications from above was outstanding!

 

A timely message in a shop window provided a backdrop for a creative selfie … Arches were everywhere.

   

There wasn’t nearly enough time to explore the island; we would have loved to walk around in Mdina, and to see some of the ancient temples built by the Temple Culture and reputed to be the oldest free-standing monuments in the world. Next time!

 

… to see the windmills of Mykonos, Greece …

… yet another beautiful Greek city with a storied past. Mykonos is like the photogenic friend who never takes a bad picture. Every street, every house, every shop, every church – picture perfect! We started right out on the beach, looking for (and finding!) beach glass and pottery. From there, we walked the island, poking our heads in shops and bakeries, walking the cobblestone streets, watching the residents getting ready for the tourist season, which is due to start in a week or two. Painters were everywhere; even the sidewalk cracks need to be painted to maintain the squeaky white look that is Mykonos. Even the sand is white! The brilliant blue sky was a spectacular backdrop to the white domes, arches, and roofs.

 

 

   

One of our favorite stops was a tiny church; parishioners were preparing for Easter week, decorating with flowers and candles. And huge loaves of bread …

   

 

Mykonos is famous for its windmills, reached by climbing a small hill. It was a good site for a windmill; the brisk wind blew hats off and would have spun the mill shafts if the sails remained. 

 

Greek cotton sweaters hung appealingly on a rack, while a real-life Cat’s Meow building sat nearby.

   

A gregarious shopkeeper invited us in to take a picture of the iconic windmills from his back window. Six in a row!

 

It was a very good day!