There
is no easy way to tell a story especially with a trip without planning like we
did.
It started with a phone call from Gerry Santos with a
question: Malou, do you want to go on a cruise?” My response was, ‘but of course!’
But going on a vacation such as this, you need a partner… where to find? So I
was told by Gerry to call on Gloria Patel so I could have someone to share the
cabin. I called Gloria and asked her if she is interested in going on a cruise,
she said flatly “no” as she had only been away to Las Vegas. So jokingly, I told her to look for me
a partner, specifically a man… she said, if she finds one, she will keep him to
herself. We ended our conversation with a laugh and I forgot about it. I won’t
be able to go without a second person to share the cabin, or I could go but I
got to put more money to occupy one cabin for myself.
Another
week passed by, I got a call from Gloria that she finally decided to go…and
from then on, everything went quickly. We had the Torresians’ monthly meeting
at Gerry’s house and there we briefly discussed the trip. And another two
ladies joined us namely: Cora Husain and Josie Bautista better half of Jun
Bautista. So altogether, the original couples were Gerry and Alice Santos, Ted and
Effie Santos; plus the four ladies.
After
that Sunday, I heard that Anita Price wanted also to go and since she was
delayed in booking, she has to pay more than we did. So Anita Price and hubby,
Howard was able to join the group.
Friday,
August 6, we met each other at
Pearson Airport, terminal 3 and started queuing to check in. Everybody was
accounted for and we had a little fun telling stories while waiting to
board the plane. Since Howard is wheel chair bound, we were teasing the two
nurses among us…Gloria and Effie who should go with him. Effie volunteered
herself and also volunteered Ted as assistant. So in the end they had the good
fortune of being first to board the plane. The plane ride was uneventful except
for little bumps in the air. No one seem to have slept, we were like children
waiting for Christmas morning.
We touched down at Palma de Majorca airport with so many
Sunquest buses waiting for us to bring us to the port where Sunbird is
docked. Upon arrival, another long queue to
conquer. We were registered and given an ID so we can go in and out of the boat at every port we dock. It is
also like a credit card where they put our account if and when we buy anything
on board or play in the casino. We were assigned a table to occupy for the
duration of the voyage.
As
soon as we have placed our luggage inside our cabin, we as a group explored the
boat. We posed for pictures (but of course!) and then decided we go to the city and get some drinks
(water, pop) We went walking to the nearest mall call Porto Pi ( do not ask me
what it means; Porto means port and Pi…. Well…. You can add yours) I got to spend my first Euro money
there. It was quite hot…feels like 32-34 C.
We
rested a bit and prepared ourselves for our first dinner on board. To our
enjoyment, we were served by Filipino waiters and even those who were not
serving us stopped by our table to have a little chat with us. And of course we
noticed that some of them were gays…. And they were the one who introduced us
to a new vocabulary “bukassia”
Meaning
“buko na siya” and “keeping a
life” with the sound of Saturday Night Fever, Meaning “keeping a Lie” as they are real gay but trying to keep it
secret. They are all good sport
and very enjoyable to be with. Each of them has a story to tell.
Some
of us went around exploring the boat again and looking at the shore, while Ted,
Effie and I went as far as the 8th deck where there is dancing
happening. The band was very
energetic and was teaching the dancers the moves, so Effie, Ted and I joined in
the dance floor and tried the moves…we had a real good time. There was a buffet
table of snacks waiting in both sides of the deck so all of us met as a group
and had our snacks. So much for dieting! At the end of the cruise, I gained 2
lbs! After being filled by the snacks, we called it a night. All throughout,
Saturday and Sunday (Aug.7-8) I had a terrible migraine and toothache to top it
all. But everything has to go on as if everything was all right so no sleep for
the wicked…. There was always
entertainment in the evening for
us to enjoy.
We
sailed the whole night of Saturday and Sunday until we reached Tunisia Monday
morning, August 9. We went to Can Can lounge to wait for our numbers to be
called. So we went and visited the historical Tunisia. We visited the museum
full of tile mosaic originated by the Romans… after which we went to the market
to see some local goods. We saw beautiful carpets and jewelries. The sellers
seem to wait with eagerness to sell their goods and quite frightening to open
your purse. They were so aggressive and almost harassing you to buy, if you
don’t, you will get a smirk! The second half of Tunisia excursion was at the
Carthage ruins. I did not bother going down as I was without energy for lack of
sleep due to migraine and toothache. We went back to the boat all hungry, tired
and hot. It felt like 40 C! We had our lunch at Lido Café on the 9th
deck where we were again greeted by another set of Filipino waiters and crews.
Each of them eager to tell their stories. We met two Torresians, one from group 1989 and one from 1998. The names are in
the records of Gloria Patel.
All evenings of our dinner, we were served
by Hernando and Lorenzo and a bond has grown among us with all these Filipinos
who are there working hard for their families back in the Philippines.
I
guess I have to stop here, as there are more to come. Too much material will be
bad for your eyes!
MEDITERRANEAN
CRUISE (Part 2)
I
failed to mention the 9th deck where some daring could go topless
and the 8th deck with two swimming pools, one for kids and one for
adults. The 7th floor has the gym and the sauna. There is also a
jazz club and another disco club, there is a club meant only for teens it is
called Zone. During the day, there are lots of activities on board but we never
joined them as we were always out on shore for excursions.
Again, we have to wait at the Can Can Lounge for our
numbers to be called. That was to
ensure order and also for everybody to be accounted for. Today, we were to go
to Rome and the Vatican. They call
Rome as the Eternal City and so it is, with all the columns to mark the
square of St. Peter and where people congregate to receive the Pope’s blessings.
I made a note to see how many Romans I saw…. Very few… maybe I can count them
with my fingers… they were the vendors outside of the walls but the place was
teeming with people from different places, tourists. They said that in the
summer time, the Romans leave their city to go to cooler places. It felt like
40 C, hot humid and sticky! If I have to describe the smell of Rome, it is not
very far from the smell of Manila. ( I want you to feast on your imagination)
There were few shops open when we got out of the Basilica, as it was almost 1
p.m.
I would say that the Church of St. Peter has lots of
history that expands of time and place. Our guide displayed knowledge and wit
as he explained piece by piece the making of the basilica, the walls, the floors,
the marble statues and people of history who contributed to its completion.
There were few shops open when we got out of the Basilica
as it was almost 1 p.m.Romans close shops from 1-4:30 p.m. Our lunch was
arranged that we had it in a little Italian restaurant just outside of the
square. We were served with white wine, bread and salad, followed by pasta.
From there we walked to Sistine Chapel where more works of Michelangelo were
preserved in the ceiling. There
was almost no place to move with lots of people. Of course, the visits to these
places will never be complete without pictures.
We finally completed the tour and visited some open shops
our guide brought us to. I was longing for ice cream but it seems there was no
time for such indulgence. After
the hurried shopping for mementos, we were again in the bus to go back
to the port. There was just little
time to prepare for the Captain’s gala reception dinner. Everybody has to be
dressed formal and so we did. There was a pose with the captain before dinner
time; there was also a toast for
everyone at Can Can lounge. All the important crew members were introduced and
we can never be prouder when the chief chef was called. He is a Filipino! When
the restaurant manager was called, he is also a Filipino! It was almost
witnessing Olympic medal ceremony… while they stand there, I felt a stinging
tears in my eyes…tears of joy and pride that my compatriots stand beside the
greats. We danced there until dinner time. After dinner, we watched the show at
Can Can lounge featuring Shasha Lawrence of UK with all the dancers as
hand. She was really very
entertaining.
Every night, there was a buffet snack at the 8th
deck where dancing is from evening till morning… but we need not go there every
night would we? Or it will not be only 2 lbs we will gain!
I hope you
will not get tired of reading as there are more to come!
MEDITERRANEAN (Part 3)
Each morning, we were greeted by different port. This
time, the boat docked at Livorno, Italy. We are heading out to Florence,
the place of museums and churches. I remember our
guide from Rome that Michelangelo was from this great city of Florence.
The
bus ride from the dock to this place was very scenic as we cross Tuscany.
Tuscany by its name lend romance and beauty and so it was.
The
trip itself was like seeing a panorama from your dream; a movie you don’t
forget. When we reached Florence, we were greeted by a parade. The town was
celebrating something of importance and it happens only on August 11. The
historical even escaped me in awe of the architecture of the whole town. The
carvings in the massive doors of the churches and edifices are all very
impressive. This was a walking tour and we were touring the town on foot while
trying hard to listen to the guide’s explanation. Our guided tour ended up in
the bridge where we have a good view of the river Arno, a famous waterfront of
Florence. We were given an hour and a half to do whatever we want and the
shoppers in us took over.
Everybody
seemed happy with all the purchases. Leather jackets, leather bags, purses,
shoes, jewelries, wine, and other little mementos. The problem of luggage came
up as some have already purchased some pieces of rugs and other stuff.
The
courtyard is a large cobbled space in front of the church and that was where we
have to meet to go to Pisa, Italy. Some of our companions were quite
elderly…maybe not really old but seems always holding the group back as they
were slow to arrive at all the meeting points. This is when I thought to
myself, ‘am glad I have done it
now as I do not want to be holding back a group for my sake’
Again,
the bus ride to Pisa was like seeing yourself in a scenic postcard. And there,
the legendary leaning tower was waiting for us. The churches in front of it are
both beautiful but the captive audience were all eyes and cameras on the
leaning tower of Pisa. On the way to the tower, the stalls lined up to sell
mementos and other goods like shoes, bags etc. Italy is known for leather goods
and it is everywhere.
The
heat was overpowering and I would say, I could have enjoyed more this excursion if the weather was a bit
cooler…maybe a Fall trip for all of you who wish to go. The guide was very
apologetic about the heat although, he said, he will be more sorry if it
rained.
As
always emphasized by the guide, we have to be back to the port at a certain
time or the boat will leave us and might as well be there or we might have to
take the bus to Ville France where
the boat will dock to see Monaco
and Monte Carlo.
After
a little rest and a refreshing
shower, we were again entertained to our table with
sumptuous dinner and very cordial waiters. This evening, Cora who celebrated
her birthday on July 13 and Malou on July 26 shared the blowing of a birthday
cake with the accompaniment of the singing waiters.
We
ended up our evening with the stand up comedy show of Robert Taylor; some went
to the casino and some strolled and watched the other dance floors. Our
earliest sign off was 12:30 p.m.
I
apologize to all of you for not mentioning that before we decided on which
excursions to take, we as a group voted for the sites and the majority won. In
each of the ports we docked, there were between 4-5 places we can choose from
to visit. We chose the ones that
were highly recommended. It is really impossible to see all like the many
places of Rome, or even of France. I myself wanted to see Nice but it is
between Nice and Monaco, or Riviera or Monte Carlo
We
were so filled with excitement as we look forward to going to Monaco and Monte
Carlo. The place of the rich and the famous! Also, this is where Grace Kelly
lived and died. So many things to check out just to be true to recent history.
Out
boat could not dock close to the shore of Monaco thus; we were transported by
small ferries to the main pier of the principality. From the boat, we could see
the houses built on the hills facing the Mediterranean Sea. As soon as we
boarded the bus waiting for us, our guide welcomed us both in French and
English. She described to us the many fighting that happened in the
principality, why there were two monks statues seem to guard the city… then we
stopped a while in front of the house of Princess Caroline. She said that only
the rich could own property in Monaco. She said that per square meter of the
land cost more than $50,000. US dollars. The bus brought us to the courtyard
facing the palace. She also explained the architecture of the palace for
it it seemed a combination of the old architecture
and a more recent ones. From the
courtyard vantage, we could see the Mediterranean Sea, very serene and
comforting. We watched the changing of the guards and some of us ventured on
buying souvenir in the very few store close to the courtyard.
We
went again on our bus ride to go to Monte Carlo. It was like Disney world! The
cars are all out of this world models. One in particular was the one parked in
the middle of the street. Try to imagine a sci-fi movie… that was how it
looked… and shining silver to top it all. Practically everybody wants his or
her picture taken beside this car… I mean all…not only us! And this time I can
say…the street smells perfume! Try buying 4711 Eau de Cologne…that is how their
street smells! Remember I made mentioned of the smell of Rome? This is the
opposite. We saw the big and towering casinos and some of us ventured on the
signature stores close by they are meant for your eyes only! We saw one
Filipino man working in the store and we spoke a bit with him, as he seemed
surprised to see his compatriots in Monte Carlo!
Once
again, we had our chance to buy mementos and souvenirs…back to the bus and to
the pier. I would say, Monaco and Monte Carlo, I felt dreaming walking in their
streets, going inside the church, seeing the grave of Princess Grace Kelly,
walking in their gardens, paying to do our numbers in the washroom, yes, it was
like a dream even when it was real…I could not believe that such a nice place
exists. One thing missing… we did not see much people except tourists like us!
After
the Monaco /Monte Carlo excursions, we had some time to rest and explore once
more the boat during the day. At the Lido Café, they have a buffet lunch where oriental
food were laid out including
pancit bihon and adobo ! So
the group went up to the 8th
deck to feast on them. The show
was scheduled to accommodate the first and second seating at dinner time and we
watched the show prior to dinner time. This is our second gala dinner also and
we were in formal attire.
Friday,
the 13th, August
BARCELONA , SPAIN
Our
last on shore excursion., Barcelona ! We were handed our Suncruise lunch bags
with goodies and water. Off we
went to our buses waiting for us . We have to pass through the customs built
especially for boat people. They have also duty free shops at the site.
Our
first stop was the Temple of the
Sagrada Familia. It is a very impressive edifice in the center of the city.
The building itself has a lot of history to tell. According to
the guide, the building was
conceived and started by one
architect and continued on by different ones…. Many hands and heads … and still, it is the people’s money
that continue to make it a reality. The guide said, that
there were many times the work of
this building had stopped
due to lack of funds and then the
people would again move themselves to raise funds. It is really a place to see,
it is almost like seeing a miracle before your eyes.
While
the architecture of Rome and Florence, Vatican and Pisa impressed me, the
architecture of Barcelona seem to be a winner. Anywhere you look, history tells
itself of their architecture. We
made a little stop at a shop where we could also relieve ourselves. We were
told that as soon as we roll, there will be no more place to stop but our final
destination., which is Montserrat. We did a little shopping at the shop while
waiting for the rest to finish our
main business there. Then off we hopped on our bus and the journey began. After a scenic view of the outskirts of
Barcelona, our bus climbed the
mountain. I would say that our driver
was very experienced in this terrain and I thought of our Filipino
drivers back home. Baguio route could be almost this way and in my remembrance of my Baguio
trips, I was fearful of the bus rides especially when there were rocks and
earth that seem to be falling before us. This mountain we were climbing in
Montserrat was solid rock. Some of us could not even look out as we ascend higher and higher. It was
almost an exhilarating experience.
We
finally made it to the top. It was a very beautiful place for retreats and
prayers. Around the area, there are shops where religious articles are abundant
and some goodies that the local people made. There is a big restaurant and plenty or rest rooms as well.
Further
on there are more shops and places
to eat. We climbed the steps; maybe about 3 meters high to reach the church of the Black Madonna. The guide related a legend of the Black
Madonna while we were still onboard the bus; that she was not black before but
because she was in the mountain
and exposed close to the sun, she turned black. We found a line and we
fall into it. It was a line to go up and see the Madonna up close and personal.
The passage was almost airless
and some of us lagged off the
line. I stayed my course., and
after a while, I was finally face to face with the Madonna. I looked at her and
I was speechless. She seemed to be almost looking deep inside me. I felt tears
stung my eyes, I really had no words to describe the feelings. I could not stay long…the long line after me was waiting but I
suppose the brief moment of my encounter
with the Black Madonna will be etched deep in my memory and in my heart.
I was glad I stayed on line.
While
on line, I met a 20 year old German lad who came by bus from Berlin to
Barcelona. The bus ride took him a day and a half. He took the train and he
climbed up from below the mountain
to the top. It took him
more than three hours to reach the top. I was impressed by this youth as
he was very proud to say that he is a Catholic and wanted very much to see the
Black Madonna. ( Am not sure if our Filipino youth has this desire to see a
Black Madonna, or climb a mountain to satisfy a spiritual thirst ) I found my group waiting for me at the
front of the church and so we headed out to the courtyard where the buses were
parked. I took a lot of pictures of the terrain we climbed and I was so amazed
at one of the developed prints. I
swear I did not see these words while taking the picture but when it was
developed, I saw it “Salida de Soccoro” meaning leave with mercy.
We
descended the mountains and went to another hill overlooking the city. It is
called Mt. Juic. Our stop here was
brief as it is almost time to be
in the boat. On our way to the boat, the bus stopped briefly at the shopping
area. We really had no chance to shop here.. the main reason we stopped here
was to feel the vibrant of the city, walk among the hundreds of Catalans. They
call themselves Catalans here…not really Spanish. As Madrilenos for Madrid.. On
our way to the boat, our bus passed through the Olympic village, the Olympic
sites and many other places of interest.
Finally,
the boat…. Tired, hungry, but
not sticky .. The weather in
Barcelona is much more comfortable than Italy. That is one place I want to go
back to and spend more time exploring!
After
we refreshed ourselves with a shower, we got ready for our ”last supper”.
The
dining crew has presented their final number and here we feted Alice Santos in anticipation of her
birthday with the singing waiters to sing to her “Happy Birthday”
Complete
with a cake and birthday candles.
We
have to packed and get our luggage ready by the door before 1 a.m. So we said goodnight a bit earlier than
usual. Some of our group members
still played the big Bingo game that evening and we left them with a wish of good luck. Then on with our final voyage back to Palma de Majorca .
Saturday,
August 14th Palma de
Majorca
We
waited for our turn to be bussed to the airport.. We had our breakfast at leisure, once again enjoying the
camaraderie of the Filipino dining crews. We seem to be leaving behind a family
of our own. We really had a good time being with them.