Explora Cruise Day 2 - Zadar

Saturday afternoon, Nicky picked me up and took me to Newark. There were no delays and after 2 wines in the lounge I boarded with no problem. The flight to Venice was under 8 hours and very smooth. The escort from Explora was waiting for me when I came out and took me to the water taxi and then to the hotel. I stayed at the JW Marriott. It is on its own island behind the island where the Hilton is. So not conviently located if you want to sightsee. But I was only there one night. I had to wait about an hour for my room then I took a nap. I walked around after I got up and went up to the rooftop bar. The weather wasn't very nice so I had a Negroni out side and then went in to eat. Since it was only about 4pm there was no one there but me. I had another Negroni and then ate a Club sandwich and fries before I returned to my room to shower and shave. My sleep was ok and I was up early enough to go for breakfast. The same escort from the arrival came to get me to take me to the ship. This hotel was OK. For the price, it was not worth it. At the ship I was checked right in and they sent me to my cabin. It actually wasn't meant to be occupied yet but I put my stuff in and spoke to the cabin attendent, a woman named Setti. I had to watch a safety video and then go to my "meeting Point" and get scanned in. After I went for a coffee and eventually my luggage came and I had a short nap. I ate at the Food Emporium after a pre-dinner Martini in the Explorers Lounge. It is like a wedding reception. You walk around and look at what is available at all the stations and if you want something the worker gets it for you. I had roasted lamb , a salad, steamed vegetables and fried rice. They serve as much as you want. I don't know what time I was back in the room but I do know I was asleep by 10. I woke up at about 3 and eventually went back to sleep and then the fun.

I book an excursion into Zadar, Croatia last night. A walking tour that left at 10:15. I was awoken by an alert from my phone and it was 9:45! I got dressed and left for guest services where they printed my ticket and told me where to go. I was in time. The walking tour was good - a little over 2 1/2 hours. Not too much to see and mostly we were in a Convent Schatzkammer. After we went to a restaurant to sample Marischino. This is the local "hooch". After I came back. I went to guest services and collected 260 euros from the cancelled Istanbul excursion. I am having a coffee in the coffee lounge and tonight I have a 7 pm reservation at the Asian restaurant and at 9:15 I am booked for a Gin tasting!

Summer 2026

Well, a lot of travel is planned and some has already occured. I was in Maroma Beach, Cancun from 28 February to 8 March at El Dorado Maroma Beach Resort. This was the second time I was there and it is great. My room was large and had an infinity pool on the balcony. I love it there. Next I am leaving on 11 April for Venice, Italy. I will stay 1 night and the next day get on a cruise for 20 nights! It is an Explora cruise that will take me to Croatia, a stop in Bari, Italy, around Greece for 2 nights in Istanbul, Tunis, Moracco, Taorima, Sicily, Malta, Ibitza and finally Barcelona. What a trip! But tonight I finished booking my usual stay in Europe. I leave on 17 July for Berlin, as always. I will be in the Berlin Hilton for 9 nights and then it is down to my apartment in Weimar for 5 weeks. From there 5 nights at the Steigenburger in Stuttgart, then 5 nights at the Best Western in Nancy, France and finally 9 nights at the Maison Astor in Paris! Of course I have been to Berlin and Weimar who-knows-how-many-times. But I have not been to Stuttgart in years, I have been there twice and the hotel I stayed at both times is closed. I went to Nancy once a long time ago. I am happy to have all the arrangements done and to know what I am doing . I hope I can find the time and the will to record everything that I see and do on these trips.