You might be asking yourself, "Altea Spain?" I had never heard of it, either. Sometimes on a cruise they plan a stop for the sake of stopping, so that those with a penchant for claustrophobia can walk off the ship. Today's port is such a stop, which did not bother us at all. It meant pool time and an easy Waste to write up.
We slept later than normal and then ordered some breakfast in the room.
Accidental walking picture which turned out wonderfully.
Pool panorama.
Pool QuadCam shot.
Another pool panorama, from a different vantage point. I know that I am enjoying the way these panoramas distort perspective a little too much, because I cannot stop shooting them.
Lunch today was BBQ. A big Hooray for that. Roast beef, ribs, swordfish, sausage, corn on the cob... you get it.
The kids on the ship, there are around five instead of the usual none, were playing Wii on the big TV in the ships main salon. Barbie and I could have creamed them at bowling, but we let them be.
Time to take the tender into town. I figured today I would give you the full tender experience. First, you walk to the back of the ship where one finds the tender.
Next, you walk down the walkway.
And the you get on the lifeboat that also serves as the shuttle from ship to shore.
The tender taking us to Altea.
This picture makes Altea look around fifteen times classier than it is. Altea is a little Spanish town on the Mediterranean coast, in the area known as the Costa Blanca. It is nestled between hills and the sea, which creates a nice climate.
We got off the ship to do one thing; walk to Altea's church on the hill. We figured it would be good exercise. As the town has a Medieval feel, it is nothing bud winding walkways and stairs running uphill. Even with the iPhone's GPS, I was not certain that we were headed to the right place.
That is until we saw this street sign, which took as a good indication that we were near Altea's main church.
There it is, a twenty minute walk uphill.
Cute, no? It was closed during siesta. Even the good Lord needs to rest in the afternoon.
The view of the town from the church.
Our ship is at the tip of my finger THERE. See. We walked a good distance, uphill no less. (The second half of that sentence sounds very senior-citizen-y to me.)
A beach shot on our way back to the boat.
We walked to the church up THERE.
A crop of the above shot, so that you can see how the church sits nicely above town.
After coming back came some pool time. I chose to leave my iPhone in the stateroom. After all, why risk getting it wet or appearing to be the creepy guy taking pictures of people in bathing suits.
Ready for dinnertime?
As we sat to eat dinner outside, I snuck up top to snap the sunset for YOU.
Then I snapped this from the dinner table, as the sun was about to disappear for good. I should have gotten up from the table again and gone up top, but watchagonnado? This was that wonderful time when the town's lights have come on yet the sun has not completely set.
Another dinner panorama. I am semi convinced this is the
best way to take a shot of everyone at the table. Better than making everyone get up for a picture. From left to right; Barbie, Jeff, Nancy, Jerry, Joan, Nico, Jessie, Keith, Patrena (barely visible), Marty, and Holly.
Altea at night, with a hint of the disappearing sun.
I almost got into this one with Barbie, Nico, and Jessie.
I confess. I love it when people are dazzled by the forward facing camera.
A whole table shot, with me included. See, there is something more natural about doing a panorama from my seat, no? For posterity, clockwise from left; Keith, Patrena, Marty, Holly, yours truly, Barbie, Nico, Jessie, Jeff, Nancy, Jerry, and Joan.
Oh yeah We ate dinner, too.
Barbie's starter; Sauteed Sea Scallops with Cauliflower Créme,, Herb Lettuce, and Potato Crisps.
My starter; Warm Sesame Crab Claws with Shrimp served with Kroepoek.
Barbie's second; Del Monte Salad, Creamy Balsamic dressing over Lettuce, Daikon, Mushrooms, Bacon, Pimento and Shrimps.
My second; Cream of Roasted Garlic with Multigrain Croutons.
Barbie's main; Grilled Organic Salmon Fillet with Dill Potato, Garlic Spinach and Sauce Alexander.
My main; "Surf and Turf," Tournedos of Beef and Split Lobster Tail with Tarragon Mashed Potatoes, Baby Zucchini and Perigourdine Sauce.
Barbie's dessert; Raspberry Créme Brûlée
and Mango Sorbet. Yes, two desserts. When we told Marcus, the wonderful and cute waiter, that we were going to share a Raspberry Créme Brûlée, he said it was too good to share and that we each had to get our own.
My Raspberry Créme Brûlée.
After dinner, we went to the Top of the Yacht Bar again. And again, it was extremely fun and involved people from the crowd taking the microphone. But you saw that already.
The moon above the ship. Look closely and you can see the piano player, Sammy, with Nico accompanying him.
There are much worse ways than you can spend a warm, Mediterranean evening.
Until tomorrow.
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