EMBARKATION DAY

EMBARKATION DAY

We followed being on our feet for 9 hours, by being horizontal for 9 hours. After having a light dinner from room service, we were in bed. When we woke up, we took our time getting ready and didn't get down to breakfast until 9. Had a leisurely breakfast, retired to our room for more R and R, checked out around 11:15 and waited in the lobby for transportation to this ship. We were expecting a bus but instead were met by a private car and driver! Spoiled or what? Were able to board the ship ahead of the hordes. Our room wasn't ready until 2:30 so did our usual preparations before heading to lunch and our room - going to the computer room for our wifi log-in procedures and visiting the library for some reading material.
Our Penthouse suite is huge. We even have a sectional sofa and a Butler in addition to a stewardess and steward. Canapes, both hot and cold, are delivered to our suite every day at 5:30. We could get used to this.
By the time we unpacked, it was time to go up for the regulatory lifeboat drill then back to the room to dress for dinner. Headed to the Social Travellers get-together. This time there were only three other women there - a woman from Oregon and two women from Hawaii. They don't hold a candle to the Fab Five. We miss them already.
Norma just mentioned, "It's nice having a butler". Went for another very good dinner and retired fairly early for us.

PALMA DE MALLORCA (MAJORCA), and VALLDEMOSA

We both woke up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night. Norma decided at 5:30 to get up and sip on espresso coffee and have her usual slow and relaxed beginning to her day. I fell back asleep only to wake up to the alarm in a panic due to an extremely vivid nightmare. It took me quite a while to calm down and get dressed for breakfast. We went to the restaurant for breakfast most likely for the last time on this very busy cruise with long, early shore excursions. It will be buffet style or room service from now on. We rushed to the departure point only to find the disembarkation process was behind schedule. Hurry up and wait.
We are in Palma de Mallorca (Majorca), one of the Balearic Islands. We chose the Panoramic Valldemosa tour. We had a terrific guide with a wonderful sense of humour and lovely accented English. We took a quick tour through Palma then up to the mountain village of Valldemosa via a scenic viewpoint for pictures. In the picturesque town, we toured a monastery where Chopin and his mistress, George Sand, had rooms one summer. We had an hour on our own so we walked down to the oldest part of the town, saw the city walls, and the Parish Church of Saint Bartholomew. Then it was time to climb back up the hill to the more modern square to catch our bus to the ship. Ate lunch, took some pictures of us leaving this port with its many yachts, and retired for a most wonderful afternoon nap. We are eating at Signatures, the specialty French restaurant tonight. Wonder if the Voice will be there.