Honeymoon Registry

We’re heading to the Mediterranean for our honeymoon! We’re starting in Barcelona, Jennie studied there for a semester of law school and it’s my first visit, we’re really excited. We’ll spend a couple of nights there with a day trip to Sitges before boarding a cruise of the western Mediterranean.

We have some housewares already so we’ve set up a honeymoon registry with activities that we’d like to do.

12/22 – Palma de Mallorca – Discovering Palma by Bicycle

This excursion will give us the chance to discover some of the sights and monuments of the capital of the island of Majorca, pedalling along cycle routes and through the streets and squares of the historical city center. Leaving the port we will follow the seafront until we reach the Parc de la Mar, where we will cycle alongside the city’s ancient walls. We will have time to stop off at the Gothic church of San Francisco, the old church of Santa Eulalia and the magnificent Cathedral. The return journey will take us through the very heart of Palma’s cultural and commercial life: Plaça Major, la Rambla and the Passeig Maritim.

12/24 – Cagliari – Cagliari Sightseeing and Wine Tasting

Who doesn’t love a wine tasting?  The tour starts with a panoramic coach tour of Cagliari. The first stop is in front of the staircase of the Basilica di Bonaria, then we will go on to Poetto Beach passing alongside the Molentargius Park . Second stop is at Monte Urpinu balcony where we will have a view of Cagliari and of the Golfo degli Angeli. Then our visit goes on walking through the old town, starting from the “Porta Cristina“, visiting the Romanesque-Pisan cathedral ,13th/14th century, with its portal, pulpits, paintings and original bell tower, then the “ Elephant tower “ built by the Republic of Pisa , who dominated Cagliari until the 12th century.  At the end of our promenade we will reach the Antico Caffè 1855 .  It all began in 1838 when Lazzaro Canepa arrived from Lavagna (a town near Genoa) and opened a small bar, which he named after himself. In 1855 the premises changed name and appearance, becoming “Caffè Genovese”, an elegant meeting place for artists and the city’s high society. The bar owes much of its charm to the fascinating stories which make up its history. It was here that Sibilla Aleramo waited for her lover, sitting at a table near the bar, but she was not alone, Grazia Deledda, Emilio Lussu, D.H. Lawrence, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Salvatore Quasimodo, Elio Vittorini and Beniamino Gigli are just some of the illustrious figures to have patronised and loved this haunt.  This is where we’ll enjoy some Sardinian wine and appetizers before we return to the ship.

12/26 – Palermo – Mysterious Palermo

This excursion will start with a panoramic tour of the city.  Then we’ll visit the Catacombs of the Capuchin Friars, where over 8,000 mummified bodies of monks, noblemen and citizens dressed in their original 18th and 19th century clothes can still be seen today. After the catacombs, we will proceed to the Castle of the Zisa, a marvellous example of Arab architecture, which served as a hunting lodge for the Norman kings. The third and the last stop of the Mysterious Palermo excursion will be the Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri where the tribunal Inquisition took place until 1782. Nowadays it is the seat of Rettorato of the University of Palermo, it was restored recently.

12/27 – Rome – Visit of the Vatican City and the Roman Forum

We will depart from the port with the grand tourist bus.  While in Rome we will visit the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.  While there we will get to see the Sistine Chapel which was painted by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Perugino and we will also see the famous “Giudizio Universale” from Michelangelo. At the end of this guided tour we will come to Saint Peters Square where we can find the spectacular colonnade from Bernini and the basilica of Saint Peters.  After that we will go to a restaurant where we can taste the “typical Rome cuisine.” Carbohydrates here we come! After lunch we will make a walk to the church of Saint Peter in Vincoli where we have the possibility to see Michelangelo’s Moses. Then we will visit the Coliseum.

12/28 – Savona – Albissola & Savona

Not far from the coast, hidden amongst the olive trees and the Mediterranean vegetation, we will visit the Villa Faraggiana which was built in 1730 by the Durazzo family and is now the property of the Novara Town Hall. On the inside of the Villa the decorations and furniture have remained untouched by centuries, marble statues, frescos, tapestries etc. Then we’ll visit one of the oldest ceramic laboratories of Albissola. After taking a panoramic tour of Savona by bus, we will meet in the centre and continue our journey by foot, visiting the Pinacoteca Civica. Here you will be able to see sculptures, paintings and ceramics from the 16th – 20th century.

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12/29 – Marseille – Tour of Marseille

Marseilles, situated on the Mediterranean coast, east of the Camargue. France’s oldest city and is located where the Rhône river flows into the sea. Today Marseilles is a port city, with a university as well as an archbishop’s seat. The tour will begin at the old port. Once used by the Greeks, this deep cove penetrates the urban fabric of the city and is now used for fishermen and tourist vessels. We will walk from the port and then stop to admire the Fort of St John and the Romanesque Church of St Laurent, la Place de Lenche and the Town Hall. We will then continue to the church of Notre Dame de la Garde, built on the site of a 1300’s chapel. This tour will include a stroll down the scenic Corniche and a visit to Borely Castle, an 18th century structure, property of the Borely family. The castle houses the Archeological Museum in Marseilles, there we’ll be able to appreciate the French style gardens including the beautiful rose garden.

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12/19-21 – Barcelona

Lunch in Sitges

Lunch at Cal Pinxo right on the water in Sitges ($50).

Bus Turistic

Barcelona’s “Bus Turistic,” a hop on/hop off tourist bus, is the best way to see the complete city. This is what we’ll spend 12/20 doing after we get back from Sitges.

Brunch at a cafe on Avenida Gaudi

The morning after we arrive in Spain will undoubtedly find us searching for the nearest cafe for a cortadito and some Buñuelos. Why not spend the morning people watching on Avenida Gaudi close to La Sagrada Familia and near where Jennie lived while she was in BCN ($50).

Dinner in Barcelona

Txapela is a basque restaurant close to our hotel known for their montaditos ($50).

Eurostars BCN Design Hotel

We took a chance with Hotwire and got lucky with a perfectly-located hotel. Located right on Passeig de Gracia, one of Barcelona’s most fun streets, the hotel is a short walk from the metro and from Rambla Catalunya.