# 1: The European Adventure Begins!

Our cruise to the Caribbean just over a year ago gave us the taste for more extensive travel and with Mary's cancer being an ongoing issue we had decided to make every day count and take advantage of the opportunities that had been presented to us. After our last trip, Mary's cancer did come back so again it was back in for more treatment. Once again it was more chemotherapy and treatment and once again it had worked so she was back in remission, perfect timing for another adventure!

Joining us on this trip was our youngest daughter Jacqueline who was based on the Gold Coast in Australia. Because the trip included a cruise, she needed a roommate so invited Elaine who worked with her. Elaine was older than Mary and myself but was on her own and had been saving for an adventure to Europe for years so this was a great opportunity for her to see places she had only dreamed of! Elaine will be with us for the tour through Europe and the cruise but then will head home from Barcelona, where the cruise ends. Also, joining us for the cruise is Jacqueline's best friend Ellen and her mum Marie. they will be meeting us in Civitavecchia, where the cruise departs from.

The itinerary is as follows:

• 6th May, 2015 Depart Auckland to Singapore

• 8th May, Fly from Singapore to Milan and train directly to Lake Como

• 11th May, train back to Milan and transfer to another train to Venice

• 15th May, train back to Milan and transfer to another train down to Santa Margherita - Portofino

• 20th May, train to Civitavecchia, (the Port for Rome)

• 21st May, board the Celebrity Equinox for a 12-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise taking in Salerno, (Amalfi Coast), Athens, Istanbul, Mykonos, Santorini, Chania, (Crete), and ending in Barcelona.

• 24th May, fly to the UK

• 29th May, London to Los Angeles for 2 days before heading home to New Zealand.

As you can see, we have a very busy time ahead of us and I'm the only male in the touring party and for part of the trip I'm looking after 5 women! Some of you might think I'm mad and at times you would be 100% correct! 😁

I'm desperately hoping that everything goes according to plan because I have booked the entire trip including airfares, train tickets, and accommodation myself.

Leg One, Wellington-Auckland-Singapore.

So, we were all traveling together, Jacqueline and Elaine flew from Brisbane to Wellington a couple of days before we headed away.

One thing I had done during the planning for our trip the year before was join the Air New Zealand "Koru Club" loyalty program, this gave us lounge access during our travel. I felt that this was important as hold-ups and delayed/canceled flights can happen anywhere and to have somewhere comfortable to fill in the time is important. For this reason, I tend to book flights with Air NZ wherever possible and had done so on this trip as well.

This is where our first hiccup occurred! When we checked in at Wellington Airport, we got our boarding passes through to Singapore. It was to my utter dismay when we went to enter the Air NZ Lounge in Auckland that we were refused entry because we were flying on a Singapore Airlines flight, (Singapore Airlines and Air NZ are part of the Star Alliance partnership and codeshare flights). I had booked with Air NZ and had Air NZ Boarding passes, so I decided to stick to my guns and argue the point with the very unfriendly lady at reception. By now there is a queue building up behind us and if I hadn't sensed how distressed Mary was about the whole situation, I'd still be there arguing my rights. Luckily Mary and I had access to the Priority Plus Lounges around the world from our Credit Cards, so we were able to utilize their lounge. I didn't let the matter end there though and on return to NZ, I wrote a letter to Air NZ explaining exactly what had happened to which they responded with an apology and offer of 200 Airpoints! A moral victory! 🤬🤬

Singapore Airlines has a great reputation and the service was fantastic, I do feel though that their seats are designed for smaller people than me and the fact that we were flying in economy class made the first two legs of the journey, (Auckland-Singapore-Singapore-Milan) a little bit restricting! 11 hours for the first leg and just over 12.5 hours for the second!

I had an apartment in a hotel booked for Singapore and by the time we had cleared customs and taxied to the hotel we were all pretty shattered. We settled in a bit then headed over the road to a mall and got some fast food before heading off to sleep with a couple of sightseeing days ahead of us!

We had done our homework and had a few things planned for our time in Singapore. The first was a sightseeing "Bus Tour". These are great and I've enjoyed them in different cities around the world. They enable you to get off to visit something and then hop back on the next bus that comes along. Hence, it shows you all the main attractions, but you can spend as long as you want at any location. The first place that we decided to get off and experience was Raffles Hotel. This iconic hotel dates back to its establishment in 1887 and is famous for its exquisite decor and fine dining. Since we weren't staying there though the attraction was to have a look around and sample their world-famous Singapore Sling in the long bar! A tradition in the Long Bar is the free peanuts, (still in their shells) given out with your drinks. The tradition is that you throw the used shells on the floor! Apparently, this dates back to the hotel's early beginnings when the floors accumulated a lot of dust, but the shells helped collect the dust when being swept up! Anyway, the tradition continues to this day! The Singapore Sling itself has a Gin base and includes Bitters, Lime juice, Cherry brandy, Grenadine, Cointreau, Benedictine, and Pineapple Juice! No wonder they are so expensive! From memory about NZ$34 per drink! It was very nice though, but you certainly don't need more than one.

By the time we had finished this experience and rejoined the next bus tour we only had time to check out Chinatown before heading back to our base. Chinatown was interesting but really only shopping and food focused there. May is regarded as one of the hottest months of the year in Singapore so by the time we got back to our accommodation we were all a bit hot and bothered, so after cooling off and freshening up we went out and had a light meal before visiting "Gardens by the Bay".

I must admit that I wasn't too excited about this prospect but as it turned out I was in total awe from the experience. If Raffles Hotel took us back in time, Gardens by the Bay hurled us into the future. We headed there at night to witness the musical light show at the Supertree Grove, and wow, it did not disappoint. As the lights danced in sync with the music, we were completely mesmerized. The towering Supertrees glowed in hues of blue, purple, and gold, creating a surreal atmosphere that made us feel like we’d stepped into a dream.

The mix of music and light brought the entire garden to life, and walking through it was like being in the middle of a fantastical symphony. It’s one of those experiences that pictures just can't do justice to. You have to be there, standing under the giant glowing trees, taking in the spectacle. We finished the experience by visiting the Rooftop Bar and enjoyed the view out over the gardens and across to the Marina Bay Sands. It had been a very long day, but man, it had been worth it!

Exploring Singapore by Water: An Unforgettable River Cruise

After soaking up the sights of Singapore on foot and bus the previous day, we decided to slow things down with a peaceful river cruise along the iconic Singapore River. It was a welcome change of pace from the bustling streets and humid weather and gave us a new perspective on the city’s beautiful blend of history and modern architecture.

We gently drifted along the river as we passed vibrant Clarke Quay, where the lively restaurants and bars buzzed with energy, and the more serene Boat Quay, where Singapore’s colonial past seemed to echo from the carefully preserved shophouses. There was something magical about seeing the towering skyscrapers framed by the calm river waters, the past and the present intertwining so effortlessly.

One of the highlights was gliding under the city's beautifully lit bridges, each offering a unique artistic flair. My favorite moment, however, was the sight of Marina Bay Sands as we sailed closer. The iconic building loomed ahead, and in the twilight, it felt almost surreal—like a futuristic vessel floating above the water, reflecting all the lights of the city, (we looked up at this from the other side the evening before from the musical light show)

For a moment, time seemed to slow down. As we cruised past Merlion Park, the city's famous half-fish, half-lion mascot stood proudly by the water's edge, an emblem of Singapore’s history and spirit. The river, with its gentle waves and mesmerizing reflections of the skyline, offered us a much-needed breather—a way to take it all in at a more relaxed pace.

That evening, I instructed the girls that they had to be prepared for an early start the next morning. I had a taxi booked to get us to the airport for a 9 o'clock check-in. I'd heard that Changi Airport was one of the busiest in the world, so I booked the taxi for 6.30 am, even though it was only about a half-hour drive. I was pleasantly surprised the next morning that the 3 of them had all taken note and were ready on time. Our taxi also showed up on time so I'm giving myself a little pat on the back for my organisational skills!

We arrived at the airport with plenty of time up our sleeves. At this point, I thought to myself that the place was very quiet for such a supposedly busy airport! On arrival at the check-in counter the lady said, "You're very early", I replied by saying that it wasn't that early for an 11 o'clock flight. She then said, "But your flight isn't till 11 pm". Holy shit!!! How did I get that so wrong? The look I got from the 3 ladies was not good and I could see them all thinking .......and he got us up so bloody early for nothing! Oh well, mistakes happen, and I can still say that I've never been late for a flight!

At least they could check in our luggage, and I paid to get our carry on put into storage. We then caught a taxi back into the city where the girls enjoyed a little bit of retail therapy. My instructions were, (and why would they listen to me after this?😖) to buy some fresh socks and underwear and we could shower and freshen up at the airport in the Priority Pass Lounge before our flight.

One thing that they found in a mall was a fish spa, here you sit on the side of these tanks of water and dangle your legs into the tanks, and thousands of tiny fish eat all the dead skin off your feet! It looked a bit weird to me, but the girls loved it! It was a stinking hot day and extremely muggy so the suggestion of fresh underwear etc. was well received, as were the showers back at the airport!

Singapore had been nothing short of amazing, from the drive from the airport, (twice!) you can see how clean and fresh it is. the people are very friendly and it is certainly a place I'd like to revisit in the future. For now, though it's finally onto the 12.5-hour flight to Milan.