2025 - Transatlantic Cruise & Spain
Above: Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, FL. 18 March 2025.
Start of transatlantic cruise to Barcelona and a 10-day road trip in Spain. Time relaxing at sea is expected to facilitate recovery of my cracked ribs suffered in a ski accident earlier this month.
Above: Brickell Key. Miami, Florida. 19 March 2025
Image from Regent Grandeur docked at Miami Cruise Port.
Fleeting stay in Miami this time after twelve years of living here. 86-89; 91-99.
1994: Lunch at Joe's Stone Crab with Miami philanthropist, Shepard Broad. "Steve, they ought to erect a statue in Bayfront Park to the man most responsible for Miami's extraordinary success." "Who's that, Shepard," I asked. Shepard replied, "Fidel Castro."
The incredible, Castro fleeing, Cuban diaspora...ignites the morph of Miami from a sleepy southern town (Miahmuh) to the creation of one of America's, and the world's, great cities.
I loved living in Miami for its aspirational bent. Miami drive is a reflection of many other US past immigration successes and current ones too. The Indian diaspora and Elon Musk come to mind. Ongoing immigration of talented and aspiring people is essential to America's ongoing progress.
Above: Miami Harbor. 19 March 2025.
Bridge to Key Biscayne (left). Brickell Key (right). TIMDT and Mwah (sic) stayed in an apartment on Brickell Key for two months in 1986 pending move to new home in Coral Gables. Now chock a block with skyscrapers, then Brickell Key had only three or four buildings. Image is from our dinner table at Sette Mari restaurant on new Regent cruise liner Grandeur.
Above: Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas. 20 March 2025.
Above: Our Regent Grandeur cabin. 20 March 2025.
At sea.
Above: Regent Cruise ship Grandeur. March Madness. Essential activity on a transatlantic cruise. BYU beats VCU. 20 March 2025.
SDT a BYU fair weather fan. And, today, with a March Madness BYU victory over VCU, the weather was fair.
I don't usually engage in puffery, but many BYU fans will recall the key role I played in building BYU's basketball program into the powerhouse it has become today. I was a scholarship player on BYU's freshman team during the 1968/69 basketball season. I played from the bench... eight minutes a game and averaged four points a game. Former BYU basketball coach Roger Reid was on the BYU 1968/69 freshman team and later a starter for BYU's varsity basketball program. But any contribution Reid made to BYU's basketball program paled into insignificance relative to the lasting impact I had in setting the future direction for the BYU basketball program. The key was this. Coming from left to right, I had an awe-inspiring jump shot from the top of the key. My BYU freshman team coach, former BYU great, Gary Earnest, while shaking his head derisively, famously commented on that shot, made on the home floor of the BYU Fieldhouse, against the Utah State University freshman team: "That damn Taylor. That shot is the only thing he can do."
Above: Infirmary, Regent Grandeur. 22 March 2025.
Image: TIMDT on nebulizer.
All night coughing spree two nights ago left TIMDT exhausted and feeling down yesterday. We hoped for improvement in her condition, but it got worse... aches, pains and fever. We went to the ship's infirmary mid-day today. It's difficult to get TIMDT to agree to see any doctor any time, but clearly, discretion being the better part of valor, she needed to be looked at. Diagnosis? Viral influenza with beginnings of pneumonia showing up on the X-Ray. Because of TIMDT's compromised lung condition, Dr. didn't hold back on treatment. Intravenous antibiotics to stem pneumonia risk, intravenous steroids to open lung passages, and advanced Tylenol for fever. Room quarantine for three days, returning to infirmary each of those days for new meds and assessment. Sessions at infirmary for meds recharge lasted for three hours. TIMDT was feeling much better after first day treatment and her condition continued to improve until she was released from quarantine on 25 March. The infirmary was well equipped - five hospital beds. All the bells and whistles seen in a typical hospital setting.
This was supposed to be a leisurely 14-day transatlantic passage to enable Mwah (sic) to recover from my ski injury induced rib fractures and to enable TIMDT to enjoy a period of relaxation sans supplemental oxygen while at sea level. TIMDT's unexpected medical emergency added to the plight of two struggling, but intrepid, geezers. We both felt that the ship's doctor and his team of two female nurses (all Filipinos) were competent. The average age of the Regent Grandeur passengers was seventy plus... no doubt medical emergencies of this sort happen all too frequently. If you are considering a cruise and are worried about unexpected medical predicament, it seemed that Regent was set up about as good as could be possible to deal, with, at least, TIMDT's situation. Get insurance pre departure. The bill for TIMDT's treatment was, shall we say, eyepopping.
Subsequent days of TIMDT quarantine. To eat, we ordered room service. I was not quarantined and was able to go to my favorite breakfast place at the Veranda Restaurant and otherwise tool about the ship. TIMDT's condition continued to improve throughout the three-day quarantine period.
Above: 5th level deck. Regent Grandeur. Somewhere west of the Canary Islands. 25 March 2025.
A daily deck walk of three miles has been de rigueur for me on cruises. I'd pace myself to the rhythm of Bob Seger's songs: They Love to Watch Her Strut, Fire Lake yada. This time, slow walking because of the rib condition, I switched to listening to podcasts: All In, Commentary, Megyn, Glenn Greenwald, and Goodfellows are favorites.
My rib condition seems to be discernably better day by day. It's still difficult to turn over in bed. And I can't find a position on my right side that is without pain.
TIMDT's recovery is going well.
Above: TIMDT, Observation Lounge, Regent Grandeur, 26 March 2025.
She's baaaack!!!! Released to roam the ship after three days of quarantine in cabin. TIMDT, looking regal. This image received 35 clicks on Facebook. If I want a lot of clicks, I just post the latest picture of TIMDT. TIMDT: most photogenic wife ever.
Above: Botanical Garden, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Canary Islands, Spain. 28 March 2025.
Regent Grandeur substituted a stop at Santa Cruz de Tenerife for originally planned destinations of Bermuda and Azores because of bad seas further north.
Above: Opera House, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. 28 March 2025.
Above: Elephant Club Summit County and LSDM attendees. Alta Club, Salt Lake City, UT. 28 March 2025.
Wish I could have joined you all!
Above: Roy. 28 March 2025.
Image of thespian playing in Cardon School production of Les Misérables.
Above: Fleury's Bakery and Coffee. Kolkata. India. Image picked up randomly off the internet. TIMDT and Mwah (sic) were frequent goers to Fleurys when we lived in Calcutta for 18 months in 1973 and 1974.
RIP Steve. World was made better by you.
SDT and TIMDT
Just heard that Sundance is moving from the Park City area. What a shame. 🙈
Thanks,
Mr. Z3,
La Quinta, CA
Click below link for my piece on Sundance departure:
Above: The Veranda Restaurant. Regent Grandeur. 29 March 2025.
Breakfast.
Above: Paradore,, Arcos de la Frontera, Andalucia, Spain.
White village near Cadiz.
Arcos de la Frontera - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
Andalucia:
1. Buls
2. Sherry
3. Horses
4. Flamenco
Above: Arcos de la Frontera, Andalucia, Spain. 30 March 2025.
Addendum:
Re: “...[T]he plight of two struggling, but intrepid, geezers”—in spite of your predicament, you made me chuckle.
Having in recent years suffered numerous procedures, surgeries, & injuries—including a rib broken into two—I’m quite sympathetic to your ribly condition. My chiropractor was absolutely right about our reality—when the urge to defecate arise, one must simply sit & wait for something to drop.
And please don’t make us laugh.
Most importantly, Allison & I are glad your gal is back up-&-at-'em—best wishes to you both!
Jimmy,
Park City, UT
Steve.. just read about Margaret's condition and hope she has fully recovered and able to enjoy the rest of your trip. This must have been scary! Am on my way to Park City and hope to catch up with you both after you get back home. I will be there until the 17th. Please give my best wishes to Margaret, and stay well and I hope to see you soon..
Espresso,
Washington, D.C
Happy to hear that Margaret is on the mend, also wonderful that the ship had the correct facilities to make her more comfortable and get better. Praying that both of you enjoy the remainder of the trip.
Mr. Z3,
La Quinta, CA
What an adventure! I'm glad that you are all recovering.
WSL,
Park Ciiy, UT
Sorry to hear this and grateful for a quick recovery.
I have wanted to travel but Lib worries about running into a problem.
Our best to both especially Margaret.
The Archbishop,
Naples, FL
Hi, Steve. Suzanne and I were very very sorry to hear of Margaret's illness on board. Please extend our remote big hugs to her as she recovers!!
Bon voyage back home.
Norman and Suzanne,
Avon, CT
Oh my goodness! Thank you for this report and we are so relieved that you are both alive and somewhat recovered at this point - after a big scare. As Ken and I can say - aging is not for cowards!
To have this happen on a trip made it even more frightening! Ken and I wish you the best health possible in the land of the living!
XO,
Kate and Ken,
Salt Lake City, UT
Thank goodness the ship had good medical facilities. Glad you are both recovering quickly and keeping up your sense of humor.
Nathans,
Orlando, FL
Steve,
Sorry to hear this, Lisa and I are glad you are both on the mend. Please give TIMDT a hug for us.
Golf,
Park City, UT
Steve,
Just got to your pictodiary for today. Please wish Margaret our best for a quick and complete recovery.
Daggett,
Park City, UT
Steve, I am glad Margaret got past the flu. It has been nasty. Loving your photos of the trip!
Rocky,
Miami, FL
Wish you both speedy recovery.
Mano,
San Jose, CA
Great pics Steve. Best wishes for a full recovery.
Tony
Park City, UT
Steve,
Sorry to hear about TIMDT’s condition. I will enter prayers of gratitude for her full recovery at the parish’s Offering Book, kept at entry to the church. Mariko suffers from similar lung issues with a nebulizer close at hand. She “came down” with lung issues due to long term use of Humira for rheumatoid arthritis. She stopped the injections and her strength came back.
I had not read of your ski fall. As agile as you are, the industry must develop air bags for skiers over 70. What an invention!
It would deploy on contact.
Small warning on label: “On deployment, you may turn into snowball and roll down the mountain.”
My dad told me of a minister and his family who were assigned by him to Bogota. The wife suffered from “altitude sickness,” although it was not diagnosed as such at the time. After years of suffering, he reassigned them to Cartajena on the coast. She recovered. When in the US on furlough for regular medical exam, the doctor surmised that her lung capacity was designed for a smaller person and high-altitude assignments were not appropriate.
I love boat trips. We would take the ships of the Great White Fleet of the United Fruit Company from Panama to San Francisco or Long Beach. My mother had a fear of flying so dad would take their banana boats, with stops in Golfito. Passengers were limited to 12 or so non-crew members. We would all eat at the captain’s table. And yes, walking the decks to fight calories overload was our pastime. No movies, just shuffleboard, dominoes or canasta.
We would get up at 4 am. Go to the dock on the Pacific Coast, near Ft. Amador, taking a launch that transports the pilots after the ships have transited the canal, as the ship exited the canal toward the open seas. For a 7-year-old, this was an adventure. When I was 13 going off to boarding school, we saw this movie the night before our departure for CA. Titanic (1953) 
7.0 | Drama, History, Romance I think my father wanted me to focus – I did. I was on the lookout for icebergs the first three days and gave up as we approached Baja. 😉
Best wishes for the recovery of both of you,
Dick
Above: Valencia Cathedral, Valencia, Spain. 01 April 2025.
Can you spot TIMDT in the image? Valencia. Our last cruise stop before reaching final destination, Barcelona, tomorrow. We will be returning to Valencia overland from Barcelona on 04 April joined by travel mates Hoops and Bronx Girl.
Above: El Palace Barcelona (hotel), Barcelona, Spain. 02 April 2025.
View from hotel room.
Above: El Corte Ingles Department Store. Catalunya Square, Barcelona, Spain. 02 April 2025.
Selfie of me waiting while TIMDT shops for cosmetics.
Above: Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Barcelona Spain. 02 April 2025
Bronx Girl and TIMDT observe. Hoops takes an image.
Not our first visit... which was circa 2015.
Above: Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Barcelona, Spain. 02 April 2025.
Cathedral interior.
Above: Park Guell Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. 02 April 2024
Hoops, Bronx Girl, and TIMDT observe Gaudi creation.
Above: Botafumeiro Restaurant. Barcelona, Spain. 02 April 2025. (file image)
Above: Papa Luna Restaurant, Peniscola, Spain. 03 April 2025.
Paella for rookie American tourists. No chicken feet, rabbit, or snails. Peniscola. Midway lunch stop on drive between Barcelona and Valencia.
Above: Civera Marisqueria Restaurant, Valencia, Spain. 03 April 2025.
Spain is a seafood lover's paradise. We expect to search out many seafood dining experiences during our holiday in Spain.
Above: Arts and Science Park. Valencia, Spain. 04 March 2025.
Above: Valencia Cathedral. Valencia, Spain. 04 March 2025.
The "Holy Grail." "Purported," to be sure. A pilgrimage draw for the devout.
Above: La Fachada Mas Estrecha De Europa. Valencia, Spain. 04 April 2025.
Narrowest building facade in Europe at forty-one inches. Guinnes Book of records says so. Hoops, tallest man in the plaza, looks on.
Above: Restaurant Palace Fesol, Valencia, Spain. 04 April 2025.
That tentative TIMDT look when she sees rabbit, snails, and chicken feet in the paella.
Restaurant is a local's place; only open for lunch... famous for most authentic paella in town.
Above: Placia Rodrigo Botet. Valencia, Spain. 05 April 2025
My seat at Cafe Nederland 1814. Looking left, some looker 30 something Spanish girls chain smoking away. To my right, 60 something Americans on a bicycle tour. I look for every opportunity to enjoy outdoor European cafe culture. Temperature in this image is a perfect 75 degrees. This spot was just across from our hotel, Only You Hotel. I would frequently, AM and PM, spend time here, people watching over a sparkling water and a tapas. One tapas I particularly liked was mushrooms and ham. A lot of people were drinking Valencia's signature cocktail, Agua de Valencia, kind of a mimosa on steroids e.g. substitute disproportionate amounts of gin and vodka for the mimosa's champaign. Agua de Valencia touted one of Valencia's historically famous products, the Valencia orange.
Above: Agua de Valencia.
Above: Museo Nacional de Ceramic y Artes Suntuarias. Valencia, Spain. 06 April 2025
TIMDT in the foreground. TIMDT (lower left) looking pretty good after her influenza ordeal on the Regent Grandeur midway in the Atlantic Ocean over a week ago.
Above: Fallas Festival, Valencia, Spain. 06 April 2025.
Celebration of the Coming of Spring. We serendipitously encountered a mustering of Fallas Festival celebrants as we exited the ceramic museum. We followed their procession, brass band and all, through the narrow old town streets to cathedral square. This excellent (IMHO) image was captured on TIMDT's I-Phone.
Above: Valencia Cathedral Square. Valencia, Spain. 06 April 2025.
Taking a cafe break. We are spending four days in Valencia. This slow, unhurried, touring is a first for us. In former times we always seem to have been in a big "get in and get out" hurry. The cafe culture relaxation in perfect weather suits us as we grow older. Our hotel here, Only You Hotel, is very well located where most sightseeing destinations are within a leisurely walk.
For many years, Spain was not on our travel radar. Circa 2010 I joined El Contador on a trip to the Pamplona bull festival and onward to Madrid for some top-notch flamenco dancing performances. We took a ferry from Plymouth to Santander and drove a rental car to Pamplona, then, after three nights, onward to Madrid. Two years later TIMDT joined Comic Mom on a trip to Galicia to walk the Camino de Santiago. A Disney cruise circa 2015 with the family permitted a visit to Barcelona. Two subsequent trips by me and TIMDT enabled more of Madrid, and first time visits to Toledo, Segovia, Grenada and Malaga. New stops on this trip are Cadiz (Andalucia) and Valencia.
Above: Valencia Aquarium, Valencia, Spain. 06 April 2025.
Claimed to be largest aquarium in Europe and seventh largest aquarium in the world. Nice outing, good weather. Sunday, so it was busy. Still, good to see a lot of families with young kids... young kids being in short supply in Europe.
Addendum:
You certainly get around!
Drummer J,
Lehi, UT
Thanks Steve! I’ve always wanted to visit Spain and your pictures of beautiful places and delicious food make it more so.
Tony
Park City, UT
Wow! Very envious. I spent a good part of my mission there. Actually performed in Palau de la Música in a musical review. Nobody would listen to us, so we tried music. Played Ginger Baker’s (Cream) drum solo. Brought down the house.
Thanks for the pics.
Apple Store,
Salt Lake City, UT
Above: Restaurant Nederland 1814. Valencia, Spain. 07 April 2025
Pre departure (Madrid) relaxation. AM jolt. Fountain gurgles.
Above: Restaurante Meson San Juan Plaza Mayor, Cuenca, Spain. 07 April 2025.
Halfway lunch spot between Valencia and Madrid. Doesn't look like much, but like Italy, it's hard to find a bad meal in Spain.
Above: Ciudad Encantada, Spain. 07 April 2025
On a lark, we asked our driver to take us to this place, 20 miles from Cuenca. Weather and the waters of the nearby Jucar River have formed rocks into distinctive and memorable shapes. Full disclosure. We didn't actually see the spot. It was located three kilometers from the parking lot. Due in Madrid in two hours, we neither had the time nor the inclination for the long walk
Above: Madrid, Spain. 07 April 2025.
Rendus.
Above: Uniqlo Madrid. 08 April 2025.
TIMDT does Uniqlo Madrid. It is, of course, important to set priorities when travelling in Europe. The Royal Palace of Madrid, The Prado Museum, and top-rated flamenco dancing must get in line behind shopping. I'm reminded of the time ten or so years ago when I was following TIMDT and her friends around Italy on my Ducati ST-4 motorcycle. I caught up with the girls in Florence and spent the night with TIMDT. I joined the girls at breakfast the next morning. Our friend Pat asked me, "Steve what are you going to do this AM?" Puzzled, I said "I thought I would accompany you guys to see the sights." Pat said, "well, why don't you just go alone to see the Duomo, the David, and Ponte Vecchio?" "Why," I replied. "What are you guys going to do?" Pat said, "we're going to Frette, Christophel and Tods."
This was my first exposure to the Uniqlo marque... a Japanese brand, relatively inexpensive and trendy. It seems Uniqlo has captured the chic cachet that Target once had. In the image, TIMDT is wearing a light, Uniqlo jacket that she purchased at Uniqlo Barcelona five days ago. She is deciding whether or not to buy another one of a different color.
Above: Tuk Tuk tourists. Madrid, Spain. 08 April 2025.
Left to right: Bishop, Hoops, TIMDT, Bronx Girl.
The Tuk Tuk tour was a pretty good way to maneuver the nooks and crannies and narrow streets of Madrid. Mostly, I'll remember our driver/guide, who's amplified voice came through a small speaker attached to the partition in front of the girls. A thirty-five something, with a bandana around his forehead, he was very knowledgeable. His accented, but understandable, English was endowed with a colloquial deftness not always found in English as a second language tour guides. He was responsive to questions outside of the sightseeing agenda we were following. For example, "what is an average middle-class salary?" Guide: "Around Euros 30K per annum." What is the cost of a rental of a two-bedroom house/flat fifteen miles from town?" Guide: "Euros 1500." Guide: "You need two incomes to afford to live in a two-bedroom place. I live in such a place on one income, but I have an inheritance to help me out."
Above: El Senador Restaurant. Madrid, Spain. 08 April 2025.
Pig. It's what's for dinner.
PS. Pig, not pork. Meaning, in Spain, there is no different name for an animal to be consumed and an animal on the hoof. El Senador was restaurant specializing in "pig."
Above: Corte Ingles department store, Madrid, Spain. 09 April 2025.
Roof top lunch. And only Euros 8 for two scoops of lemon sorbet! Image looks in the direction of the Royal Palace, at the image border of the NE quartile image segment. The large structure in the center of the NE image quartile is the Opera House. Our hotel, in the same area, but not discernable in the image, was Palacio de los Duques.
Above: Royal Palace, Madrid, Spain. 10 April 2025.
Ceiling. Two female figures reaching out to one another symbolize the symbiotic relationship between the Spanish Church and State. That was then.
In today's Spain, and in most of the rest of Western Europe, the influence of the Church is negligible. The monarchy, once partner to the Church, has morphed into a national symbol without political power. The vacuum left by the impotent monarchy and abnegation of Church influence has been filled by the "principles" of the new Democratic Socialist state as administered by the European Union.
The Democratic Socialist state introduces individual freedom, self-expression and a globalist world view as cultural guidelines substituting for the emphasis on family, community, religious devotion, national patriotism and virtue put forward by the Church.
Today European countries are challenged by slow economic growth, growing regulations and diminishing freedoms, such as curtailments on free speech. And while large scale immigration from Muslim countries has stemmed European population decline it has also resulted in rising sectarian tension due to resistance by immigrants to assimilate into the Democratic Socialist "value neutral, do your own thing" cultural model.
Of European nations, Russia alone has resisted following the path of Democratic Socialism and has opted for a cultural and economic model where the Church plays a strong role, co-equal with the state, as was the practice in former times throughout Europe. Russia's "state" is not a monarchy. Let's call it democratic authoritarianism. As contradictory as that sounds, Russian presidents are elected but, admittedly, the hurdles to win over the party in power are high. Still, the current Russian state, unlike the Democratic Socialist state in Europe, values The Church and actively encourages its acceptance among the Russian population.
President Vladimir Putin, in his effort to revive Russia from the horrors of Bolshevism, where the Soviets executed over ten million Christians, has analogized the balance between Church and State to a double helix DNA strand, where each strand is essential in building a healthy national culture. Unlike the sterile, totalitarian culture of Russia under the Bolsheviks, where the Church was marginalized, today's Russian state believes in the role of the Church even to the point of subsidizing its recovery from the Communist days. Russia is now returning to its roots as a Christian, conservative society were religion, patriotism and family are touch stones.
So, now we have two economic and cultural models in Europe, one incorporating Christianity as an essential partner to the state and the other marginalizing Christianity. Both models are challenged by growing Muslim populations. One, Europe, welcomes Muslims as immigrants. The other, Russia, uses strong arm tactics to keeps its indigenous Muslim population under control. While the Church is dead in Europe, it is put forward as a vital component to achieving cultural success in Russia. The mural on the ceiling of the Royal Palace in Madrid still has some relevancy today, just not in Spain and most of Europe.
Addendum:
Loved all of these photos. Alas, the Cleveland Orchestra never toured in Spain, so it was fun to travel the”virtually” through your cruise!!
Enjoy!!
Music in the Mountains of Wisconsin!!!
More beauty and insight. “You have chosen wisely” Holy Grail! Cool. 😎
Tony,
Park City, UT
Dear Steve and Margaret,
We love seeing these photos or your amazing trip and I want you to know that our son Bill is flying back right now from a similar trip in Europe. Ken is jealous because I don’t feel as if I can travel that far and that long! Europe, where there are no billboards, where they have preserved their buildings and all things beautiful. We still have a great country in spite of recent turmoil. We could learn a lot from Europe though!
XO,
Kate and Ken
Salt Lake City, UT
Steve! So impressive. I served my mission in Spain, started in Andalucia. So long ago. Franco was still in charge. We had to be very chary about even using the name of the Church. Religious freedom was new in the country and not well publicized. We were officially to represent ourselves as “Non-Catholic Association Number 72.” I had to spring the elders out of jail more than once!
I hope Margaret is feeling better!
Apple Store,
Salt Lake City, UT