LucianStyle Off-Road Segway in St. Lucia

We are always on the lookout for new, interesting and unique experiences that we can bring to our followers. Over the years, we have covered many Segway tours throughout Europe, but never in the Caribbean. When we learned that we would be spending a full day in St. Lucia with Windstar Cruises, we contacted LucianStyle, a Segway tour operator there.

We arranged a Sunset Segway Tour with "dinner on the beach" directly through the LucianStyle website several weeks before the cruise. As it turns out, Windstar also offers a Segway tour conducted by LucianStyle so, if you are sailing with Windstar, you can book directly through the cruise line.

We took the ship's tender to Pigeon Island, which is really nothing more than a small pier in the middle of a national park. Chad, one of the LucianStyle guides, showed up right on time to pick us up for the transfer to the LucianStyle office in Rodney Bay.

Chad with LucianStyle greets us on Pigeon Island

After arriving at LucianStyle's offices in Rodney Bay, we met with Stephia, one of the managers at LucianStyle, and the person with whom I had arranged our tour via email.

Stephia and Chad in front of LucianStyle headquarters

After completing the necessary paperwork, signing waivers, etc., we were fitted with safety helmets and escorted to the practice/training track for Segway orientation. LucianStyle also offers knee and elbow pads for those who want a little more protection. Since we have ridden many times before, we declined the extra pads.

Rickee adjusts her helmet in preparation for the Segway tour

After a brief orientation on the safe operation of the Segway, the group of eight guests were zipping around the test track like seasoned pros. We have ridden Segways in cities all over the world, but this is the first time we have ridden them off-road. These X2 Segways are fitted with much larger, knobby tires designed for off-road use.

Rickee practices her Segway skill on the LucianStyle test track

The tour took us up and down dirt roads, some muddy from the recent rain, and up some pretty steep inclines.

The Segways perform admirably on rough terrain

We were pleasantly surprised at how well the off-road Segways handled the rough terrain. They go right through mud puddles, and even steep hills are no match for the torqued electric motors. Going down steep inclines can be challenging because you have to remember to lean back to slow down the Segways, but everyone caught on quickly and our guides were always there to provide assistance.

A light rain was beginning to fall as we came to our first photo stop. A small cabana gave us refuge from the rain, and there was a great photo opportunity in the background. Our LucianStyle guide, "Little Man," used our cameras to take photos of everyone in the group.

LucianStyle guides take photos of us

After having our photos taken, we were invited to hike up a hill to see a koi pond. We were expecting the big, orange Japanese-style koi, but what we saw was nothing like we expected.

A short hike up the hill to the koi pond

We were each given slices of bread to break up and use to feed the small, dark fish, who greedily fought over the floating bread in the water. We hiked back down the hill to find Shanga, another LucianStyle guide, had set up a table with fresh, local fruit and ice water.

Shanga offers fresh, local fruit and water refreshments

Next, we re-mounted our Segways for a ride down the mountain to another photo spot where we could see Windstar Star Pride in the bay.

A high-five on our Segways with Star Pride in the background

By the time we arrived at the beach for our dinner, it was getting dark. Our guide directed us to have a seat at Marie's, a local open-air beach restaurant where the owner was cooking the meal on an outdoor grill. Soon, we were each served a plate of true local Caribbean cuisine: fresh Blue Marlin, rice, beans, a fish cake and some lemon vinaigrette for the fish. The meal was rustic, to say the least, but everything was delicious.

Our fresh fish dinner at Marie's

After the meal, our guides led us back to the LucianStyle offices. It was the first time we have ever ridden Segways in the dark! But, we never felt as if it were unsafe. There was enough light coming from the streetlights to see where we were going. When we arrived back at the offices, we were each given our own official Glider's License, which means on our next LucianStyle Segway Tour, we can skip the training portion of the tour. This is the first time we have ever been granted a Segway license!

Chad drove us to the Rodney Bay Marina where Windstar was conducting tender operations until 10:30 pm. We said goodbye, promising to visit LucianStyle on a future trip to St. Lucia. We boarded the ship's tender for a night ride back to Star Pride. We can highly recommend LucianStyle Segway, whether you book through your cruise line, or directly through their website. The guides were fun, the terrain challenging and the views breathtaking.

For more information, visit their website

Zip Line in La Romana

We were interested in a zip line tour and after some Internet research we found that Runners Adventures had some excellent reviews. We were met by Enrique and our driver, Wilburt. The open-air truck provides protection from the sun and rain, if there is any, yet allows for great picture taking and fresh air as you travel to the zip line camp in the lush mountains of Anamuya. Depending on where you start your adventure, the drive to the zip line camp can take up to two hours.

Enrique and Wilburt meet us for our zip line tour

Along the way, Enrique explained various points of interest. Bottled water was offered to guests as we enjoyed the scenery on the road into the mountains. When we arrived at the zip line camp, the beauty of the location is overwhelming. This is definitely one of the most picturesque zip line destinations we have visited.

The view from the zip line base camp

The zip line adventure begins with a safety briefing conducted by one of the many guides. And, in case you are wondering, all of the guides speak excellent English. A great deal of time is spent on safety procedures, so it is obvious that Runners Adventures places a great deal of importance on safety. Next, the guides assist guests in putting on the safety harnesses, helmets, and other gear. We were given a demonstration of the proper hand placement on the zip line cable, how to hold our legs, and how to brake (slow down) as we approached a zip line platform. Cameras are allowed, but you have to strap them to your helmet and keep them inside your shirt when on the zip line to prevent them from swinging and smacking you in the head. Belts, caps, and backpacks must be left at the base camp and can be retrieved at the end of the course.

A guide explains the course

Before long, we were hiking toward the first zip line platform. Some of the platforms require walking up a few flights of stairs, so you need to be in relatively good physical condition to complete this course. You also need to wear comfortable walking shoes or sneakers.

The course consists of 16 platforms and 12 cables. The first three were "starter" cables that allow participants to get used to the zip line experience. They are shorter and slower and great for beginners to get a feel for what is to come. After cable three, things get really exciting. This zip line course is the most intense we have ever experienced, and, intense is good! There are some super long cables one of which is 800 meters long! Two of the cables cross a river and offer spectacular views as you fly above the jungle and river below.

Rickee comes in for a landing at one of the platforms

The guides are available on every platform to "catch" you as you come in for a landing. They will signal if you need to brake, or speed up. Rickee came in too slow a couple of times and the guide had to walk out and bring her in. Guides also get you "hooked up" for the next zip line and make sure your hands, head, and elbow are in the correct position before sending you on your way. They do a great job of making sure everybody has a fun, but safe, experience.

At the end of the zip line adventure cold drinks and fresh fruit are offered. There is also a small gift shop with souvenirs. Participants also have the opportunity to purchase a photo ($10) taken by a guide as you fly toward one of the platforms on the course.

Sample photo from Runners zip line adventure

We have done at least six different zip line tours over the past seven years and we think it is one of the best experiences you can have. The zip line from Runners Adventures is our favorite one to date. If you find yourself in La Romana or Casa de Campo, don't hesitate to take this tour. Runners also offers some other very interesting local tours that you can check out on their website: http://www.runnersadventures.com.

Originally posted on: 9/10/2014

Barcelona Gastronomic Segway Tour

Barcelona is one of the great tourist destinations in Europe. It is the second largest cruise port in the world[end], second only to Miami. Unlike Miami, Barcelona is not just an embarkation/debarkation port, it is a port call for many cruise lines. Barcelona has also gained a reputation throughout the culinary world as a food-lover's dream destination. So, when we visited Barcelona on our Crystal Serenity cruise, we decided to combine some exploration of the city sights with some of the great food from the region. After learning that our friends at Barcelona Segway Tour have added a Gastronomic Segway Tour to their list of options, we knew that was the perfect way to spend the day in Barcelona.

Our cruise offered a free shuttle bus to the World Trade Center, so we decided to walk from there to BCN Segway offices. If your cruise offers the same, it is very easy to find your way to the statue of Christopher Columbus (Plaça de les Drassanes)*. From there, you can use Google Maps to locate BCN Segway offices, about a 15 minute walk from the statue see walking map here. Along the way, you will find many shopping opportunities along the famed Las Ramblas.

Plaça de les Drassanes

* If your cruise does not offer a shuttle, you can get to the Christopher Columbus statue by taking the T3 Portbus that will pick up from the cruise terminals and provide the transfer for around 2€ per person.

Barcelona Segway Tour offices

Once we arrived at their offices, we were quickly introduced to João, our guide for the day. We were fitted with helmets, asked to sign a waiver (typical for this type of tour) and soon we were mounting our Segways to begin our tour. We informed João that we were comfortable on the Segway and that we had some experience riding them. As a result, we were able to skip the normal training period required for new Segway riders. You should know that these machines are very simple to operate as they are self-balancing. Just about anyone, young or old, can learn to ride one in 15 minutes or less. And, your guide will take time to make sure you are comfortable on the machine before the tour begins. But basically, if you can stand up, you can ride a Segway!

João, our guide for the Segway tour

The 3-hour Gastronomic Segway Tour that takes us to some of the Gothic District’s, Barceloneta’s and Port Olimpic’s gastronomic hotspots. Barcelona is known worldwide as a culinary destination, so this tour shows off the city and some of the local cuisine. The tour begins with riding the Segways through some narrow streets of the Gothic District out to one of the main thoroughfare's. We stop of gaze at the massive post office before riding to our first culinary destination.

Segways make navigating narrow streets very easy

Our first stop is PORK, a small cafe/restaurant, located on Consulat del Mar. This restaurant is all about the pig, in all its forms, from head to tail. The families behind this venture are involved in every aspect of the product, from raising and caring for the pigs, processing the meat, then curing, smoking, grinding, salting, encasing, barbecuing, or roasting. Talk about farm-to-table! This was sort of the "appetizer" portion of the gastronomic tour. We found a nice shaded table outside and soon were served a basket of toasted bread, a plate of salami, pate and Chorizo (a spicy pork sausage), and a bowl containing fresh garlic cloves and a tomato. And interesting combination, for sure.

João explained that the traditional way to eat this was to cut the garlic and tomato in half, rub the raw garlic on the toast, then rub the tomato on the toast, drizzle on some olive oil, top with your favorite cured meat, and then eat. It sounds a bit strange, but it was delicious! In fact, this will be one of our new experiences we will take home with us to try. Now if I can just find sausages at home as good as they served us at Pork. Was it good? Let's just say that Pork will be high on our "re-visit" list the next time we are in Barcelona!

Llonganissa (salami), pork pate and spicy Chorizo

Everything we tried a PORK was delicious, but this is only the 'appetizer' portion of the tour, there's much more sightseeing and eating to be done! We leave PORK and ride our Segways across the main thoroughfare to the Barcelona waterfront and marina. We make a stop at the "Barcelona Head" so that João can explain the sculpture by the famous American Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. The addition of the sculpture was part of the rejuvenation project for the waterfront area (previously known as Moll de la Fusta).

The Head of Barcelona (can you see it?)

We ride down the waterfront and eventually end up at Barcelona's massive, and crowded, beach. I don't think we have ever seen so many people on one beach before. As we rode along the waterfront, we would stop from time to time as João would describe the history of the area, or a particularly interesting sculpture.

The beach in Barcelona is packed with sun-lovers, iconic W Hotel in the background

One of the most recognizable is Frank Gehry's giant goldfish that sits at the foot of the Ritz Carlton hotel. The animal is 56 metres long and 35 metres high and seems to be longing to jump into the blue waters of the Mediterranean.

From a distance, the sculpture clearly represents a fish; however, as you approach the sculpture, you can see it begins to represent a conquistador's helmet. Our next stop was at another local cafe in Barceloneta called L'Ostia.

This stop represents the "main course" on our gastronomic tour. The 'main course' segment of our culinary journey started with a small serving of strawberry gazpacho along with a bowl of blistered Padrón peppers (pementos de Padrón). We were warned that, while most of the peppers are mild, about 1 out of 10 is very hot. It is considered good luck if you find a hot one. The peppers are sauteed in a little olive oil and sea salt and they are absolutely delicious! The gazpacho provided a little relief as I got 'lucky' on the second pepper I tried. Both were delicious.

Padrón peppers

Our final dish was a huge bowl of fresh steamed mussels. Neither Rickee nor I are big fans of mussels, and in fact, Rickee has never even tried one before today. Nevertheless, the bowl soon was turned into a pile of empty shells.The Mussels appeared to be steamed with a little lemon juice, but nothing else to interfere with their natural flavor. I am pretty confident that if you love Mussels, you will be a huge fan.

A huge bowl of steamed Mussels to share

Needless to say, we were already stuffed, and there was still one course left to go! After we left L'Ostia, we rode our Segways through the local zoo where we stopped to see the famous Parc de la Ciutadella fountain (cascade in Spanish) that, unfortunately, had been drained for cleaning.

Cascade fountain

We rode back into the Gothic District's narrow streets to our final stop: a small cafe called "Bliss". This would become the dessert portion of our meal. Since the dessert portion can include an alcoholic beverage of choice, we are required to return the Segways to the BCN Segway office, then walk the one block to Bliss.

Bliss Cafe, Gothic District, Barcelona

We had a choice of a variety of handmade cakes and brownies. And, since we are at the end of our tour with no more riding required, Rickee and I decided to celebrate the end of a great tour with a glass of bubbly Cava (Spanish sparkling wine), to go with her chocolate brownie my green tea cake. It was a fitting end to a delicious and interesting day in Barcelona. For those who follow our blog, you know that we have done a lot of Segway tours all over the world. I have say, the Gastronomic Segway Tour of Barcelona is one of the best we have done to date.

For more information on Barcelona Segway Tour, visit their website at BarcelonaSegwayTour.com.

Lisbon by Segway

A lot of cruises are now making port calls in Lisbon, and a fair number of cruises begin or end in Lisbon[end]. Cruise lines are recognizing that Lisbon has a lot to offer their guests. In our never-ending quest to seek out new and different experiences, we discovered the "Delicious Tour" offered by Lisbon By Segway. On our most recent visit to Lisbon (prior to embarking Crystal Serenity), we scheduled a one-day pre-cruise stay in Lisbon. Since embarkation does not officially begin until 3pm, we had plenty of time to book the Delicious Tour for the morning of embarkation.

Fortunately, our hotel in Lisbon (Altis Avenida) is located within walking distance of the Lisbon by Segway offices. The concierge at the hotel was kind enough to highlight directions on a local map, making it very easy to find our way. Lisbon is a relatively easy city for walking, with street names that are clearly indicated. As soon as we arrived at Lisbon by Segway, we were greeted and quickly introduced to our guide for the day, Ruben Carvalito.

Look for this sign to find Lisbon by Segway tours

After being fitted with helmets (and hair nets!) it was time for Ruben to conduct a short training session on how to ride the two-wheeled marvel. Rickee and I are very familiar with the Segway, but the rest of our group had never ridden before. Ruben took the time to explain the operation of the Segway and there was ample time for everyone to practice their skills before heading out on the streets of Lisbon. One of the great things about a Segway is, if you can stand, you can ride a Segway!

Ruben explains the safe operation of the Segway to Barbara, one of the tour participants

Our tour took us through some of the most interesting parts of Lisbon, including a very interesting visit through the narrow (and steep!) streets of Alfama. Many of the streets here are cobblestone and uneven requiring the "rider" to remain alert; however, the Segways gobble up the bumps effortlessly and provide a surprisingly smooth ride. And, even though the streets can be quite narrow, the Segway has a zero turning radius, making it extremely well suited to the terrain. In some places, there was lots of traffic but Ruben made sure we navigated safely through all the autos, motor bikes and trolley cars.

Narrow, cobblestone streets are no match for the Segway

At one point, we arrived at an excellent lookout spot with a great view of Lisbon, perfect for taking photos! We dismounted the Segways and spent a few minutes just enjoying the panoramic view while Ruben pointed out areas of interest in the distance.

Amazing panoramic view of Lisbon

Next, we made a stop at Lisbon Cathedral, a famous 12th century church. We again had time to dismount, remove our helmets and go inside the church for a look around. At every stop along the tour, and there were many, Ruben would take time to give the history and significance of the location we were visiting. Everyone learned a lot about Lisbon and its place in history.

Ruben points out some of Lisbon's most interesting sights

The complete tour took about three hours. The final stop on our 'Delicious Tour' (59 € per person) was a visit to a local sidewalk cafe to try some Portugese specialties like codfish cakes and fried pork pies. Both dishes went very well with the local beer, Sagres. Our last stop was near the Lisbon train station at a little place where Ruben offered us a taste of the local Portuguese cherry liqueur, Ginjinha, which was served in a small cup made of chocolate. Delicious!

Codfish cakes are a Portugese specialty

All too soon it was time to return the Segways to their home, say goodbye to our new friends at Lisbon by Segway, and walk back to our hotel. We saw a lot of Lisbon that we had not seen before and did it in a unique and fun way. Next time we return to Lisbon, we will be sure to check out some of the other adventures offered by Lisbon by Segway.

Note: Lisbon by Segway offers a variety of unique experiences. See the menu of offerings below.

For more information on Lisbon by Segway, visit their website: http://www.lisbonbysegway.com

Aquabus Tour - Panama

Many Panama Canal cruises have started making a port call in Fuerte Amador, the port for Panama City. Since we are always looking for new and different experiences, we pre-booked an Aquabus tour through Panama Marine Adventures using the company's website.

View fullsize

The Aquabus

Our tour was scheduled to depart Flamenco Marina at 10:30. Flamenco Marina is where most cruise ships' tenders drop guests who are going ashore on tour. We boarded our tender about 9:30am for the 10-minute ride over to Flamenco Marina.

View fullsize

Tender drops guests off at Flamenco Marina

At Flamenco Marina, you will find a small, modern mall with lots of little souvenir shops and a huge Duty Free store that sells liquor, fragrances, candy, tobacco and even some electronics.

Fuerte Amador Resort & Marina mall

If you wander around the marina, you will likely be approached by several local taxi drivers who will offer to take you on a private tour of the area. One driver, Roberto, was persistent, but polite. He offered to show us all of the sights for $20 per hour. A good deal, I suppose, but we already have other plans. As soon as we arrived at the marina, we searched for, and quickly found, the Panama Marine Adventures kiosk located in front of the Duty Free shop.

Panama Marine Offices at Flamenco Marina

We approached the window and were greeted by Liliana, the PMA representative. She was gracious and welcoming, and told us where to meet the bus for the tour.

View fullsize

Liliana, with Panama Marine Adventures

Our Aquabus tour departed at 10:30 as scheduled and within a few minutes we were driving into the ocean! In addition to our driver/Captain, there was a tour guide on board who kept us informed of the local sights and points of interest in both Spanish and English.

Local guide from Panama Marine Adventures

The most exciting part of the experience is when the bus plunges into the water. It makes quite a splash and everyone on board squeals in excitement (or was it terror?!)

The Aquabus is now in the water, following the ship's tender out to sea!

For a bus, the Aquabus is actually a pretty capable, and stable boat. We initially enter the water using a boat ramp at Flamenco Marina, following one of the Azamara Quest tenders. We followed the tender all the way to Azamara Quest, which was anchored off the coast. We circled Quest, allowing everyone to get some good photos of the ship.

Rickee takes a photo out of the window

The Aquabus is air conditioned, but the cold air cannot keep up with the heat when people begin to take photos through the open windows. The ability to slide open the windows for photo/video is a great feature, but guests pay a price in comfort. Nevertheless, it was morning, so it was not hot enough to become uncomfortable.

When the bus was back on land, we drove from Fuerte Amador to Panama City, a trip of about 15 minutes. We passed a few significant monuments along the way, which our guide described. As the incredible skyline of Panama City got closer, we were taken in by the architecture and scale of the place. We had no idea Panama City was this big.

Skyline of Panama City is impressive

For two hours, we "sailed" and drove around Fuerte Amador and Panama City. The tour ended back at Flamenco Marina. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to see Panama City, Aquabus is a good, affordable option ($49 adult/$39 Child). Be aware that there is a somewhat steep ladder with maybe four or five steps that you must climb to enter and exit the Aquabus. Check Panama Marine Adventures website for more information, or to make a reservation www.pmatours.net.

Segway Cartagena

In case you don't know by now, we love Segway tours. It's not just because the Segways happen to be a blast to ride, they are a great way to see some of the world's most historic and interesting places. Cartagena, Colombia, is one such place where a Segway is an excellent choice to explore the historic Old City. We discovered Segway Cartegena through their website and wasted no time in booking a 90-minute tour.

If you have ever avoided a Segway tour because you feared that they are difficult to ride, let me put your mind at easy. If you can stand up, you can learn to ride a Segway in about 10 minutes or less. They are super-intuitive, and a lot of fun. In fact, the hardest part of our tour was finding Segway Cartegena's location! Our cruise ship offered a shuttle service from the pier to the gates of the Old City, so we figured we could walk around and find Segway Cartagena on our own. A map was emailed to us from Segway Cartagena, but the streets in the Old City are not very well marked. We asked several people for directions, showing them the map, but it seemed we kept going in circles. We did finally find the place (obviously), even though there is little or no signage outside. The Segways parked out front sort of gave it away!

Segway Cartagena location

Segway Cartagena offers a transfer from the ship for $15 per couple (each way), which we highly recommend unless you are adventurous like us and want to try to find the location on your own. Once we arrived, we met Cesar, our guide for the tour. A few other folks from our cruise ship (Azamara Quest) also showed up for the tour. We were all fitted with helmets and those who had no experience with riding a Segway were given a brief 10-minute training session.

Tour guests line up for Segway training

We informed Cesar that we were very familiar with riding Segways and were allowed to skip the training session. While everyone else was getting trained, I used the time to rig up my GoPro to the handlebar of the Segway I would be riding.

My GoPro clamped to the Segway handlebar

Each Segway was equipped with a small bag (see photo above) that could be used to hold sunglasses, keys, a small water bottle, etc. However, we were not offered any bottled water, so make sure to bring your own. Of course, you can also wear your backpack during the tour for larger items. Even though it is not required, it is a good idea to wear sneakers or closed-toe shoes (not flip-flops).

Cartagena is the perfect place for a Segway tour

Once the tour started, Cesar took the lead and we all followed through the crowded, narrow streets of the Old City. There were two other Segway Cartagena employees accompanying the tour. One would go ahead and stop traffic for us at intersections while the other remained behind the group. Whenever we dismounted the Segways, one of the guides would stay with the machines to guard them, so I never had to worry about my GoPro disappearing.

Segways are watched over while we are off exploring on foot

Cesar would frequently stop and have us park the machines so we could explore on foot and gather around as he explained the history of a building or an area. We have been on some Segway tours where you never dismount the machine until the end of the tour, and that can get a little tiring on the feet, so it is nice to get off frequently and walk around.

Cesar takes time to explain the history of Cartagena

Cesar and his associates were also good about offering to take photos of us along the way, something a lot of tour guides fail to do.

Cesar takes a photo of us on the Segways

Most Americans don't realize how much history and interesting architecture there is in Cartagena. I think there may still be a stigma about Colombia as a dangerous place, but today, Cartagena is probably as safe as any other international destination. In the Old City, you will find a lot of street vendors selling all sorts of items like hats, sunglasses, etc. But, none of the ones we came across were overly agressive.

Street vendors are commonplace in the Old City

Also, most of the places we visited, we found locals who could speak at least some English. Of course, our tour was entirely in English. Our Segway tour lasted 90 minutes and is a good value at $70pp. Segway Cartagena is a local company, so when you go on one of their tours, you are supporting a local business. We like that.

Rickee gets a picture with Cesar

When your cruise ship visits Cartagena, you can book a tour through the ship, or you can do your own thing and book a Segway tour with Segway Cartagena. I think you know which option we preferCheck their website for details at www.segwaycartagena.com

VIDEO

Horseback Riding in Golfito, Costa Rica

Jan 23, 2017 - This morning, Azamara Quest is still docked in Golfito, Costa Rica. While most guests book tours through the Land Discoveries desk on board, we have gone rogue and booked our own excursion directly with a local tour company: Golfito Tours.

Disembarking in Golfito

After a quick lunch in The Patio, we disembarked Quest around 1:45pm, in time to meet up with our guide at 2pm as instructed. Our guide for the day, Hariel, was waiting for us just outside the gates to the port, as was the owner of Golfito Tours, Adriana, and another GMT guide.

Our guide, Hariel, waiting for us at the pier

We all piled into a minivan, with Adriana driving, and headed off to the nearby rain forest. The drive to the horseback tour location took about 30 minutes. When we arrived, we were given helmets and soon mounted up for the ride.

Rickee gets familiar with her horse

Another local guide, probably the gentlemen who owns the horses, was the lead guide on the tour. He did not speak English, so having Hariel along to translate really helped. Along the way, he would point out flora and fauna as we passed them.

After about 30 minutes of riding, we soon learned why this is referred to as a "rain forest". It began raining, then it began pouring rain. This is something we had not prepared for. Rickee and I were soaked by the end of the ride! So, it is a good idea to pack a portable, disposable poncho just to be safe. Lesson learned. Adriana also pointed out later that most people do the tour in the morning when rain is less likely. The ride ended with a short hike to a beautiful waterfall. Our initial plan was to swim under the waterfall, but we were already so soaked from the rain, we decided to forego the experience. As my primary camera was not waterproof, we had to use the GoPro to take photos at the waterfall, and the quality is not that good.

If you are visiting Golfito, Costa Rica we can highly recommend that you book an excursion through Graffito Tours. They offer a wide variety of excursion options and we always prefer to support local businesses rather than booking excursions through the cruise lines. You can get more information at https://costarica-trip.com/golfito/golfito-tours/

Segway Tour of Florence, Italy

When your Mediterranean cruise docks in Livorno, Italy, you will have a lot of shore excursion choices. But,here is something they probably won't offer: a Segway tour of Florence. Livorno is the port city for Florence and Pisa, and since there is virtually nothing of interest to tourists in Livorno, a transfer to either Pisa or Florence is required. Of the two, we have always found Florence to be much more interesting. On our most recent visit, we decided to book a tour with Italy by Segway online a few weeks before our cruise on Crystal Serenity. We booked a round-trip motor coach transfer from Livorno to Florence with the cruise line (about $139 pp) which got us into Florence at about 9:45am. We scheduled our tour for 10:30am, so we had plenty of time to walk from the bus drop-off location to Italy by Segway offices.

We arrived at Italy by Segway's offices about 20 minutes ahead of our scheduled tour time. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by Cristina who introduced us to the other three members of our tour group for the day. She helped us get fitted with helmets (a safety requirement) and utilized her iPad to show a brief introductory training video. Rickee and I are very comfortable on Segways, having ridden them in many cities around the world. However, the other three members of our group had never ridden before so Cristina spent time with each one to help them get comfortable with operating the self-balancing machines. The great thing about a Segway is that you can learn to ride one in about five to ten minutes. If you can stand up, you can ride a Segway!

Cristina shows us a short training video

After everyone was comfortably zipping around on their Segways, Cristina gave each of us an Audio Vox communication unit. These units allow us to hear Cristina's commentary through an earpiece, a real convenience in a crowded and often noisy city like Florence. It should be noted that Italy by Segway is the first company we have toured with that employed the Audio Vox units and we think they should be standard issue on all tours. Using the communication device, Cristina was able to let us know in advance which way we would be turning so we had ample time to position ourselves through the crowds.

Rickee shows us her Audio Vox receiver

With helmets in place and Audio units turned on and working, we began our tour with Cristina leading us to our first destination, the iconic Duomo. When we visited the Dumo in 1998, the crowds of tourists lining up to get inside was incredible. Apparently, the Duomo has not lost any of its appeal. The crowds are just as large, if not larger. Fortunately, the Segways are equipped with a small bell to alert pedestrians that we are coming up behind them so they can clear a path for us.

Massive crowds of tourists surround the Duomo

As we stop in front of the Duomo, Cristina informs us of the history of the structure and how construction was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style designed by Arnolfo di Cambio. She also reminds us that Italian name for "Florence" is actually "Firenze", which explains why all of the signs you see in Italy refer to Firenze and not Florence.

Cristina explains the history of The Duomo

The structure was completed in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. The massive dome is a masterpiece of engineering, even by today's standards. There is no way to capture the majesty of this building in photos. It is something you have to see in person.

From the Duomo, we rode the Segways just a couple of blocks to San Lorenzo Basilica. The crowds were much smaller here and we had an opportunity for Cristina to take some photos of us in front of the Basilica. In fact, anytime we wanted a photo, Cristina was more than happy to oblige.

In front of San Lorenzo Basilica

Without going into detail on every single stop on the three-hour long tour (75€ per person), suffice it to say that the Segway tour of Florence (or 'Firenze') covers most of the top tourist sights. One of the highlights for us was a visit to Palazzo Vecchio where you can see a life-sized replica of the Statue of David (the original is on display in the Academy Gallery). And, of course, we visited the porcine "mascot" of Florence to rub its nose for good luck!

Statue of David (replica) in Piazza Vecchio

Another great historical site we had the opportunity to view, albeit from a distance, was Ponta Vecchio, a Medieval stone arch bridge over the Arno River, noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are gold and silver jewelers, art dealers and souvenir shops. Local laws prevent Segways from traversing the bridge, but we were able to view it from an excellent photo op spot.

Rickee at Ponte Vecchio

Throughout the tour, we had many opportunities to dismount the Segways, walk around to get a closer look at the sights, or even enjoy a cup of Cappuccino or Gelato (Italian ice cream).

Taking some time to explore on foot

One of our final stops was at Piazza Santa Croce where we took photos of the Basilica of Santa Croce. This also happens to be the meeting place for our return transfer back to the cruise ship. The Piazza is only a 5-minute walk from Italy by Segway offices.

Basilica Santa Croce

You can see the entire itinerary for this tour on Italy by Segway's website. As you will see, there are many more sights that what we talk about here. The three-hour tour is packed with local attractions and great information. Cristina did an admirable job of leading is through a crowded Florence and using every opportunity to give great information. On a Segway tour, you spend less time walking from one sight to another, which can be quite time-consuming if you are part of a large cruise ship walking tour. That means you get to spend more time at the actual points of interest, and you have time to visit more points of interest. The Segway really is the bestway to see Florence!

We were also able to rig up our GoPro to the handlebar of one of the Segways so we could shoot some video of the experience (see below). At the end of the tour, we returned the machines to Italy by Segway offices, said goodbye to Cristina and our new friends and departed for the walk back to the cruise ship transfer meeting point. We have done a lot of Segway tours in many European cities and the Florence Segway tour is one of the best we have done. Cristina is an excellent guide, the Audio Vox was a nice touch, and Florence has so much to see that it really lends itself to a Segway. We can highly recommend the Florence Segway Tour from Italy by Segway.

GoPro mounted to Segway handlebar

For more information, check out their website at http://www.italysegwaytours.com