New York and........mostly calm seas...DG

Dodo…………….Dodo……………..Dodo………………..No it’s not jaws. We’ve just sailed through the BERMUDA TRIANGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes it’s been four days already. We were supposed to be at Antigua today but thanks to tropical storm Dorian, or Something like that, we’ve have been diverted to Aruba, another day away. Apparently a much nicer port but ……………

Anyway – NEW YORK, NEW YORK – so good they named it twice. Well it was good. We the pier on the way in – must check the hull when we get off again. Immigration was not so good!! Our tour scheduled to leave at 9 left at 11 am. I don’t think we missed anything but more shopping time downtown! Maybe Hoppy organised it on purpose. When we got off the bus at Pier 17 we all fell on the shopping carts and scrambled to buy t-shirts and caps and whatever we could get our hands on – we hadn’t seen anything to buy for so long – sad really. We took a sea trip on a boat, with 100 Asian kids who mostly controlled the sightseeing space posing and taking pictures of themselves. They couldn’t understand the commentary (I thought) so didn’t stop yapping and running around. HOWEVER we did see the statue of Liberty – very impressive, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York skyline from the sea – which we also saw coming and going to our berth but not to worry. We did have a yummy fish and chips lunch at Pier 17. We drove past Ground Zero (which couldn’t be seen on land anyway according to other disappointed tourists) – it wasn’t on my list of sites to see anyway – We saw Battery Park – also closed due to a recent cyclone. We drove through any of the familiar areas. There was a small area of traffic snarl up but apparently it wasn’t a busy day. We were dropped off at Maceys but that was under repair. We walked from Maceys, down Broadway to Time Square. That was fun. Street performers and body painted almost naked ladies for Hop to photograph! Lots of film characters to be photographed with if you were five years old. A bit like Hollywood really. It was fun. Time Square is not square at all; full of neon billboards, cops, people, queues – we still don’t know why people were queuing so we didn’t join in that one! We’re not stupid. We bought a couple of packets of roasted nuts and sat down and ate them and enjoyed the crazy ambience. Loved it. I had a feeling the one thing I thought I might buy , a nightie and negligee, I would get in New York. And sure enough I got one – should have got three. Not at Maceys at some huge cost, but at a clearance sale for $10. Yeah! I’m so thrilled. Just what I wanted and at my price.  We continued to walk through Time Kind-of Oblong(!!) to find 48^th Street. We trotted down there to 5^th Ave where our home was berthed. It’s very easy to get around with all the streets and avenues numbered like they are. It’s hard to explain but although the main couple of streets were crowded the streets we walked back to the ship on were empty and quite derelict. A water system being relayed – apparently has been happening for the last 10 years and due for completion 2017! Strange feeling. Anyway, another port that’s a definite come-backer.

I’ve had a terrible head cold for a few days so here’s to swimming at 28C in Aruba and lots of sun. It’s being amazingly sultry outside the last two days. Last night we couldn’t even get out on deck with the wind.  So now you know Adrian – we’re still here.

Finally - Oslo - most recent port by default (of de wind_)

Thought I’d better get back to this. This rough sea isn’t very conducive to computer activities but today is quite calm – so far. Still a pea souper outside. In fact even pea soupier than ever! We like to eat outside but with the fog horn blasting every few minutes it’s not the best either. Inside it tends to get a bit stuffy, but if that’s our only complaint – hey, how spoilt are we?

We went to Oslo on 16^th July – it’s now 22^nd!! –

And I’m back again. Such a busy life you know. Had to have lunch, go to a rum tasting, enter a talent quest – don’t ask- and get ready for bean bag tossing at 3 pm. And I saw some sun – they said the fog would clear this arvo. We’ve also turned the corner to head directly west to New York in three days’ time  - just passed 14 kms away from where the Titanic went down – yeah!                                Yes, Oslo, Norway. These Scandinavian ports feel more like home - maybe it’s the green and the wooden houses. We took a tour to the glassworks – mainly again, to get out into the country side and it’s so pretty. Fir and pine trees and cleared areas of farms and crops. The barns are traditionally painted red with white joinery and the houses yellow. It’s not economical to fell their own trees so they import timber from Sweden. Must be very pretty in the winter with snow on them. They have several artificial ski jumps and include cross country skiing in their popular winter activities. 164 of the 200plus ski runs are illuminated remembering the low daylight hours in this part of the world. One in particular, the Holenkollen Ski jump , is right behind the city, and really dominates the scene, especially with the sun shining off it. They also have a zip line up there. Public parks are full of sculptures and here also, the famous Edvard Munch’s “The Scream “is kept  in the National Gallery. The Hadeland glassworks, on the shores of Lake Tyrifjord, are nothing like those in Venice, which I presumed would be the case. Here they make glasses, vases, platters – very modern and stylish. They used to get the sand from the nearby lake but now import the glass pellets from Sweden. The country side is extremely pretty. Green grassy areas running to the lake side – it’s a huge lake – also called a fjord – a description for fresh and salt water areas. After the coffee and Danish refreshments and some non-productive shopping despite being factory prices and “tax free” haha, we set off back to the capital – a ride of 90 minutes. The Norwegians don’t hesitate to tunnel through the mountains either so the trip was very pleasant. We had a brief tour of Oslo before going to the Viking ship museum where some burial ships were on display. This particular one belonged to a queen who was buried in a mound with all her possessions – three smaller boats, a very ornate cart, two sleighs beautifully carved, toys, shoes, all put in the boat with her. It was a local area boat because of the low sides; 8 metres wide and 22 metres long. The other boats had a deeper draft so were sea faring vessels.  Quite fascinating. These countries and Europe and the UK have such entwined histories it’s a wonder they are separate at all but they manage to maintain an individual flavour. No love is lost between them that’s for sure. They all have many many marinas and lots of small boats.

Well. Captains cocktail party tonight - free booze and nibbles. The Captain is leaving in New York so better shake his hand for luck – again. He’s actually quite funny – English – and at the noon reports he’ll describe us variably as “thundering along”; “tootling along”; “going like the clappers” etc.

We didn’t win a valuable lanyard or water bottle at the bean bag tossing – devastating. Thanks for your feedback and comments. It’s so nice to be able to keep in touch. Love it. Technology is pretty marv. after all (when all goes well- obviously haven’t master the photo thingy yet; give us a month or two!)

See you later – maybe after New York New York!!!

Hello - Goodbye - The Faeroes and Torshavn

Woke up this morning thinking how very lucky we were to have calm seas in one of the roughest parts of the Atlantic. Even saw some blue sky. We’d set the phone alarm to get up and ready for our tour when the Captain’s voice came over the speaker to say we won’t be going ashore! Thirty knot winds had given us a width of 100m instead of our actual 35m going up the narrow channel and increasing our speed over the 6.4 knots that we were doing, to counter  act the wind effect was too dangerous in such a small port. He’d tried anchoring but that wasn’t viable either. So around we went and goodbye to Torshavn, the only possible place to go ashore in the Faeroes. Disappointing!

The winds are forecast to rise to 40 – 45 knots and at the moment visibility is nil – a real pea-souper. The Faeroes – Hoppy got a few pics and I saw a couple of grassy islands and a mountain – well the bottom of it – the rest was lost in cloud. Trees are rare here and the little wooden houses rooved with turf. Population 48.520.Size – 540 square miles. It’s actually part of Denmark but autonomous. The trip we were to take went to a neighbouring island through a 3 mile long undersea tunnel! There we were to see a rune stone dated back to 1200 AD; handmade salmon ladders and a word turners factory. Oh well – not today, and possibly never but who knows?

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen

Sure it could be! Copenhagen – well getting around to more NZlike houses and less predictable. It’s interesting as the Mediterranean style cities gradually morph into the European style; now we are moving into surprisingly familiar buildings/houses. Copenhagen was mostly flattened by the English when they were seemingly too friendly with Napoleon. As a consequence most of the buildings are more recent than a lot we’ve seen recently.  They don’t allow (mostly) buildings over 8 stories so you can still see their spires and towers. We only skirted the city really in our bus. We did however, see the Little Mermaid, not to mention another more voluptuous version which took Hoppy’s eye on the pier where the ship was docked!! Of course this is the land of Hans Christian Andersen and fairy tales so Hoppy’s away with the fairies. (They have a lot to answer for those fairies!!) Tivoli Gardens another example of fantasy and dreams. The permit for these was for 5 years and here they are still today almost 100 years later – long live fantasy land. The land is still reminiscent of Amsterdam with its flatness and canals but with some extremely modernistic buildings, interesting architecture and totally planned suburbs. There is a bridge which joins Denmark to Sweden. It’s quite spectacular but appears to suddenly stop in the middle of the sea. Here it goes under the harbour to come out further onshore. When it was first built a few people got caught taking the wrong turn and having to go all the way to Sweden, pay the equivalent of US$100 toll, turn around and go back to Denmark again! You would only make that mistake once ja? We often pick the trips which take us out into the countryside in preference to the cities and this time we went to the former fishing village of Dragor. Now it’s a marina and although the quaint cottages are preserved as historic sites, the cost is about $2million for a cheap one and then you have the cost of up keep in the historic manner. If you have a thatched roof there’s a major expense for maintenance.  I’ve been threatening to have a Danish pastry for a while and on this trip our snack was coffee and a Danish! I’ve had two since but won’t make it a habit(resolution). Gosh the genuine article is nice! The Danes have very cleverly put their wind turbines in the sea – no complaints from neighbours there I imagine. There was a market on the sea front with all manner of food and jewellery; even reindeer horns; chubby, mouldy sausages by   metre; cheese by the bun (?)prosciutto by the half animal it seemed and from all over Europe. Thought of you Rodney. The only cheeses I sampled were at Montserrat and they were delish. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we don’t have cause to buy much in the way of tasty morsels. Interesting that your boat was designed here. We think we’re boating people but when you see the numbers of all types of craft here and considering the weather????????????? The clothing was VERY expensive but I’ve just heard from Cherie that Hawaii is great for shopping so I’ll remember!! We’re also looking forward to the sun again you’ll all be pleased to know, as we chill out in 16C today. Not complaining though. The sea is calm and that’s GOT to be lucky in the roughest part of the Atlantic. (Yes I’m a bit behind and actually writing this passing between the Shetlands and Fair Isle en route to Faeroes.)   After that port we have 6 sea days and I will catch up then. Hopefully even get some more photos sent to amuse you – or otherwise!! 

Internet connections are a bit unstable here so will see what happens. I’m afraid of connecting and not being able to disconnect = many minutes used and no refunds!! We have been warned. It’s pretty amazing anyway isn’t it?                                        

Amsterdam

What’s next? Rotterdam, gateway to Amsterdam.  Driving again, through interesting country side past fields, glasshouses, crops, to Amsterdam, but the trip in was a nightmare. They hadn’t cleaned the bus toilet out properly and did it smell, issuing through the air con!! It was also freezing cold. By the time we got out several of us were ready to vomit!! Yuk – nightmares!! So we drove around Amsterdam, not quite appreciating all the points of interest as we might. We glimpsed the red light district but unfortunately didn’t get back for a closer look. Finally we escaped to take a canal boat ride – and that was good. The promised toilets on the boat were only one and very compact at that – and there was fifty or so on the bus but…….. We had an interesting trip around in the boat; past the dancing gable houses of Amsterdam – houses that have subsided over the years and now lean at various angles into or out from each other, picturesque houseboats, Anne Frank’s house.  Back onshore in the middle of the city we had some time on our own to wander, get some lunch, admire the flower market (you wouldn’t believe the size of the likes the Amaryllis bulbs- as big as dessert plates!!) and do our best to avoid the speeding trams and onslaught of bikes. It was very interesting and enjoyable if not a bit scary until you got used to having a really good look before you moved across any pathways or roads. Bikes are the main form of transport and there were a few innovative ideas for instance – twelve or so guys sitting around a bench with glasses of beer, BUT peddling as they drank, to propel the vehicle around the town. There was someone up front steering – drink and drive!! Most of the bikes are community owned. You pick one up here and drop it off there for someone else to pick up. There's just a sea of bikes! It’s all very flat of course, and not one obese person in sight. Some don’t want to share their bikes and those ones are locked to the side of a bridge or tree or bike park. Actually managed to buy more fridge magnets and t-shirts. We’ve been wanting to buy but people just don’t seem to realise what we want, and that they can earn a few $$$$. Scotland was hopeless. France - EXPENSIVE - a nice t-shirt on sale at 70% off was still equivilent to $70!! Hey it wasn't that great!There was a café and stalls set up inside a great terminal building.  A chap was there carving clogs…and we bought a pair each….yeah!!!!!! The genuine, large and cumbersome article. We’re taking a taxi to Rodney’s in Auckland and hoping to leave a small pile of goodies there while we continue to Sydney and fly home from there.

Dover

And so to Dover – the end of the second leg of our trip – goodbye to 700 passengers and hello to 730 more. They’re easy to pick. The Ozzies are ok but some of the US newbies are a bit “o t t” as always. Our tour in Dover was pm. so we spent the morning in the town getting a few essential supplies. My big buy was two dresses from the Heart Foundation “recycled” shop. Wore one last night for formal night. I think I’m oh so smart!! It was trying to rain – very light and not worth considering really. We’ve been so lucky with the weather. No rain since Mumbai – and we’d left town by then! Everywhere we go people say it’s the warmest day since……. Our afternoon trip took us through Kent, past  old hop houses now converted to family homes, across Romney Marsh, to the small medieval town of Rye. We saw quaint villages and lovely rolling country side on the way. Rye itself was a fortified hilltop town. Nowadays it’s a centre for boat building, fishing and pottery making. There was a unique model of the town which we viewed to the accompaniment of a recorded history with lights coming on and off to indicate various areas etc. Lots of interesting stories of smugglers and merchants, including a naughty friar who fell in in love with a local maiden – they were both walled in by stones and there they died. We wondered if they were tied up or not,so their last moments on earth could have included some little distraction – what a way to go. Reputedly you can still hear their cries down the neighbouring lane, at night!! Maybe they didn’t enjoy their last moments after all – so BEHAVE!!We just had time left to go up Mermaid Road to the church, have a quick look, then down another cobbled, narrow lane to get back for the trip home. What gorgeous quaint houses, some wooden, and so old. Like one pub had “re built 1410” over the door – amazing,  lovely flower boxes and little gardens. The church had a clock that’s operated since the 1500s. As you go in the wooden ceiling is slotted to make way for the huge pendulum to swing back and forth about 8 feet above your head! That night, as we left the harbour and the magnificent white cliffs, the sun was shining on the mirror image of the white cliffs of Calais, France, just 20 miles away. How amazing is that – you could pop over to France in your boat for the day!!

Northern France, Rouen and Monet at Giverny on the Seine

I’ve been a bit remiss haven’t I, but it’s all caught up with me. I’m feeling a bit tripped out, not to mention showed out. Should go to bed earlier of course – might help. However most of us are looking forward to the sea days between the Faeroes and New York!!

Back to France now and on the 11^th July we had a pleasant day driving through the French countryside to Monet’s house at Giverny. The French guides have a habit of repeating the name of the town over and over again, so I can remember that very easily – shame you can’t hear me say it!! Not as bad as “the Principality of Monaco” repeated every third phrase for 4 hours!! We went through Monet’s garden and house. So quaint. All the furniture is still there; even the bed he lived and died in. He had a cold bath every morning at about 5am but we didn’t see the bathroom. Why tell you that? Well I hate cold water and he was quite grumpy at times – any connection there??? The colours of the rooms have been kept as he chose them and his bedroom windows, when he lived here, were always open onto the riotous beds of flowers. The kitchen, once again, was fabulous and so interesting; the dining room, too, was lovely, even in a light yellow. Lovely big table with four chairs each side and two at each end, very welcoming and “real”. The colour in the gardens was amazing and seemingly random but it is all planned by the current head gardener and his twenty weeders.  Quite a feat of organised chaos.

Just come from a Lionel Ritchie Tribute show. It was good. It’s 11 o’clock at night; for once, I am not fighting to keep my peepers open and it’s STILL LIGHT OUTSIDE!!!!! What with an hour back here, and here, forward here and back here, then forward here, I’m quite out of whack! And then it’s daylight and the moon is rising; we’re heading east and it seems like west; the sun is setting at the back of the boat instead of the front, and north is in the wrong place!!

Back to Giverny. We went under the main road via a tunnel and into Monet’s water garden. There were the waterlillies. Our luck to have a very black man in a very ancient wooden punt clearing the weed from the ponds, and a frog croaking (as in making a noise not dying – I think)So like his paintings.(Monet’s)  We had to exit the property via the shop but with the queues, not to mention the prices, weren’t inspired to buy anything. Could have bought a hair clip for E6 – but then the queue – so back to the bus and on to Fourge. Here there was a beautiful house and water wheel on the river Seine. This was our lunch stop. Back on board and off to Rouen. The Cathedrale  Notre-Dame de Rouen is an interesting conglomeration of partly Roman but mostly Gothic architecture, still in a state of disrepair from bombings and pollution but certainly different from other churches we have seen. We also saw the place where St. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake and a very modern church built on the site in the 1920s; it was designed on the plans of an upturned wooden boat and very interesting. The shape and roofing outside make it look like a reclining dragon covered in scales.

Well, early start for another tour in and around Copenhagen tomorrow so better get at least this blog done.

Love and hugs  to you all. XXXXXXXXXX

Have fun skiing Lynda and the Royal family!!!!

Ireland and Scotland.

Well we’ve had twelve hours sleep. Went to bed without even seeing a show or a movie in the theatre, or both, for the first time. Sorted out a movie to watch in our cabin but neither of us can remember much about it. Housework day today. You know – fill the water bottles for shore tomorrow; put them in the fridge; clean out the shore bags from the last two days; see if I can get into the laundry, so busy.

I haven’t mentioned I spotted a whale in the Atlantic. He did three blows then disappeared down again. Probably a juvenile as he was on his own and smallish. Leaving Cobh I saw a dolphin, and again yesterday on a ferry crossing the Clyde to Greenock, I spotted a school of dolphin. Yeah 4 me!

I also forgot to say I got quite sunburned in Cobh!!!!!!!!!

Dublin was great. Craig and Catriona (Anne’s son -very like Rodney – tall, pale and quiet and delighted to know has a little more hair than Rodney but only just – he’s jealous of his brother Mark’s copious locks - and his wife) picked us up off the wharf and took us to town. Hoppy had a small shopping list. It was nice and “normalish” wandering around the shops. We had a snack and picked up the on/off bus. Didn’t get off much but it was great to see the sights. When we did get off it was to see Dunblinia – the origins of Dublin and the Viking connection.  Back on the bus and through the city and Phoenix Park – very pretty and so spacious. As always we need much more time to really see the place. In two years’ time when we come and base ourselves with Anne and John, Craig will show us more. We wound up the day with a traditional meal in a pub, Hoppy had coddle or “codde”,  sausage, potato, and carrot cooked together with cream, and 1 ½ pints of Guinness. I had corn beef, cabbage with parsley, baby taties and white sauce. We were too early to get anything more than a glimpse of the night life of the cobbled area. Quite enchanting.

Then off to Greenock. Here the bus took us to Luss, a very small and charming village with great gardens, on “the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond”, delightful countryside. Could be home of you didn’t see the houses. Once again we brought the sun with us and it was quite warm. There were people going out for a few days sailing on the Loch, and others taking day trips in their fizz boats . We had the best lunch of any of the tours although the local dessert was far too creamy for me. Hop managed his ok. We then went to Inveraray Castle. I shook hands and had a chat with the 13^th Duke of Argyll. He’s apparently the Chivas Regal heir and his wife, heiress of Cadbury, plus Lady in Waiting to Prince Andrew. Part of their palace is open to tourists – very interesting and luxurious with all kinds of art, armoury, china, tapestries and 18^th century French furniture; I liked the kitchen most – so interesting. The Castle was also the setting for the Christmas holiday in Dountown Abbey when Matthew got killed!! It’s amazing to think the Castle has been in their family for hundreds of years, about the three Dukes whose lifetims it took to start and finish the building, and all the history it’s seen. Back to the ship passed Lochs Eck and Holy, a ferry across the Clyde River and past lovely houses and flower beds. As we left the dock we had bag pipes playing and people waving - always very emotional for some reason. As we’ve left the last many harbours there’s been lots of boats and yachts making the most of the sunshine. Not at all my image of the UK! Another feature of both Ireland and Scotland has been the gorgeous flower baskets and plantings everywhere.

Thought we may see Wales - and it could have been - or maybe the northen coast of Cornwall.I’ve enjoyed glimpsing of Cornwall, for sure, sailing between Land’s End and the Scilly Isles this afternoon. Now we’re off across the English Channel to take the summer to France – ETA 6 am tomorrow I think.

Cobh - so lovely - surprisingly summery!!

And so we’ve had our first glimpse of Ireland. Cobh (pronounced Cove) is a delightful port town and really turned it on for the ship, especially for the Ozzies – although they thoughtfully included us – in memory of the 212 convict ships that left for Oz from here – mainly carrying women and children. We also finally made a whole Mass at St. Coleman’s cathedral, quite beautiful in fact and very ornate. We could easily understand the sermon this time even if it was in Irish!! And very good it was too. We went walkabout after Mass, heading towards the far end of Cobh and ended up on a “beach” Well, largish rocks but the water came in and out there. There were also cockles and mussels just lying between the rocks so I guess no-one is starving. We were told there were steps further along to get off the beach but didn’t like our chances so climbed a rock wall and squeezed ‘round a fence. We walked along in front of some quite new terrace houses and back to town. I’d seen a nice B & B, come restaurant come café so we settled down for a cuppa for me, a Murphy’s for Hoppy (the local Guinness but apparently much better because it’s more pure and doesn’t give you a hang over) and the best piece of apple pie I have ever tasted. Yum Yum. The town eventually woke up and there were pubs full of cruisers, and more pubs full of cruisers, a market place full of stalls and a rotunda where a concert ran all day from 12 with a different group every half hour. We had a burger and chips for lunch and also a ride on Thomas – well very like Thomas – a blue train with two red carriages, that took you on an hour’s trip around the town, and might I add, around the top of the town which was a steep climb from where we were. What a send off we had. A brass band and surely most of the town’s population, on the wharf, calling from the seaside pubs, and massed on walls higher up the hill. Since it’s the best day they’ve had, weatherwise, for 28 years there were lots of yachts and small boats out too. It’s 7.15 pm and we’ve just come back to our room. Hoppy has 20 minutes of video taking in the sight. It’s really is a pretty place. Mostly terrace houses though, but at least they’re painted different colours. Prices good here too. Only E69.000 for a terrace house although it needs modernising and heating. There was a nice three bedroom bungalow for only E130000. Everything has a sea view!!Things are pretty bad here though. Worse than the 1980s. Taxes have been instigated to gather more money and there are going to be demonstrations against the austerity measures according to the posters around the town. Well that was fun. We have to take the summer to Dublin tomorrow so here’s hoping. We’re meeting Craig too so that will be nice. Hoppy can get another thingie hopefully, to back up his 6000 photos etc. I refer, of course to “Hoppymoto” the photographer. 49 days at sea today – almost halfway through our trip – amazing. To be sure, to be sure.

Go raibh maith agat. Slan. Delyse and Hoppy

Sea day ...Ireland here we come.

Second sea day before Cobh.  They’re putting on a big Australia day. Apparently many convicts were shipped out from here. It was also the last port for the Titanic and the Lusitania was only 18 minutes out from here when it was torpedoed and sank so a lot of maritime history   here. Also 212 convict ships left from here – a lot of women and children – so they are having the blessing of “The Bonnets”. We’re fine but the temperature on the deck is icy. They say England is having 30C today. We hope. We’ve just had a UK cooking demonstration –  Bollywood refresher, chicken tikka masala, and carrot halwa!!!! The maître de took it.  He was very funny. An Indian guy, married to a Polish lady and living in Gdansk.  His family have been on board ‘til recently. Hoppy’s jammed in a bar with 500 others, watching the last Oz/Lions test. Not looking too good at the mo. Well I’ve just done the washing – exciting. After half time I found he game on the cabin TV so saved his aching ears. Also watched the women’s final at Wimbledon.

We know we’ve been lucky with riots and the weather ‘round the world so far. At the Captains cocktail tonight we also heard another piece of luck. In the Gulf of Aden a container ship broke it’s back and sank. If we’d been closer we would have had to take on board the crew. All were saved – some 51 crew. Would have been interesting but we have a schedule to keep!! Some of the ships we’ve seen are impossibly long! Now look at Egypt - no surprises there; and on the news today trouble in Jordan. The afternoon that some of our tourists were at the wailing wall in Jerusalem, there was a local shot and died.

7^th July and here we are in Cobh. It’s sunny and we’re expecting 25C. Might even get to Mass. They are having two extra Masses so we’ll give it a go. Looks like everything is up hill but it’s very pretty.

Laters…………………..XXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Portugal - Lisbon - Fatima - Bom dia.

Portugal meant a trip to Fatima. A familiar name to Catholics as the place where Our Lady appeared to three poor farmer cousins on many occasions starting 13^th May 1917.  I was never clear as to the third. On 13^th May 1981 Pope John Paul 2^nd was shot, the obvious intention was to end his life. He was not expected to live but one of the bullets was deflected (miracle/coincidence) from his heart. He said he was saved by the “Maternal Hand”. Supposed to be sleeping the day after the operations to remove the bullets instead he asked for all the information available to him on Fatima. There in the file was an envelope containing the third message of Fatima, foretelling the shooting of a “Bishop dressed in White” – part of the vision shown to the children and the third message of Fatima. A year later Pope John Paul 2^nd visited Fatima in thanks giving for the saving of his life. He took the bullet that was removed from his body to leave with Our Lady. It was to go into the statue there and uncannily they found that a hole in Her mantle fitted the bullet exactly and that is where it remains to this day - (miracle/coincidence). There are prayers for the beatification of the young seers – Lucia 22/3/1907- 13/2/2005 – she entered a convent of Dorothean Sisters but  later joined the Carmelites; Our Lady appeared to Lucia on three other occasions from 1925 – 1929; Francisco 11/6/1908 – 4/4/1919; and Jacinta 11/3/1910 – 20/2/1920. Now all three are reunited in the beautiful basilica at the shrine of Fatima. The huge square has held one million people and towards the top end is a spring of naturally potable water, shown by a green area, where you can drink the water, cool yourself with it or apply it to areas you would like cured. Of course any claims to cures are asked for to go towards evidence for the beatification (official Sainthood) of the children. There is Our Lady’s statue (and where the bullet from Pope John Paul is) where the rosary and Mass are said very day in the semi-enclosed Chapel of the Apparitions; an area to burn votive candles, a marble path where pilgrims come on their knees to prayer for or give thanks for special intentions. We were going to hear Mass but as usual the sermon was too long and we left. The basilica has porticos with mosaic panels depicting the Stations of the Cross and inside there are gold depictions showing each of the mysteries of The Rosary. At the opposite end of the square is a huge new Church, simple and stunning, and able to seat 9000 people and underneath more chapels and an exhibition of the Heart where you can take a photo placing yourself in the Heart of Our Lady. There were not crowds as I expected, and crass commercialisation. The overall messages of Fatima I interpret as daily prayer and penance for offences to the hearts of Jesus and Mary, and a daily Rosary for peace on the World. I think we are failing there so here’s the answer! The trip to and from Fatima was via the A1 motorway and only took 1 ½ hours each way.  It went through the suburbs of Lisbon (population 3 million) and through an agricultural belt of eucalypts (for paper); pine trees (for the nuts); cork oaks – Portugal is the world’s primary producer; citrus and vineyards. As we left our berth we sailed from the huge harbour back down the Tagus River and into the Atlantic. We passed again, under the “singing bridge”, 25^th April Bridge, named to commemorate the bloodless coup of 1974 and employing the same engineer who designed San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a huge construction carrying road traffic with rail underneath, and spanning 1 ½ miles. It makes an uncanny noise as you approach, increasing as you pass under. There’s no paving, as such, and I presume the noise is caused by the tyres on the mesh which forms the surface to drive on. As you look up you can see the vehicles through the mesh. The sides of the river have numerous monuments and ruins and we enjoyed the views as we lounged on the stern deck. Sipping drinks and basking in the best evening sun we will see for a while. It was Lisbon’s hottest day for years. We had 38C at Fatima. The beaches were crowded as we passed. Apparently the sea temp. varies from 18 where the Atlantic has its influence to 25C where the cyclonic air from the Med. has an effect. I’m running out of rave room. See you again soon. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

oops we're running into some 40 knot winds!! Wrist bands and bombers ahoy!!

 

Cadiz and beyond...........

Last night we passed through the Straits of Gibraltar at 12.30 am. We woke up and looked out the window to see the lights ashore; the outlines of hills; a lighthouse. Back to sleep – I wish. Now I’m grumpy – finally got to sleep on deck when someone dropped a lounger beside me. Now I’m grumpier so why not go to my cabin, put on the Bee Gees and rave – online!! The sea has been inky calm – long may it continue.

Today we bye passed Seville and went on the motorway to Arcos de la Frontera, perched high on the Cadiz Sierras and one of the  historic Pueblos Blancos. It’s a very old town with the usual narrow streets but paved with granite squares and river rocks set on edge in a triangular pattern. There are two churches, several convents, a hospital and heaps of history of course. One of the convents cooks natural food products into sweets and pastries. You go in and put your money on a turntable and it is turned and your choice of pastry or sweet is returned to you. You don’t see the nuns on the other side. There cloister overlooks the street with grills so they can see us but we can’t see them – very mysterious. What was once a mosque has been dismantled and the materials recycled to make a Christian church beside it – only the area of the baptismal font remains but levelled. The synagogue, too, has an alternative use since the Jews were driven out because they were too hard to convert to Christianity. Rumour has it that the descendants still have the keys to the houses they abandoned and could possibly come back at any time to take over again from the present inhabitants. That was only 300 years ago of course. The views are spectacular, being built on top of a hill, as with the medieval towns. Even the two churches had a fight between themselves. They are only 500 metres apart. They fought over which church was the principal church of the area. An envoy was sent, by donkey, to Rome. There to await the decision of the Pope. After three years the envoy returned with the decision, and the losing Church was given the skeletons (relics) of two Saints to compensate for being only the second most important church in the village. We went into that church – how beautiful – and no one posing in front of the many carved, gilded ornate altars. It did cost us the huge sum of one Euro each to enter -… worth every penny.  Hop had left his money on the bus. It’s a conspiracy!! We managed to borrow some earlier, from one of our fellow travellers. There were the saints’ remains in glass caskets; also a carving of Jesus lying in a casket – life sized – beautiful and only carved in 1967. Good to know that beauty’s still being created and the story continues. There was a night watchman who wandered the village at night with a great bunch of keys in case you locked yourself out or similar. He only died in the 1950s and some in the village still remember him. He was given a little donkey. It was kept in the bell tower. It was fed there and there it died. In the meantime it had got so fat that they couldn’t get it down the narrow spiral staircase so they ate it!! Eventually, when the night watchman died, he, too, was too fat to get the body down the staircase!!!. No, they lowered him down the outside of the church from the bell tower. Back to the money though. There were some huge owls and falcons along with some very cute baby raccoons on one of the terraces overlooking the cliffs and view. Hoppy (Dr Doolittle!) was right in there getting his photo taken with them. Then I realised it wasn’t free – of course not, and we had no money. That’s when I borrowed some. We had quite a time to look around before going to a Hotel for a glass of local wine and some tapas. The wine was good but the tapas – kettle fries, some frittata and olives. Not quite what I expected but…….Back to Cadiz. Back home. Ran out of energy to walk around this city although it’s very small and I should have. Ten kms of beautiful white sandy beaches here too. Another “next time”. They have walking trails around the town, of various colours and you just follow whichever trail. Great idea.

Via con Dios my darlings.

Barcelona

So on to Barcelona. Yes it looks a nice city Lynda – I would like to come back too – didn’t even get to walk up Las Ramblas. We took the trip through the city and all its sights then on to La Sagrada Familia, Antonio Gaudi’s unfinished church which tells the story of Jesus and depicts his life down to what he ate. It’s a very polarising project but I loved it; the fact that such a scramble of images had found acceptance in the mid-1800s; and the vastness of the plan; and the all-encompassing ideal it was. We didn’t join the two hour queue to go in but maybe next time! We took the interesting drive through industrial and agricultural areas to the Mountain of Montserrat. What fascinating geography and every smooth phallic peak rising up named! Some were beyond the perpendicular. The vegetation boasts more than 1500 species so apart from the religious and geographic significance there is huge botanic interest as well. In the 1400s three boys played regularly in the mountains and noticed on three consecutive Saturdays, a light shining on a certain spot. They consulted the local priest and he too witnessed the light. Eventually they discovered a cave with a statue of the Virgin Mary in it and she was black. Controversy surrounds the reason for this but many miracles have been attributed to her. They tried to bring the statue down the mountain but each time they came to an incline the Virgin became impossibly heavy, so here She stayed. There was a Benedictine Monastery established on the site. Many other Saints had rudimentary dwellings on the mountain as time went by. The monks also recruited young boys from the villages around to study with them, but  primarily to sing. So the choir of young voices has also become very popular. Three years ago girls were also allowed to join the choir. We missed some visiting choirs singing. The basilica is extraordinarily beautiful. I always feel uneasy with some many people posing before the altar for photos and the like so we just sat in the back for a while, said some prayers for you all. Hop tried to take some shots but found a movie was the best option. There was a queue filing in to touch the Virgin, placed high above the altar, mostly Russians apparently. I wondered if this was on the pilgrims trail from France to Rome. You can stay here – in luxury or as a monk. Our lunch was described by the blurb as delicious – my description – horrible. Kind of a cannelloni with white sauce burned on top and stuffed with a meat mixture of, I suspect, offal. A piece of roasted chicken with quite acidic ratatouille and potato chips arriving much later, a bread roll which I imagined had been sitting there since yesterday – no butter or olive oil. Dessert was a reasonable slice of what could described as a variation on tiramisu. By now I was hallucinating about fruit and vegetables! The wine was included – Hoppy enjoyed it with the people opposite – the white was tolerable but not worth the fog – but then I’m a sweet wine peasant! I’ll save my ration for my Muscat back on board. On the way “home” we went around the area used for the Olympics in 1992. Very interesting. And as we sailed away, lounging at the stern and inhaling the view of the dissappearin city, I finally heard the song Barcelona, sung by Freddie Mercury and a lady soprano,( yeah!)followed by three other very appropriate tunes from Placido Domingo and Enya.

Sea day and catch up tomorrow – sleep in, washing, ironing – gardening clothes!!!!!! The temperatures are dropping.  It was 22 or so in Barcelona. The guide said the first warm day at last! We’ll be praying for summer to arrive in the UK in the next week. Hope you have some nice clear days – even if they are cool. Love and hugs to you from us.

Hoppy's not the man who robbed the bank at Monte Carlo (too rich for us) But we did see Monaco +++

OK so you're too young to remember that song - well some of you!!

We got off to a very late start and thereafter the driver drove like he was in training for the Grand Prix. If you’re going to look down –don’t think about it, just admire the view!!Poor Hoppy trying to take photos from the bus – there are lots of pine trees (but not as we know them) and houses crouched right on the side of the road, which is also the side of the cliff. French Riviera? Nothing like I imagined. Strange to think Monaco is a country with only two square kilometres. It has three French villages around it and on one round a bout you pass in and out of the country!! In some of the road tunnels there are intersections and traffic lights. Tunnels are nothing to the Italians as we have noticed before. Just a hop south in Menton – a ten minute walk takes you into Italy. We drove on the high road to Nice which itself has only been French since 1870. Crazy, these countries with land borders. I’m so glad we don’t have any – YET!! All the way up and down the coast, the French Riviera no less, there are little beaches, crowded by the time we got there, covered in pebbles except where some sand has been imported, and quite steep into the sea of blue of course – the Cote d’Azure. It apparently just stopped raining two days ago. We were lucky there. North at Antibes, the beaches are naturally of sand. At Nice we didn’t do the harbour drive we expected as the amateur part of the Tour de France was taking place. We only skirted the town then back on the second coast road past the medieval village of Eze, where we were supposed to stop but didn't! Then on to a perfume factory. What a shambles, however, determined to buy something I did considerable damage to the credit card – at least I’ll smell sweet! More frantic driving to the seaside town of Menton.  Here Hop managed to snap a voluptuous topless bather taking a shower beside the road – shattered some illusions – yeah! We had a wander around the market, downed a beer and mocktail, then back to our bus and the ship. Our 4 hour trip took under three and we beat a bus doing the same trip home by ½ an hour even after leaving 1 hour later than it did. The worst trip and quite boring!! BUT we did see some quaint villages and villas, Monte Carlo -  the Casino; the Grand Prix track; the place where Princess Grace had her car accident and died; some snow on the French alps; cyclists; pinetrees; near accidents; pinetrees; more faded yellow and orange apartments/houses; cyclists; pinetrees. We’ve certainly had time to absorb the overall feel of the Med if not experienced it in depth. So the trip was called Nice and Eze – not nice and eze! Keep warm.XXXXXXXXXXX