20 Mar 24 - The Magic of the Northern Lights - First days

Monday - We had an uneventful drive down to Portsmouth and stopped in a Travelodge overnight. The only thing worth mentioning was our McDonalds, mostly cos we missed the first one we should have gone to and drove an extra 14 miles to get one.

Tuesday - A very late (11.30) breakfast at Dunelm, (good choice, bacon and sausage baps were excellent), before arriving at the port at about 12.30. The gearbox on the car can occasionally play up, but it's been good for the last two days, and we happily handed over keys to the car parking service before getting on board. Embarkation was very easy and before we knew it, we were in out cabin. We've been given a cabin on Deck 10 this time, right at the very back of the ship. No sticky out bit beyond the balcony to spoil our view, like we had last time, so we are very happy.

It was very grey as we sailed out, passing HMS Victory and old Portsmouth amongst other things on our way.

Lunch and dinner were pretty uneventful. As usual, we were seated with another couple each time, which we quite enjoy sometimes. Everyone has their own stories and backgrounds, which can be really interesting.

Today is Wednesday, our first sea day. Peter's first class was a bit chaotic, while we sorted ourselves out, but all went well, and the second one was much easier. 26 in the first class, and we had to turn a couple away for the 2nd one. The sea has been flat as a pancake, although the weather has been nothing but mist and drizzle. The captain has warned us on the noon announcement that this is likely to change tomorrow afternoon/evening though.

Looking out from out balcony at lunchtime, we saw a couple of weird looking platforms that made odd alarm type noises.... three short beeps and then a long one, which we could hear from quite a distance away. They didn't look like oil or gas platforms, more like lookouts. At the time we had no idea what they were, but one of Peter's artist followers was able to tell us that they were unmanned gas platforms.

At 6.30 we were catching our breath in the cabin after the 2nd class, thinking about getting ready for dinner, and the captain has just announced over the tannoy system that he has to change the cruise itinerary already. A nasty storm ahead means that we won't make our first Norwegian port of Alesund. The ship is going to go to Bergen instead, which is closer.

We went to watch the show tonight, which was a young ventriliquist called Max Fulham. He was absolutely brilliant! It's a long time we have laughed so much over 45 minutes.

Tomorrow is a sea day, so Peter will be running his classes again, and tomorrow night is formal night - which means posh frock for me, dress suit and tie for Peter. Fun, fun, fun.

Friday 28th April - Lisbon

I remember the first time I came to Lisbon.  I wasn’t impressed with the graffiti, the beggars and the gulleys full of cigarette ends.  Things haven’t changed much, there are still an awful lot of cigarette butts everywhere, and graffiti, but I can sort of see past that.  When the sun is out, and Lisbon is in a good mood, it’s a lovely city.

But not today.  Roadworks, building works and Commercial Square closed off for a schools event sort of took over.  It seemed like there was scaffolding and metal fencing everywhere.  I am sure it will look wonderful when it’s finished.

We did our usual thing and walked (although I did look enviously at the people on hired scooters and electric bikes – maybe next time).  We walked from the ship to Commercial Square, going down to the steps that lead from the river enjoy the view of the bridge.

I wonder if it there are ever occasions where it is all set up in all its glory, with some visiting royalty or diplomatic stepping out of their boat onto the steps and onward into a pristine Commercial Square.  I often think that would be a grand thing to see.

From there we walked through town, heading towards Edward VII park.  We passed restaurants, fountains, the station, Starbucks, wine stores, tourist tat stores, exclusive stores, grand buildings and tatty crumbling buildings, columns, statues, graffiti, beggars and homeless.

It became obvious that maybe Edward the VII park was perhaps a little out of range, so we diverted off towards an different area of greenery seen on the map.  This turned out to be Botanical Gardens, with a fee of €5 each.  Since it had taken so long for us to find our way there, we decided to pay the money and have a look around.

The gardens in Cagliari were much better to be honest, but we did see Ring-necked Parakeets, as well as a Redstart.

We also used the bathroom facilities. (Who puts a glass door on a toilet cubicle, even if it is smoked glass?  Peter stood guard!)  And treated ourselves to an ice cream there.

And then we walked back to the ship.  It turned out we’d walked about 7-8 miles.  No wonder my knees hurt.

The ship sailed at 4pm, heading out to open sea.  We, like many others, we went up on deck to watch Lisbon go by as we sailed down the river.  A must for any new cruise visitor to Lisbon is to be on the top deck as the ship sails under the 25^th April Bridge.  The way the bridge has been built means that as traffic travels across it, it makes noise.  The more traffic, the more noise, and it sounds like swarm of angry hornets!  Quite awesome.

So that was Lisbon and now we are on the last leg home.  Two more sea days and then Portsmouth.  Despite being so well looked after whilst I’ve been here, I am really looking forward to getting home. 

 You can read about a previous visit to Lisbon here : 8 January 2017 - Lisbon

Thursday 27th April – Gibraltar Straits

I was looking forward to this bit.  As the ship passes through the straits, there is a good chance that you can see loads of migrating wildlife, especially at this time of year.  The Captain had said we would go past Gibraltar at about 9 am, which would give time to get breakfast and then the art class ready before going out on deck.  Part of me did think it would be wise to go out early – but that would mean getting up!

At breakfast, about 8.15, dolphins were seen alongside the ship, and the photographer leapt up to go on deck saying “this is it, time to go…”, but I kept to my original timetable and was finished at the Coast to Coast by 9 am, and went out to see what I could.

And there was nothing!  We’d gone past Gibraltar a good hour earlier, and now we were heading on out to the Atlantic.  I felt quite depressed – I’d missed it all.  (Although to be honest, I don’t know if there was a lot to see)

I wandered around the decks, looking out to sea.   I could still see land, maybe there would be something………

I noticed a few moths on the decks, and that cheered me up slightly.  I took photos for ID later.  Then, as I was checking out a few sea birds, I realised I was watching something large and brown flying just above the waves.  Not a sea bird, an eagle or raptor of some kind probably.  It looked tired as it flew, just skimming the waves, I really hoped it was going to make it.  A couple of birders alongside me also saw it, if I see them again, they may be able to tell me what it was.  I felt slightly better now, I’d seen one of the things I’d wanted to see all this trip, one of the birds of prey crossing the straits.

And as the day went on, things got better.  Walking the decks later with Peter, we came across more moths, including a very nice Striped Hawk-moth.

Later we were entertained by a couple of wagtails hopping around the decks.  It took the help of another birder to confirm that they were Yellow Wagtails. 

And a little more icing for the cake, (or should that be ice cream?) We cleared up after the second class and this time decided to go to the Lido Deck for ice cream.  They have a whippy machine that you can help yourself too, and it is reeeallly nice, thick, whipped ice cream.  Two massive tubs later, we decided we’d had enough.  

The other thing of note today one of the other passengers recommended that we watch tonight’s show, a comedy ventriloquist called Jimmy Tamley – he’s been on BGT.  He was very entertaining, and had us giggling away, although admittedly, we knew the end of  a lot of his jokes. Tomorrow is Lisbon.  I checked, tomorrow will be Peter’s 14^th visit and my 9^th.  We have no plans for tomorrow, just a walk – let’s see where it takes us.