| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
8th Sep 2025 |
BoMoH -> Horley |
£65 Horley B&B |
 |
9th Sep 2025 |
Bergen Norway |
On board before 13:00 |
 |
11th Sep 2025 |
Amsterdam Nether- lands |
Walk to Lidl |
|
12th Sep 2025 |
Amsterdam Nether- lands |
Delft City & Porcelain tour |
 |
13th Sep 2025 |
Zeebrugge Belgium |
Ypres & Flanders Fields |
 |
14th Sep 2025 |
Le Havre France |
Paris On Your Own (OYO) |
|
16th Sep 2025 |
Falmouth England |
St. Michael's Mount |
 |
18th Sep 2025 |
Oporto Portugal |
Coimbra & Aveiro |
 |
20th Sep 2025 |
Malaga Spain |
Scenic Malaga & Flamenco |
|
21st Sep 2025 |
Cartagena Spain |
Cartagena by Segway |
|
22nd Sep 2025 |
Barcelona Spain |
Modernisme tour |
|
23rd Sep 2025 |
Barcelona Spain |
Home by 16:15 |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke at six o'clock ready for my mashed banana in milk breakfast. At 9:30 I drove into Winton to do some last minute shopping. Just before eleven, the postman delivered my new dash cam and portable coffee maker. Unfortunately I didn't have time to test out the latter as I had to summon a taxi. The driver was Algerian, so I told him about my visit to Algiers and Tipaza.
At the BoMoH coach station, the National Express coach (£13.50 one way) loaded early, so I was able to nab a front seat behind the driver. Before departing at 12:05, I ate my lunch of cheese and baby plum tomatoes. I finished up my milk brought from home, before sleeping for one hour. I awoke as we parked at the SoToN coach station, which Flixbus is not able to use.
On the M27 near Fareham, the coach alarm started ringing, so the driver turned off the motorway. One of the four brake lines had lost pressure. The controller suggested it was safe to continue the journey with three working hydraulic lines, but the driver, and me, couldn't bear the constant alarm. I moved to the back of the bus, where I couldn't hear it, as we parked in Fareham bus station. We had to wait one hour for a people carrier taxi to arrive.
One couple wanted to be dropped off at the Portsmouth hard (standing), where an old Italian man joined us. The driver choose to go the long way round to LGW via the A3, M25 and M23 to avoid the notorious Chichester bypass. We got to the North Terminal just after five o'clock, one hour late. One young man had to run for his six o'clock flight to China.
I was the only passenger due to stay on for the South Terminal, so I asked the Roumanian driver to drop me at my B&B, the Gainsborough Lodge in Horley. I then gave him a tenner as a tip. Once I had settled in and drunk a decaff coffee, I walked the quarter of a mile into the Town Centre. In Waitrose, I bought some sandwiches for breakfast the next day. In the Subway outlet, I had a £4.89 submarine roll with chicken tikka pieces, cheese and all the salads bar the jalapeno chillies.
Back in my B&B again, I had another decaff coffee, as I started work on this blog. I spent the evening watching television, going to sleep just after ten o'clock. During the day I had done less than seven and a half thousand steps, equal to only three miles of walking.
I awoke just after five o'clock, having slept for seven hours. I ate my Waitrose sarnies with a mug of hot tea to drink. I left the Gainsborough Lodge at six o'clock, but managed to leave my rucksack in the hallway. Fortunately a couple were leaving and let me back in to collect it. They live near Alicante in Spain and had been staying in Kent and Devon. They were now flying to Prague in Czechia.
We caught the 6:10 service bus just outside the B&B. At LGW South Terminal, I checked in with the machine, but had to shell out £17.90 for my choice of seat near the front of the 'plane. I then deposited my suitcase on the scales and it only weighed 14 kg. I found a seat with a power socket and updated this blog.
During the night, Gary from the Peel Talent Agency offered me Easter Island, Pitcairn and French Polynesia with Azamara. Unfortunately I had to turn it down, as I couldn't face the long haul flights to and from the Pacific Ocean. The 'plane was only half full, so I moved to have a spare seat beside me.
We pulled back only five minutes late, but we were then in a queue of seven on the taxiway. We had a good view of Canary Wharf, before crossing the North Sea. The flight was uneventful, except for five minutes of turbulence. We were given no food or drink.
We landed in Bergen in heavy rain, as it is the wettest city in Europe. At passport control the lady typed my explanations into her computer. At the baggage carousel, I met Viking Resident Historian (VRH) Neil Taylor and his Estonian wife Tiina. In the foyer we met the Viking reps who introduced us to our driver. He led us to his people carrier for the ride to the ship in the rain.
At the port, I carried my own cases on to the ship, which I dumped outside my suite (10028). I lunched on the broccoli & potato soup, the roast lamb and the no sugar added cherry ice cream with extra cranberries al fresco a la veranda as the rain had stopped. I had a lovely view of the SAGA Spirit of a Denture berthed near us.
Back at my suite, my bags had been let in by the steward, but I didn't immediately unpack. Instead I dozed for just twenty minutes, as I was excited to be back on the Viking Sky. At 2:30 I walked through the fortress and into the city centre. I walked along my favourite old street of Marken to the old leprosy hospital and the train station. I walked back via the row of art galleries and the Tourist Information Office (TIO) to the ship.
Back in my suite, I finally unpacked. Just before five o'clock, Stage Manager (SM) Jithin tested my laptop, after which we met Cruise Director (CD) Andre from England and Assistant Cruise Director (ACD) Jenifer from the Philipines. I also met fellow lecturers Maureen Dobranski and Dr Claudia Hackbarth.
At six o'clock I went to the Main Dining Room (MDR) where I hosted two female gynaecological doctors at dinner. They came from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. I had my favourite lentil soup, the Viking sirloin steak with chips and the no sugar added ricotta cheesecake to eat. I had two glasses of the German red wine to drink.
At eight o'clock I went to hear a Norwegian violinist with piano accompaniment, but I had trouble keeping awake. The only tune I knew was Morning by Edvard Grieg. I went to sleep at 9:30 having done over fifteen thousand steps, equal to over six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at seven o'clock, after a good night's sleep. At 7:30 I had one egg Benedict in a pot and one egg Royale in another pot for breakfast al fresco a la veranda with an overcast, but calm North Sea. Back in my suite, I started work on my Viking Saturn documentation.
At nine o'clock SM Jithin set me up and at 9:30 CD Andre introduced me. I then gave my forty minute talk on the Story of the North Sea. Afterwards I had some questions to answer in the bar outside the theatre.
When Julie from the Philipines was servicing the suite, I moved up to the Explorers Lounge, where I chatted to a Canadian couple from Vancouver Island. At noon I lunched al fresco a la veranda on the cauliflower & broccoli soup, followed by two chicken skewers with vegetables to eat. I forewent my dessert and only had two glasses of sparkling water to drink.
I then slept for nearly one hour, before having a tin can of diet coke to drink whilst working on my laptop. I finished off my Viking Saturn documentation, before emailing the Oceania Vista CD with my upcoming talk titles. I then watched my North Sea talk on the telly. I spent most of the afternoon updating my Bodrum talk with my latest photographs.
At 4:30 I went to the Amsterdam port talk. CD Andre spoke for twenty five minutes followed by Shorex Man Leon for another eighteen on the tours. Andre finished with his twelve minute conclusion.
At six o'clock I hosted the solo travellers meet up with ACD Jenifer. We had Amy from Honolulu, Robyn from Australia, Mary from Texas, Maria from New Zealand and Sally from British Columbia. At the end I gave Jen my travel receipts for possible reimbursement.
At 6:30 I adjourned to the MDR where I hosted a table with a couple of academics from Alabama, a lady from Colorado and another from Wyoming, who originally came from Dunedin in New Zealand. I had the Norwegian fish soup, the Norwegian meatballs and the no sugar added chocolate mousse to eat. I had two glasses of the Spanish Temperanillo red wine to drink.
At nine o'clock I sat with the other three lecturers in the front row for the welcome show time. This began with Captain Fredrik Nilsson introducing his senior officers The classical duo played one tune, ACD Jenifer sang one song and the four vocalists did a few show tunes. CD Andre introduced us and we each said a few words. I went to sleep at 11:30 having done only three and a half thousand steps, equal to only one and a half miles of walking during the day.
I got up just before seven o'clock, having slept for seven and a half hours. I had my first continental breakfast of ham and cheese on a toasted bagel for breakfast, but the aft veranda was not set up for dining, so I ate inside. I had two glasses of sparkling water to drink.
I then finished off my Bodrum presentation photographs. At 9:30 I went to Neil's forty seven minute lecture on the History of the Netherlands, which included coverage of the Manhattan Transfer to Britain, in exchange for the Indonesian Nutmeg Island of R(h)un. Afterwards Julie was still servicing the suite, so I walked around the top deck as we entered the North Sea Canal.
At 11:30 I had a bowl of tomato soup, but it was too windy out on the aft terrace, so I withdrew to the Aquavit double height lounge for the Indonesian Dutch rice table buffet. I had two chicken skewers with peanut butter dip and some beef chunks with deep fried vegetables in batter to eat. I had just one glass of sparkling water to drink, before sleeping for an hour. When I awoke, I had a message from the Oceania Vista's CD, who turned out to be Sammie Firbanks, who I knew from previous FOCL cruises. She was replying to my sending her my list of proposed talk titles, ready for a fortnight's time.
I didn't get off the ship until 2:30, when I walked to the Tourist Information Office (TIO) under the Central Railway Station. They told me where the nearest Lidl supermarket was located. I walked down Kalverstraat, my favourite pedestrianed lane to the Begjinhof green oasis, where I recorded my piece to camera. In Lidl I bought a tube of toothpaste for 79c (68p) that I had forgotten to bring from home. At four o'clock I headed back via the floating flower market and the Dutch East India Company museum.
Back at the ship at 5:30, I did six lengths of the cool pool in a deserted space with the roof firmly closed. At six o'clock I adjourned to the Explorers Lounge in case any solo travellers turned up. I then went to the MDR to ask for a shared table. The lady maitre d' said that as many people were ashore, it was best if I dined alone. I was sat next to a couple from Denver, so we talked about my Colorado vacation.
I had the meatballs & cabbage soup, the duo of lamb and the no sugar added coffee panna cotta to eat. I had just one glass of the Chilean red wine to drink. Towards the end of the meal, a gay couple came and sat on my other side. One was a social science academic at a college in New Jersey and the other one was a financier.
At nine o'clock I really enjoyed the excellent Coast to Coast production show of American music. It began with Sinatra and Elvis, before covering the Supremes, the Beach Boys, the Four Seasons and Neil Diamond. Jordan said he was an Essex boy like me, so I must speak to him! I went to sleep at 10:15 having done eighteen thousand steps, equal to over seven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 5:55 five minutes before my alarms, after a disturbed night of intermittent sleep. My mind had been racing going over Silver Muse, Oceania Vista, Sammie Firbanks, Bodrum and Easter Island! At 6:30 I had two warm milk bread rolls with ham and eggs to eat. I had just one glass of sparkling water to drink and one cup of decaff cappuccino to take away to my suite. Here I worked on my laptop.
At eight o'clock I walked along the decking to the cruise terminal, where I spoke to Shorexer Alex. In the huge garage, I met guide Pim and driver Hank. Our brand new coach was Dutch, but two of the others were Croatian, a long way from home! We had twenty three guests to look after on the sixty five minute run past Schiphol airport to Delft.
At the Royal Porcelain factory we had a good tour, but some guests took too long in the gift shop. On the way to Delph town centre, one lady was concerned about getting back for her afternoon tour. Pim therefore made the walking town optional, allowing half an hour of free time for those who wanted it. Half a dozen guests and myself continued with Pim to the famous leaning tower and the Vermeer museum. The latter does not have any original Jan Vermeer paintings, as only 34 survive in the world and most of them are in London, New York or Amsterdam.
One lady failed to appear at the market place, so I stayed behind to wait for her. After ten minutes, Pim phoned me to say that they had found her on the way back to the coach. I hurried after them, but one of the draw bridges had opened, so I was able to catch them up while they waited. The run back to the ship was slowed by traffic jams in Amsterdam, so we didn't get back until 14:20.
I rushed up to the World Cafe buffet to get some chicken cordon bleu and sweet & sour chicken to eat. I didn't have time for soup or dessert. I then had a deep sleep for an hour and a half, making up for my disturbed night. When I awoke I had missed the start of the Zeebrugge port talk, so I updated this blog whilst drinking a tin can of diet coke.
At six o'clock I went to the Explorer's Lounge, but no solos appeared. At 6:15 I was given a sharing table in the MDR where I was joined by Dick & Molly from Atlanta. He was an law academic and also worked for the US Federal Reserve Bank. Later Barb from Cincinnati arrived, who had been on my morning tour. I had the beef enchilada soup, the Norwegian poached salmon with boiled potatoes and the no sugar added red & white dessert to eat. I had just one glass of the house red wine to drink.
At 8:30 we entered the IJmuiden lock in the North Sea Canal, so I moved up to the top deck to take some photographs in the dusk. At nine o'clock I enjoyed ACD Jenifer's cabaret. She began with the Carole King / Aretha Franklin Natural Woman waltz and continued with Lou Armstrong's What a Wonderful World waltz. She belted out the Never song from the Greatest Showman and finished with The Last Dance disco number. I went to sleep at 10:15 having done just under ten thousand steps, nearly equal to four miles of walking during the day.
I got up just before my alarms at six o'clock, ready for TWO egg royale croissants for breakfast at 6:30 when the World Cafe opened. I also made two ham & cheese muffins as a packed lunch to take with me on my all day tour to Ypres and the Flanders Fields. I spent an hour working on my laptop, before departing the ship at 8:45.
On the quayside I met guide Chris and driver Dhebo. We had just twenty three guests to look after on the Ypres & Flanders Fields tour. There was a one hour run out to the infamous Tyne Cot cemetery which is the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) site in the world. It houses nearly twelve thousand burials, three quarters of which are British, followed by Australian, Canadian, New Zealander and South African soldiers. I shed a tear or two at the moving site of the acres of white grave stones. We passed several other CWGC site on the drive into Ypres, called Wipers by the British troops.
Our next stop was at the monumental Menin Gate, which is the largest WW1 memorial in Belgium. We walked along Menin Street (Menenstraat) to the Great Marketplace (Grote Markt) to go in the recently cleaned Woollen Cloth Hall (Lakenhallen) containing the Flanders Fields museum. This was interesting, but rather dark, so one couldn't really see the impressive wooden roof.
During out free time, I ate my two ham & cheese muffins on the steps outside, before visiting the deserted cathedral. I then headed out to do the ramparts walk, which took three quarters of an hour. At the southern end, I chanced on another CWGC cemetery with some small Canadian flags overlooking the moat.
Back at the Cloth Hall, we gathered for the walk back to the coach. Our final stop was at the Essex Farm cemetery in the John McCrae memorial site. He wrote the famous "In Flanders Fields" poem:
In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Back at the ship, I had a decaff cappuccino, before sleeping for half an hour and then updating this blog. At 5:30 I did six lengths of the cool pool, with only a handful of people in the room. At six o'clock I showed my face in the Explorer's lounge, before descending to the MDR. Here I was sat with Liz from Arizona and her friend Linda from Hawaii. Later Corky and her husband from Maui, one of the smaller Hawaiian islands, arrived.
I had the Cheddar cheese & beer soup, the feta cheese salad, the lobster and the no sugar added raspberry blast dessert to eat. I had two glasses of the Chilean red wine to drink. At nine o'clock I enjoyed the Duets production show, which I have seen a few times before, but always like. I went to bed at 10:15 having done thirteen thousand steps, equal to over five miles of walking, during the day.
One of my alarms awoke me at five o'clock by mistake, but I was able to go back to sleep for another hour, until my second alarm awoke me at six. At 6:30 I had the special breakfast of a chicken burrito with cheese sauce. I also prepared a mini-baguette with generous ham, cheese and butter as my packed lunch for Paris that afternoon. Back in my suite, I started work on my "Welcome to France!" lecture.
At 8:20 I met guide Carine and driver Boussad at coach number ten on the quayside. We had thirty guests to look after on the three hour run to Paris, with one comfort break at an autoroute service station. In Paris fellow speaker Dr Claudia Hackbarth suggested I volunteer to lead some guests to the river boat pier. In the event sixteen guests came with me on the one mile walk from the Arc de Triumph to the Seine. Here I ate the ham & cheese mini baguette I had prepared on the ship.
I continued alone to the Petit Palais where I admired the one Monet, the one Cezanne and the two Renoirs on display, but I missed seeing the Rubens and the Rembrandt paintings. I recorded my piece to camera in an empty wing of the huge building. I couldn't get near the Elysee Presidential Palace, so pressed on to La Madeleine, my favourite church in Paris. Here, where Camille Saint-Saens had been organist, the huge organ was playing. I walked back via the Seine boat pier, but all my guests had made their own way back to the coach. After negotiating an accident on the autoroute, I dozed on the back seat of coach for half an hour on the return journey.
Back at the ship just after seven o'clock, I rushed up to the pool deck to check out the BBQ. I continued into the World Cafe, where I began my dinner with the spicy chickpea soup. I then found the seafood display so I indulged in FOUR large hot battered torpedo prawns and TWO long cold king crab claws. I always judge a cruise line by their king crabs, if indeed they have any at all, and these were the longest I have ever had! After all these I was full, so I gave the lamb, duck and belly pork a miss. I had just two glasses of sparkling water to drink, sat in the double height Aquavit end of the buffet. This always reminds me of the Preview bar and View restaurant on the dear old Saggy Booby.
At the end of the meal, I did some photography in the dusk of the large, new cruise terminals being built here. At nine o'clock I went to the classical concert of the resident pianist and cellist. They played exclusively the work of the modern Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi. He has five entries in the Classicfm Hall of Fame 2025, but his work is all rather samey and I had trouble staying awake. I went to bed at 10:30, but it was now only 9:30 on BST. I had done over seventeen thousand steps, equal to nearly seven miles of walking, during the day.
I got up at seven o'clock, but it was now only six o'clock on BST. At 6:30 I had the full English breakfast for a change. Back in my suite, I worked on my laptop. It was too windy to enter Portsmouth harbour, so we continued along the Channel to Falmouth instead. I spent the morning working on my Welcome to France! lecture, despite it having been swapped out of my Viking Neptune programme. At noon I had my first Viking burger of the cruise by the pool.
At one o'clock VRH Neil invited me to join him and his wife Tiina for lunch. We went to the Caesar salad station near the Aquavit bar. I also had a small cheese plate to eat. We chatted about Bristol, Estonia and Germany amongst other places. I then slept for eighty minutes, before circling the atrium to get my step numbers up, as it was too windy outside.
At 5:30 I went up to the pool deck, but the main pool was empty, so I just spent ten minutes in the large hot tub on my own. The sun was out, but the roof was closed owing to the strong winds blowing. Just after six o'clock, I moved up one deck to the MDR where I was quickly joined by Gary & Kathy from Atlanta and Ed & his wife from Syracuse. I had the roasted celeriac soup, the London chicken & mushroom pie and the no sugar add pear Belle Helene to eat. I had two glasses of the Temperanillo red wine from the Rioja region of North East Spain to drink.
At nine o'clock I enjoyed the Southern Sounds country music production show, which I have heard several times before. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done only five thousand steps, equal to just two miles of walking during the sea day.
My alarms awoke me at six o'clock, when we had already been berthed for several hours. At 6:30 I had just one egg royale croissant to eat with one glass of sparkling water and one mug of decaff coffee to drink. Back in my suite, I worked on my laptop.
At 8:30 I met guide Sean and driver Barry on the quayside. Also present was a local dispatcher originally from Scotland, but having lived in Swindon for many years. She has just now bought a house next to the junior school in Ashbury near Swindon directly opposite Malthouse Close where I lived for ten years! We had just twenty one guests to take to St. Michael's Mount.
At Marazion we used the toilets, before walking along the beach to the stone jetty. Here we were quickly dispatched in a flotilla of small boats across to the island. Let loose, we climbed up the stone steps and cobbles to the hilltop castle. This has fabulous views and interesting interiors. On the way down, I explored the other buildings on the island.
Back at the ship, I had a bowl of lentil & bean thick soup, a small piece of Artic char, a single slice of pizza and two scoops of no sugar added cherry ice cream with extra cranberries to eat. I then slept for seventy five minutes, awoken by our departure. I had to respond to my hotel booking and transfers in Istanbul for Oceania next week.
At 5:30 the pool was still empty, so I spent just ten minutes in the hot tub, with no repercussions to my shins so far. At six o'clock Juni set me up and at 6:30 I gave my forty minute talk on the Story of the English Language to about forty people. I was competing against the fish & chip supper by the pool!
At 7:30 I dined on the potato and greens soup, the fish, cajun chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce, collected from three different hatches. I ate al fresco a la veranda as dusk fell over the Western Approaches. At eight o'clock CD Andre taught the Cupid Shuffle to the Go Right, Go Right song. Next he did an easy version of Boot Scootin' Boogie. He continued with a one wall version of the Red Hot Salsa followed by Cowgirls' Twist to Down at the Twist & Shout. He finished with a dance to the September song, this time played by the band who had appeared.
At 8:50 the disco started and I retired to my suite. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done twelve thousand steps, almost equal to five miles of walking during the day.
I awoke just before six o'clock and got up at 6:30. At seven o'clock I had a toasted English muffin with ham and cheese as the sun rose over the Bay of Biscuits. I spent the morning working on my laptop.
At 9:30 I went to Dr Claudia's interesting fifty five minute talk on Cetaceans. When Julie came to service the suite, I adjourned to the Explorers Bar for twenty minutes. At 11:30 I had my second Viking burger of the cruise, before sleeping for three quarters of an hour. I spent the afternoon working on my laptop writing to various Tourist Information Offices (TIOs).
At 4:30 I went to the Porto Port Talk. CD Andre began with a twenty five minute lecture, followed by Shorex Man. Leon for fifteen. Andre finished with a ten minute conclusion.
At six o'clock I was set up and at 6:30 I gave my forty minute talk entitled "Welcome to Portugal!" There was a queue at the MDR, so I had to wait for a single table to become free. I dined on the Calabrian bean soup, the beef tenderloin and the no sugar added strawberries & cream. I had just one glass of the French red wine to drink.
At nine o'clock I enjoyed the Stage Door musical theatre production show as usual. I particularly liked the songs from the four Cockney musicals: Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver and My Fair Lady. They finished with a Les Mis medley. I went to sleep at ten o'clock having done less than four thousand steps, equal to less than two miles of walking, during the sea day.
I got up just before my alarms at six o'clock, ready to put my wet smalls in the tumble drier. At 6:30 I had a toasted muffin with ham & cheese and then a warm soft milk roll with ham & scrambled egg to eat. I had just one glass of sparkling water to drink. I then collected my dry clothes from the sixth floor launderette. Back in my suite, I updated this blog and got ready for my shore excursion.
At eight o'clock I reported for dispatch duty in the Star Theatre. I then led my group along the walkway to the waiting coach number one. Here I met guide Daniel and driver Fernando with thirty guests. One pair were fifteen minutes late for our departure on the ninety minute run to the old university town of Coimbra (pronounced Queem-bra).
After a fifteen minute comfort break at the service station on the A1 motorway, we drove around the city and up to the top of the hill. Here were the main university buildings in the Fascist style of architecture. Both Portuguese dictators Salazar and Caetano had been academics, not military men. We spent some time admiring the main courtyard, which had been partially renovated and had great views down to the river. We then headed down the steep steps and cobbled lanes to the city centre at the bottom of the hill. One gent from Tennessee struggled with leg cramp, so I helped him and got a twenty euro tip in return!
In the main square we had twenty minutes of free time, before heading for a local restaurant. Sat with Fernando and Daniel, I had the Caprese salad, the chicken, the fruit salad with strawberry ice cream to eat and an espresso coffee to drink. Back upstairs with the guests, we had a short, but sweet, fado concert with two guitarists and a male singer.
We then drove half way back to Porto to get to the Art Nouveau town of Aveiro. Here we had a short orientation walk, before twenty five minutes of free time. I flew around taking pictures of the large gondolas on the various canals that lace the town. On the way back to the ship I chatted to Suzanne the wife of the gent with leg cramps who now live in Tennessee. She had graduated from Texas A&M University and had been a park ranger on Cape Hatteras island and at the Kitty Hawk historic site.
Back at the ship just before five o'clock, I did six lengths of the cool pool with the roof fully open for the first time this cruise. As I was drying off, the roof began to close. At 6:15 I moved up one floor to the MDR where I asked for a sharing table. Quickly I was joined by General Chris and his wife Janet from Vermont and then by a couple of academics from Alabama who had sat with me at the beginning of the cruise.
The former were keen on Bernie Sanders, who is the senior US senator for their state. Both couples said that the Official Secrets movie, which had been shown on the ship on the previous sea day was thought provoking. I had the green consomme, the mango salad, the Portuguese beef steak and the no sugar added mango panna cotta to eat. I had two glasses of the German red wine to drink.
At nine o'clock I went to vocalist Jordan Webster's excellent cabaret. He began with "The Power of Love", before continuing with Elton's "I'm Still Standing" and Elvis's "Jailhouse Rock". In the middle he had a couple of Queen songs including "Somebody to Love" and Billy Joel's "Only a Woman". He ended with the "Summer of '69". I went to sleep at 10:30 on BST, having done over ten and a half thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 5:30, but it was now 6:30 on Central European Time (CET). I got up at seven o'clock and had two eggs royale on pumpernickel bread at 7:30. I had one glass of sparkling water to drink and one decaff cappuccino to take away.
Back in my suite, I worked on my laptop. At 9:30 I went to Neil's interesting talk on the History of Spain. When Julie came to service the suite at eleven o'clock, I adjourned to the Explorers Lounge.
At 11:30 I had my third Viking burger of the cruise, before sleeping for eighty minutes. In the afternoon, I finished emailing the TIOs for my next Oceania Vista cruise. I then spent the afternoon updating my "Welcome to Spain!" talk.
At three o'clock I went to Maureen's interesting thirty five minute talk on "Trade Winds & Treasure" which covered the Portuguese explorers Batholomew Diaz and Vasco da Gama. I then watched my "Story of the English Language" lecture on the television. At 5:30 I did six lengths of the cool pool in the hot sunshine with the roof fully open.
At 6:15 I moved up to the MDR where I sat with Karen and Karin from Atlanta, Georgia. We were then joined by General Chris and his wife Janet from Vermont, who I had dined with the previous evening. I had the vegetable soup, the chicken parmigiano and the no sugar added raspberry dessert to eat. I had two glasses of the French red wine to drink.
At nine o'clock I enjoyed the Beatles Songbook production show, which I have heard several times before. It was billed as the ABBA show, but one of the female vocalists was indisposed, causing the change in programme. I went to bed at ten o'clock having done only two thousand steps, equal to less than one mile of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at six o'clock ready for my usual continental breakfast at 6:30. I put my wet smalls into the tumble drier and then worked on my laptop. At nine o'clock I met guide Marta and driver Luis on bus number 21 and 22. We had twenty eight guests on the Scenic Malaga and Flamenco Performance tour.
We began with a panoramic drive up to the Gibralfaro castle to access the viewpoint over the bull ring and the harbour with Viking Sky in the distance. We then parked behind the city hall and walked via the Roman theatre to the Flamenco museum. Here we had the usual show with one female dancer, one female singer and one male guitarist. I had THREE glasses of the lovely sweet Malaga wine, just like sherry, to drink. I had lots of the salami and cheese tapas to eat.
We then walked to Constitution Place for forty minutes of free time. I photographed St John's church (San Juan) and the Thyssen art gallery (Museo Carmen Thyssen). We then walked to the coach parked near Marina Place (Plaza de la Marina), for the short ride back to the ship.
Here I had a bowl of bean soup, followed by salmon with bean stew al fresco a la veranda in the hot sun. I then slept for an hour and a half, before just managing to do six lengths in the warm but busy pool, with the roof fully open. I must remember to go nearer dinner time when it is much quieter!
Just after six o'clock, I presented myself at the MDR desk to request a sharing table. For the third time, I was sat with the academic couple from Alabama. The next gent to arrive had been born in Manchester, educated in Northampton and Oxford, but now lives in the States. He and his American wife had lived in California, but now live in Fairfax, Virginia. I had the seafood soup, the iceberg lettuce salad with poached pear, the lobster and the no sugar added baked apple dessert to eat. I had two glasses of the Spanish Temperanillo red wine to drink.
At nine o'clock I enjoyed CD Andre's sixty five minute long cabaret, which covered musical theatre, swing, country and pop music. I particularly enjoyed the Elton John / Barry Manilow mash-up. I went to bed at 10:30 having done nine thousand steps, equal to just under four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:30 having slept for nearly eight hours. Just after seven o'clock, I had two warm milk rolls with ham and eggs (M N X) to eat al fresco a la veranda as we entered the harbour in the dark. Back in my suite, I worked on my Art Nouveau lecture. I left the ship at 8:45 to walk the two miles to El Corte Ingles department store, before turning around and walking back.
At eleven o'clock I walked out on to the quayside, where I met guide Sergio, who recognised me from one year ago. We had just eight guests for the Segway adventure. Our first stop was at the Naval Museum to view the famous submarine through the window. Our second stop was in St Francis of Assisi Place (Plaza de San Francisco), where we had a walk around the block.
We flashed past the City Hall, where a Punic Wars fancy dress session was taking place. Our third and final stop was on top of the hill overlooking the Roman theatre. Here I noticed a new elevated walkway that I wanted to come back to. At the end of the tour, I announced my evening lecture and proposed a vote of thanks to Sergio and his helper Pedro.
Back at the ship, I had a late lunch of watercress, potato and blue cheese soup, followed by roast beef al fresco a la veranda. I then slept for forty five minutes, before heading out again. I climbed half way up castle hill to explore the new footpath around the top of the Roman theatre. I came back down to the City Hall, but the Punic Wars celebration had ended.
Back at the ship again, I started uploading my photographs from the cruise. At 5:30 I did six lengths of the warm pool with the roof firmly closed, making it like a sauna under all the glass. There was no one in the pool, nor alongside it.
At six o'clock one of the technicians set me up in the Star theatre, ready to give my talk on the two Art Nouveau Cities of Barcelona & Cartagena. At 6:30 I gave my forty minute lecture. At the end, Dr Claudia told me about Louis Sullivan's buildings in Chicago and Tiina reminded me of Riga in Latvia near her Estonian homeland.
I then rushed along to the MDR to join the solo travellers dinner party, which consisted of ACD Jenifer and only three guests. I went straight for the Osso Bucco main course to catch up, followed by the no sugar added chocolate cake. I had just one glass of the French red wine to drink.
At nine o'clock I sat at the back of the theatre, for CD Andre's fifteen minute introduction, followed by the fifteen minute crew parade. At 9:30 the excellent ABBA Songbook production show started with all four vocalists in fine form. I went to bed at 10:30 having done seventeen and a half thousand steps, equal to seven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:30 and got up at 6:45 ready for two egg royale croissants for breakfast. I then spent some time updating this blog. At 9:30 I went to Maureen's interesting forty minute lecture on Barcelona.
At 10:30 I got set up in the Star theatre, where General Chris from Vermont said farewell. I then gave my forty minute enrichment lecture on Pablo Picasso at eleven o'clock. Afterwards I went to the paella buffet al fresco a la veranda in the hot sun. I had the paella, crema catalana & churros with chocolate sauce to eat. Sugar overload!
At two o'clock I met guide Luis and driver Jose at coach number 33. We had just seven guests on the Modernisme architecture tour. We parked opposite the law courts, before exploring the eastern side of the city centre.
We saw one Augustinian cloister, before viewing the magnificent concert hall (Palau du Musica). We explored all three floors of this extravagant building. We continued across the Gothic Quarter to Catalonia Place (Placa du Catalunya), where we transited through the underground TIO. Further north, we went in the Almond House (Casa Amatller), which had a fabulous interior with turn of the century mod. cons. like electricity and a dumb waiter.
We got back to the ship at seven o'clock, when I had the Thai prawn soup, three long king crab legs and four hot topedo prawns to eat al fresco a la veranda as the sun went down over the docks. At eight o'clock (CET, seven o'clock BST), I joined the OU T802 Microsoft Teams hour long meeting. At nine o'clock I watched my Picasso talk on the telly as I packed. I went to bed just after ten o'clock having done eleven thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 5:30, half an hour before my alarms. I then picked up my cruise bill, costing just £3 or $4 for two shirts to be laundered at half price. Just after six o'clock, I had two toasted muffins with Swiss cheese and ham to eat al fresco a la veranda in the dark. I had one glass of orange juice and one of sparkling water to drink.
Back in my suite, I worked on my laptop, backing up my photographs and this blog. Just before eight o'clock I moved along to the atrium, where I said goodbye to VRH Neil. Soon baggage tag Blue Two was called and I was first on to the coach, where I sat by the side door.
We departed at 8:30 for the half hour run to the airport. I only had to queue for five minutes at the BA check-in, but the lady warned me that my carry on case might be diverted to the hold when I got to the air bridge. I wandered around outside in the bright sunshine, but cool wind, before descending to the Metro station, where I drank my tin can of lemonade.
There were long lines at both security and passport control, but I got through both in just ten minutes each. I then found a charging point to feed my laptop near one of the cafes. The plane loaded early and there was plenty of room in the overhead lockers. With a lady pilot in charge, we took off only fifteen minutes late. I dozed for the first quarter of an hour thus missing the bottle of water and the snack. I spent most of the flight playing Hearts and FreeCell, followed by updating this blog. Towards the end of two hour flight, I got given TWO bottles of water.
We arrived at LHR T5A, so I whizzed through passport control. I had a bit of a wait for my big bag to appear, so I investigated the coach options. I rushed down to the tube platform, but the next train was not due for a quarter of an hour, so I backtracked to the T5 coach park instead. I only had to wait twenty minutes for the £8 Flixbus service to Poole, only one fifth the price of the rival National Express at nearly £40. It took less than two hours to get to BoMoH non-stop. The taxi then cost £13 to take me home. However there were road works on the entrance to the Coy Pond estate, so he had to drop me at the far end of Branksome Wood Hill, so I could cut through to Coy Pond.
I immediately did two loads of washing and walked into Westbourne to do some shopping. I went to bed at 9:30 BST, which was 10:30 on CET, having done over fourteen thousand steps, nearly equal to six miles of walking during the day.
1) "The Story of the North Sea" 2) "The Story of the English Language" 3) "Welcome to Portugal!" 4) "Barcelona & Cartagena: Two Art Nouveau Cities" 5) "Picasso: Greatest Artist of the Twentieth Century?"
210 Cruises 55 Cruise ships (see below) 16 Cruise lines (see below) 14 Night cruise 8 Tours escorted 6 Production shows (C2C, Duets, SS, SD, Beatles & ABBA) 5 Lectures given (see above) 5 Restaurants (MDR, CT, WC, PG, Manfredi's) 5 Continental breakfasts 4 Singers (Jordan, Finlay and 2 girls) 4 Band members (Keys, 2 Guitars & Drums) 3 Cabarets (CD Andre, ACD Jenifer & Jordan) 3 Egg Royale croissant breakfasts 3 Viking burger lunches 3 Chicken lunches 3 New places: (St.M.M., Coimbra & Aveiro) 3 Old places (Delft, Ypres & Paris) 3 Steak dinners 3 Storey atrium 3 Hot tubs 3 Pools 2 Soft M N X roll breakfasts 2 Fish lunches 2 Steak dinners 2 Lobster dinners 2 Nightclub singers 2 Panoramic elevators 2 Classical guitarists 2 Cinemas 1 Double state room with picture window 1 Theatre (Star) 1 Nightclub (Torshavn) 1 Viking heritage museum 1 Classical duo 1 Cocktail pianist
Captain Fredrik Nilsson (Norwegian) Cruise Director Andre Gaffney (Newcastle) Ass. Cruise Director Jenifer Rawolle Stewardess Julie (€15) Shorex Manager Leon Stage Manager Jithin Resident Historian Neil Taylor (UK) Cultural Lecturer Maureen Dobranski (Can.) Science Lecturer Dr Claudia Hackbarth (USA) Arts Lecturer Martin P. Lee from BoMoH (UK)
* Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines * Saga Shipping Company * Voyages of Discovery * Seabourn (Carnival) * Princess (Carnival) * Cunard (Carnival) * P&O (Carnival) * Celebrity (RCCL) * Silversea (RCCL) * Regent SS (NCL) * Oceania (NCL) * Marella (TUI) * Ambassador * Azamara * Crystal * Viking
Black Prince Black Watch Borealis Boudicca Balmoral Braemar Bolette Silver Whisper Silver Spirit Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex Viking Sea Viking Sky Viking Star Viking Saturn Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure (Old SofA) Spirit of Adventure (New SofA) Spirit of Discovery Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) Queen Elizabeth (QE) Queen Victoria (QV) Queen Mary 2 (QM2) P&O Arcadia P&O Aurora P&O Oriana P&O Iona Oceania Sirena Oceania Marina Oceania Riviera Azamara Quest Azamara Journey Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Ambassador Ambition Regent Seven Seas Mariner Regent Seven Seas Splendor Sapphire Princess Caribbean Princess Marella Explorer VoD Discovery