| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
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28th April 2024 |
BoMoH to Hounslow |
Travelodge |
 |
29th April 2024 |
LHR to FCO Rome & Civitavecchia |
British Airways |
|
30th April 2024 |
Naples Campania Italy |
Exploring Above & Beyond |
|
1st May 2024 |
Messina Sicily Italy |
Taormina Greco-Roman Theatre |
 |
3rd May 2024 |
Santorini Cyclades Greece |
Amazing Akrotiri |
 |
4th May 2024 |
Kusadasi Turkey |
Priene, Miletus & Didyma |
|
5th May 2024 |
Mykonos Greece |
(Capture the Moment) |
|
6th May 2024 |
Piraeus Greece |
Athens on my own |
Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I got up at 5:15, excited to be going away again. I phoned for a Streamline taxi at ten o'clock, getting to BoMoH coach station soon after. Unfortunately the National Express service was running twenty minutes late.
At 11:05 I bagged the seat behind the driver, who was been trained by another official. I slept for an hour and a quarter, awaking as we passed the Fleet service station. We got to Terminal five at one o'clock, where I used the loo and started work on this blog. I ate my Boots chicken wraps, before catching the Piccadilly line train just three stops to Hounslow Central, which is becoming my preferred location in preference to Hounslow West.
At 2:30 I checked in to the Travelodge, where I had paid £40 for a penthouse suite with wi-fi. I had a full strength coffee from the machine in the bedroom, before walking the 250 yards to Hounslow High Street. Here I bought two BLT sandwiches, some pastrami slices and a piece of vegan cheese, which I dropped off at my hotel. I then did a complete circuit of the lovely Lampton Park to reach my ten thousand step daily quota.
At five o'clock I had a decaff coffee from the machine with a BLT sandwich topped off with extra pastrami and vegan cheese. I won't be buying the latter again! I spent the evening watching television, including an interesting programme on the James Webb telescope. I went to sleep at 9:30 having done ten and a half thousand steps, equal to four miles of walking during the day.
I got up at four o'clock, half an hour before my alarms, ready to have TWO decaff coffees from the machine in the suite. I caught the five o'clock tube train from Hounslow Central to Heathrow Terminal Five. As usual the kiosk rejected me and I had to traipse along to the naughty corner in area G. This was actually queue free, so I got checked in quickly.
I hurried through security only to find that my flight was already labelled as boarding. I took the transit train to satellite terminal 5C, where only group one had been called, so I sat down and ate my BLT sandwich with extra pastrami that I had bought the previous afternoon.
When I got on board, I found that the plane was not quite full. We pulled back on time and took off without much queuing. When the seat belt lights went off, I got out my laptop and updated this blog. We were offered either two biscuits or one oat flapjack, so I accepted the latter with the complimentary bottle of water. I dozed for one hour of the 140 minute flight.
At FCO Rome airport we had to take the little train from the satellite terminal to the main building. There was a 35 minute wait for passport control after the electronic gates. Some officials were stamping the passports without looking, but mine was taking his time. The bags meanwhile had arrived at baggage reclaim, so I was out into the foyer one hour after landing. Here two of the Regent staff recognised me and after five minutes I was introduced to the driver of our people carrier. The run out to CivitaVecchia (CV) the Old City, took one hour. I gave the driver a five euro note as a tip.
In the cruise terminal I was greeted by the dancer Shari (pronounced Sheri) who checked me in. On board the ship I was met by the lovely social hostess Clair from Sunderland. In La Veranda buffet, I was greeted by Assistant Cruise Director Amelia, who gave me my introductory letter with lecture times. I lunched on the minestrone soup, the lasagna and the sugar free chocolate ice cream, sat inside La Veranda as I still had my jacket on. I then sat in the Observatory lounge with the fabulous view of CV harbour complete with a Colombian four masted tall ship.
At 2:30 the suites were finally released and I dozed for half an hour. I then unpacked and worked on my laptop updating my Naples port talk. At five o'clock I did six lengths of the warm, saltwater swimming pool. Afterwards, I wallowed with an LA couple in one of the large jacuzzis for five minutes.
When the Captain came on to the tannoy, he announced that we would be going to Messina instead of Giardini Naxos, as the former is a berth and the latter is a tender dock. This had happened on a previous Silversea cruise, when I had to hastily prepare a Messina lecture. However the follow on cruise to the current one is already down to call at Messina next week, so I am already well set.
At 6:15 I adjourned to the Observation lounge, but it was teaming with noisy travel agents. I was joined by Steve from California, Mark from Texas and Social Hostess Clair. It was difficult to talk as we had two tables of loud travel agents on either side of us.
At 7:15 we had a table of four in one corner of the Compass Rose main dining room (MDR). I had the cauliflower soup, the tenderloin of beef with asparagus and the sugar free raspberry ice cream to eat. I had just one glass of the Californian Merlot red wine to drink, as I was lecturing at 9:30 in the usual show time slot.
At nine o'clock Cristian from Colombia set me up and then cruise director Dru introduced me. I gave my thirty five minute talk on Naples before going to bed at 10:30. I had done just over eight thousand steps, equal to just over three miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to the dawn at 6:20, ten minutes before my alarms. At seven o'clock I ordered the breakfast special of a fried egg with nachos, but after a long wait I finally got a fried egg with rancheros instead. I sat out out on the rear veranda as we berthed in Naples. I had one cup of decaff cappuccino and one glass each of tomato juice and sparking water to drink.
At 8:30 I got my tour ticket exchanged in the Constellation theatre and we were soon dispatched to the parking lot. Here our guide gathered us together and issued us with headsets. We walked out of the cruise terminal passed the new Metro entrance into City Hall Place (Piazza Municipio). We had a photo stop at the gateway to the not so New Castle (Castel Nuovo), before visiting the old shopping mall (Galleria Umberto I).
We passed the Centrale funicular station and walked through the expensive Gran Caffe Gambrinus to get to Plebiscite Place (Piazza del Plebiscito). Here we had twenty minutes of free time, so I explored the various courtyards of the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) and found the free loos therein. When we reached the Borbon Galleries, we descended 91 steps to the extensive labyrinth of tunnels. They were originally tufa quarries, then military passages, then air raid shelters and finally a tourist attraction.
We emerged at ground level via an underground car park near the promenade. I had never walked along this length of grand buildings to the south of the city centre. We went in a sea front Pizzeria for lunch. I was sat with a couple originally from New York, but now living in Florida and a Japanese lady. We had a green salad, potato and rice balls, cauliflower in batter and lovely pizza Margherita. We had a small glass of wine with water and a very small cup of espresso coffee to drink.
I then walked back to the ship via the new, long moving walkways from the Municipio metro station to the cruise terminal. Back in my suite, I sat out on my balcony for the first time this cruise with a can of Budweiser beer to drink. At three o'clock Cristian set me up and at 3:30 I gave my forty five minute talk on Messina and Taormina to a small audience. The sun was shining and we were berthed in Naples until seven o'clock, so I didn't stand a chance! Back in my suite again, I dozed for an hour and worked on my Santorini presentation. At six o'clock I attended the Captain's welcome party in the Constellation theatre.
At 6:30 I moved up to the Observation Lounge to host the solo travellers. Here I was joined by Clair, Steve, Mark and his ex-brother-in-law Randy. At 7:15 we moved down to the MDR where I had the asparagus soup, the Rossini beef with extra asparagus and the rocky road ice cream to eat. I had two glasses of the Cotes du Rhone red wine to drink, but the other gents wanted Chianti whilst in Italy! We had lots of interesting boys' talk, which must have been boring for Clair to listen to.
At 9:30 I sat with Mark in the balcony of the Constellation theatre to see and hear the excellent Divos & Divas production show, which I have seen several times before. Ace dancer Barny was away, visiting his sick father in the Phillipines, but the guests would not have noticed his absence. At 10:45 I went to sleep having done twelve and a half thousand steps, equal to five miles of walking, during the day.
I got up at six o'clock, half an hour before my alarm, as we entered Messina harbour. At seven o'clock I had the full English breakfast out on the rear veranda wearing my jacket in the cool wind. There were dark clouds shrouding Mount Etna. When Sachin and Emir came to service the suite at 8:15 I did four circuits of the top deck jogging track equal to half a mile of walking.
At 8:45 I checked in to the Constellation Theatre to get my bus ticket. We finally got away at 9:20 and arrived in Taormina forty minutes later, having slept most of the way. We were led through the main street to the Ancient Greek theatre, but it transpires it is mostly Roman. We were then given an hour and a half of free time, so I continued to explore the theatre, before going to the small Roman Odeon theatre. I did some more photography, but it was overcast all morning. We left just after one o'clock, but got caught in the traffic queuing to enter Taormina at the hairpin bends. I slept most of the way back.
Back at the ship just after two o'clock, I had a cheeseburger and sweet potato fries as a late lunch by the pool. At 2:30 I forewent my siesta is favour of more photography in Messina, now that the sun had come out. I climbed up to both churches on the ridge with fabulous views of Messina and it's strait separating Sicily from Calabria. I found the small, but perfectly formed botanical garden, but it is only open in the mornings. I went in the cathedral, which had free admission, but gave the Campanile & Treasury (€7.50) a miss.
Back at the ship again at four o'clock, I had a can of full strength coke as I updated this blog. At five o'clock Remcie set me up ready for me to give my forty five minute lecture on Santorini at 5:30.
At 6:30 I moved up to the Observation Lounge to host the solo travellers meet up. I was joined by Clair, Steve, Mark and Randy. The latter two had a reservation in one of the speciality restaurants, so just three of us walked across to the Sette Mari Italian restaurant. Here I began with a glass of prosecco, whilst Clair & Steve had white wine. We shared the anti-pasti selection on our table as usual. We all began with small portions of the special fanfalle pasta. I had the fillet of beef topped with Gorgonzola cheese followed by a small canoli stuffed with Ricotta cheese. I had two glasses of Tuscan red wine to drink.
At 9:30 I went to hear the excellent Bohemian Soul production show in the Constellation theatre, which I have heard before. Ace dancer Barny was still away, visiting his sick father in the Phillipines, but the guests would not have noticed his absence. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done twenty one and a half thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to the dawn at six o'clock, but it was now seven o'clock on Greek time. At 7:30 I had the special smoked salmon Italian frittata breakfast which is like a Spanish potato omelette tortilla. When Sachin and Emir came to service the suite at 8:15, I did seven circuits of the top deck jogging track equal to one mile of walking. I then back upped my photographs from Naples, Taormina and Messina.
At ten o'clock I went to Kathy McCabe's fifty five minute Spotlight on Entertainment session in the Constellation theatre, where she showed several clips from her Public Broadcasting System (PBS) programmes on Europe and Italy. One of her cameramen said he was from Livorno, so I collared him at the end to ask him to review by Livorno slides before we get there next week. We met up afterwards in the atrium, but he had to attend a meeting so we agreed to meet again in the afternoon.
Back in my suite, I updated this blog. At noon I went to the Greek buffet where I had the pumpkin soup, the roast lamb, moussaka, souvlaki and green beans to eat sat out on La Veranda. I then slept for one hour. At 2:30 Remcie set me up in the Constellation theatre, ready to give my forty five minute talk, with two videos, on Kusadasi: the Port for Ephesus at three o'clock.
From four to five pm I worked on my laptop sat in the atrium. At 5:15 I did six lengths of the warm saltwater swimming pool and spent just five minutes in the large, square jacuzzis. At 6:30 I hosted the solo travellers including five new ladies, one of whom, named Judy from New Orleans, is a keen dancer! We only saw Debbie, Paula and Sandy the once.
At 7:15 Clair hosted Mark on a table for two next to me hosting a table for four with Steve, Judy and Debbie from Birmingham, Alabama. I had the sweet potato soup, the rib eye steak with asparagus and the cheese plate to eat. I had the Portuguese red wine to drink.
At 9:20 I rushed to get changed into my usual Greek soldier's fancy dress outfit, ready for the ABBA dance party at 9:30. When I arrived CD Dru said "Martin, Does your Mother know?" and the band launched into the famous song of that name. I danced with Judy (four times), Clair (twice), Shari (Sheri), Bryna (Brena), Megan and some other professional dancers and guests. The party finished at 10:30 when I adjourned to my suite, but didn't get to sleep until 11:25. During the sea day I had done just less than five thousand steps, equal to just less than two miles of walking.
I awoke at 7:15 with the curtains closed ready for the full English breakfast on La Veranda at eight o'clock overlooking the famous caldera. When Sachin came to service the suite at 8:20, I did three and half circuits of the top deck jogging track, equal to just half a mile of walking. Back at my desk, I updated this blog and worked on my Mykonos lecture.
At 10:30 I got my bus ticket in the Constellation Theatre and boarded a local tender heading for Athinios port. At 11:30 we had our first stop at a viewpoint over the caldera. We stayed here for twenty minutes, killing time until the Akrotiri archaeological site opened at noon on Orthodox Good Friday.
Our guide led us around the large site all under cover. The best bits were the huge jars decorated with floral ornamentation. After one circuit of the site we had just fifteen minutes of free time, so I whizzed around the circuit again squeezing passed the various tour groups. I said Hi! to Steve, before getting back to the coach.
Our final stop was in Fira the main city on Santorini. I rushed ahead to see the Orthodox Good Friday flowers in the Metropolitan Cathedral. I walked north along the famous cliff-edged path to the Skaros suburb, but didn't have the energy to descend to the Skaros Fort on the promontory in the hot sun.
On the way I had an apple in lieu of lunch. I followed the path back south to the cable car, where I met Steve again. We had been given one way tickets to descend to Fira tender station.
Back at the ship at 4:30, I slept for an hour and a half. At 6:30 I hosted the solo travellers with Clair, Judy, Mark and Steve, but not the other four ladies who had appeared the previous day. At 7:15 we moved across to the Sette Mari Italian restaurant where I had a glass of prosecco with Judy. Clair had her usual non-alcoholic rosé whilst Mark & Steve had the chianti red wine.
We shared the anti-pasti on the table as usual. I continued with two glasses of the Venetian valpolicella red wine. I had a small portion of the special pasta dish of the day, followed by the large veal chop. At the end I was able to gnaw my huge bone, whilst Steve gnawed his lamb bones. I finished with a small tiramisu dessert.
At 9:30 I went to hear the excellent Crossroads production show, which I have seen several times before. Ace dancer Barny was still away, visiting his sick father in the Phillipines, so there were only five Rock n Rollers against six Country Music lovers in the contest! I went to bed at 10:30 having done over sixteen and a half thousand steps, equal to six and a half miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to the dawn at six o'clock, half an hour before my alarm. At seven o'clock I had the special breakfast croissant filled with ham and scrambled egg. I gave the Saturday Bloody Mary a miss and had just one glass of tomato juice and some sparkling water.
At 8:15 I collected my bus ticket in the Constellation Theatre. We left at 8:30 for a one hour's run out to Priene, during which I slept. Here we had a steep climb to the ancient city with a Temple to Athena and a small, but perfectly preserved theatre. We then drove to Miletus which had an all together bigger theatre. Our third stop was the enormous Temple to Apollo at Didyma. This has the tallest columns of any Greek temple and was very impressive.
Nearby we had an enormous lunch in a rundown area. It began with a huge salad buffet with chips. Then we each had a main course of sea bream or BBQ chicken, I had the latter with rice and lettuce. We had both bahklava and fresh fruit for dessert. I had TWO glasses of the local beer, but most guests had the local wine.
I slept most of the way back to the ship. Our final stop was the carpet demonstration showing us the spinning of the silk cocoons and the weaving of the knotted rugs. When the complimentary drinks arrived, I slipped out to do some photography.
Back at the ship I touched base with Florin and found out that we were going to be berthed at Mykonos, not tendering. At five o'clock Cristian set me up. Remcie had gone home to the Philippines and been replaced by Jean who I had worked with on the RSS Mariner in January. At 5:30 I gave my forty minute talk on Mykonos.
At 6:30 I hosted the solo travellers as usual in the Observation Lounge. I did a waltz and a social foxtrot with Judy to the music of the cocktail pianist. At 7:15 Clair led Judy, Steve and myself down to the Compass Rose MDR. Here I had the lobster bisque, the prime rib of beef and the no sugar added strawberry ice cream to eat. I had just one glass of the Temperanillo Spanish red wine to drink.
At 9:30 I went to the Broadway show time, but one of the singers had lost her voice, so ACD Amelia had to join in a couple of songs. I went to bed at 10:30 having done nearly sixteen thousand steps, equal to over six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at 6:30 ready for the special breakfast of Eggs Florentine at seven o'clock al fresco a la Veranda. When I got back to my suite, I had a phone message from CD Dru saying that it was too windy to berth at Mykonos, so we would be having another sea day. He asked me to do my "Piraeus: the Port for Athens" lecture at ten o'clock and I volunteered to do my "Mamma Mia: the Greek Musical" talk in the afternoon. When Sachin came to service the suite at 8:40, I did twelve circuits of the swimming pool as the top deck jogging track was too windy, covering one mile in the process.
Back in my suite, I had to update both my talks. At 9:35 Jean set me up ready for me to give my forty minute talk on Piraeus at ten o'clock. At noon I had just a bowl of bean soup for lunch, as I was still feeling full after pigging out the previous day. I then slept for an hour and a half.
At 2:30 Jean and Cristian set me up and then CD Dru introduced me at three o'clock, where I gave my forty minute "Mamma Mia: the Greek Musical" talk. Back in my suite, I started work on my Bilbao presentation. At 5:20 I did six lengths of the cool pool, but resisted the temptation of going into a hot tub.
At 6:30 I hosted the solo travellers with Clair, Judy, Steve, Mark and his ex-brother-in-law Randy. I did a waltz and a social foxtrot with Judy to the music of the cocktail pianist. At 7:15 we had a table for six in the Compass Rose MDR. I had the leek and potato soup, the spaghetti puttanesca and the cherry strudel to eat and two glasses of a Veneto red wine to drink. Randy showed us pictures of himself with his Santa Fe neighbours: Robert Redford and Ali McGraw!
At 9:30 we all went to the Meridian lounge where Megan, Bryna and Jonah were singing with the orchestra. As I came in to the room, Bryna had me jiving straight away! I did a couple of dances with Judy on the carpet at the side of the lounge. At 10:30 the Latin American session started, so I did a cha cha, rumba, tango and mambo with Judy, until she had had enough at eleven o'clock. I went to sleep at 11:30 having done six thousand steps, equal to over two miles of walking during the day.
I got up at 6:30 and had the full English breakfast at 7:15 al fresco a la Veranda in the warm sunshine watching the ferries depart. Back in my suite, I updated this blog and waited for the guests to depart the ship. I got off just before nine o'clock and walked the one mile to the metro station. Here I spent €2.30 on a return ticket to Athens.
I alighted at Monastiraki as usual and saw the famous Tower of the Winds. I then walked along the Ermou main shopping street to Syntagma Place. I went into the National Gardens behind the Parliament building to have a wee. I continued along the Museum half mile, going into the gardens of the Byzantine Museum and the courtyard of the War Museum. I got as far as the National Gallery, where I turned around at 11:30.
I walked back via the Olympic Stadium and the Zappeio(n) Hall to the new Acropolis Museum. I continued along Dionysious Boulevard to reach the Areopagos viewpoint with its fabulous view of the monumental entrance to the Acropolis. I walked down the Apostle Paul Boulevard to catch the metro from Thissio station back to Piraeus.
Back at the port, I had to walk the one mile back to the ship, getting back at 1:45. All the museums were closed for Orthodox Easter Bank Holiday Monday, except for the Byzantine and Acropolis Museums which were open. I forewent lunch and slept for an hour, before updating this blog. I spent the rest of the afternoon working on my laptop. I touched base with Florin to get the berthing arrangements for the cruise, but didn't have a chance to book my tours.
At 6:15 I moved up to the Observation Lounge to host the newly arrived guests. At 7:25 Social Hostess (SH) Clair led Judy from New Orleans, Cheryl from Arizona, Yuri, Pat, Ginnie (Virginia), comedy magician John Lenahan and myself down to the Compass Rose Main Dining Room (MDR). Here I had the cauliflower soup and the veal piccata to eat with just one glass of South African pinotage red wine to drink.
I had to slip away before dessert at 8:55 ready to get set up by Jean in the Constellation Theatre. At 9:30 Cruise Director (CD) Dru introduced me and I gave my forty minute talk on Mykonos. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock, having done over twenty two and half thousand steps, equal to nine miles of walking, during the day.
Cruise Director Dru Pavlov wrote: "Glad you're sticking around for another cruise :-)"
1) "Naples: Italy's Third City"
Martin will cover the History & Highlights of this great city.
2) "Messina: the Port for Taormina"
Come and hear about the History & Highlights of this beach resort and nearby historic town.
3) "Santorini: Island of Saint Irene"
Martin will cover the History & Highlights of this huge caldera.
4) "Kusadasi: the Port for Ephesus"
Come and hear about the History & Highlights of this small port and nearby ancient town.
5) "Mykonos: Paradise Island"
Martin will cover the History & Highlights of this pretty port on this hedonistic island.
6) "Piraeus: the Port for Athens"
Come and hear about the History & Highlights of this busy port and nearby huge metropolis.
7) "Mamma Mia: the Greek musical"
Martin talks about the popular musical turned into movies filmed on the Greek Islands.
186 Cruises 45 Cruise ships (see below) 14 Cruise lines (see below) 10 Storey atrium 7 Lectures given 6 Port talks 6 Elevators 5 Beef dinners 4 New tours 3 Full English breakfasts 3 Meals ashore 2 Panoramic elevators 2 Swimming pools 1 Enrichment lecture (Mamma Mia)
* 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 * CrystalForty Five Cruise Ships:
Silver Whisper Silver Spirit Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn Black Prince Black Watch Boudicca Balmoral Braemar Bolette Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex 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 Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Ambassador Ambition Regent Seven Seas Mariner Regent Seven Seas Splendor Marella Explorer Oceania Sirena Sapphire Princess VoD Discovery