And now, the day is done....

I spent the night waking and checking the clock; what time is it? Is it time to get up? 

I was having dreadful dreams about losing things, forgetting things. How I hate the night before travelling, it has an awful effect on me.

I met Shirley for breakfast in The Grill then I went to the Britannia Lounge to sit and wait for the call to disembark. Shirley joined me and we happily chatted away until I was called. She was number 25 so her group would be leaving about 15 mins after me. I hope she had a good journey back to Wales.

I was number 20 so was about a third of the way through the regular passengers. 

Numbers 1 through 12 were for those with some form of disability so were in need of chairs, assistance, or just a very slow at walking with someone carrying their hand luggage etc. 

I shared a car with a couple from Tunbridge Wells and although she was in a chatty mood she eventually stopped and nodded off. The partner hardly spoke.

I was really glad to be let off first so I walked into the house just before midday and was able to get the bed stripped after Ann had stayed and remade ready for me.

I did get the sheets washed and hung outside but the chances of them drying was low. I brought them in and they are upstairs drying off with windows ajar.

Now I'm tired. I've cooked for myself which was a shock after being looked after for the last three weeks,  but it did taste good even if I say so myself.

Thank goodness for freezers!!

So that's it, the end of the trip.

Was it worth it?

Oh yes, every second.

Would I do it again?

Yep, in a heart beat but I wouldn't bother with trips, I'd do each centre on foot. I know I wouldn't get out of the port city or town but I am certain I would see things the rest would have missed.

last night in The Grill

As a final gift from the crew

My cabin steward opened my door last night and as I went in he smiled that beautiful smile of his and said, "Happy Birthday Madam Marianne"

I could have cried when I saw the bed festooned with chocolates and the 3 tier 'cake'.

I received the box of chocolates and a card from Saga.

How lovely.

This morning the 'cake' sits in my side table with my three cards.

What a lovely thing to see when I woke this morning.

The final full day at sea

The Bay of Biscay has been kind and I slept well.

I did most of my packing last night and am taking very little washing home. Just the stuff for today and tomorrow morning and that's it.

Cases have to be outside the door tonight and then one more sleep, one more breakfast then home.

Am I sad?

Yes and no. Yes because I've enjoyed being away for three weeks and would happily stay away much longer.

No, because the air conditioning plays havoc with my sinuses.

If I won some money I would book a trip to Canada and USA for their Fall because the colours are just breathtaking. I would also do two trips back to back and join a growing band of winter travellers who avoid the UK during December to March.

The sunrise was lovely this morning but more impressive was the moon which hung over the sea like a jewel.

I wish I could have photographed it but it was shy and hid behind a cloud before I had the chance.

It's a clearing up day today around the ship, preparing for a major handover.

A large proportion of the crew have come to the end of their contracts and are heading home for two maybe three months before they are back on either this ship or the sister ship.

They're getting really excited as you can imagine but tell me it's tough getting the work visas to get back on board! Crazy. Seems our bureaucracy causes no ends of problems for them and Saga, trying to get their staff back on board.

The Christmas trees are out and all decks have some form of decorations embellishing them.

The Christmas tree on the main deck now has a complete "gingerbread" village surrounding it and the restaurants have their own trees.

The pool on the top deck is partially filled in anticipation of the Caribbean passengers and everywhere is getting that extra clean in preparation. 

I suspect a third of passengers are not getting off......bet the laundry is busy.

Happy Birthday to me

We are at sea today and waking up I opened the three cards I'd been sent to take with me. It was so nice opening them, looking at the sunrise, smiling and enjoying a giggle to myself.

I'm 69 today 🥳

Never dreamt I'd make it that far!!

So, what's happening today?

The executive chef, Raj, is doing a demo at 10.30am which I'm keen to see and later at midday those fellow travellers who have been learning the ukulele will be doing a short concert with some other guests who have formed a choir. Should be good.

Then its definitely my last Hydrotherapy visit for the trip, the Library and then it'll be the evening. 

Sounds a bit mundane but I'll enjoy it.

At some point there's a piano recital and, oh bugger, it a formal night!

Tomorrow will be bitter sweet as it's the last full day sailing, packing and preparing to leave. But as I said to myself this morning, we have to finish one trip before we can start looking forward to the next.....

.....and that's  Greenland 😊 

An afternoon sightseeing the outskirts of Lisbon

😳 a note to self: do not do two sight seeing trips back to back. 

Seriously, I have been talked at all day by two women who have a great deal to say at express speed. So much so I have no idea anymore.

Basically we drove along the coast road to Cascais where we stopped for a quick loo stop, then drove round the point to join one of the numerous motorways and then back to the ship.

It was interesting and I'm glad I did it but no, not again, too much being talked at and now I long for that quiet which, incidentally, I have on deck 6, listening to a chamber quartet, writing this and enjoying sparkling water.

Easily pleased.

Next time, I will resort to walking myself about and seeing what I see and tasting what I manage to get my teeth around 😊 like one of those egg custard tarts I still haven't enjoyed yet.

Last Leg; Lisbon

It was a far less choppy night and although I slept poorly (it was the disembarking info which set it off) the night was less eventful than expected.

We arrived in Lisbon harbour at around 8:30am and the first tours were out the door by 8:45am.

I was on the second wave which left thirty minutes later and we did a lightening trip round the important landmarks in the city.

Sadly, for me, the tour guide launched into talking and failed to draw breath for two hours. Her register was just at that pitch which asails the ears and I was delighted when we got to the end.

There were some spectacular monuments and buildings but it was just a panoramic tour so we got out of the bus once for the all important tower.

I have no idea how many coaches were there at the time but there were 3 from our ship alone. This is their famous tower which defended the spices worth so much money to the traders.

We came back and had to go through a full customs check, first one in fact.

I go out again shortly; I'll be going through it once more. 

The delights of Brexit indeed.

Ok, quick lunch and then back out again.....

Sea day, choppy seas and tablets.

It's been a slow day. Choppy seas all night rocked me to sleep but I didn't sleep well even though I was "asleep".

I did some more art work this morning then went upstairs and had a bit of a natter with a fellow amatuer artist and after lunch went back to my cabin for a while.

Next it was hydrotherapy and a sit in the waters as they rocked one side and then the other. 😁 at one point I thought they were going to exit over the edge like they were in the main pool on deck.

Anyway, totally lazy day and now its ten past six and I need to get some shoes on rather than flip flops. 

I'm up to date on seasick tablets so The Bay of Biscay can do it's normal.

The perfumes are out and the smell is really challenging. I can understand why the Japanese really dislike strong perfume,  really does affect how I taste things.

So, Lisbon tomorrow. The last stop and then two days at sea then disembarkation. Not long and itll be back to cold UK. Brrrr.

A free day to wander the streets

I love Lanzarote so I decided, as I know Arrecife I would take myself off and wander down to the beach.

My walk took me along the sea front and the marathon runners. I'm not sure where they started but they ran the full length of the town to the gardens at the far end of the beach and then all the way back past the terminal to the next village I think.

As they passed, hot and bothered, I clapped and cheered them on. They came from all over by the sounds of it; UK, Spain, Germany and probably more.

some of the front runners rounding the point before the beach.

view from where I sat looking over to the mountains of Africa 

The day was labelled as 'changeable' so after about 40 mins I moved off the beach and began the slow meander back. 

Stopping off at one of the pastelarias I bought myself one of their custard and apple slices. It was delightful, not too sweet like it would have been in UK.

As I popped the last mouthful into my mouth I heard the sound of rhythmical drumming sounding very much like the musical, Stomp. I followed the sound and found a troup of players coming down the road to an open area. They played there for another 4 or 5 minutes and then.........

I recorded them but sadly didn't take any stills. 

I get the impression it was something for the local children (and adults no doubt) as there were play stalls laid out such as skittles, giant ludo and Kerplunk......and so much else. I did hope the weather held for them but I suspect it was rained off later.

I started heading back to the ship meandering through the back streets and the past the lagoon where small fishing boats now bobbed about on the returning tide. The runners were approaching the second leg of their run and were slowly reaching the bridge.

Returning to the marina I saw this ship. Called Bad Company Support, it resembled nothing like I'd seen before.

Full frontal gives these the impression it'd cut the ice like knife and soft butter.

Although it was Saturday most of the shops in the marina were closed, probably because for them, it's out of season. Shame, it was still busy even without the cruise ship.

Pueblo, Botanical Garden and a wander around the port

I missed dawn breaking, it did so on portside so I missed it, but I did chuckle as we pulled alongside the warf of some interesting naval ships.

Three of them all moored up, sequentially numbered.

We went off on our trip quite early today, 9:15am, and headed into the northern mountainous region. 

Lush vegetation coated the valley walls with agave, cactus, banana and date palms thriving in the 'natural' climate they had become acclimatised to over the years.

Our first stop was a small town called Teror and is famous for its church which is dedicated to Our Lady of the Palm; Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino.

It is said "our lady" appeared under a palm tree in the town and once the Bishop came and blessed the place stating the sightings were true, the village grew and became a centre of pilgrimage. Each year offerings are brought to her and then there's a fiesta to celebrate.

I would love to have taken a photo of the alter which was lavished with silver and gold but we were not permitted to take photos in there.

the outside of the church in the town square. 

The main irritation we had was the rain which seemed to have followed us up the hill.

It was a pretty hill town, very much as one would expect in any part of Spain. The posh people in their day, invested in balconies and festooned them with plants showing off their wealth by how long and lavish the wood turning/carving adorned the frontage. 

The roads were, as expected, narrow and cobbled (with the volcanic rocks) and small shops and cafés appeared in the alleys.

In Puerto Cruz we had a cow advertising a shop. Here.....doesn't it look angry 😏

Our next stop was a botanical garden called the Marquesa Garden.

now this is my kind of place!

Peacocks had been brought to the gardens, originally for eating but when cooked, the meal so was tough the family who still own the gardens decided to let them roam free.

Needless to say the vistas were amazing and the plants, wonderful. Will enjoy painting some of this when I get home.

Returning to the ship I had lunch and then set off for a wander through the streets near the port.

my ankle started to hurt so I returned to the ship and hit the Hydrotherapy Suite.

Nice day. Shame the weather was not playing ball.

A very different dawn

A lovely dawn broke this morning and it was clear this would be a warm day at sea.

My first stop was breakfast; freshly made granary bread, toasted with marmalade and some fruit then off to the Library to begin mapping out the next page in my sketch book.

This one is of some  of the flowers  I've seen and photographed on Tenerife. Each brings back a memory of different places in Puerto Cruz so it's a page of thoughts, walks and discoveries. 

I didn't realise but I was sitting at the desk for nearly 3.5 hours. Explained why my eyes hurt and my brain wanted a break.

They served tapas for lunch......🤤

Knife, fork and bib ready I sampled, um, quite a bit.

Then to the stern for some sun and it was hot, too hot for my shins.

So now its 15:21 and I'm sitting on my balcony in the shade. I've enjoyed a cup of tea and am contemplating the Hydrotherapy suite. Seems like a nice place to visit.......but first, another cup of tea I think.....