An afternoon sailing

Leaving the harbour we headed toward La Palma, our first port of call in the Canaries.

I've been many a time and like most islands in this archipelago but it's always great to slowly drift into our berth and once clearance is complete, take a wander through the town and market, buy a coffee and cake (preferably a fresh fruit tart with lashings of gelatine holding it all in place).

I was going back into the pool on top deck but changed my mind, got the washing dry on the balcony and then went for a lovely spa.

Having wandered back to the library for a cup of tea and a cool down, I'm now sitting on the balcony looking out toward a clear horizon and a slowly setting sun.

People are making their way back to cabins and I hear balcony doors unlocking, doors sliding open then silence. Nearly all of us along this row are singles so very little chatting, no TV noise, no loud music. What a blessing.

We should reach La Palma for tying up at 10am. 

This is after a pushy Italian ship who made it clear they want to get in and tie up first. 

Hey, whatever, it's all much of a muchness after all........ wonder if it's that Costa Firenze?

Day 5: a final morning in Funchal.

Dawn was exceptional this morning; vivid yellow and orange hung in the sky as the sun slowly emerged from clouds clinging to the horizon.

I thought I'd heard orbital cleaning machines working diligently during the night but woke to see two cruise ships had docked opposite us.

Both were smaller than the Tui Mein Schiff which had pulled out yesterday. I heard someone saying Mein Schiff was the size of a large town with 5000 passengers! 

Nope. Not my idea of fun.

The other ship, the one I didnt recognise, was 3000. Yuk.

Ours you ask? About 700-800, a much nicer size.

I didn't go off ashore I used the quiet to hit the pool on deck 12 and the laundrette on deck 8. I'm sitting here on my balcony with my washing gently blowing and drying very nicely indeed.

As I watch Funchal disappear into the distance I note the heavy rain clouds in the hills and the slowly spreading, over cast day. Yes, when we left it had just turned cooler but as I swam this morning it was 28°C.

An afternoon in Funchal

It was certainly hot here!

 The weather app was recording 26°C but if anyone said higher I would concur.

I was in the pool by the time we berthed at the town pier. 

Funchal still looked the same just more of it and probably spread further up the hills.

Looking starboard, we had nestled in by two other cruise ships, one a German Tui ship and the other, I suspect by the name, Spanish.

The Costa Firenze looked to be about the same size as ours but with a yellow funnel and a large letter 'C' emblazoned on the side, it made no impression on me.

The Tui ship I've encountered before. More a mobile town than a ship I counted 7 normal ducks and 2 extra large ones on their port side. I can but presume it's the same in the other. When you consider we have 8 ducks in total, theirs is a considerably larger ship.

Behind all that iron work was yet another ship, a ferry from the Porto Santo line. Nice way to travel over to the island if you don't fancy the flight.

Once the weather cooled a fraction I wandered off along the seafront and then up into the old part of the town that lies around the cathedral. 

I've always enjoyed this part of town and with the market in full swing it was a joy to wander along. Christmas time has arrived and tree ornaments abounded.

Wandering around the stalls and popping into stores it was nice to browse but with no aim in mind. 

People were gathering to enjoy a beer, a pizza or chat over a much needed coffee. The place hummed with life and activity, everyone wrapped up in their little piece of reality.

Slowly I wandered back knowing a lovely cup of tea awaited my hand in the cabin and I could wait to see which of these other ships left tonight.

To be honest, I might even go for another swim. The water is lovely and now the clouds have rolled down from the mountains it is a good degree cooler. 

Day 4: passing Porto Santo

Slowly, we sailed passed our first sighting of land since leaving the UK, the islands of Porto Santo and its centre Pedro's Pretas.

Looking at prices per night, considering its somewhat exclusive nature, €60 per night seems almost reasonable. 

The sun was just coming up as we slipped by and the main town itself lit up in the sunshine. 

I watched the light change and spotted a yacht  making its way into port from the northern tip. The Erra de Denton certainly live up to their name; spikey, deserted and inhospitable, 

Looking at the map gives an idea of scale when you note the airport strip and just how much space it takes up.

Anyway, I'm off, a sauna awaits and then a quick hydrotherapy dip me thinks.

This is the life.

Next will be deck 12, find a seat and possibly a dip in the pool later, but for now, the sauna calls.

Day 3; the afternoon

By lunchtime, the sea became like glass and reflected the blue of the sky, the temperature rose to 21°C and the wind became no more than that created by the ship itself.

A pod of dolphins lept by, followed by a lone whale. The sunnier, southern climes are here and so too is the warmth.

The captain came over the tannoy system and let us know the latest details. 

We will pass the island of Porto Santo at breakfast time tomorrow and then cruise into the port of Funchal, docking at midday.

He sent out two challenges; the last person aboard tomorrow night having had fun and a good time gets a bottle of bubbly and the second, a reminder to keep the lobster on the plate not the person.

I enjoyed a light lunch then retired to the library. A small group of ladies were making necklaces out of laces. The rest of us collapsed into chairs already sunned out by the morning heat.

Can't have too much on the first day, we'd end up like lobsters 😁

Day 3 and the barmy warmth reaches us.

Sitting on my balcony looking out to sea, I observe calm waters, a clear horizon and broken cloud. It feels around 17° to 19° C with little wind to play with either the ships stability or the ocean waves.

I've already enjoyed a sauna and hydrotherapy swim (well paddle about) and I do feel better.

After last night I'm going to follow Shirley's plan of ordering just two starters or an appetiser and a starter. By the time we get up for dinner it's just too late to eat and I'm tired of feeling rubbish all night. 

Yep, Shirley, you, me, both; lunch then a little something later.

Heavens I'm really missing that lady.

Oh by the way Shirley,  the art work on here is no where near as good as the Discovery! Its ultra modern but has little apparent soul. Huge canvases but size doesn't make up for lack of depth in my mind.

OK, cup of tea time and then deck 12, lido deck. I want to see of they've filled the pool and if its warm enough to sit up there. I'm waiting for my phone to charge. 

Until then, I'm going to enjoy the silence. 

Just reading through and my cabin phone went; reception. My card hasn't registered correctly so my purchase today fell into an abyss.  Oops. So deck 5 first then, but tea and finish charging my phone first. 

Day 2 at sea and the weather was bad

I do love our captain.

He came over the tannoy at lunchtime today, all bright and breezy to give us a weather update. 

Yes, we'd fought the worst of the storm and even with all four engines working at maximum thrust, we were already five hours behind schedule. 

Happy days.

"Not to worry" he said, "we've been in negotiations with Funchal and we'll arrive at midday instead of 08:30, stay overnight and then have the morning, the following morning if you get me. We've also negotiated best berth at the harbour, so we're really close into the town, which is nice."

So, we are doing an overnight in Madeira, bonus I say.

Rest of day? Well I can write it now. I'm back in the Library on a chaise longe about to devour book number two on the Kindle.

Yesterday's book was brilliant and I have high hopes for this one too.

Oh, and yes, already visited the sauna.