The postacrds do not lie

We sailed into a glorious dawn and found Dubrovnik waiting. There was a large part of the official city band up early to greet us, and then we were off. They are the first to have physiaclly checked the passports, but I did not get a stamp. I like a stamp to prove I am here.
It is a lovley city and we waked the old town, investigating the tiny lanes off the Placa, a main thoroughfare through the old wall. There were market areas, and naturally a lot of souvenier stalls. Many commented on the high price of everything from goods to refreshments. There is also a tax for rebuilding Dubrovnik built into all purchases. Little mention is made of their past troubles of some years ago, and they seem a very strong people committed to a new country and time. We loved the little and not so little vegetable gardens every house seems to have, the laneways where the washing is hanging above people siting at tiny cafe tables having their morning coffee and a chat. It was a lovely day wandering the streets in the balmy sunshine, the water had an azure quality to the colour and it was very much the postcard look we had hoped maybe there. The streets are clean, and there is a sense of pride, even in the officials checking buses as we left the Port, the ban dwho played, and the street vendors. Andthere was a lady I watched from the our deck alcony, as we sailed off - putting the washing out on a line from her front window. The house looked old but so cared for, and I could imagine the simple things that made he life. She seemed

A day in Greece

Corfu appeared out of the mist.It wasnt sunny and postcard perfect, but an early exploration of the pretty town revealed a lovely sojurn - especially before two ship loads of tourists a ppeared. (The cecret is to be on one of the early shuttle buses and beat them all)There are tiny lanes with 3 and four story buildings revealing a glory of past times, holding hands with clothes lines strung between, and weather beaten shutters. The elderly men are out greeting one another and the shops putting out their wares,(I wonder how much is genuinly local or from China), but they add colour to the streets.
The laneways reveal all sorts of treasures, tiy apothacaries, little barber shops, where the barber must know all the locals and spend more time chatting than cutting, and it will all be good.The local priest wanders down the street, in his big black hat and black robes greeting so many he knows, and there are the carzy vespa riders, weaving everywhere.
The bus drivers who ferry us form the ship to town are amazingly silled. The parking is chaotic, driving worse than Paris (though apparently better than Naples!) ad we are amazed how he weaves the bus down tiny streets and did not scrape a single car. The nonchalant look on drivers face revealed this is apparently the norm Corfu welcomes you in its cosy casual way, and invites you to accept their ways as special and good for them and visitors while you are with them. It was lovely, even without the sun
More soon

A Saturday at sea

Sailing off the coast of Tunisia, beauitful blue sea and sunny day - a perfect day to be at sea.

If anyone is interested and checked the itinerary, there will be noted a number of sea days - travelling days -no docking, just sailing from one point to the next. So what do we do on these days. After six days at sea and solid tuition from R, I can get myself around the ship, just about. 'Ill see you at breakfast' initially meant I'd find him the next day. But it is sorted now, and the big ship allows for a lot of exploration, many laps of the promenade deck. Today we are in class quite alot. R has discovered a great lecturere on history, especially naval, so they already kindred spirits. I am going to one on Venice, and then one on MArco Polo (born in Venice)Together with reading, doing some emails,and the blog when possible, the time is flying. Which is not what is happeneing in Europe - the news is taken over with the dramas of teh volcanic cloud and huge no fly zone now over Europe, -as of now, all UK air space is closed and getting worse.
We are sailing off Tunisia, enroute to Greece. It is a huge shipping lane - at one tme we noted 13 ships in our sights.
More soon

A different port to expectations

We have come to Palmo on Majorca> It has been a destination of choice for many British to retire, though the GFC has apparently seen an exodus of some who cannot financially manage in this little tax haven. The seafront is lined with those unfortunate bland high rise condominiums that dictate the personality of such retirement areas. However we have done a walk around the area, seen the huge Cathedral which dominates the city skyline. It is a gorgeous day the sun is shining and the balmy temperature has bought many passengers to their deck chairs. We may dine 'en suite'for lunch! It has dramatically changed for the better since the wild weather that drove us off from Malaga.Majorca was quite mountainous and the city quite hilly to walk.In the perfect weather it is easy to see the attraction of Palmo for retirement. And the port has some seriously equipped yachts, the playthings of the rich and famous.
I sounded a little cynical or sarcastic of Palmo, and I must do it justice in its architecture and history. There is obviously a big Moorish influence in style and colour and the old castle and towers bear testament to the old ramparts which fought off the hoards in ages past. These structures sit boldly beside the modern blocks of housing and holiday lets. More soon

In port and sea

We are sitting off Malaga as I send this, wallowing in a big swell. Naturally the Captain does not want to bang up his new ship, and the port is closed so it may well be that we move on elsewhere. The sea was really rough coming through the Straits of Gibralter. But we have adopted the Sailor's swagger quite nicely, so all is well with us. The Captain is currently telling us that we will not be going in - so will turn away and will go in to Palma tomorrow morning - a half day call - but it is all new,and these things are part of the fabric of travelling.
Have raided the Library naturally, and got some light reading - Jane Green, Michael Dobbs, and the Queen Mothers official biography! Will go back for more today. The IT man in the Library is great, and spent a couple of hours getting us running on wireless. All good now.
Will report on another day. More soon

Off to sea in a beautiful pea green boat

There was a band, a blessing, everyone waved the Union Jack, and we were off. A rousing rendition of Land of hope and glory saw us leaving the wharf and waving to people who had lined a pier to watch the ship off on its maiden voyage. It was lovely to be gently rocked to sleep at sea, and this morning we are off the south coast of France heading towards the Bay of Biscay, which can be temperamental at the best of times.
We are in the lower demographics of the ship by quite a long way, which is nice for a change, with very few children and young people. The majority are very much in the retirement phase - a couple were surprised we had come such a long way on annual leave.
Off to explore the ship - I have already checked out the library. The wireless is having problems finding our pc, so we wont get any photos attached till London, probably. We will log on every couple of days to check and keep taking notes of all our experiences. So far so good. The sea is quite pleasant, though a force 8 gale is predicted.
More soon.

Our 2010 Holiday - Afloat!

My heart skipped a beat as the plane did the last hard bank on approach over London and you get a wonderful view of the noted landmarks as landing approaches. It is wonderful to be back, and the city and counrtyside has put on a beautiful spring gown of yellow daffodils, jonquils and buebells in the gardens and parks and verges everywhere. After the grim winter , nature is showing off.
The flight was fine, and now we are in Southampton about to board Azura. She was officially named on Saturday night and we had a spectacular fireworks display over the city as she was welcomed. We have already done a couple of train trips - went to Salisbury, and the cathedral yesterday - it is the first time we have seen the front of it without scaffolding and it is a wonderful sight. We were in time for the Eucharist and saw the procession of choir and clergy all very grand. The font is huge , and is a water feature in itself. The larger version of it is in Prince Charles garden at Highgrove.
The countryside is so green now after all the snow, and more recent rains, the creeks are very full and there are lots of little lambs.
Photos are of landing in Doha and two from Salisbury on a beautiful spring sunday morning.
We are packing now for the ship, and as I send this, the ship is sitting in the harbour right in front of us.
Off to some more adventures. More soon.