More sea days, more interesting weather, saying goodbye to new friends, thanking the staff for their care of us, and regretting that we had to stop our lazy life and get back to normal.
When we got home, the central heating was off and the house was bitterly cold - there had been a power cut, and the system had, for safety, turned itself off. Our lodger, who doesn't understand the system, wasn't aware of it.
We were welcomed, eventually, by the cat, who had obviously missed us, as she slept on my hip (I sleep on my side) for most of the next three nights, not her normal behaviour. Adn so to work!
Friday, 1 April 2011
Day 15, Cadiz
We changed our plans at the last minute from a longish coach journey to Seville, to a guided tour round Cadiz, and I am really glad we did. Cadiz is a lovely town, with lots of interesting things to see, but walkable at my pace - nothing too steep thank goodness. Added to that we had yet another excellent guide, who was very observant, noticed who was slow and who needed a walking stick, and paused every so often to allow us to catch up. We did the obligatory drive around the town, past a beautiful park, and a wonderful flea market, which I really wanted to go back to - we planned to return after the rest of the tour, but were very tired afterwards so....
There were some astonishing trees everywhere, but in dark corners, so I wasn't able to photograph many of them, but there were also flowers everywhere, including several of these "tubs" outside the cathedral. I imagine a week after we visited they would have spread even more.
We continued to stroll along the streets, and were told that some of the bricks were of oyster stone - literally made with crushed oyster shell. I think you should be able to click to enlarge.
We continued inside the cathedral, where a service to welcome a new bishop was about to be held. We looked around briefly, but I enjoyed watching the people. There was what was obviously a family, or group of related people, and a lady wearing a normal smart suit, but with a full mantilla and comb. I have only ever seen mantillas worn in paintings, or for dance performances, so that was fascinating.
We ended up in what must have been the main square, where there were preparations being made for a carnival. There were lights in the streets, which would have looked wonderful when all lit up. The streets were very narrow, with tall buildings as is so often the case in Mediterranean countries - that way it is cool to walk in as you are shaded a lot from the sun.
There were some astonishing trees everywhere, but in dark corners, so I wasn't able to photograph many of them, but there were also flowers everywhere, including several of these "tubs" outside the cathedral. I imagine a week after we visited they would have spread even more.
Our first stop was at the museum, which was really interesting, with all sorts of artefacts, such as psalters, locked safely in cupboards, a few pictures, some embroidered copes, chasubles and so on, and two extraordinary lifesize figures, the patron saints of the city. They were identical, and I have no idea which this photo is of! They were gilded all over, not cloth at all.
We continued to stroll along the streets, and were told that some of the bricks were of oyster stone - literally made with crushed oyster shell. I think you should be able to click to enlarge.
We ended up in what must have been the main square, where there were preparations being made for a carnival. There were lights in the streets, which would have looked wonderful when all lit up. The streets were very narrow, with tall buildings as is so often the case in Mediterranean countries - that way it is cool to walk in as you are shaded a lot from the sun.
We walked beck to the coach, and were taken back to the ship, but made an executive decision not to walk across the entire town to get to the street market. Keith finds walking difficult with his soon-to-be-new knee, and my breathing limits the amount of energy I have. But we really enjyed Cadiz, and with so many of the other places we visited, would be happy to return.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Day 14, Gibralter
As I said previously, I decided not to even try this trip, after re-reading the information. And according to Keith I was right to make that xchoice, as there was a lot of climbing up and down slopes and stairs. He managed some of it, but in fact had to miss out on some, because his knee couldn't cope. He took a lot of photos and was extremely glad he had done the trip even without me, as he enjoyed the Barbary apes that are a main feature of the place. In fact one tried to wrestle his camera off him, but the stronger person won!
I stayed on board, did some embroidery, pottered, read, slept, did some exercises (gentle pilates), put my feet up, had lunch, not newcessarily in that order, and went to supper once Keith was back. As usual we had our enjoyable snark at the people coming and going past us to go to or come back from the show.
I stayed on board, did some embroidery, pottered, read, slept, did some exercises (gentle pilates), put my feet up, had lunch, not newcessarily in that order, and went to supper once Keith was back. As usual we had our enjoyable snark at the people coming and going past us to go to or come back from the show.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Day 13- another sea day
After 4 days running around wonderful historical places in lovely weather, to be honest we were glad to return to our slothful ways. We ate, pottered, watched another ice show - it is an extraordinary experience knowing that you are on a boat, watching ice skating! We chatted with the nice older couple who will be getting married in June, and exchanged addresses - a first for us as we are very stand offish in general, and don't make friends. We enjoyed picking holes in people's clothes as they walked past us in the bar (a highlight for me, as I think I said.)
We also decided that I should not take the trip ashore to Gibralter, having struggled with the slopes in Cagliari - looking at the itinerary, I realised there would be slopes and steps, so I decided against it. Keith decided to go though.
But for him the highlight was seeing dolphins swimming alongside the boat! We had gone out as it was beautiful weather, and were simply watching the sea, when two dark shapes jumped out of the water. I thought I was seeing things, as Keith had repeatedly said "Where are the dolphins?", to the boredom of all around. And suddenly there they were. We watched them gradually get closer then disappear - we think under the boat. We stood for ages after that, but no luck. He was thrilled, so much so that he totally forgot to take photos! (He actaully saw another on another day, but needless to say, no photos, and goodness knows where I was!
We also decided that I should not take the trip ashore to Gibralter, having struggled with the slopes in Cagliari - looking at the itinerary, I realised there would be slopes and steps, so I decided against it. Keith decided to go though.
But for him the highlight was seeing dolphins swimming alongside the boat! We had gone out as it was beautiful weather, and were simply watching the sea, when two dark shapes jumped out of the water. I thought I was seeing things, as Keith had repeatedly said "Where are the dolphins?", to the boredom of all around. And suddenly there they were. We watched them gradually get closer then disappear - we think under the boat. We stood for ages after that, but no luck. He was thrilled, so much so that he totally forgot to take photos! (He actaully saw another on another day, but needless to say, no photos, and goodness knows where I was!
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Day 12, Cagliari, Sardinia
Our fourth day in a row ashore, and my least succesful trip. All our local guides up to now had been superb, knowledgeable, and aware of the slow ones in the group. This one may have been knowledgeable, but her peope skills were negligible, and she was completely unaware of people with walking difficulties, or, like me, with breathing difficulties. (I can walk for ages on a relatively flat surface, but stairs and slopes need to be taken slowly.)
Once we got off the bus, she took off at high speed upa steep lope, leaving me - and Keith who was troubled with his knee - trailing far behind. My chest was hurting, and I was in some trouble. Ww arrived at the Cathedral, but I saw very little as I needed to sit and recover my composure. I did take a few photos of the interior, of which this was the best, I think.
She then took off again for the museum, again at speed. The museum was up some steps, and inside there were more, so I stayed outside in the sun, enjoying a brilliant cup of hot chocolate (liquid chocolate, not the thin stuff we get!) We were taken down the other side of the cathedral, which meant lots of steps - eurgh! However, the drive around the island showed it at its best on the suuny day we had.
And every tower block (quite small, though) had balconies with flowers and shrubbery hanging off the sides.
We got back to the centre of the town, got off the coach, and the guide had, quite literally vanished, instead of waiting for everyone to disembark. Fortunately she had given th e rendezvous point before she got off the bus, so we went for a wander by ourselves, and another cup of hot chocolate in this so pretty cup!
And just before we rejoined the coach, we saw these two beautiful cats, on a box, with at least half a dozen white mice, all happy to play with each other!
Then back to the boat for a few more days at sea, thoroughly exhausted, and looking forward to a couple of resting days!
Once we got off the bus, she took off at high speed upa steep lope, leaving me - and Keith who was troubled with his knee - trailing far behind. My chest was hurting, and I was in some trouble. Ww arrived at the Cathedral, but I saw very little as I needed to sit and recover my composure. I did take a few photos of the interior, of which this was the best, I think.
We got back to the centre of the town, got off the coach, and the guide had, quite literally vanished, instead of waiting for everyone to disembark. Fortunately she had given th e rendezvous point before she got off the bus, so we went for a wander by ourselves, and another cup of hot chocolate in this so pretty cup!
And just before we rejoined the coach, we saw these two beautiful cats, on a box, with at least half a dozen white mice, all happy to play with each other!
They were in brilliant condition, and we stood and watched for ages - one was pregnant, as you can probably see. There was a box in front of them for money, so of course we added some more small change, simply for the pleasure of watching them.
Then back to the boat for a few more days at sea, thoroughly exhausted, and looking forward to a couple of resting days!
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Day 11, Sorrento
After we left Pompeii, we were driven round the coast via a very pretty but hair pin bend road to Sorrento, a small place known for holidaying, and, apparently, woodcarving. We were taken first to a shop where we were shown how inlaid furniture was made. (These shops that we were taken too obviously have an "arrangement" with the shipping line - they provide water and free bathrooms, while the shipping line provides potential customers!)
We would have bought an exquisite workboox, inlaid in the best tradition of 18th century craftsmen if it had not been for the price E6,000, plus shipping. And the table Keith likes, with several layers, for playing card games, roulette, backgammon etc - a mere E8.000!! Oh, but they were very beautiful. Needless to say we found some (cheaper) trinkets in the jewellery department!
We then moved on to a restaurant, where we were eserved a vetry good, proper, Italian meal, with pasta as a first course. There was a light sparking wine served, which was excellent, and I wrote the name down. The first time I visited Italy, over 40 years ago, the currency was in lira, and we paid 1000 lira (about 50 pence - 75c) for a very large bottle of a local wine called Asti. Asti was always a cheap wine, with no good reputation, but more recently, it has become acceptable, and a bottle of the wine we had could be about £20.00!! (I did find a cheaper source - it is very, very nice!!)
We were then let off the hook, as it were, to wander the streets and look at the pretties, and taste Limoncello - a liqueur type lemon flavoured yummy drink, a bottle of which followed us home!
In Spain and Italy, there are wonderful tiled decorations everywhere, even on an empty shop. 
Very narrow streets to keep you cool in the summer
Like this would!
We bought some wonderful muti-colour striped farfalle, and some very rude shaped pasta with those phalluses amoung the shapes, and carried our spoils back to the boat, after another drive along the pretty coast to the not so pretty port of Naples, whence we left for Cagliari.
Tiger farfalle!
We would have bought an exquisite workboox, inlaid in the best tradition of 18th century craftsmen if it had not been for the price E6,000, plus shipping. And the table Keith likes, with several layers, for playing card games, roulette, backgammon etc - a mere E8.000!! Oh, but they were very beautiful. Needless to say we found some (cheaper) trinkets in the jewellery department!
We then moved on to a restaurant, where we were eserved a vetry good, proper, Italian meal, with pasta as a first course. There was a light sparking wine served, which was excellent, and I wrote the name down. The first time I visited Italy, over 40 years ago, the currency was in lira, and we paid 1000 lira (about 50 pence - 75c) for a very large bottle of a local wine called Asti. Asti was always a cheap wine, with no good reputation, but more recently, it has become acceptable, and a bottle of the wine we had could be about £20.00!! (I did find a cheaper source - it is very, very nice!!)
We were then let off the hook, as it were, to wander the streets and look at the pretties, and taste Limoncello - a liqueur type lemon flavoured yummy drink, a bottle of which followed us home!
Monday, 14 March 2011
Day 11, Pompeii (X rated for phallic symbols)
This was to be an all day trip, so we left early. Our guide, Luca, really knew his stuff, and was very chatty on the hour and a half trip. For some reason I had in mind that Pompeii was fairly small, level, and with no really big buildings. Wrong!! It was vast - we may have seen just about one quarter of it - hilly, and lots of big and pretty tall buildings - see for yourself. (There are sexual images for those of a delicate disposition!) I wish I had a tape recorder - I can't remember half of what our guide said!
This was as we went into the town.
This gives some idea of the height of some of the surviving buildings - this is a large square surrounded by porticos - I think Luca said barracks
One of the side streets
Showing different masonry techniques.
If you look carefully through the gate you can see the remains of a mosaic floor
And the height of some of the buidings
These were everywhere - they are a symbol of good luck
This one points towards the brothel!!
And inside "which one do you fancy sir?" Several on the walls, above head height, but poor lighting meant not all photographed well
You can see where the carts dug ruts in the cobbles, and where there were gaps left to drive through
The volcalo in the background of the great space at the centre of Pompeii - I should know the name, but cannot remember.
Love the hoodies (elves?) in the background!
And a cast of one of the bodies found. The guides call it the pregnant girl, but I think that is the tummy of a fat old man - no boobs and very low bulge!
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