| We got on the shuttle and Kathy was there as well, having appeared as we were walking out. On the bus into the city, there were other Americans. Kathy and I talked dogs for a while before she joined in a conversation about the forthcoming US election. Patrick decided not to go to the Guggenheim Museum so led the way to the old town as he looked for somewhere to eat. The problem with a lot of Spanish food is they contain peppers (capsicum) which I'm allergic to so it took a lot of walking before we found a place with a menu which didn't include them in everything. |
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| Cafeteria Laga was a lovely little place. Many tables were reserved for their regulars but as long as it was before the time, you could sit there. The food was delicious as well. Good value for money. On the TV was the Spanish version of The Weakest Link which was interesting. The only connection to ours was the voting off. The host was really scruffy and looked to be quite amusing too. The contestants were equally scruffy. There were a choice of three answers for each question. I even got one correct and I didn't understand it! |
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| After lunch we walked back towards the shuttle stop. Patrick lost his bearings a couple of times which made me laugh considering he'd been there before so knew where to go. A beautiful sight beheld us as we neared the port. Lizzie will definitely be missed. There isn't another like her and there never will be. Carnival, in their obsessive cheapness, are missing great opportunities. The new Queen Elizabeth could have been influenced by her two predecessors, the way QM2< was by Mary in Long Beach and Lizzie. Instead we get overpriced Vistas. Anyway, after going through security, which saved you doing it when you reboarded, I saw you could now go right to the end of the dock so I wasn't going to miss that. |
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| It was time to go up for sailaway. Patrick had his siesta in my cabin before the evening sets. He likes the ship but doesn't understand how you can get emotionally attached to them. Stevie does, having worked on her on and off since 1982. It was already fairly crowded by 5.20pm and we were due to say Adios Bilbao in forty minutes. It was very exciting, wondering what sort of send off, if any, we'd get. So far since the world cruise, so many ports did absolutely nothing to say goodbye after all these years. John was on the Observation Deck too so we got a good spot and waited, excitement mounting as the tugs appeared to attach themselves. |
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| At 6pm they began to cast the ropes. We'd be off imminently and in wonderful weather too. It was hard to believe it was almost November. We had certainly been lucky with it. She was silently pulled away from the dock, one tug going down her starboard side to give her a gentle nudge. |
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| We suddenly heard the sound of sirens woo-wooing us and looked to see us being waved at on the dockside which made us chuckle. |
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| As we straightened to head into the channel, we gave three long blasts to the people who had turned out to say goodbye to Lizzie. The place was really similar to Dover which make me wonder even more why Brits think Dover and its white cliffs are so special when there are other places like it around the world. |
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| The starboard tug let out a plume of water after our port one let go and moved forward. Then that did the same with both adding another one. They parped at us a lot, as did the other boats, but disappointingly we barely responded. The lead tug then edged backwards so it was beneath our prow resulting in everyone from crew on the bow to we fare paying passengers getting a salty soaking. The difference being we stayed put! |
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| By the time we headed out and left our tugs behind looking very forlorn, we had blasted nine times. It was a brilliant goodbye, though Bergen was still best for the hour of on/off blasting. Bilbao's firetugs gave us the sort of send off Bergen should have. But hey, at least they did something, which is more than a lot have. After a drink in the Golden Lion with John, I went back to the cabin to get changed for our second formal night. I couldn't be bothered with the Captain's party for steerage. Not a lot happened in June. So instead I went back to the cabin but had to knock on the door. Once I could go in, I was greeted by the sight of Patrick fully dressed and lying on the bed, demanding to know where I'd been. I told him, even though he knew and I hadn't expected to find him awake. He explained he'd made a noise and someone, he thought Rita, tried to come in so he had to lock the door. "I couldn't leave!" he wailed pitfully. Ahhhh. I checked the coast was clear, he gave me a kiss then went to his cabin two decks below to change. After I'd done the same, I headed to the Crystal to listen to him before dinner. When I went into the restaurant, Ozzy wondered what happened to me the night before so I explained about the mal de mer. My table companions thought they'd done something to offend me. Ozzy had done magic tricks the night before, I was told, so he did a couple for me he'd performed then. He really is excellent and should take it up as a career. Maybe he could make Lizzie's sale go away! |
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| After dinner I went to the Chart Room where Patrick was playing. The ship was rocking good and proper. John joined me and we had a nice chat until Patrick finished his two sets then we all went to the Lido for the midnight buffet. Stevie arrived and sat with us. After John went, Stevie and I were talking about the ship. I told him Patrick doesn't understand. Stevie later said something, Patrick made a comment and Stevie looked directly at me saying, "He doesn't understand." I had found a kindred spirit! But then there are a lot of crew who feel the way we do about her so Patrick is outnumbered. |
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| So off to bed and as we were arriving in Le Verdon for 5am I decided, like Bilbao, I'd stay in my pit. The bed was quite comfortable really, even with a snoring Northern Irish lump in it. Not as good as NCL's but good enough. I'd ordered room service again because it's really the only way on Lizzie we could eat together so enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. Patrick had been here before in August so said he'd take me round the little town of Soulac-sur-Mer after the 10am crew drill. That lasted an hour. However the clocks would be going back that night so we not only changed from Central European Time but also to GMT so had an extra two hours in bed - YES!!!!!!!!! |
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| It was a little nippy when we caught the shuttle so I took several layers but really pleasant. Patrick noted how in August it had been packed with tourists. I quite liked the quietness of the place, probably because I grew up near a small town so prefer them to the cities. It was a really beautiful place. |
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| I could really live there, or definitely holiday. After a very nice lunch (apart from taking the garlic bread away when Patrick finished his soup), we walked back to the car park for the shuttle. As we did, I couldn't help noticed the sign below and had to take a photo. I realise it's to do with World War I and Armistice Day but the date is also when >Lizzie leaves her home for the final time so prophetic. |
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| There was a little confusion as to which shuttle to board. It was supposed to be one but then the woman told the few of us waiting to go on another. After she did a little arguing with the drivers, we did and headed back practically empty to the dock. |
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