| Back to the cabin for a nap before dinner. Brenda didn't go, probably because of the wine tasting! By now Florian wasn't even bothering pointing me at the Always Available menu. So how can I avoid salt in the following photos??? No wonder my feet were beginning to swell. |
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David, Rob, Shilpa and myself went to the Sottovento Pub afterwards, which is for smokers. I don't, having given up in January 2008, but the others did. The atmosphere in there was as a bar should be. It was just a shame it didn't have better ventilation. They offered snacks, which were soon purloined by Rob. The Dutch in the room were having a good laugh as well. Rob wanted the band to play a Scottish song and went to get his flags to wave. No one sang along when Flower of Scotland was played until an elderly Dutchman grabbed the flags and started waving them. |
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| Absolutely brilliant night but when Shilpa and I left the boys to it about 12.20am then went to our own cabins, the smoke reeked on me and my clothes so I had to spray them and washed my hair. I'm not one of these people who thinks smoking should be banned because life's too damn short as it is to moan about everything, but if you're going to have designated smoking areas (and inside is safer than outside), you need decent ventilation so the air isn't thick. |
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| Wednesday the 20th June was Stavanger. I woke up and saw on the webcam we were turning to back in so went back to bed for a few more hours. We were alone at that time but would be joined by Hamburg (the former c.Columbus for Hapag-Lloyd) at 3pm. I was also meeting my friend Oskar Osmundsen from Facebook at that time. |
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I sat on the deck with a Coke enjoying the weather before lunch then, as I was eating, noticed the other ruddy ship passing the bridge. Sod was early! I quickly finished and made my way out, boiling in my cardie and winter jacket. |
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| As Oskar was still a good hour or so away, I went back to the ship to dump the coat and quickly charge my phone and camcorder before heading out again, ready to meet by the boat pontoon. I saw Shilpa and Rob coming back from the oil museum and they waited with me until Oskar arrived. Shilpa asked him where the sardine factory was and he didn't know. Later he found it. We wandered around taking photos of the ships and chatting then saw Brenda coming back to the ship with her son later. |
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| Our sailaway was earlier than expected, but only by about ten minutes. You always knew, once the lights flickered, we would be off shortly. It was only that which let you know in the absence of pre-departure spiels. I really missed that. |
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| Shopping! Well window shopping generally but I bought a couple of photos. Dinner and once again, I was allowed to have anything on the menu with the exception of dessert, which was ice cream, sorbet or fresh fruit platter yet again. I'd told Oskar about the risotto, which the boys complained each night had a high salt content, but to me, it looked like sick. I took a photo of Petronella's since David covered his in parmesan. I didn't actually fancy anything on the menu so went for the minute steak, since Florian said it could be well done. Well it was HALF well done, but very fatty so ended up just eating the chips. You really could lose weight on this cruise! I was so glad I stockpiled apples otherwise I'd go hungry for sure. |
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| Rob, Shilpa and myself went to Biblos Disco while David joined us later. The light outside was just amazing. Midnight sun is fascinating, even if you have trouble sleeping because of it. There was no phone signal. We were close enough to land for the ship satellite to be off but too far away for a land signal. The disco played some pretty dire racket they called music, which was why the floor was empty until some Latino was put on. It was pretty cold and windy outside but several were watching as Costa Fortuna passed at 1am, dropping her pilot while we picked ours up. David had gone by then whle me and Shilpa wewn't that far behind. She at least was the right end for her cabin, while I had to walk forward. I popped on deck first though and was surprised to see the crew cleaning. This is wonderful because there's nothing worse than walking through puddles at 6am on other lines. Then bed. |
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| Because the light was making it difficult to sleep, I didn't get up for our arrival as planned. Texts came through after 5am and made up for lost time! After lunch I wandered around the deck to take photos and was pleased we were bow in, while Seven Seas Voyager was anchored. It was another glorious day, at least 24c at that time. |
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