Malaga and Gibraltar.

We’ve recently added another string to our ‘bow’ of cruise activities by taking advantage of the ship’s croquet facility.  The marvellous semi covered area on the games deck is also home to a bowling green but we’ve yet to find time to partake of that discipline. 

Doug firstly gets some advice from a seasoned pro  ………

….. and is then set free to find his feet.

Dinner on board each evening is a wonderful experience and, although we have a table for two (perhaps P&O warned Cunard of us and suggested we’d be better separated from the other guests!), the next table for two has Vanessa and Lance on it and Cunard’s tactics seem to have backfired on them as the four of us have the most tremendous ‘hoot’ for a couple of hours each evening!

We reached Malaga on Wednesday morning and took a walk along the seafront this time as we’d been to the old part of the city earlier in the year.

Before returning to the ship we had a quite few minutes at a cafe next to the Plaza de Toros.

Walking back home we were able to get a good view of “Elizabeth” proudly baring her lifeboats during a routine safety drill by the ship’s company.

Thursday morning saw us docked nice and early at Gibraltar and, as we were scheduled to leave at 1:30 in the afternoon, we had a limited time to do the usual ‘liquid’ shopping.

The main street in Gibraltar is so very typical of many English towns - except for a lot of the prices of course which are tax free!

Other parts of the town are very Mediterranean with palms and orange trees.

It was nice of them to have the “Big Guns” out for us.

We bumped into Lance and Vanessa and had a quick but riotous drink with them before posing for this pic outside the Government Buildings …….

….. and just to rub it in a bit – look at these fuel prices!

We make no apology for this next sequence of photos as we were privy to a fairly rare event as we left harbour at 1:30 ……..

……… “Queen Victoria”, the sister ship to "Queen Elizabeth”, came into Gibraltar to take our place at the cruise liner berth.

This was “hair standing up on the back of your neck stuff” as the ships got closer and closer!

As we left our berth, with the iconic mass of  ‘The Rock’ in the background …….

…….”Victoria” came around on our port side ………

……. and as the these two fabulous ships passed side by side they started sounding their hooters, firstly alternately and then together!  It was a thrilling and awesome sound and it was so very special to be witness to this occasion. 

Finally “Victoria” slipped quietly into the (still warm) berth that we’d just vacated - it must be near on a record turn round!

…… and a final a pic of us two with “Gib” behind us.  It’s been a couple of quick day visits to Malaga and Gibraltar but it’s been great fun and the weather’s been good enough for a bit of sunbathing on deck as well.  Tomorrow we’ll be waking up in Lisbon with a bit of luck as we now head closer to Southampton.

A day in Barcelona

Monday’s port of call was Barcelona.  It was a lovely sunny day to enjoy the city again but last night we travelled through some pretty rough seas to get there.  So much so that we didn’t feel like going down to dinner! It was the first formal night and we’d got all “dolled up” for the Captain’s Cocktail Party, which we attended, but we just couldn’t face the restaurant.  Talking to the (very young!) 3rd in command at the cocktail party he explained the seas were causing a rather strange motion for the ship. (that’s our excuse!)

We walked into Barcelona from the ship this morning, commenting on our way that this was our third visit to the city this year and that we mustn’t let it feel like ‘old hat’. Indeed the city ambience was just as powerful as ever.  A walk up Las Ramblas is necessary both to get into the city proper and to enjoy it’s tree lined character and all the street traders.

Moving off  Las Ramblas towards the Gothic part you can enjoy more of the architectural personality of the city without all the tourist stuff.  The Placa Reial is very pleasant and less busy ……..

…… but we had to laugh when two police officers on their scooters came into the square and all the illegal traders (within seconds) packed up and disappeared as if into the cracks in pavement! When the police left they returned just as quickly!

Although it was Monday, and out of season if there is such a thing, the streets were very busy  ……..

……. and when you get into some of the narrower, and extremely delightful streets (like this one – Carrer del Bisbe) it was almost impossible to move.

The German markets didn’t help the crowded situation – this area, just in front of the Cathedral, was nothing  compared to where all the stalls were.

So, after a pleasant, but busy, walk around it was time for “lunch” and then a taxi back to the ship.  By our own choice it’s was a short visit to this lovely city this time - but we will be visiting again quite soon no doubt.

Tuesday has bee a sea day so there’s been the usual round of deck quoits, lectures, etc.

Here’s an action shot of us both playing deck quoits – kindly taken by entertainments officer Neil …….

……. who also took the opportunity, while he had the camera, to take a “selfie”. We promised him if he did it would go viral!  

James attended a couple of talks later, the first by Roger Cooke, the broadcaster and investigator that used to get himself into some tight situations during his popular TV series “The Cooke Report”.  It’s remarkable he’s still around to tell the tale!

The second talk was by military and commercial pilot David Henderson – both marvellous and hilarious.  This evening it’s the second formal evening and, with the sea calm, we are looking forward to a ‘dandy’ time. 

On the High Seas again!

Last Thursday had us popping up to check on “Chance” and to top up with fuel to cover the possibility of the frost-stat coming on in the cold weather. Then it was off to Heathrow airport ………

……. where our accommodation for the night was a “pod” in Yotel at Terminal 4.  These pods are small but perfectly formed as they say! Under electrical power the bed slides down the wall and across the floor like a drunken sailor ……….

…… and a curtain hides the very adequate shower room. A very early flight on Friday took us to Rome’s Leonardo de Vinci airport and then an hour’s coach journey northwards to where we boarded Cunard’s very beautiful “Queen Elizabeth” for a Mediterranean cruise back to Southampton.

Even on the first afternoon there was activity all around as passengers arrived from Rome in their dribs and drabs throughout the day.   Some still had enough energy to dance in the fabulous Queen’s Room.

The Grand Lobby is looking really stunning with the Christmas decorations.

On Saturday our first port of call gave us the chance to take a short journey to Pisa …………

….. where the Tower has to been seen to be believed!  The Piazza dei Miricoli is a beautiful area encompassing the Tower and Cathedral and here are a few of the obligatory photos of our most impressive day out:-

The monument is 55 metres high and weighs 14,500 tons. The recent work to stop further leaning has reduced the inclination by 0.5 degree but it still looks incredibly precarious! 

Despite the look of the skies the day was warm and sunny, making the white and grey San Giuliano limestone look as though the buildings were constructed only yesterday.

A trip to the top of the Tower was essential …..

…… Doug was very happy to be there …….

….. and James, taking the chance to face his fear of heights, was also happy to have done it! 

On the ground below the Tower is a striking bronze sculpture of a “Fallen Angel”.

We were able to get right to the top of the Tower and walk amongst the bells – the bells!!!

We had a superb view of the Cathedral and surrounding countryside from the top.

The steps are well worn and the climb up and down felt very strange as the tilt of the Tower throws you from one side to the other.

After the Tower we made a visit to the Cathedral which was sensational.  We were lucky to be the first ones in after the lunchtime closure so there was nobody inside and we could experience the silence of this lovely space.

It had the largest pulpit we’ve ever seen and the carving of the stonework on it was quite remarkable.

After a wonderful afternoon we headed back to “Elizabeth” ……..

….. where we were in time for afternoon tea in the Queen’s Room.

More tea vicar?

We’ve been on the ship for 2 days now (seems like 2 weeks!) and have already got to know a quite few passengers and a few staff.  It’s a truly lovely ship and, being only 4 years old, is in prime condition and very “Cunard”.