Life on the Ocean Wave!

Life on the ocean wave is good – if a bit choppy at times! We’ve aready had four Champagne receptions in the first five days at sea …………

…………. our first, held in the Queen’s Room, was the Captains Welcome Aboard party ………

……… and , of course, being held on a formal evening we were in our finest colours!

A big highlight on this voyage has been two talks given by John McCarthy. The journalist, who was abducted in Beirut by Islamic Fundamentalists and held hostage for 1,943 days, gave a stunning and spell binding presentation of his experiences. John spoke with great passion and humilty for 45 minutes without script and had the packed auditorium hanging on his every word. Rightly so, the audience gave him a standing ovation at the end.

The North Atlantic has been fairly gracious to us (so far!) and we’ve only had Force 9 winds. Enough, however, to close the decks on occasions and net off the swimming pools.

As we’ve done previously, we’ve signed up for the “trans-Atlantic Olympics” this week. The weather (with wind speeds on deck of 65 –70 mph) has been severe enough to keep us inside so, instead of deck games and speed walking, the entertainments team got us to throw a few bean-bags around indoors.

And while the other teams threw their bean bags at the Baggo board we could sit and ponder the magnificence of “Queen Mary’s” funnel, glinting in the sunlight through the glass roof of the Pavilion Pool.

A popular event during any cruise are the fruit and vegetable carving demonstrations given by the very skilled chefs. This demo is being held in the Grand Lobby.

Overlooking the Grand Lobby is the ship’s bell ………

……… which, at 12 noon every day, is used to signal “eight bells”. A little group gathers each day to watch, hear and photograph the event. An officer appears (as if from nowhere) with a very colourful and ornate rope with a big tassle on the end and secures it to the bell’s clanger.

He then studies his timepiece for the exact moment at which to carry out his task. Four sets of two strikes in quick succession – ding,ding - ding,ding - ding, ding - ding,ding. Marvellous!

Another guest on board for this leg of the journey is ex-DJ and TV presenter Jon Hammond. He’s given an interesting series of lectures on Human Communication and Confidence.  He’s a humorous and fascinating entertainer.

We received an invitation this year to the Champagne reception for Cunard World Club members. (gosh! are we?) Again held in the Queen’s Room before dinner and, again on this occasion, we had the pleasure of Captain Christopher Wells to address us with one of his unique and entertaining “talks” on things nauticle.   Each day, after “eight bells” at noon, we hear his strident tones across the PA system as he gives us the benefit of his extensive knowledge of things like the ocean floor, continental shelves, ships and ocean currents, in a little five minute snippet before handing over to ‘Tom’,’ Dick’ or ‘Harry’ to give us the technical stuff on speed, position and weather. James loves it!

In John McCarthy’s second appearance he was interviewed by the entertainment director Paul O’Loughlin (left). The crowds were waiting to get into the Royal Court Theatre an hour before he was due on stage. There wasn’t a seat left vacant and people were standing at the back and sitting on the stairs. During the interview John spoke of his eventual release and the events leading up to and after it. Again he was given a standing ovation at the end. A truly inspirational man and it was a great privelage to be able hear him speak.  

Well, this great ocean liner has maintained an average speed of over 20 knots since we left Southampton on Sunday 10th January and, despite waves of 6 to 7 metres, she is currently speeding us smoothly westwards towards New York. What fun!

Afloat Again!

Friends Lance and Vanessa arrived on a cold Selsey Saturday morning for the start of a couple of weeks we’ll be spending together.

As none of us can sit for very long there’s nothing like a walk along the sea wall in Selsey in January to blow the cobwebs away!

Cobweb free, we took a trip to nearby Bosham for a few drinks in the warm and cosy Anchor Bleu before returning home to enjoy a Saturday night Chinese takeaway.

On Sunday a taxi arrived and took us, plus a considerable amount of luggage, to Southampton’s Ocean Terminal where we boarded the lovely Queen Mary 2 and our home for the next 10 days.

All three of Cunard’s fleet – “Queen Elizabeth”, “Queen Victoria” and “Queen Mary 2”, were in port and ready to start it’s 2016 World Voyage. We missed the departure of “Queen Elizabeth” and her firework display but we were out on deck to watch the beautiful “Victoria” pass by.

“Victoria’s” fireworks were splendid ……..

……… and, although perishingly cold on deck, it was a great treat as we watched such a splendid ship slide silently past and out into the big wide world.

It was well worth it but we got very cold as we stayed to watch the last of “Victoria’s” firework display and  …………….

……… being the last to leave port we didn’t see “Queen Mary’s” fireworks as a hot shower and dinner became the priority.

Day 1 was spent in a rather relaxed state but Day 2 of this trans-Atlantic crossing has been much more active. After attending a full house in the theatre listening to an interview with Celia Imrie followed by a spot of lunch in The Golden Lion it was time for a game of deck quoits. The North Atlantic in January generally is not the place to spend too long outdoors and so the plastic hoops were pilferred from the creche and we all had a bit of a laugh indoors instead.

We’ve already met up with many staff members who we know - most having recognised us first and tried to hide(!) and more American cruise friends from our previous QM2 Atlantic crossings than we’d ever hoped to meet. So, with Lance and Vanessa, and all the friendly faces so far (and with Captain Christopher Wells who’s trying to find the least bumpy route across the pond at the moment) the voyage promises to be a good one!

Lanzarote – Last Days

We sat and watched this very talented young man creating art before our eyes. It was quite windy but still these stones stayed balanced and we gladly put some money in his tin!

On the outskirts of Puerto del Carmen we came across this fascinating Nativity Scene in the rocks of a garden  ………..

……. and further along there were some beautifully tended gardens growing out of solid rock!

One of the hotels sported a terrific Nativity display with lake, waterfall, salt beds and windmill. Plus a huge and well decorated Christmas tree. A reminder to us that, despite the sunshine and hot weather we’ve been enjoying, it’s still a couple of days to go to Twelfth Night!

Determined to expereince some of Lanzarote’s more remote and beautiful landscapes we took to the cliffs on the south side of the island for some serious walking (for us).

The sun’s intensity was made more bearable by the cooling sea breezes but it was still definitely ‘shirts off’ weather!

If it hadn’t been for the Atlantic Ocean nudging us on one side we could have easily imagined this to have been the moon ……….

………. there is virtually no sign of plant life anywhere but we did see some goat poo -  so there’s animal life around somewhere!

After some great walking (in flipflops!) we came to one of the most enchanting and unspoilt coastal settlements we have ever found. Playa Quemada is a remote little fishing village with just a few small restaurants servicing the tourists that manage to find the place. The speciality, of course, is the freshly caught fish.

For James, almost the only thing to eat which didn’t contain fish was an egg with the shell on it! For Doug it was heaven! Having said that, we both had the most delicious last meal of our stay – al fresco and with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.

And, to finish our stay, Lanzarote pulled out all the stops with a sensational sunset for us.

Our first stay on Lanzarote really has been a memorable visit. The island has to be one of the most well kept we ever seen. The people who live and work on the island love and respect their home and this is typified in the way the land is worked and it’s buildings are presented. It’s evident that Cesar Manrique has had a major influence in the way the island looks today. Oh, and the volcanoes had some part in it as well!   We’d love to return one day and enjoy those parts we didn’t see.

An Island Hop and Some Culture

Obviously missing being afloat for the last couple of weeks or so, we took a ferry ride from Lanzarote across to Fuerteventura to see our friend Manel.

It was great to see him again after almost a year. Half the day was spent catching up and chatting over some very strong coffee (!) and then …….

…… we took to the beach for a bit of sunshine and a paddle. From our previous visits to Fuerta we know how wonderful (and huge) the beaches can be and if you keep walking you do eventually find the sea!      We had a great day catching up with an old friend (well – he’s not that old really!) and it was good to see you looking so well Manel.

Back on Lanzarote, while Doug decided on a ‘beach day’  Les, Chris and James went on a three-centered culure tour.

Firstly, to the former home (and now a foundation centre) of the island artist and visionary Cesar Manrique.

The basis of the Manrique Foundation is the artist’s former home. A totally different concept in living with nature, the residence takes advantage of the natural volcanic features of the island. The courtyard is as unique and spectacular as everything else Manrique designed. The contrast between smooth white painted areas and the volcanic rock is startling and delightful.

Inside he makes use of the natural caves made by the lava flows and again, white painted surfaces contrast with volcanic rocks.

Each ‘room’ is lit by open skylights through which trees and plants reach up to sunlight.

Corridors between rooms are partially carved but make use of naturally occuring fisures in the rocks.

We spent a good couple of hours enjoying the Manrique Foundation. His home is quite unique and well worth a visit and there are galleries displaying art and sculpture including works by Picasso.

Our second visit was to an amazing cactus garden housed in a depression in the ground. Surrounded  by the most perfect dry-stone walling made from volcanic lava rock it houses a huge collection of cacti.

Many plants are very scultural and constrast well with the perfectly raked black Pyoclast.

Some plants are huge …….

…… some look very comforatble to sit on (!) ………..

…….. and some don’t look like plants at all!

The third and final port of call was Mirador del Sol. A spectacular viewpiont at the far end of the island.

High up on the sedimentary cliffs (not volcanic in this case) is the most wonderful veiw over to a small island. It’s interesting to be able to see a complete island and the way it was formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago. A huge area of sea around this end of Lanzarote and the island is now a marine conservation area. No fishing, no anchoring of boats – nothing is allowed to affect the sea bed.

Looking sraight down the cliffs is a sobering feeling!

It was a terrific day out – a lot learnt and much to think about!