| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
18th Oct. 2022 |
BoMoH --> LHR |
Cranford AirBnB |
 |
19th Oct. 2022 |
LHR --> Rome |
On board by two! |
|
20th Oct. 2022 |
Livorno (Leghorn) Tuscany |
Lucca Bike Ride Tour |
|
21st Oct. 2022 |
Genoa Liguria Italy |
Funiculars, Elevators & Metro! |
 |
22nd Oct. 2022 |
Monaco | Nice & Chagall Museum |
 |
23rd Oct. 2022 |
Toulon Provence France |
Castellet & Local Tasting Tour |
 |
24th Oct. 2022 |
Palma de Mallorca Spain |
Tapas Tasting in Palma |
|
25th Oct. 2022 |
Palamos Costa Brava Spain |
On route to Pals by E-bike |
|
26th Oct. 2022 |
Barcelona Catalonia Spain |
Eight mile walk! |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke at 6:20 and left the house just before nine o'clock. I turned off the M25 at Staines and found a spot to finish my packed lunch and sleep for over an hour. I got to my GBP 56 AirBnB in Cranford just after one o'clock. My favourite Skylark MoTeL and alternative Firs B&B were both fully booked, as it was some schools' half term holiday.
Having settled in, I walked via Hounslow West, where I up dated my Oyster travel card, to Hounslow Central. I bought nothing here, before returning via McDonalds on Henlys roundabout. Here I shelled out GBP 1.99 for the lovely chicken and bacon wrap of the day. On the side of the carton was a Monopoly sticker which won me a GBP 1.69 McFlurry ice cream dessert!
Back at the AirBnB, I started writing this blog and watched the television. I had three Boots sarnies for supper. I then went to sleep at nine o'clock, having done nearly twelve and a half thousand steps, equal to five miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my TWO alarms at FOUR o'clock in the morning, having slept fitfully for seven hours. I caught the 4:30 night bus which got me to LHR T5 at five o'clock. Check-in opened at 5:10 and was fully automated. I was through security by 5:30 so I was able to use the toilet, the water fountain and a charging station. By six o'clock Terminal five was hectic with it being some schools' half term holiday.
At 6:15 I was directed to gate A21 in the main building. We quickly boarded our Iberia A320 air bus ($174 one way) and I found that I had TWO empty seats next to me, so I was able to sit by the window and yet get out easily. We took off only a few minutes late with a glorious sun rise over London.
I had a fine view of Beachey Head and the Seven Sisters white cliffs of the Sussex coast as we crossed over the English Channel. I then up dated this blog as we were given a bottle of water to drink and a pop tart to eat! I had a fine view of the Alps and the Jura mountains with Lake Geneva in between.
We flew above Turin and Civitavecchia with a good look at the Silver Dawn berthed in pole position by Michelangelo's castle. There was a lot of walking at Rome airport (FCO) and a bit of a wait for the bags to appear. My driver was nowhere to be seen, so I rang the agent who said he was on his way. After a few minutes he arrived and apologised for the delay due to the traffic congestion. He sped me to Civitavecchia in 45 minutes in his black Mercedes people carrier. At the ship, I gave him a 20 euro tip as I didn't have any tenners to hand.
After a short wait in the quayside marquee, I was checked in and on board by one o'clock (CET, noon on BST). I had a small puttanesca pizza for luncheon, before lying down for half an hour on one of the cabanas at the rear of the ship. By the pool, I said hello to pianist Tony and DJ Anthony. When I descended to my suite I found that it contained FIVE rooms: a hall, a toilet, a wet room, a wash room, a bedroom and a large living room with TWO picture windows! I spent some time on the shore excursions paper work and up dating my Livorno talk ready for tonight's delivery.
At 4:30 I did six lengths of the long, warm pool followed by 3 x 6 = 18 minutes in the star board jacuzzi. This had fabulous views of Civitavecchia, from the fire station tower in the North West, via the huge Livorno gate and the magnificent cathedral, to the sea side pier in the South East!
At six o'clock we had the safety drill where I chatted to a single lady from Virginia. At 6:45 I said hello to CD Vicki, Katerina from Malaga and her new colleague Thaiis from Brazil at the Taste of Things to Come introductions by the pool. At seven o'clock I went down to the Venetian lounge to set up for my first lecture with Oleg from the Ukraine.
At 7:30 I gave my 35 minute talk on Livorno (Leghorn): the Port for Pisa & Florence. At 8:30 I dined on the New York salad followed by the fillet mignon cooked by myself on the hot rock with a jacket potato and two vegetable skewers. I finished with the pistaccio ice cream and sour cherry yoghurt for dessert in the pool side Grill al fresco! I went to sleep at 9:30 having done just over eight thousand steps, equal to over three miles of walking during my long day travelling.
I awoke to my alarm at six o'clock ready for a continental break fast at 6:30 in the Arts Cafe. Here I had a warm smoked salmon panini with the small cheese plate washed down with the berry detox water.
At eight o'clock I was on duty on the quay side to escort my first choice bike ride round Lucca with guide Consuelo, driver Gennaro and seventeen guests. We had a one hour run passed Pisa to get to Lucca. Here we had a loo stop inside the bicycle work shop ready to mount our push bikes. We started on the famous ramparts on the north side, before descending in to the city centre by the palace which I had visited on my last tour here and which was again hosting the al fresco brunch for another of the ship's tours.
We saw the famous church with the huge mosaic on the facade and the oval market place built on the site of the Roman amphitheatre. We climbed back on to the city wall on the south side of the city, before descending beside the magnificent cathedral. We had a photo stop outside the lovely St Michael's church, before climbing back up on to the ramparts on the north side. Back at the cycle shop, we had one hour's free time, so I did the complete 4.2 kilometre circuit of the city walls on foot! On the way back to Livorno, I chatted to the two German speaking chaps sat with me in the back of the coach. One was from Bolzano, the German speaking part of Italy on the border with Switzerland and the other was from Kitzbuhl in the Austrian Tyrol.
Back at the ship, I had the lemon sole fish of the day with chips in the Grill by the pool, before sleeping for two hours. I then did six lengths of the long, warm pool followed by time in the jacuzzi chatting to Janice from Staten Island. At five o'clock ACD Bruno phoned to say that it was going to be too windy to tender into Portofino, so we would be going to Genoa instead. Luckily I had my Genoese presentation to hand and there were not going to be any tours, just a shuttle bus into the city. At 5:25 CD Vicki came to check that I was ready to go in the theatre, so she could make a last minute annoucement on my change of topic. At 5:30 I gave my forty minute talk on Genoa.
At 6:45 I went to the Captain's cocktail party, but had to slip out at seven o'clock to host the solo travellers. Only Sheila from Southport showed up, later joined by Katerina my favourite international hostess, so just three of us dined in the Atlantide main restaurant. I began with the mushroom soup, continued with two small tender loin Rossini steaks and finished with the sugar free Fantasia dessert. I had several glasses of sparkling water, one glass of claret and one cup of decaff coffee to drink.
Katerina slipped out at 9:30 to be on door duty at the Venetian lounge and I left the table at 9:55 to see the Uprights & Grands piano song show time. I particularly enjoyed the Billy Joel and Elton John medleys of the six Voices of Silversea. This was followed by CD Vicki's usual, hilarious description of the next day's activities. I adjourned to my cabin at eleven to watch my Genoa port talk on the TV, so I didn't go to bed until 11:45. I had done nearly eleven thousand steps equal to over four miles of walking during the day, mostly on Lucca's impressive ramparts!
I awoke just after seven o'clock and broke my fast with my first two eggs Benedict of the cruise in La Terraza restaurant. I had just one glass of sparking water and one of tomato juice.
At 8:15 I was the first guest off the ship. At 8:20 the first shuttle bus away left with just me on board, despite me offering to wait until 8:30 for some more guests to board. The guide then gave me a private description of Genoa and answered my questions. She said that all the funicular railways were now free and the Metro underground railway would be free from 10:00 until 16:00!
I got off the shuttle bus opposite the aquarium and walked around the old port (Porto Antico). I went up Via San Lorenzo to the magnificent cathedral. Inside it was beautifully flood lit, until the money some one had put in the meter ran out!
I went in the main entrance of the huge Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and then out the side door into the magnificent Piazza Ferrari. I climbed up to the large park on top of the water reservoir (Acquesola) for views looking east. I climbed up again to the smaller Viletta de Negro park to see the gushing waterfall, but the Oriental museum was being refurbished.
In Piazza del Portello (not Portillo!), I caught the free St Anne's funicular railway for views across the city centre. Back at the bottom again, I crossed the square to a free elevator to another view point. I then walked along the UNESCO listed street of palaces (Via Garibaldi), popping in to the tourist information office en route.
At the end of the street, I took another free elevator up, but it ended at the same view point as the previous lift! My second free funicular was much longer, going all the way up to the forest of Righi, on the outskirts of the city, with half a dozen stops en route. I walked passed the main Prince's railway station (Stazione Principe) to the main cruise terminal (Stazione Maritima) where MSC Poesia was berthed. I then continued along the elevated board walk to the second cruise terminal at Ponte Andrea Doria where Silver Dawn was tied up. I had my first cheese burger and fries with no bun at the pool side grill, before sleeping for three quarters of an hour.
Back in the city at three o'clock, I finally found the famous free rack railway station, way above the main line station. Unfortunately I had missed the 2:45 train and the next was not until 3:45, so I took the free underground metro railway instead from Prince's station to St Augustine's station on the south east side of the city centre. Here I photographed the outside of the huge monastery, which is now a religious museum.
I found the Barbarossa city wall, but the rampart walk was closed, so I walked along the bottom of the wall though the urban park to Christopher Columbus's supposed birth place, but didn't go in. At the huge city gate nearby, I recorded my piece to camera.
Back in Piazza di Ferrari I caught the metro back to Stazione Principe just before the four o'clock ending of free travel. I crossed the road to Stazione Maritima and walked back along the elevated board walk to the ship. Here I did six lengths of the long, warm pool and spent 2 x 6 = 12 minutes having my feet and legs massaged in one of the jacuzzis.
At 5:30 I gave my thirty minute talk on Monaco in the Venetian theatre on board. At seven o'clock I hosted the solo travellers with Sheila from Southport, Gisella from Lake Constance (Boden See) in southern Germany and professional singer Princess from Texas!
At 7:30 I took them up to the Hot Rocks Grill by the pool. I had my usual New York blue cheese salad to start. I continued with the fillet mignon, which I cooked myself on the hot rocks, with jacket potato and two vegetable skewers. Sheila kindly gave me some of her steak too! Princess had to slip away at 9:30 for a rehearsal, leaving the three of us to have the cheese cake for dessert. The waiter opened a bottle of Sheila's favourite red wine, which I ended up draining.
At ten o'clock I sat with Gisella in the Venetian theatre to hear Danny Buckler's very amusing magic show. I don't normally like magician's shows, but he was hilarious, picking on innocent members of the audience! He did a full hour, followed by Vicki's amusing annoucements, so I didn't get to sleep until 11:30. During the day I had done twenty five thousand steps, equal to ten miles of walking!
I awoke to my alarms at six o'clock, ready for my continental break fast at 6:30 in the Arts Cafe. I had the warm smoked salmon panini and the cheese plate with TWO croissants to eat and the berry detox water to drink. Back in my suite, I up dated my blog, but didn't have time to back up my photographs.
At eight o'clock I escorted my first choice tour to Nice and the Marc Chagall museum. I had 19 guests and we picked our guide Jean Pascal up at the port gate. We drove along the upper corniche with spectacular views of Cap Ferrat to Villefranche & Nice! We had a one hour twenty minute walk around the old town with its colourful market. I had to shell out fifty cents for the public toilet.
We then had one hour and fifteen minutes at the impressive Marc Chagall art gallery. Our guide spent most of the time explaining the eleven huge Exodus canvases featuring Noah and Moses. We explored the lithographs and the concert hall with stained glass windows on our own. We drove back along the lower corniche right through Villefranche & Beaulieu-sur-Mer to the ship.
Here I had a small puttanesca pizza, before sleeping for an hour and a half.
I then had to mark an OU proposal and submit my tour escort report with MS Word rather than with the hated Adobe Acrobat!
At 4:30 I popped ashore to record my piece to camera.
I discovered that the electric ferry across the harbour was free in the winter time!
|
At 5:30 I gave my thirty minute talk on Toulon to thirty people wearing my French man's outfit as usual. The sun was shining and we were berthed in Monaco, so I was fighting an up hill battle! It later transpired that Silversea's Head of Entertainments, Scott, formerly of Crystal Cruises, had been in my audience. I then did six lengths of the long, warm salt water pool and spent 2 x 6 = 12 minutes in the port side jacuzzi with fabulous views of Monte Carlo across the harbour.
At seven o'clock I hosted Sheila & Gisela together with International Hostess Thaiis from Sao Paulo in Brazil. At 7:30 we adjourned to the Atlantide main restaurant, where I had the thick tomato soup with two meat balls, the tender loin veal and the triple chocolate dessert. Sheila had her favourite red wine as usual, whilst the other three of us had the lovely Argentinian red wine on offer.
At ten o'clock I went to the excellent Queen tribute production show by the six Voices of Silversea on board. I have seen this show several times on different Silversea ships. At the end Vicki commented on my French outfit! I went to sleep at 11:15 having done nearly twelve thousand steps equal to nearly five miles of walking during the day.
I awoke just before my alarm at 6:30 ready for the full English break fast in La Terrazza buffet restaurant at seven o'clock. Back in my suite, I up dated my Palma presentation and this blog.
At 8:45 I was on duty beside my coach for my first choice wine tasting tour to Castellet. The guide was Jean Pascal again and the driver was Natasha. We headed out west to Bandol and then turned inland for the medieval hill top village of Castellet. We were guided up through the narrow streets to the castle which gave its name to the place. We then had some free time to explore the alleys.
Our next stop was at Domaine Souviou vineyard. After a brief tour of the olive grove, not the vines themsleves, we sampled one each of their white, rose and red wines. We then tasted three of their olive oils. They offered us small pieces of white olive bread and dark bacon bread. The latter was very tasty!
We then drove back in to Toulon. It was already two o'clock, so I fore went lunch and instead slept for three quarters of an hour. At four o'clock I gave my forty minute talk on Palma de Mallorca, followed by my second bowl of ice cream on the jogging track.
At six o'clock I did six lengths of the long, warm pool, but both jacuzzis were occupied, so I had to retreat to the back of the ship to use the third hot tub for the first time this cruise. Boy was it hot and powerful! I had a vigorous massage on my feet, legs and back! At seven o'clock I hosted just Sheila, until the Venetian loyalty society cocktail party ended, when Gisela and Katerina joined us.
At eight o'clock we moved up to the Silver Note tapas style restaurant. I had SIX small courses: lobster, beef, lamb, veggie, duck and chocolate dessert. Katerina had to slip away at 9:45 on door duty for CD Vicki's tour de force one woman comedy show, which we missed, but which I have seen several times before. I then had one dance with Gisela and one with Jane from Stuart in Florida to the jazz duo. We all went to bed at 10:45. During the day I had done nearly eleven thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking!
I awoke at 6:30 ready to break my fast at seven o'clock in La Terrazza. Back in my cabin I watched one of my presentations. When Dennis came to service the suite at 8:50, I did eight circuits of the top deck, equal to one mile of walking, in the sun shine but strong wind.
At ten o'clock I gave my thirty minute talk on Palamos: the Pearl of the Costa Brava, utilising the expensive LED screen for the first time. However, the resolution wasn't quite as good as the projector on the white screen, so I asked Oleg if we could go back to that next time. At 11:30 I had an early lunch of a small puttanesca pizza, with the view of the south west corner of Mallorca swinging passed. I then dozed for half an hour, before checking in to the shorex room to find out that I was down to escort my third choice Tapas Tasting in Palma at 2:15.
At 1:45 I went out on to the quayside and met my driver Paloma, which means Dove, and guide Tisco (not Tesco)! We had twenty one guests on board. Our first stop was at Bellver castle view point, the castle being closed on a Monday.
|
In the city centre we tramped between three tapas bars. The Brondo Architect Hotel had excellent food, with warm croquettes, ham on bread with olive oil and wine to drink. The Beewi had good food with croquettes (again), mushrooms, potato & egg omelette, custard pastry and sweet sangria to drink. The Es Rebost had poor food with cold croquettes (yet again), calamari rings and wine or beer to drink.
Near the end of the tour, nine guests took taxis back to the ship. The rest of us had one hour of free time near the Cathedral, so I rushed around taking photographs. I had forgotten how pretty the city centre was!
We didn't get back to the ship until 6:50 and I was due to host the solos at seven, so I had to rush to get changed. Thaiis was unable to join us and Katerina was hosting two kids in the Spaccanapoli pizzeria. Sheila had booked a table for four in the Hot Rocks Grill by the pool, ready for the late night "Simply Divine" cabaret by the four (not six) Voices of Silversea.
I had the New York salad and the fillet mignon on the hot rocks as usual. Gisela had her steak cooked for her and Sheila had the over cooked turbot, which I helped finish off! Gisela & I had the Merlot red wine and Sheila had her favourite Claret to drink.
At 9:45 we had the famous chocolate buffet. I enjoyed the raspberries, strawberries and nuts covered in chocolate. At ten o'clock we had the cabaret by the pool. At 10:30 the disco began. When Anthony played YMCA, I joined in, before going to bed at 10:45 and to sleep at eleven. During the day I had done fourteen and a half thousand steps equal to nearly six miles of walking.
I awoke to my alarm at 6:30 ready for TWO eggs Benedict in La Terrazza. I then had to write and submit my tour escort report from the previous day. At 8:30 I was on duty on the quay side ready to escort my first choice "On route to Pals by E-bike" tour. We departed at 9:20 with 19 guests, 4 cycle staff and myself.
We headed along the coast to the Dark beach at La Fosca, before heading in land. As on my previous biking tour, one young woman struggled to cycle. We followed the track of the old narrow gauge cork train, before passing through Palafrugells. When we got to the pretty hill top village of Pals, we had a guided walking tour.
During the free time, I raced around the medieval walls taking photographs. At the Mirador cafe, I had a glass of beer in preference to wine. Eventually we got given spicy potato cubes (patates bravas) with mayonnaise. A coach then took us back to the ship. Here I fore went a late lunch, in stead sleeping for an hour and a quarter.
At four o'clock I gave my forty minute talk on Barcelona.
I then had to write up my tour escort report,
before popping into Palamos to pick up some maps and leaflets
and doing some photography in the afternoon sun shine.
|
I only had time for six lengths of the hot, salty swimming pool, as both jacuzzis were occupied and I hadn't got the time to traipse to the hot tub at the aft of the ship.
At 6:30 I went to the Magic of the Musicals show time, but had to slip out at seven to host the solo travellers. At 7:30 I led Sheila & Gisela up to La Terrazza Italian restaurant. Here I had the lentil soup, the Capri salad, the veal shank and my favourite casata siciliana. Gisela and I had the red wine of the day, whilst Sheila had her favourite claret. At ten o'clock the party broke up and I said good bye to Sheila who was flying back to Southport in two day's time. I went to bed at 10:30 having done nearly thirteen thousand steps, equal to five miles of walking during the day.
I awoke early and watched my Barcelona talk on the TV from in bed. At seven o'clock I broke my fast with the full English in La Terrazza buffet. I was off the ship at eight o'clock, walking in to the city.
Unfortunately we were berthed at cruise terminal A and not at the more central World Trade Centre (WTC). I walked up La Rambla to Catalonia Place, where I went in the tourist information office and in El Corte Ingles to use the loo. I turned back into the Gothic Quarter to go round the outside of the cathedral and the King's Place (Placa de Rei). I discovered the church of Santa Maria del Mar, but it was closed. I went passed the expensive Picasso museum and then out in to the citadel park.
|
I came back via the promenade to the ship at eleven o'clock, having done over eight miles of walking! At noon I had a ham baguette with the cheese plate in the Arts Cafe, before sleeping for two hours. I spent most of the afternoon working on my lap top.
At 5:45 I did six lengths of the long, very warm, salt water swimming pool, followed by 2 x 6 minutes in the port jacuzzi with a view of the Jewish mountain (Montjuic) looming over us. At 6:45 we had the introductions by the pool. At 7:30 I gave my 40 minute lecture on Marseille.
I then dined in the S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Tasting) restaurant, sat next to a gay couple, Harry & Trond from Norway. I had the Barcelona menu to eat, beginning with the duck ravioli, followed by the chicken in tomato sauce and finishing with the sweet pastries and nougat ice cream. I adjourned to my suite at ten o'clock and went to sleep at 10:30, having done over twenty three thousand steps, equal to over nine miles of walking during the day!
One couple sent me a hand written note at the end of the cruise saying: "We did not get to see your lectures in person, but we were so happy to be able to fit them in our schedule via the television. We loved the format and the information given; extremely useful and interesting. We have sailed with Silversea since 2012 and have listened to many speakers. Bravo! You are doing a great job!"
I scored 7.98 out of 10 equal to 80% in the end of cruise questionnaire.
13 Silversea cruises 7 Day cruise 7 Port talks 7 Old ports 6 Silversea Ships (Wind, Muse, Moon, Dawn, Spirit & Whisper) 5 Roomed suite 5 Tours escorted 5 Break fasts in La Terrazza 3 Dinners in the Hot Rocks Grill 3 Lunches in the Spaccanapoli pizzeria 3 In cabin telephones 2 New villages (Castellet & Pals) 2 Solo travellers hosted for dinner each evening (Gisela & Sheila) 2 Dinners in the Atlantide main dining room 2 Lunches in the Grill 2 Break fasts in the Arts cafe 2 In cabin televisions 1 Lunch in the Arts Cafe 1 Dinner in the Silver Note restaurant 1 Dinner in the SALT restautarnt 1 Dinner in La Terrazza Italian restaurant 1 New art gallery (Marc Chagall) 1 Great cruise!
Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn Silver Spirit Silver Whisper Black Prince Black Watch Balmoral Boudicca Braemar Bolette Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure (Old SofA) Spirit of Adventure (New SofA) Spirit of Discovery Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) Queen Elizabeth (QE) Queen Victoria (QV) Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn P&O Oriana P&O Iona Ambassador Ambience Sapphire Princess VoD Discovery