Le Havre (last blog for a while)

 

13 July

Had an absolutely lovely day today in Honfleur. Because we've been to Paris before and it was a three hour drive each way we opted to go by local bus to Honfleur which is a trendy little seaside village, much visited by Parisians at weekends. Cobbled streets, old, old buildings, pretty harbour. Seven of us went. Taxi from the ship to the bus station was 2 Euros each and return bus fare to Honfleur was 7 Euros each. Honfleur has buildings dating from the `1200s and is picture postcard at every turn. Had a very French lunch – I had chicken in red wine with potatoes and vegetables which sounds very ordinary but they were like nothing I've ever tasted. Delicious. Dessert was 'Cheeses of Normandie'. Also some of the best cheese I've ever tasted. I think it was probably the best day I've had ashore so far. I got to use my limited French and people were happy to chat with me. The lady who sold us the bus tickets was amused, and very helpful (in French) and I think she engineered us the best deal because we only had 3 tickets which had multiple trips on them. She said it was the cheapest and it worked. This will be my last blog for a while. I may do some sort of summary when I get home, as I've had a few requests, but we aren't home until the end of July. We still have London, Leeds, New York and LA to go. All I can say it is one of the best holidays I've ever had. There've been some minor irritations with the ship but you have to expect that anywhere you travel. Overall A+.

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Gibraltar

 

10 July

Gibraltar today. Had no real expectations of Gibraltar. Years ago, I sailed from Algerciras, just next door in Spain, to Tangiers but didn't go to Gibraltar. We took an Official Rock Tour which was 90 minutes. There are lots of these 8 seater minivans waiting to sell you a tour, just as you leave the terminal. Price was 22 pounds sterling. The charge is actually 12 pounds but there is a 10pound charge to enter the park at the top of the rock. We went to all the places the Princess tours went to – Jews Gate, Pillars of Hercules (which in ancient times designated the end of the world). They thought that, if you sailed through there, you would fall off the edge of the Earth. The tour went to St Michael's Cave which was amazing. It was used as a hospital during the War but is now used for concerts. It's huge with fascinating formations inside. Then to the Great Seige Tunnels – tunnelled through the rock in the 1800s during a war with Spain. Of course, we saw the barbary apes and there were stops at lookouts along the way – could see the Atlas mountains in Morocco. Next year's cruise goes to Morocco so you'll see them close up. We spent the rest of the morning (we sailed at 2.00pm) just wandering through the town and having a drink at the Lord Nelson pub before walking back to the ship – about 10 minutes. There was a shuttle bus for 2 Euros per person. One note about the Official Rock Tours – they have small vans which can go all the way up the hill to the apes and the tunnels. We passed some Princess tour passengers slogging up on foot because their buses couldn't pass through the narrow road. Back at the ship, there were schools of thousands of fish swimming around so the water in the harbour must be clean. A pod of dolphins accompanied us out. Loved Gibraltar. Next stop Le Havre – then that's all folks!!!! Still haven't had any word from the purser's office, despite several enquiries, about the discrepancy when our bills were added and charged to the credit card. Make sure next year's people check and have access to checking your credit card while you are away.

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Barcelona - extra

Have just learned that the Hop on Hop Off bus will only cost 18 Euros if you show a seniors card.

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Barcelona

 

8 July (5 days left – someone break out the tissues)

Barcelona

Went in late to Barcelona this morning, around 11.00am. Took the opportunity to do laundry while most people were ashore. I actually walked into the laundry and there was a free machine. Also got to talk to the Captain's Circle person who confirmed that we are indeed "Elite" next cruise so FREE LAUNDRY. Great cruise terminal after having no cruise terminals at all in Italy. It is quite a way into town, about 2km. The ship's shuttle, the usual $7 each way and the port shuttle 3 Euros return drop you at almost the same place, at the Christopher Colombus monument at the bottom of the Ramblas although it is further to walk from the ship's shuttle. It's about then 2 minutes walk or so to the nearest Metro station, .We walked all the way up the Ramblas, diverging into little side streets here and there. We've both been to Barcelona before so didn't want to do a lot. We travelled to a few places on the Metro. It's cheap, clean and not overcrowded. It's 1.4 Euros a ticket or you can by a T10 for 10 Euros (I think). We didn't have any hassles despite the dire warnings issued by the Princess Tour Manager about pickpockets etc. As long as you're alert and carry your handbag etc in a safe way I don't think there should be any problems. He's issued dire warnings in a lot of ports and we haven't had any problems and we've used public transport in most places. I'm quite chuffed by the fact I've avoided paying a Princess shuttle for the whole trip, nor have I entered the ship's shops (except to buy cough lollies). Lots of people today did the Barcelona Hop on Hop Off Bus – a double decker bus which also has a ticket booth beside the Christopher Columbus monument. The price is 22 Euros for 12 hours. Friends who did this said it was excellent. They seemed to have lots of buses as we had lunch near Gaudi's church the Sagrada Famillia, and several buses went past while we were there. We had tapas today in Barcelona, French Pancackes (not crepes) yesterday in Monaco and couldn't go past spaghetti bolognese in the Cinque Terre, Italy the day before. We have a lovely day at sea tomorrow. Weather is still hot. I think we've only had about half a day of rain in the whole trip as opposed to about 7 days when we did our last cruise on the QE2.

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Monaco/Cannes

 

8 July

Apologies for doubling up on photos of Cinque Terre...was rushing and the email threw me out. When I got back in, posted a couple of the same photos.

Did you ever see the film, If it's Tuesday, It Must be Belgium". Starting to feel a little like that – three countries in three days. We're about to go ashore in Barcelona. Have to change to Wenas Dias (incorrect spelling I know) from Bonjour from Bonjourno. Yesterday we took the train from Cannes to Monte Carlo/Monaco with Allan and Sally. It is a picturesque trip along the Cote Azur, running along the beach most of the way and giving a good view of the villas of the rich and famous and luxury towns like Antibes and Juan Les Pins. Next year's cruise calls at Monaco so you don't need train instructions. I was ambivalent about going to Monaco but found I really liked it. It wasn't all the glitz that I expected just picturesque and elegant. We were trying to work out how to get from the railway station to where we wanted to go when our son Peter phoned from Australia. After chatting he said no problem, turn left, go past the Ferrari shop and then head towards the water. Very convenient. He was here last year for the Grand Prix. Allan and Sally climbed up to the palace but we just wandered around town. This was one place I wanted to buy a Tshirt but, apart from Grand Prix merchandise, touristy things were scarce. Apparently, this wasn't the case up at the palace. And just think, we were in Monaco when Prince Albert announced his engagement....do you think Womens Day would be interested in an interview!!! The weather is still very hot and after the walk back from the station it was bliss to jump in the pool. We had another sailaway party last night...photos will be posted above. Of course..no alcohol involved!! - whatsoever!!!

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More Cinque Terre photos

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Livorno, Italy

 

Livorno

6 July

Just got back ... have to get ready for dinner so this is brief. We went to the Cinque Terre today – a series of five villages which cling to cliffs overlooking the sea. I've wanted to go there for some time but I researched it thoroughly before we left home and it seemed impossible to do it on our own and get back in time before the ship sailed. I even exchanged emails with a lady in Livorno who also said it would be very difficult. Princess didn't offer Cinque Terre as a tour on the website before we sailed. However, there was a tour offered on board. Really glad we did it. We walked from before Riomaggiore through to Manarola then went by boat, which just pulled in to the base of the cliffs and put out a gangway for us to walk up. Then by boat to Vernazza where we disembarked and spent an hour or so. Back to the boat and on to Monterosso where we had an hour and a half and time for lunch. The drive back was quite spectacular as we had to climb very windy roads right up into the mountains. Had superb, and sometimes scary, views. Really worth the trip.

Civetavecchia (for Rome)

5 July

Didn't go into Rome but stayed on board and had a lazy day. Did the washing – no one in the laundry!!! John and Rick (Dickwho/Amanda Vanstone/Onslow) from Broken Hill went into Rome on the train which they said was quite an easy exercise. Lots of passengers seemed to do this. For those cruisers next year if you don't want to go to Rome, there are quite nice beaches near the shuttle (free) drop off point at the port gates. Had a great sailaway party on our annexe on deck 11, stern. Drank most of the wine we had left over and ended up eating dinner at 9.30. Not a good idea if you have an early tour next day,

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Dubrovnik

 

For next year's cruisers, when your credit card is charged at the end of each sector, make sure that the amounts charged to his and her's accounts add up to the total charged to the credit card. Ours didn't – there was an overcharge of $55. We know of a few other people that this has happened to. Waiting for an answer from the purser's office as to why, and what will be done. All my good instructions on how to get into Venice for nothing. Next year's cruise doesn't go to Venice which is sad because it is one of the most spectacular sail-ins in the world. Doesn't go to Dubrovnik either which was also very scenic. No doubt you have something just as wonderful to make up for it.

Dubrovnik yesterday. At the moment, we are sailing past the toe of Italy, through the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Italy and can see Messina Sicily. Just sitting on the balcony with a coffee, watching Calabria pass by. It's a hard life. Had a good day in Dubrovnik.Went by cab with Allan and Sally to the Old City which was very interesting and packed with tourists. We climbed up to the city wall on one side of the city and just meandered through the little laneways. I'm awfully glad that I don't have to carry my groceries etc up there. No cars and lots of stairs. We then went all the way down to the other side and climbed up to the walk around the walls . Once at the top of the stairs, it countinued up, up, up until half way along the walls, then down. It was humid and in the mid 30s. Great views from up there. Allan and Sally elected to stay in the old city and we'd planned to go to Cavtat, a seaside town south of Dubrovnik for lunch. Went in a small ferry with Barry and Rosemary and had a lovely leisurely lunch on the waterfront, looking at the beautiful views and the expensive yachts. Would be impossible to give people instructions to your house in Cavtat and also Dubrovnik – it's a brick house with a terracotta tiled roof!!!! Ha. Got back to the ship almost last minute again and hit the pool. Bliss. Having a lazy sea day today. I'm not going in to Rome tomorrow. John may go with Rick from Broken Hill – just for the train trip.

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Venice

 

2 July

Not a lot I can say about Venice but wow!!! Sensory overload. Sailing in to Venice is probably one of the outstanding moments of the cruise so far. I've been to Venice before, a long time ago but didn't sail up the Grand Canal or approach it by sea. Last time our arrival was by train. We each bought a 24 hour vaporetti ( small water buses) ticket for 18 Euros as we arrived at 12.30pm Thursday and sailed again at 12.30pm Friday. Princess provided a water bus shuttle from the dock to a couple of blocks from St Mark's square, and automatically charged us with $15 each with no consultation, and provided us with a ticket each. They were refundable if we didn't use them. Ours went in for refund today. It is very easy to get around Venice. Those people who used the shuttle would then have to either walk everywhere or pay 6.5 Euro per trip on the vaporetti. We did a vaporetti cruise down the Grand Canal out to the Lido yesterday, then back again to the Rialto Bridge. We met up with our 'family' from the dining table and had a few drinks at a place on the Grand Canal and then had dinner. Lots of fun but quite expensive (wouldn't have been too bad without the wine). We then took a vaporetta back to the ship. Today we were out early – went in a vaporetta to St Marks then walked back to the ship, quite a doable exercise. The walk back was meandering through back streets. We were lost once but all the guide books say you must get lost in Venice at least once, so we're following procedure. I managed to find a little hole in the wall hardware shop and bought some superglue to fix my ailing walking shoes.It was interesting being on the canals early in the morning because that's when all the business end of the day happens. There were grocery boats, milkman boats, garbage boats – you name it, they were there. It was a good time also to get to St Marks – no huge crowds but there was already a queue to go into the basilica. For those on next year's cruise how we got to P. Roma where the vaporetti leave from won't be current because they are building a grand new cruise terminal. You will probably just walk out the front of the terminal and on your right is a people mover – a monorail. Take the monorail to P. Roma Cost is 1 Euro (only 1 stop) or you can walk.. When you exit this you will see a large bus exchange area and the vaporetti terminal where you can buy your 24 hour (or 12 hour) vaporetti ticket. You will need to validate the ticket by holding it against the little validation machine, then, voila, you are in business. Can go anywhere for 24 hours. There are also a lot of nice little restaurants on canals around P. Roma, much cheaper than those around St Marks and Rialto and the other touristy areas. Princess have also paid us $300 each compensation for missing Safaga and the Valley of the Kings. It has been credited to our onboard account but the letter didn't make it clear whether it will reduce the balance we already have or it is for future spending. Will have to investigate. May have to spend up big in the next ten days...more stuff to pack. Dubrovnik tomorrow then Citatavechhia for Rome. We've decided not to go into Rome, despite the detailed research I've done of how to get there and around on the train. We've been to Rome before and after several days in port in a row, I don't want to deal with the traffic and chaos in Rome.

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