Day 37 - La Spezia, Italy

Sunday 28th October 2018

La Spezia is situated in the NW Italian region of Liguria.  It has been a port since Roman times, later the Genoese added the Castle of San Giorgio and in 1796 Napoleon seized Liguria for France and it became a maritime prefecture.  From 1857 the military fleet was transferred here from Genoa, it has remained an Italian Naval base to this day.  The local shipyards building ships for the navy and it was a major target for bombing in WW2, much of the city being reduced to rubble.

Fast run overnight, the Captain seemed to be in a race to berth in La Spezia. Only two berths, we had one another ship the other, so one ship  anchored and needed to tender passengers ashore. Looked quite a roller coaster ride for them, feeling smug here tied up alongside.  Weather windy and cloudy, passing rain showers and a couple of claps of thunder.

Took our time to allow the weather to settle before catching the shuttle bus.

Once ashore took a walk along a rather damp seafront, lots of street vendors selling cagoules and umbrellas to wet tourists, luckily we came prepared.  The paths scattered with detached fronds from the palm trees lining the promenade.

Our target for the day being the naval museum. Free entry today! An interesting collection of exhibits, something of a lack of English translations of the descriptions, but all in all a good refuge on a poor day.

Among many items from all dates in history of the Italian navy some really big models, easily six feet from keel to mast head,  of 19th century warships a notable highlight.  Also models of Christopher Columbus’s three ships, difficult to believe such small ships were used to make the crossing of the Atlantic.  Also a fine collection of figureheads.

Returning to the shuttle via walk through town, most shops closed, it being a Sunday, but luckily the gelato shop was open.  A statue of Garibaldi dominates the seafront park.  Lots of flowering plants and trees along the front, including prickly pear with ripe fruit.

Caught the bus back to Victoria as not much else to attract while ashore.

Time to console ourselves with a scone.

Relaxing afternoon busy doing nothing finding lots of things not to do.

Sailaway into the windy night.

Dinner in the buffet, Italian theme tonight, their Lasagne being a particular favourite.

Then back to stateroom to watch the F1 on the TV, in German again, but beggars can't be choosers.  Always more interesting to have to work out what's going on when you can't understand much of the commentary.  Congratulations to Lewis on his 5th championship.

Day 36 - Civitavecchia, Italy

Saturday 27th October 2018

Civitavecchia is the gateway to The Eternal City of Rome. Whilst it would take many lifetimes to really know Rome, there is an opportunity to see many of the city’s most famous sites. Marvel at the incredible architecture and epic monuments or simply soak up the atmosphere of this remarkable city. Alternatively, escape the hustle and bustle and venture into the beautiful Italian countryside.

Berthed in about the usual place in port this morning, getting quite familiar here now.

Determined to actually get into town today, last chance for this part this cruise.

So breakfast and morning trivia then coffee with the remaining part our quiz team before goodbyes and good luck to them for their journey home.

Then it's onto the shuttle bus, drop off really only a short drive and still not very near to the town.

Though a much nicer walk from the drop off past the fortress than a walk along the mole from the ship.

Into town for a walk along the old sea wall to view the fortifications and a look into the old Roman harbour.

Also on display reproduction of part of a Roman ship, Bireme.

Then a quick call in to the gelato shop and a walk along the promenade at the back of the beach.  No beach today, high tide and a strong onshore wind making for plenty of breakers on the seashore.  Weather deteriorating somewhat too.

Then the bus back to the ship for some sun, weather still windy though very mild and quite a bit of cloud passing by.

Afternoon tea, very busy in the buffet with all those pesky newcomers.

Rather late sailaway, but once at sea met the wind and waves, fortunately the ship remained pretty steady.

Dinner in the buffet. Then off to the theatre for another split show, first part by the Cunard Singers and Dancers with a tribute to the "Rat Pack". Followed by Ann Wardell a Soprano! singing some opera.

Back to our stateroom for some college football on the TV.

Clocks back one hour tonight.

Day 35 - at Sea

Friday 26th October 2018

Formed ourselves into a new trivia team today, a bit short term, two members to disembark tomorrow and we later learnt that the other two will have to also leave tomorrow due to a family emergency.  So it’s back to just us till we find some new arrivals.

Time once again to just enjoy life at sea. Weather remains quite superb. Though we are expecting windy weather, so extra early into Civitavecchia tomorrow, berth about 1am and a change of itinerary for the next day, the Captain didn’t fancy tender operations in the wind so a new port, we are off to La Spezia.

This afternoon we passed through the Boniface Strait between Corsica and Sardinia.

Dinner tonight in the man's restaurant followed by the show in the Theatre, a split show with the Cunard Singers and Dancers with a tribute to the songs of Sting and then "Back to Bacharach" with more of Burt's famous numbers.

About 1300 passengers leaving the ship tomorrow.

Day 34 - Barcelona, Spain

Thursday 25th October 2018

Capital of Catalonia and Spain’s second largest city.  Everywhere you will see the ornately wrought works of Antonio Gaudi, a local architect, culminating in the surrealistic spires of the yet to be finished Sagrada Familia.  Take a stroll down Las Ramblas, sample local wines and authentic tapas, or visit the home of Barcelona FC.

Woke this morning berthed in Barcelona, not particularly early but still just before dawn, the day's are getting very much shorter now.

Dawn Over Barcelona

Had great plans to get into town today . So usual start while the rush cleared, collected a couple of stamps on our card at morning trivia and later at cryptic corner, more dingbats.

Relaxed in the sun and meanwhile took advantage of the quiet ship to get the laundry done.

And so the day passed by quietly and somehow just didn't make it ashore, it's just too pleasant to while away the day.

A nice dinner this evening on the open decks as the weather continues to  be very pleasant.

Day 33 - Palma de Mallorca

Wednesday 24th October 2018

Palma is a cosmopolitan and sophisticated city, situated along a magnificent bay.  At the harbourside, a sweeping promenade leads past marinas crammed with expensive yachts to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral.  Palma is the capital of Majorca and the balearic islands. Rising in honey coloured stone from the broad waters of the Badia de Palma, this enduring city dates back to the 13th century and is richly studded with historic sites.  In the city, you will find a cornucopia of superb shops, authentic tapas bars, cafés, restaurants, shady squares and fountain-ornamented gardens.

Berthed this morning well away from the town, even further than usual.

Weather continues quite superb, light winds and clear skies, it’s going to get proper hot again later.

Morning trivia! a win. Then onto the shuttle bus into town.

Nice walk round, passed the cathedral and up through the town to the main square, then circling round to pass by the 15th century La Llotja with it’s vaulted ceiling and then along the seafront to view the castle.

Then it’s back to the bus for a run back to the ship.

Time for a swim in the pool while the ship is quiet.

Afternoon tea followed by afternoon trivia - another close run thing.

Dinner in the Lido, oriental theme tonight.

Then later it's another try at the movie theme trivia. Once agin it just themed on movies not movie themes and again they are all modern movies, and mostly about series of films we had never seen, not a great result but reasonably good considering.

Day 32 - at Sea

Tuesday 23rd October 2018

Not much to report today. Much the same as most days at sea.

Morning trivia, we found a couple of new team members today, so we came a very creditable second.

Plenty else to fill our day with minimal effort.

Formal dinner tonight, featuring lobster tail and the parade of the chefs.

The ship has been taking the long slow way round toward Palma de Mallorca . Slow cruise though the Balearic Sea on our way to tomorrow’s call.  Sometimes the itinerary allows much too much time to travel from port to port so the Captain has to take circuitous routes.

Day 31 - Alghero, Sardinia

Monday 22nd October 2018

Alghero belonged to the Catalans of Spain for nearly 400 years, and the evidence of its past surrounds you. The quaint old walled city is a delight to explore and the surrounding countryside and coastline are a wonder to behold. Alghero also boasts a wonderful coastline for you to discover, above or below the amazing azure waters.  The town is enclosed by robust, honey coloured sea walls, its a tightly knit enclave of cobbled lanes, Gothic palazzi and cafe lined piazzas.  Below the walls yachts crowd the marina.

Tender port today, so woken this morning by the anchors running out and the tender boats being launched.

Cooler start today, some cloud first thing, clearing, and a bit of a breeze. Is it autumn coming already?

As usual rather long queues for the tenders, so there’s time to fill with trivia, cryptic corner and morning coffee until the queue has cleared.

Into the tender for a 20 minute run ashore.

Once in Alghero it's into the old town for a walk round, it being another port with impressive walls and fortifications.

This time it’s a city influenced by it’s occupation and control by Catalan Spain, even though it’s now part of Italy the Catalan legacy remains including the language.

The traffic free cobbled streets are a delight, and not busy, ours being the only ship in port.  The streets nicely decorated with overhead lamps contained within patchwork cylinders.

The Basilica style Cathedral very impressive and strangely dark inside in  stark contrast to the sunlit streets.  These Basilica always lack much in the way of windows, stained glass or otherwise, but make up for it with highly decorated altars and statuary.

A pleasant walk along the top of the city walls bordering the coast revealed the clarity of the seawater, delightful sea of blue and turquoise.

Displayed along the walls were also examples of historic weapons of war, cannon, trebuchet and catapult.

As most of our stops we found a very nice gelato.

Back in time for afternoon tea.

Dinner tonight in the main dining room as we sailed away from our anchorage.

Then to the theatre for tonights show, "Angel", with Eleonore and Jeremie. An acrobatic show of balance, strength and aerial gymnastics,  most impressive.

Day at sea tomorrow.

Day 30 - Livorno, Italy

Sunday 21st October 2018

The port of Livorno has always been a crossroads and melting pot of the worlds cultures and owes its fascinating charm to this multi-ethnic  aspect, beginning with the Etruscan and Roman remains and later the 16th century Medici development of the city.  It remains a starting point for ferries to Corsica and Sardinia and for access to the glories of Tuscany, the incredible architecture and allure of Florence, the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, the hilltop Tuscan towns of San Gimignano and Voltera, the walled city of Lucca and the picturesque villages of the Poets‘ Gulf.

Berthed in Livorno, well known as Leghorn to the British.

Usual start to let the rush go, trivia and coffee.  Then off to catch the shuttle bus into town.

Drop off at the Piazza del Municipo then a stroll round, down to the Fortezza Vecchio, the old fortress, one of many defensive works built here for the Medici family.

Then past the marina, filled with a fine mix of working fishing boats and pleasure craft.

Passing by the four Moors Statue, this one of Duke Ferdinando I de Medici with four chained Moors at the base.

Popped into one of the few shops which was open for essentials. 

Continuing on through the city and along the Via Borra, a street lined with reportedly the most beautiful buildings built in the city in the 1700’s.  All the buildings in this street seemed to have security as their priority shown by the strength of the bars on the windows and the size of the bolts on the doors.

Then on to the Fortezza Nuova, a late addition to the towns defences.

Continued back to the Piazza del Municipo for a gelato, (what else would you do on a Sunday morning?), while waiting for the bus.

All in all a nice little town to visit, the old town was surrounded by the Medici Bastions, parts still standing.

The town also criss crossed by many canals and moats, all now used as berthing for all sort of water craft.

The town though quite near to Queen Victoria, it was  still a long bus ride away due to many waterways blocking a direct route. So it's back on the bus to return.

The afternoon whiled away with sun and tea.

Dodged the formal dinner tonight. just went up to the Lido. Then it's time for a bit of formula 1 on the TV, luckily the German station carries all the races.  Cunard seem to think no one wants to watch anything but football or tennis.

Day 29 - Civitavecchia, Italy

Saturday 20th October 2018

Civitavecchia is the gateway to The Eternal City of Rome. Whilst it would take many lifetimes to really know Rome, there is an opportunity to see many of the city’s most famous sites. Marvel at the incredible architecture and epic monuments or simply soak up the atmosphere of this remarkable city. Alternatively, escape the hustle and bustle and venture into the beautiful Italian countryside.

Very early berthing this morning - apparently, didn’t see it, too early

Yet another nice sunny day, many passengers leaving us today, also of course many new passengers will be joining us.

Nearly managed to get ashore, but thought we really should spend some time sorting photos and updating notes and blogs.

Just enough time to get to a couple of quizzes and to get enough to eat to keep body and soul together.

Tonight's show, "Back to Bacherach”, is a trio of singers giving a rendition of various Burt Bacherach songs from the sixties to today, apparently he is still performing live at over 90 years old, not on this ship though.

Then dinner in the Lido before calling it a day.

Day 28 - Naples, Italy

Friday 19th October 2018

Situated on the bay of Naples opposite the imposing Mount Vesuvius, Naples is the perfect gateway to visit charming towns teetering on the edges of cliffs, or nestled into deep gorges, the fascinating ruins of Pompeii or Herculaneum, enchanting Isle of Capri and much, much more.  Naples is Italy’s third largest city and is one of the oldest.  Naples’ Centro storico (historic centre) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its archaeological treasures are among the world’s most impressive, and its swag of vain glorious palaces, castles and churches make Rome look positively provincial.

Berthed in Naples this morning, another sunny day.  Views across the bay to Vesuvius a bit hazy.

Leisurely morning then a walk up through the town towards the old part of the city. Pleasant enough but much to busy and crowded to really enjoy.

Back on board for a burger and a sit in the sun.

Good effort with today's trivia, couple more stamps but the third member of our term gets off tomorrow, she will be sorely mixed.

Early show in the theatre tonight, change of schedule on nights before change of passengers.

Tonight a combination of the Cunard Singers and Dancers with a short show of Paul Simon numbers. Then a change over to the Troubadours. They put on another very good and well received show of mixed numbers including more unaccompanied acapella.

Then up for a late supper in the Lido with a British theme tonight.