Lisbon to Le Havre

Lisbon




We sailed up the Tagus River into Lisbon at about 11:30 am and I thought I was dreaming. There just before my very eyes was the GGB (Golden Gate Bridge to we Californians). The Portugese built an exact replica in the 1960's and it truly is a twin of our GGB. Anyway, by the time I recovered from my shock we were docked under it.



We rushed off the ship and hired a private guide to drag us around for the day. He had a Mercedes but it was still tight. A few more days of eating and we couldn't get I at all. We began with a trip along the coast to Estoril and Cascais, two beautiful seaside resorts reminicent of the French Riviera. It was quaint and beautiful with charming small winding side streets and mansions from earlier, better times such as La Belle Epoch. There were beautiful boats in the harbor and lovely, charming old hotels. The history of Lisbon and surrounding towns is replete with espionage. It was the spy capital of World War Two and many of thse older hotels were right in the middle of it. Fascinating stuff. I can just pictre myself in one of these grand old hotels worming information out of some nazi general!



After a walk about we contined on to the mountain village of Sintra, where we were knocked out by the beautiful turn-of-the-century palaces of nobility and wanna-be nobility. Situated high in he mountains, the views are spectacular, the air is fresh and unpolluted and there is a sense of the pristine about the whole place. We had a light bite in a local pastisserie where all the old ladies were slugging down shots of expensive expresso for that afternoon energy jolt. We wandere up and down the narrow winding streets, climbing the slippery narrow flights of steps. This is definitely a hill town. Lots of outdoor cafes and shops selling ceramics and things made out of cork. They are masters at ceramics but I did not buy a thing. Just to see all those magnificent homes and palaces was worth the trip, not to mention those breathtaking vistas. We talked the driver into letting us use the WC in a very fancy, very classy, very secluded old hotel which was converted from one of the old mansions. Wow! I could have stayed there all day! But alas, it was time for the city of Lisbon. It has a population of 600,000, a few interesting old buildings, a monestary, a castle with nothing in it, awalking street, nothing to buy, one or two interesting monuments dedicated to the famous native explorers and thousands of insane soccer fans. We stumbled upon a pep ralley and I thought I would go deaf! Oh yes, the traffic is horrendous. That is Lisbon in a nutshell. The one good thing is they warned us about pickpockets but we couldn't find any for Jerry to give the old law enforcement death grip to.



We are now in the middle of a cold, rough sea day off the coast of Spain. I did Zumba this morning so I am not a total slug. The UK did our passport control this morning so we can get right off in Dover without wasting any time getting to Canterbury. Next stop is Le Havre, where we will head for Honfleur. In the meantime I have to get ready later for our last formal night.



A great formal night. We cleaned up quite well. The food was great. We fell asleep during the show. We took photos and had some really great laughs with Eileen and Steve. They are such super wonderful travel companions. We are so lucky.



Another day at sea



Today we stayed inside and played canasta on our last sea day. It is cold outside. Had a wonderful brunch , did zumba and played cards We are all looking forward to our port stop in France tomorrow. The Olitskys are going to Normandy. We have been there so we are going to Honfleur, where Monet painted. I love it there. 10:30 pm and still light out off the French coast.  It is freezing!

Madiera and on to Lisbon

We finally made landfall today in Madiera, a Portugese island off the coast of north Africa. The climate is mild and there are beautiful flowers everywhere. We did not see any signs of poverty. Just a middle-class society.




There are eyeglass stores everywhere, mostly designer stuff. I guess they never heard of contact lenses. It was a lovely day. We toured the island and of course, found an internet connection and clean bathrooms at McDonalds. Nothing unusual there.



Dinner and the show tonight were both fabulous. No zumba class tomorrow so we will sleep late. Yippee! Calm seas and mild weather. Doesn't get much better.



Approaching Lisbon



A day at sea. We slept late, played canasta and will celebrate our anniversary tonight with a fancy dinner in one of the specialty restaurants with our great friends and travelling companions, Eileen and Steve. They have been so good putting up with Jerry's jokes and craziness. Not too many people have the guts to travel with us and they have been absolutely fabulous and we love them.



Tomorrow we land in Lisbon at noon and it's off for a tour of the city and perhaps to purchase some beautiful ceramic tiles if he lets me near the stores.



Our dear friends took us out for our anniversary tonight at Tuscan Grille. It was a fabulous meal. We ate like pigs and waddled down to our rooms to get ready for tomorrow's port stop. The show was excellent too and so far everything has been wonderful. It is going by too quickly. It always does. It is so nice to enjoy a trip like this with such good friends. They make it that much better!



I had an expresso and chocolate for dessert. I guess I will be up and bouncing off the walls for the rest of the night.



Tomorrow it is on to Lisbon!

Approaching Funchal, Madiera

We are approximately 300 nautical miles from Funchal in the Portugese Azores. It is in the low 60's and the waves are ten feet and higher. The old girl (the ship, not me) seems to be doing just fine. Some folks are feeling queasy but not me. I like the movement but I must admit it was quite the challenge at zumba this morning. We looked like a bunch of drunks. We are working on our canasta skills since it is too cold to sit outside.




This is the half way point of the cruise and the staff in the dining room is still trying to get their act together. The service has been spotty depending on where we sit. They have eight days to fix it up.



Tomorrow is our first port stop in a week and everyone is ready to get off for a few hours to sightsee and doing other than ship things. I hate this computer. It has a mind of it's own. Maybe it doesn't like high seas.



There are 800 Elite members on this cruise so it basically means nothing anymore. They give you coupons for drinks in certain lounges. There is no Elite lounge and the wine is cheap. However, the adorable captain makes up for whatever is lacking.

Mid Atlantic

Yesterday we finally reached the exact middle of the Atlantic and now we are on the shorter leg of the journey meaning we have less of a distance rather than more to travel. We played


canasta on deck, relaxed, walked for exercise on the jogging deck and did the usual cruise things.



The captain's cocktail party was fun with dancing, drinks and good nibbling snacks. The officers were there to socialize as well. This is an extremely friendly ship with a lot of mixing between passengers and crew.



After dinner we saw the show followed by Liar's Club with the captain, the comedian and the cruise director. It was beyond hilarious and the captain was the funniest person I have seen in years. I laughed myself sick!



Today it is colder outside. Eileen and I did our zumba and now I am in my cozy cabin where the toilet is presently not working. We are still three days from land so things should get interesting.

Almost in mid-Atlantic aboard Constellation

Another day at sea. It is beautiful outside. The seas are running smooth. There are no whitecaps in sight and the sun is shining brightly. We (just the girls) did our regular zumba class this morning and as usual it was a great workout. Last night was the 50's and 60's dance party. Very crowded. Our table mates, who we thought were so straight-laced, were dancing on the tables! You never know about people thestching e days. I just hope there are no secret terrorists onboard. We are approaching the exact middle of the Atlantic and I don't want to get stuck out here. I might run out of clothes!




This day is very laid-back and that is ok with me. I haven't been to the shops yet. There is still lots of time. Right now we are planning our shore excursions. So much to do. Haven't even played mah jongg yet. We saw some women playing yesterday but they didn't look like the type I would want to play with. There is a man onboard who I really would like to strangle. The first day he was running around yelling that the water was tainted with petroleum and that he wanted himself and his wife airlifted off the ship because they were being poisoned. He finished with that subject and is now bitching and moaning about other things. He better not talk to me or he will find himself as shark food. Other than Mr. Crazy most others seem quite nice except for the very loud group with the New York accents who interrupted my poolside nap yesterday. Well, I think it is time for my next activity, watching Jerry digest his lunch.

In the Bermuda Triangle

We are now officially in the middle of the south Atlantic Ocean somewhere off the coast of Bermuda, nearing the Sargasso Sea, otherwise known as The Doldrums.  This is the area where early sailing vessels coming to the New World came to a dead halt due to lack of winds and too much seaweed in the water.  They just had to sit there and flounder around till the winds kicked up once again. I am pretty confident that will not happen to us.

We found out last night that one of the entertainers who will perform tonight is a good friend of our son. In addition, we know the cruise director from our sailing to Hawaii and I know the captain from a previous sailing.  He said he remembered dancing with me.  He is full of crap!

I did my Zumba once again this morning so at least I am not lying around like a lox for the entire day.  There is a 60's dance party later so that is more exercise.  A fifteen day cruise can be devastating if one is not careful.  I have been trying to eat small, relatively healthy meals.  Now for a relaxing morning in the Solarium.

Ready To Go!

Bags packed. Took too much. We will be in several different climates so there is a little bit of everything.   Less than 24 hours to go.  The ship is just coming out of dry dock and I  understand some of the finishing touches will be done at sea. This is novel...being in the middle of a construction zone at sea. Hope they have lots of Pinot Grigio!