Category: Lessons Learnt

Eternal Flame

Today is officially the last day of our holiday and it’s definitely going to be the most memorable thanks to the terrible horrible very bad news we received from home.

My husband’s grandmother, the matriarch of a large extended family I feel privileged to be a part of, passed away earlier today on the other side of the world from where we are right now.

Nana was the most wonderfully loving and generous person who loved nothing more than sharing memories of her life and the achievements of her clan. She joked that every year she lived beyond 60 was a miracle yet despite the myriad of health issues it was still a shock that she so suddenly passed away so close to her next milestone birthday.

Thinking of her brings tears to my eyes, because she fully accepted myself and my children as part of her extended family from the first day we met, without judgment or assumption. Too many other people I have met on my journey have not been so unconditional with their love and the light that shone so brightly from the top of the family tree will forever be a reminder to me to do the same.

Old Habits

Despite the tap water in Portugal being perfectly palatable, old habits die hard for some which is how we ended up driving around the outskirts of Aveiro yesterday with a boot full of empty water bottles and only a vague idea of the location of a local font.

With Mother Maria in the back seat giving directions in Portuguese, and after stopping three times to ask locals for directions and close to an hour of driving we located Fonte Da Guia and proceeded to refill twenty five-litre plastic bottles with water from the local spring.

Conveniently located at the rear of a local church the water gushing out of a number of outlets was cool and clear but the sceptic in me could not help but be wary of the source and it’s properties.
Apparently this is a ritual the elders of Portugal refuse to give up, perhaps they have faith in it’s healing properties or they are reluctant to pay for what is freely available.

Given how much we pay for bottled spring water at home perhaps there is a lesson in there for all of us?

A Sacred Sojourn

A sacred destination for more than four million visitors a year, Fatima is an absolute must see for anyone planning a visit to Portugal.

A pleasant hour and a half drive from our ‘home’ in Ilhavo, we planned our visit for the 1st of May after an overnight stay in Nazare.

Pilgrims from all over the world are drawn to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima by the apparitions of the Virgin Mary reported by three local shepherd children on the 13th of each month from May to October 1917. They arrive throughout the year, but especially in Summer and on the feast days of May 13 and October 13.

The open air Chapel of Apparitions, built on the site of the appearances, is approached by pilgrims on their knees in penance. Unfortunately the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima was closed due to restoration work in progress on the day we visited, but we did arrive in time to see a service inside the newest church on the site, holding at least a thousand people.

A family friend of our host Maria makes the three days two nights pilgrimage from Ilhavo to Fatima in August every year, walking during the day and camping at night.

I admit to being skeptical of the blind faith in the fantasy of religion, but having been witness to the emotions and devotion of the people present on the day we visited I leave truly humbled by the experience and can only imagine how it would feel to attend on one of the feast days.

The Weighing Game

As wonderful as it is to have the opportunity to take time off from life to explore, the biggest lesson I am learning on my travels is about weight.
Along with the kilos creeping onto my body are the extra kilos stealthily adding bulk to my baggage.

This morning I had to admit defeat and leave behind the 1 bottle of Drambui I purchased in Malta to make my own Rusty Nail cocktails because it adds too many unnecessary kilos to my luggage.
I know, what was I thinking?

Same story for the full size bottle of coconut butter moisturiser from Dubai, as delicious as it makes me smell it has to go. And all the lovely formal wear, jewellery and accessories from the cruise taking up space are making me mad every time I open my case.
And as for my shoes ….

Of course this is only an issue because after we scrimp and save we baulk at the business class fares with all their perks and choose to spend our extra funds on enjoying our time away.

In hindsight we should have checked the fine print when we booked our flight from Gatwick to Portugal and paid a little more for the luggage but it’s too late now.

Cheers to the lucky recipient of my excess baggage!

A very pleasant detour

When planning how to spend our time in the UK after the end of the cruise, our only definite was the need to be at Gatwick airport by Sunday. Hiring a car to move ourselves and our luggage around seemed logical, and allowing time to stop and admire the scenery my personal priority.

Little did we know that a random conversation with a couple at the next table one night on the cruise would result in a memorable night on the Isle of Wight?

Ian Sherfield, retired magistrate, his wife Angela and adult son Edward joined our circle of friends on board Arcadia and insisted we accept their invitation to travel to and explore their home.

Home for the Sherfields is Buckbury Farm, a ten acre property in Newport on the Isle of Wight they share with their three adult children, five dogs and two cats. A pleasant ferry ride from Southampton, the Isle of Wight is famous for hosting one of Jimi Hendricks most memorable outdoor performances and for our party of four a very pleasant detour.

After a ploughmans lunch Ian took us on an insiders tour of the sights including Fort Victoria, named after the Queen and the Cowes Royal Yacht Squadron where all the major sailing events are based. Unfortunately our viewing of the scenery was hindered by the mist rolling in from the sea, but our host more than compensated with his commentary.

Back to Buckbury Farm for afternoon tea before we headed to the accommodation recommended by our hosts, The Waverley Inn. Quaint and Cosy but definitely not quiet thanks to it being karaoke night in the bar below our rooms, we were happy to head out for dinner to The Wight Mouse with our hosts an hour after checking in.

After a delicious dinner and placing second in the pub quiz, we returned to Buckbury Farm for coffee and cake before Ian took us back to our accommodation to settle in for the night.

Breakfast in the front bar then back to the Red Funnel for the return ferry to the mainland, where our tentative plan is to be in Bath by the end of the day.
How that pans out remains to be seen, but as they say it’s the journey not the destination that counts.

Adieu Arcadia

Our last two days at sea before we leave Arcadia in Southampton, and I can honestly say I am ready to leave and start the next phase of our journey.

Highlights of the past four weeks have included our amazing port stops and sea transits especially the opportunity to visit Petra, cruise the Suez and see the Rock of Gibraltar, as well as witnessing Greg lose his tie to the world’s greatest pickpocket, meeting Tim from Bargain Hunt and the new friendships we have formed.

Our cabin was in a great location and I love the full size bath, but not the creaks and crackles that kept me awake. Overall the entertainment and food was bland compared to previous cruises, but the free laundrette and being allowed to bring unlimited alcohol on board for in cabin consumption has definitely saved us a lot of expense.

The dreaded Arcadia cough has done the rounds and hit Greg with vengeance over the past few days so I definitely won’t miss the cough chorus all over the ship including our cabin.

Tonight is our last black tie evening with the Captain’s farewell party. Fingers crossed the heavy seas won’t dampen our spirits too much, especially poor Maria who started to feel the effects yesterday and chose to lay low today in lieu of attendance at Zumba.

Thanks P&O for a memorable journey, highly recommended for anyone seeking the simple life at sea.

Chasing the sun

Back at sea for three days after an amazing day in Petra, Jordan. Absolutely awesome and humbling experience to walk the path of a modern world wonder, The Lost City. Truly indescribable and highly recommended to anyone considering the journey.

The biggest surprise was the bitterly cold wind we encountered, and also the circus of activity inside the Lost City. Horses, camels, donkeys, locals and horse drawn carriages competed for space amongst the thousands of tourists traipsing through the well worn path.
Thankfully I was prepared with a woollen hat, gloves and a scarf but the English tourists wearing shorts and thongs would have surely regretted their outfit choices.

Apparently UK residents only receive two weeks annual leave, if true this explains their on board obsession with chasing the sun. Today for example it is very windy but the sun is shining so the sun chasers are steadfastly sunbathing despite the chill factor in the air.
Another lesson learnt for me who shuns the sun as much as I can…

Tomorrow we cruise through the Suez Canal, unfortunately not stopping in Egypt but still likely to be another incredible experience. I wonder how many of the UK vacationers will leave their deck chairs to witness it?

Another point of view

Arcadia is at sea today, the first of four sea days before our next stop, Aquaba. A time for rest and relaxation, along with personal reflection about our experience at our recent destinations.

After three days in the UAE we spent Easter Monday in Muscat, the capital and largest city in the Sultanate of Oman, and encountered a unique blend of Asian, African and Arabic cultures.

Fahed, our shy and gentle young tour guide, led us on a journey of discovery of the heritage of Muscat with stops ranging from the Muttrah Souk (Marketplace), the oldest in Oman,
Al Alam (Flag) Palace, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Royal Opera House, the first and only in the Arabian Gulf opened in 2012.

The rocky, mountainous landscape presented a stark contrast to what we encountered in the UAE, with the dry 35 degree heat reminiscent of what we left behind.

Fahed, wearing a traditional white dishdashah (dress) with a kunmah (cap), patiently provided us with extensive information about his homeland and was happy to answer every question thrown at him.

Bordered by UAE, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Oman is a Muslim state with Islamic customs strictly observed, but thanks to our ability to receive answers to our questions about Islam I can honestly say I have left with a vastly different point of view from that portrayed in the media.

Just as it was in UAE, Oman is proud of what has been achieved from the wealth generated by it’s natural resources, and tourists are warmly welcomed to it’s shores.

Highly recommended is a visit to the Bait Al Zubair (House of Al Zubair) museum inside a traditional Omani townhouse which provides a unique insight into Omani culture.

Walking amidst the locals inside the Muttrah Souk, inhaling the scent of spices and frankincense also provides an authentic shopping experience.

Who am I to judge or worse still condemn Islamic customs when we have been so warmly welcomed?

Shukran (Thank you) Fahed; Ma’salama (Goodbye) Oman.

Snapshots and snippets

So it was with the best of intentions that I embarked on my journey into the world of blogging, but it seems that of the many lessons I am learning along the way, patience is key. Internet access at sea is painfully slow,and the search for decent wifi on land is all consuming, much to the disgust of my travelling companions.

So much of what I want to share is being restricted, especially the visual record of my physical journey, but instead I have to be content with sharing snapshots and snippets. Kind of appropriate given that a cruise holiday is more about getting a taste of life beyond the everyday than immersing yourself into another way of life.

Knowing that every other person sharing my current journey is literally in the same boat is pretty funny really …

Go, because you want to.

It’s funny how sometimes the people you meet on your journey seem to cross your path for a reason, which is exactly how it felt this morning on our flight to Singapore. Hubby in the aisle, me in the middle, and seated by the window what looked to me like a teenage girl.

It wasn’t long before I’d introduced myself and we started the obligatory small talk about where we were from and going to. Turns out my seat companion, Sanio from Taiwan, has been travelling aound Australia on a working holiday visa for the past year, working in bars to save enough funds for her next plan, hiking Camino de Santiago in Spain. As often seems to be the case with tourists to Australia she has seen and been to more places over the past year than I have in my life here; Ayers Rock, Broome, the Bibbulmum track etc

During her time in Australia Sanio has been recording the names, birth year and dream job of the people she has met on a paper aeroplane which represents her dream job to be a pilot. I recorded mine as travel writer. Her thanks to all who contribute to her momento, a handmade friendship bracelet I will proudly wear as long as I can.

Sanio will be celebrating her 25th birthday the day we embark on the Arcadia cruise, this Wednesday March 25.
From what I can see she is well on her way to being the pilot of her own journey.

Sanyo from Taiwan