Category: Travel

The Fog of Fatigue

Today is the day I am meant to have returned to work, but I have been forced to admit defeat and call in sick.

Admitting weakness is not a strength of mine, my usual approach is to soldier on no matter what, but today I simply could not face the day with focus and can guarantee I would have been a waste of space at my workplace.

The long journey home from Lisbon to Dubai, Dubai to Singapore, Singapore to Perth, in combination with the sad news immediately prior to our departure, was simply too much for my ‘middle aged’ mind to manage.

Amongst the many benefits of cruising is the fact that time is adjusted in increments by half an hour to an hour at most overnight, meaning that by the time we had cruised from Singapore to Southampton our body clocks were already adjusted to the local time when we arrived.

Flying from London to Porto was also cruisey as they are in the same timezone and the flight is short and sweet. Thankfully we also managed to avoid the stress and chaos caused by the pilot strikes so I have nothing but praise for the crew of the TAP Portugal flight we caught, and likewise the Alpha train from Porto to Aveiro.

Emirates were wonderfully accommodating, allowing our party of four to be seated together in an exit row on our first flight home and even to lay across a whole row each on our second. Sorry to say that never ever again will I settle for a cheap flight on Jetstar,our final flight home; definitely cattle class conditions in comparison.

I have received mixed advice from fellow Travellers about how best to overcome the fatigue fog that is overwhelming my brain right now. All I want to do is sleep and right now it feels like it will be at least a week before the fog lifts.

A Little Too Ironic

Like rain on your wedding day, ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife, nurturing a souvenir in your hand luggage only to break it at home.

Yes, really.

The Legend of the Cock, about a man from Galacia who appeared in Barcelos on his way to Santiago De Compostela in Spain to fulfill a vow, condemned to death by hanging despite protesting his innocence to committing a crime, pointed to a roasted cockerel and exclaimed:

“As sure as I am innocent that cockerel will crow if I am hanged!”

You can see where this is going, and why the rooster is so embelic of Portugal, and how it was so special to buy one from Barcelos, the home of the legend, and not any number of tourist shops and even a service station when we were there.

In my haste to tidy up after sharing my suitcase stories and souvenirs I managed to drop this little cock, straight onto our tiled floor, also ironic given the status of tiling to Portugal as well.

A little too ironic.
Not happy Jan.

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.

Cruising the Suez April 13 2015

After the amazing day in Petra I assumed that every subsequent stop on our journey would pale in comparison, but I am happy to report that cruising through the Suez Canal was another unique and memorable experience.

It was an early start for many on board, based on notification from the Captain of Arcadia of our arrival at the entrance to the Suez Canal at 6 am. Other vessels waiting for permission to transit included general cargo, container, car and oil carriers and cruise ships.

It was close to 11am by the time the pilot was on board and we were on our way, third in a convoy led by a U.S. submarine and a destroyer, with a Russian helicopter circuiting above us all, the whole convoy receiving waves and cheers from the locals as we passed by.

Monuments and sights along the way included war and peace memorials, armed soldiers standing guard on both sides, and the uniquely named Shodada 25 January Bridge. Aida, a German cruise ship travelling behind us was dwarfed when passing underneath but it looked like a tight squeeze for Arcadia.

Arcadia travelled from the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea, to the Mediterranean, a transit which took just over ten hours at a steady 8 knots. For the majority of this time the seating areas inside were largely vacant in preference for all available external vantage points.

At best a cruise can only offer a small taste of life in other lands, necessitating a return visit by air in order to see and do more.

Cruising the Suez, however, is a uniquely maritime experience I feel blessed to have enjoyed.

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 …