Friday, April 30, 2010

Last leg of the trip HOME.

The final leg of our trip took us to the island of Madeira, and to Lisbon, Portugal's capitol city, and to the city of Vigo, on Spain’s west coast.

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The Boat docked in Madeira 

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If you enlarge you can see a 3D map of the boat.

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Champagne bar “girls” I’m told they make a good G & T. Mary Ken and Jim managed to get at least one G and T every night before dinner.

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Dress up for dinner. One of 3 formal dress nights.

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Three separate dining rooms, over three floors. We dined on the top one.

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One of the sets on stage. Can you see

the real people?.

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Chris, if you see this, we have a load of

“baskets to make” to catch theses guys.

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Fish market. Anyone for some Octopus?

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The flower show in Madeira.

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The displays were superb, and the pictures

here don’t do them justice.

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Ken. “The Man” of the day……….

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Didn’t he do well? 

 

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Lisbon.

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Police cars? A Porsche?…………….dream on Jim..

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4 wheels or two……..

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Inside the Police National Guard.

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Out side the Police National Guard HQ Lisbon

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From the top of the old steam powered

(now electric) lift, looking over the city.

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The lift.

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Lisbon’s main street, looking towards

the port. All the street are mainly car free

and very people friendly.

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The name of this art work is “ Man Diving  into the Sea”

It is at the port in Vigo, Spain.

 

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A lot of the buildings were in need of repair, especially in the old quarter of the city of Vigo.

 

From here we had another day at sea, arriving in Southampton, England at around 5am Sunday morning 25th April. We were that excited at being home, we forgot to get any pictures, but we were met at the dock by our daughter and son in law,  Genette and Darren, and little Grace and Edward, who were proudly holding the banners they had made and several balloons to welcome us home.  

Darren drove Jim to the nearby airport to collect the rental car, then, having loaded it with all our luggage began the drive home. Of course yet another surprise awaited us on arrival. The house was plastered with welcome home banners, balloons everywhere and a huge buffet style meal waiting for us, courtesy of Georgina and Dan. Again no pictures, just never thought of getting the camera out. Dan and George had also filled our fridge and cupboards with all the essentials, to keep us going until we got chance to get to the supermarket.

So finally ends our fantastic adventure. We are both looking forward to whatever life now throws at us, knowing that whatever it is, we will have fun. If the last 6 years has taught us anything at all, it is to get as much out of life as you can, and we intend to continue doing just that.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Part Two “ On Board Independence of the Sea”

 

ken & mary

Ken and Mary got the silver medal,  “well done both”

 

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                FREEZE FRAME

What a great show, who would have thought to put an ice rink on a ship. We were very lucky to get to see it twice. This time I remembered the camera.

ice

 

Mary volunteered to be hypnotized, but was sent off stage after a while. The hypnotist said she was “not under” as much as the others. 

mary on stage

Ken & I went to all the line dancing lessons.

Ken & me

G&T any one ?……………………

g & t

Late night shopping

late night shopping

 

volinest

 

his violin

Chocolate feast 10.30am, I skipped breakfast and lunch that day.

choc

 

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Independence of the sea’s parade.

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INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEA’s 2nd Birthday Party

 

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Part one “On Board Independence of the Sea”

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Well, you will all be glad to know, we got all 8 cases on board, plus  hand bags of varying sizes.  Soon as we checked our rooms out, we went for some lunch in the buffet lounge.

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That evening we got to meet our  waitress and waiter. We opted for early dinner, 6pm, so we could go to the 9pm theater show. I enjoyed my desert so much, Ahmet got me a second one…… “not like me”, I hear you all saying.   The food so far has been great.  Jim and I have said we will skip lunch, but as we keep losing each other for hours at a time, not sure Jim is keeping to it. 

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So nice to have a “High Street” on board. Shops, a pub and several cafe’s.

There is lots to do and the show’s are very good. There was a magician, from Damsonwood, Solihull would you believe, on the other night. Thats just down the road  from us, and 2 girls working in the Spa also come from Solihull . 

We got to see a “show on ice” Tuesday, and have got tickets again for Thursdays performance. This time maybe I will remember to take my camera, and then post some pictures. It really is spectacular.

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After dinner on our way to the show. The top Jerry gave me looks good, “thanks girlfriend”.

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Ken has said he is going to have a go at this…….

If he does I will be publishing the photos for sure.

WATCH THIS SPACE,  or the World News report.

DON’T WE SCRUB UP NICE.????

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The first of 3 dress up nights.

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Can you see me and Mary? on the second balcony up.

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