26/03/2024 – Last stop before the great sail home – to Southampton and, the steroids are doing their job. Podge can breathe so much better🙏.
We’ve been here so many times before that we had no great plans: Not even to visit Nelson Harbour. So, we decided that today we would simply go ashore and check out the shops but this time, we would visit Redcliffe Quay. For some reason, we’d never even seen this on the map even though its just around the corner of the main drag past the Heritage Quay Complex.
Post Epicurean Breakfast we opted to walk around the ship, enjoying the quiet as most people had already gone ashore either on excursions or shopping. Then, we looked at the sky! Dark, dramatic clouds were rolling over the horizon, contrasting with the Caribbean weather we had been used to. Undeterred, we, dressed for the Caribbean, made our way ashore and once through the main security gate, turned right along the boarded walkway along the harbour front passing left through the carpark into Radcliffe Street and there, in front of us, was a whole new world we’d never seen in the 20-years we’d been visiting Antigua.
Every-time we visited Antigua in the past, we’d either been on excursions around the island or simply went shopping up the main drag (Heritage Quay Complex) and ending up in the Island B-Hive Sports Bar.
Quickly, very quickly, Podge guided Tubbs past the Jewellery and Dress Shops before turning right by the Big Banana Pizza bar and found ourselves in Redcliffe Quay Shopping Centre. It didn’t take long for Tubbs to spot, what was in her mind at least, a souvenir shop. This shop [the Zemi Art Gallery] had far too many things to catch the eye of a serious souvenir hunter such as Tubbs but, with her budget almost blown, had to exercise restraint in making purchases. She did however mange to purchase a shiny colourful ‘Caribbean’ wall hanging fish: She wanted to buy, as did Podge to be fair, a picture depicting Caribbean vista’s but these were about a metre wide and so too big to take home. Anyway, purchase complete, we went in search of a bar (as always). We stepped outside and the rain starting to fall.
As the rain began to fall, softly to begin with, it rapidly intensified into a heavy downpour. Puddles quickly formed on the ground, and the vibrant colours of the whole surrounds seemed to intensify, as if the whole island was being refreshed. Everybody was seeking refuge under the colourful awnings and bars/cafes while watching the rain bouncing off the ground. Looking up and around, it was apparent that this wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. Looking down and around, puddles were merging and small rivers were starting to form in the roads and walkways.
Podge looked at Tubbs, Tubbs looked at Podge: Both instinctively know that there was nothing for it. They had to make their way back to the ship as quickly as possible, accepting they were going to get soaked but hey, at the end of the day, it’s only water.
With laughter, shouts and even screams, we started running toward the ship, trying to avoid the puddles and rivulets, often failing, all the while dodging under any shelter available. We reached the security gate, along with everybody else and slowly edged our way through the crammed security hut, which at least provided some temporary shelter before being forced out the other side on to the quay. By now, our clothes were clinging to us, our feet were soaked through and making our way along a now flooded quay made no difference to how wet we were. At last, we made it to the gangway and onto the Britannia. We looked at each other and burst out laughing: We both looked like drowned rats (as did everybody around us). Tubbs looked the funniest as the colour from her tote bag (pink of course) had run into her t-shirt and shorts. This was one of those ‘days to remember’.
Back in our quarters, showered and changed, we sat out on the balcony, with a bottle of wine of course, and watched everybody running back to the ship(s). Then, the rain stopped and patches of blue sky reappeared. Next to us was an Aida Ship (AIDAperla) On this day in particular, we had one thing in common. Both ships were full of soaking wet holiday makers and both ships were delayed from departing due to late arrivals (flights delayed) of crew/entertainers. To while away the time, both ships enjoyed mutual sail away songs and applauded each others efforts. At last, the late arrivals appeared and the Britannia was the first to depart to a mass of blasts from the ships horns to which the AIDAperla blasted back with hers. It truly was a real party atmosphere.
Eventually (curiosity piqued), we left and we were able to to make our way to dinner, again in the Glass House where we both made selections from the Mini & Mighty options accompanied of course by a lovely bottle of Bacchus. On this occasion, we stayed in the Glass House and finished the night with our obligatory Whisky (for Podge) and Cosmopolitan (For Tubbs) and then it was back to our room to retire for the night. Naturally, midnight was long gone.
Step Count: – 5916 🥴
The Adventures of Podge & Tubbs 