Archive for the ‘P&O’ Category

Today, I Espied a Whale

Posted: November 19, 2013 in Cruising, P&O, Travel
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Actually, I didn’t see any whales at all. The title was aspirational: all I want see is one little, or big, whale, but so far all I’ve seen is sea. And of course the occasional landfall. Yes, that’s right, after sailing all night, we have found another island. I was going to name this island The Land of Folded Hills but it would seem that the island has already been discovered and is known as La Palma.

Newsflash: Mrs Me actually came out of her slumber in time to see us arrive. I think this is a first

As we had no pre-booked excursions we had the luxury of time and so we were able to enjoy a relaxed breakfast while looking out over to the island through the early morning rain and resultant rainbows.breakfast this morning was indeed a lovely experience. Mrs Me didn’t even moan about two fried eggshell had hidden under the scrambled eggs, bean, mushrooms, sausage, etc., etc. Yum Yum.

We then planned to our 3.2 laps of the Oceana but the maintenance men had other ideas and closed parts off. So, that plan thwarted, we went ashore and elected to walk into town instead of taking the shuttle bus.

I have to say,Santa Cruz de la Palma, the capital of La Palma, where we were berthed (see, I know all the nautical terms) is quite the nicest of towns and probably one that I / we would happily come back to for a few days. The town just felt welcoming, relaxed & happy; especially the bars. Of course there were other shops but I was canny. Leaving for town so late meant that before long it was siesta time and most of the shops shut for lunch until 17:00. What a result. During this time, I did find a rather nice jewellers who had a stunning array of pendants and gold chains which of course I did point out to Mrs Me: this was when she realised it was siesta time, and smacked my, already cauliflower, ear. 😦

After such trauma, I clearly needed to find a bar where we could sit, relax, enjoy a beer and watch the word go by; a world by the way that consisted mostly of passengers and crew from the Oceana. But would you believe it, we had found a bar that, itself, was closing down for a siesta. So we finished our beers and headed back to the boat.

We reached the boat just as lunch was finishing. Crickey I thought, what am I to do. It’s another hour until tea time (sandwiches & cakes), how am I going to manage? Well, fear not. All we had to do was head to the sun deck where we found the Horizon Grill. Here they would cook just about anything that goes with chips to order. So, fish, chips and mushy peas were ordered, cooked, delivered and consumed, and all washed down with a nice glass of Rioja. Lovely.

Looking forward to this evening, we have two birthdays that I know of; one on our table and even more importantly, my new hero who is 100 years young today. What a legend. I just so want there to be 100 balloons over his table.

Anyway, we’ve checked the charts and it’s quite a short trip, by-passing Tenerife (why I thought we were going to Tenerife I have no idea) to our next port of call, which is Gran Canaria. Perhaps we’ll see some whales on the way!

Made it; Land at Last.

Posted: November 18, 2013 in Cruising, P&O, Travel
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Well, after three days and four nights, through stormy seas (!), avoiding all whales, and despite the vastness of the sea, we made Madeira, virtually on time. Actually we were on time but three other ships in front of us took their time parking which delayed us by about 30 minutes. But, we’re here. We’ve reached dry land; we’ve reached Portugal, and so many of the passengers couldn’t wait to get off, onto terra firma and stretch their legs. As for His Podgeness and Mrs me, we relaxed, had a lazy breakfast and went ashore around three hours later.

Having been to Madeira before and having done the coach trip round the island, seen the churches, seen the lace factory, seen Madeira wine farms and tasted the product, we decided that we would do our own thing. So, we walked into town, that’s right, we walked. Straight into a market: it’s almost as if it was planned. Have you ever noticed by way how markets have all sorts of things for Mrs Me’s but very little for us blokes? Anyway, we made our way through with little wallet damage and down to the sea front where Mrs Me declared that we should head towards the cable car as she would like to ‘give it a go’. Now, this is the same Mrs Me that froze when we went on the London Eye. Are you sure? I ask, have you seen where it goes? Looking high up the ‘mountain’ where the cable disappeared into the clouds. Absolutely she said, so long as I sit in the middle. Fair enough I thought and cable car direction we went.

Well, give her credit where credit is due. She went through with it; she even bought the tickets for the trip and the tropical gardens at the top. The ride up was fantastic, and I wish I’d done it before. Mrs Me sat there, looking straight ahead, not moving. Briefly I took hold of her hands, but I soon let them go again: they were all wet and sticky, yuk.

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Arriving at the top,the temperature had definitely dropped and it was spitting. But did this phase us? Of course not. We are intrepid travellers. We laugh in the face of such adversities. So it was onwards, and downwards, into the tropical gardens. I have to say, they were magnificent. I reckon may through September must see them at their best but even today, in November they were still worth the visit. They do however present one problem, especially one as old and frail as His Podgeness 🙂 To see them all, and enjoy a well earned break in the coffee shop / bar, you have to go down. Down, down and then down some more: down, down, deeper and down. Inevitably, The Only Way Is Up has to follow.

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And then, the only way is down, via the cable car. Mrs Me was a little more relaxed going down! It was almost a pleasure to hold her hands!

All that remained was the long walk back through that market where I regret to say that Mrs Me failed to get through without succumbing. She bought a Murano Glass bracelet. it was touch and go at the shoe shops but we got away with it. Phew.

At last we reached the Oeana, just in time for the sail away. And, as we sailed away, leaving Madeira behind us, we headed for La Palma before which, Mrs Me and His Podgeness had yet another evening of fine dining to look forward to, where we would share our adventures with our dining friends and they would share theirs. After all, that is half the pleasure of P&O cruising.

In the mean time, it’ s all at see again.

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Still No Land!

Posted: November 17, 2013 in Cruising, P&O, Travel
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Don’t tell her but today I’ve moved along from my balcony to Mrs Me’s Balcony. She won’t mind though as she’s too busy sleeping off her breakfast. A breakfast which was particularly special as we were privileged enough to sit with a young gentleman who will be 100 years old in two days time, on the 19th November. I thought I was doing well having my 60th in four days time: that’s the 21st for those that can’t do sums :-). An ex tank driver, this young gentleman is still independent, living in his own home and only gave up his [clean] driving licence at 96. He is my new hero.

Anyway, back to me. What have I done in the last 24 hours that’s different to the previous 24 hours. Not a lot actually, and that is good: total R & R. We did our 3.2 laps of the Oceana (that’s three miles we’ve walked so far). We have made some more new friends, eaten more fine food ( you’d expect nothing less on the Oceana) and re-discovered the Champagne Bar. Also, it being the first formal night, we met the Captain (from Italy) at the welcome aboard cocktail party. This pleased Mrs Me, as listening to the voice of an italian just makes her go all dreamy (not sure what she’s dreaming though). But wait, we also found the Gymn. Ok, it was an accident but nevertheless we had a look inside and was actually quite impressed. So impressed in fact that yours truly, His Podgeness, went straight to the onboard shops and bought a t-shirt to wear in the Gymn the following day (today). That’s right, you heard correctly, His Podgeness is going to try out the Gymn!

In the meantime however, I continue to sit on [her] balcony watching the sea drift by. It’s a calmer sea now, still a vast sea, but a calmer sea and the temperature is edging ever closer to 20: lovely! And, looking at the map, we seem to be just West of the mouth of the Meditterranean. So from here on in, it’s going to get even warmer. Perfect birthday weather methinks.

Newsflash – His Podgeness is off to the Gymn

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His Podgeness is back

Time once more to sit on the balcony (my balcony this time) and gaze out to sea, seeing nought but the sea and just listening to the sounds made by the Oceana as she makes her way south to the Canaries and hoping, ever hopeful, to see a whale or two. All I’ve sen so far are gulls, lots of gulls. How far do gulls fly? We must be a hundred miles from land. Not sure if the distance is correct but we certainly can’t see any land. All I can see is sea, lots of sea: a sea without whales :-(.

Tomorrow, we reach Madeira, or to be more precise, the Ilha da Madaira (apparently it means Island of Timber), which by all accounts is twice the size of The Isle of Wight, but a lot hillier and a lot warmer, especially in November, the birth month of His Podgeness. By all accounts Madeira also has a long road tunnel, the longest in Portugal in fact. This also confirms that Madeira is a Portugese Island. Before we get there however, there are three more meals to conquer. So, until we meet again:

Bom dia

It’s Getting Warmer; A Bit!

Posted: November 16, 2013 in Cruising, P&O, Travel
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As I understand it, the temperature back home in Sleepy Hungerford is dropping ever closer to the magical zero (such a nice round number). Well, I’m pleased to say that here on P&O’s Oceana the temperature is on the up: not a lot but definitely on the up. I know that because Mrs Me is sitting on ‘her’ balcony with her sunglasses, cup of tea reading her magazine. Normally, she would be indoors wrapped up in her ‘Noo Noo’ moaning about the cold. As for me, well I’m on my balcony in t-shirt and jeans typing this and feeling warm and chilled. Luverly.

As this is our second day at sea, there isn’t really a lot to say. The same as yesterday, all we can see is sea: sea; sea as far as the eye can see. 🙂 It is indeed a Vast Sea.

Anyway, after a light breakfast 🙂 we did our 3.2 laps (1 mile) of the Oceana before having a mid-morning coffee and a wander round the shops. Now those who know us will be only too aware that Mrs Me has never yet come back from a cruise without acquiring a new piece of jewellery so why was I surprised to find ourselves being drawn to the Diamond & Pearl shop. Pink Pearls and/or Black Diamonds were on the wish list this time. I just know we’ll end up with something; I just know it. But then having to put up with His Podgeness, I suppose Mrs Me (calling her Mrs Podge is probably not a good idea) deserves such nice things.

Back to yesterday; the one big thing we did do was to stick to our rules of not having any lunch. Until we strayed into the restaurant that is, then I weakened. The chicken curry was to die for, and the looks I got from Mrs Me were along the same line. The curry was however, perfectly complimented by rice and chips and a large glass of Merlot :-). Why is it by the way, that a lunch time drink always leaves you wanting to sleep? Because that’s how we spent the rest of the afternoon, sleeping, waking just in time to for our 5 o’clock glass of wine (Merlot, large, times 2). Then, it was time to dress for Dinner.

Not quite sure how P&O work out who sits with who but they’ve never let us down. We’re a table of eight, four couples having never met before yet now as if long standing friends. Yet again, dinner was a wonderful experience: the rump steak melted in the mouth like fillet steak, the vegetables were cooked to perfection and the profiteroles for desert were heaven. Our original plan was to have a bottle of Rioja with our meal, but still with the effects of the Merlot, we plumped for Prosecco which turned out to be an ideal choice, not too heavy and not too fizzy. Our hunger sated, and the time getting on, we all went our separate ways. Some too see the show, some to see the comedienne and us to the Yacht & Compass for the quiz. We were too late to take part so we helped another couple with rest of theirs. Guess what? They won a bottle of wine then they left :-(. Anyway, A couple of late drinks left us ready for bed and a good night sleep.

By morning, I thought we’d turned round and gone back to the Bay of Biscay. We were in amongst some big seas breaking and rolling all around us and yet, the Oceana seems to laugh at such things and just continues to sail onwards ever nearer to the Canaries. Actually, at the time of writing, we’re just off the coast of Spain & Portugal but we’re going in the right direction (south). And so, I continue to sit on my balcony just watching; watching the sea go by: listening; listening to the waves: dreaming; dreaming of being on a world cruise and really sailing the seven seas. One day; one day, we will do just that. In the mean time however, Canaries here we come.

Ooh, it’s lunch time. Yum, yum.

Sea, Sea, Nothing But Sea

Posted: November 15, 2013 in Cruising, P&O, Travel
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Having arrived at the Cruise terminal 1-hour early, we were greeted by a nice man who whisked away our luggage and a very nice lady who took away our car; all we then had to do was check in (when we were informed that our cabin number had changed), clear security and go straight onto the lovely Oceana. it was just like being back home, even though we haven’t been on board since the 175th Anniversary P&O Grand Event, the Oceana still feels like it’s where we belong.

Our only concern, well, my only concern as Mrs Me was just happy to be on the ship, was that our luggage labels had all been marked up with a different cabin number; when would we see our luggage? I kept asking myself. Naturally I need not have worried. We were after all sailing with P&O: trust me, they know what they’re doing. In no time at all, our luggage had been identified, relabelled and delivered to our new cabin. Our New Cabin? Oh yes, we’ll, we had booked an outside cabin with balcony, but when we shown to our ‘quarters’, we found not a balcony cabin, but a mini-suite complete with walk in wardrobe and jacuzzi bath and separate sleeping area with a double balcony. I’m always happy when I’m on a cruise ship, this time I was emotionally happy. What a fab start to my 60th Birthday Cruise. Better still, the fridge had a bottle of champagne waiting for us.

The afternoon was spent re-acquainting ourselves with the ship, enjoying a glass of complimentary champagne (the bottle of champagne still waiting in the fridge) as we sailed away from Southampton and off to the seven seas: we’ll, not all seven obviously! Then, it was time for a pre-dinner drink then off to the restaurant for what we know will always be a fine meal; we weren’t disappointed. The meal was, as always faultless, our table companions were extremely amiable and waiters were just fan, one of them even remembered us from a previous cruise. The Bottle of fizzy pop served by a wine waiter, who also remembered us, made for a most enjoyable dinner.

All that remained was for us to settle into the Yacht & Compass bar for a nice glass of Merlot, which became two, before retiring to our huge bed in our lovely cabin.

That night, the winds got up as did the waves and we were rocked up and down and side to side as we started our 3-day sail to the Canaries: our adventure had truly started.

With the dawn came gentler seas and yes, sunshine. I was even able to sit out on my balcony, Mrs Me had divided it into his and hers, at 08:30 in a tee-shirt enjoying my early morning coffee. No matter which way I looked, all I could see, was sea and sea was all we were going to see for three days. When you sail for day after day and see nothing but sea, you realise just how vast the sea is.

Anyway, we’ve had breakfast, walked 3.2 laps of the ship (1mile) had our 11:00 coffee and now wondering; what’s for lunch? Maybe my next post will answer that question. Pictures will follow. Meanwhile, ZZZzzzzz.

See also: Podge Hits 60

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