Monday, 4 November 2024

Equinox epilogue

We flew to Barcelona just after the 37th Americas cup final and spent a few hours looking around  Port Velli. We enjoyed our 9 days on Equinox and the two days in Barcelona despite some rain on 3 out of 4 port days. In contrast the 3 sea days were warm and sunny and we took full advantage of the sun on our balcony. We did not do the planned sunset cruise in Lisbon, we missed most of the showers in Porto, Asilah in Morocco was sunny but the rain in Tangiers prevented us looking round the Medina. Rosemary's fall getting off the ship did not stop us walking Cadiz and it's fish market. The food in MDR was not as good as previous cruises with celebrity but we enjoyed The Petite Chef dinner in Qsine on the first night. The shows were too loud, as usual, but entertaining and we enjoyed cocktails in the Martini bar and coffee in Cafe Bacio. We spent most dinner times with Steven and Caroline from New Jersey  experiencef cruisers who were escaping the US elections. Ticked off our 3rd Celebrity cruises tour of Barcelona.

Thursday, 31 October 2024

Barcelona disembarkation

Our planned 'stop on board till 2:00pm' was cancelled so that the ship could be deep cleaned. So we were off the ship at 9:00 for our 3rd panoramic tour of the city. We had a tour guide and coach for just 11 people. This time we stopped at the Sagrada Familia for a comfort break and were dropped off at Terminal 2 in plenty of time for the flight home. Ryanair and our taxi were both on schedule and we were home by 8:30 - (16000/15000 steps.)

Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Sea day 3

The previous night and today we had calm seas and clear skies making for another pleasant day at sea. Meanwhile a few tens of miles away on the Mediterranean coast record rainfall events where causing catastrophic flash floods around Valencia. We had breakfast and lunch (a Taste of Equinox special menu) in Tuscany and last dinner in MDR with Stephen and Caroline. We were told that our 'stay on board' experience was cancelled due to the need to deep clean the ship after some sickness had been reported. (11000/8000 steps)

Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Cadiz

We cruised overnight from Tangiers and docked in Cadiz with 3 other cruise ships. It was a very murky start with heavy rain showers. We only planned to wander around the town so waited until the rain eased and equiped with umbrellas set off to visit the cathedral. A port shuttle dropped us at the gate and it was just a 5 min walk. Rosemary slipped over at the bottom of the ramp, new shoes to blame, but fortunately did not sustain serious injuries. After the cathedral, ok but not spectacular, we found our way to the market by which time the showers had finished. The fish market was one of the most impressive we have ever seen and occupied over half of the building.  We bought a huge cone of mixed fried fish for 10 euros and had a coffee in nearby cafe with a huge portion of churros. They do things big in Cadiz.

On our way back to the shuttle I spotted a really nice cosy looking coffee shop which was full interesting old stuff, so we managed another coffee and a crepe before catching the shuttle.

It was show time tonite with Martini bar staff doing their tricks and chefs lobster and baked Alaska night in the MDR. I had tried 3 martinis at the Captains club Music and Mixology event earlier (12000/10000 steps)

Monday, 28 October 2024

Morocco - Tangiers and Asilah

We are docked in Tangiers today and got up early to take a ships tour to Asilah on the Atlantic coast 40km south of Tangiers. We had an overview of Tangiers on the way passing through the city centre and the expensive California residential area where the King has his palace. Then we were taken via Cap Spartel which has a lighthouse 1000 ft up on the NW tip of Morocco and gives spectacular views of the coast where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. The remaining drive to Asilah was down the 30km sandy beach, almost deserted now, apart from a few cows, sheep and camels, but rammed in the summer and weekends apparently. 
Asilah is a small but expanding resort, known as the white pearl, but was originally a fortified Portuguese village. We had an interesting walking tour of the old part with its white stone buildings (many holiday lets) and craft workshop. There is a traditional working fishing harbour and there are numerous sea food restaurants outside the old walls.

We finished the tour with mint tea and Moroccan pastries in a small hotel  sitting around the pool. The weather had been warm and sunny so far.

We intended to walk into the Medina (old town) back in Tangiers but the weather was very wet and windy up north and we had to retreat into Bacio until we left at 5 o'clock. Captains cocktail party tonight.(12000/10000 steps)

Sunday, 27 October 2024

Sea day 2

Clear blue skies and calm sea an ideal combination for a sea day. After breakfast in seaview we took a Bacio takeaway coffee and spent most of the morning chilling on the balcony, deleting surplus photos and updating our blog. When the ship turned east and we lost the sun on the balcony we went up to the mast bar for a burger lunch and found two loungers in partial shade for an afternoon of sunbathing. Rosemary read her Kindle and I listened to my music for a couple of hours. The pool bar did a great Tequila Sunrise and Pina Colada. I went to see how many people were watching the Man U v West Ham football on the Sky lawn.(not very many!) while Rosemary finished her book. We visited Future Vacations desk before tea and sorted out some options for a family cruise next year, then paid a small deposit to secure a good deal. MDR for dinner again. (9500/7300steps without leaving the ship!

Saturday, 26 October 2024

Porto panorama

We are in Porto for the day and took a 4 HR  panoramic bus tour, with 3 stops, to see some of the old town that we missed when we came before in 2009. Although it was a day of heavy showers the rain stopped whenever we had a walkabout.  Lots of history and great views over the city from it's 6 bridges. MDR again with the US couple but missed the show.(12000/11000 steps)