At home

This blog will continue when TSH and Diva take their next big holiday in September (unless they have a little holiday before then).

Photoblog

This a summary of the Silversea cruise on Silver Cloud from Lisbon to Southampton:

Santiago de Compostela:

Parador at Santiago de Compostela:

Church in Northern Spain near Gijon:

A cow:

Lake near Gijon:

Scary mountain scenery - these were the white-knuckle roads:

Guggenheim at Bilbao:

A traditional food shop in Bilbao:

Sailing into Bordeaux:

Church in Bordeaux:

Silver Cloud in Bordeaux:

Message from Rosie:

Diva ready for formal dinner:

St Malo

Silver Cloud's grounded tender:

Parachutist model from St Marie eglise:

Stained glass window from St Marie eglise:

Breakfast pastries from Lisbon:

What’s happened to La Terraza?

La Terraza is the Italian-style restaurant on Silver Cloud. They take bookings and TSH and Diva like the peaceful atmosphere in there for the first and last nights of a cruise – it’s become a custom. But on the penultimate night it was full of large noisy groups, the tables were too close together and it was impossible to carry on a normal conversation. So the last night booking has been cancelled and the ear of the head maître d’ bent.

Today’s trip was to St Marie Eglise and Utah Beach, both important to the part the US played in the Normandy landings of 1944. But the British contribution was suitably included, unlike on the ship where the (Welsh) cruise director has used the phrase ‘here in the US’, implying that he thinks Silver Cloud is US soil. Last night, the entertainment was ‘The British invasion’, meaning the way British pop music has become so popular in the US. But we are in France right now, so he’s a bit confused.

TSH and Diva want to come back to Normandy and spend a bit more time looking at the monuments and museums concerning very recent history. But it would be good if it was warmer and less windy.

The Embarrassment of being grounded

Well, no, not the actual Silver Cloud. The ship is at anchor for St Malo – in a very pretty spot – and the guests are being taken in by tender. Two tender originally, running a shuttle service. And then one of them politely steered to one side to allow a zodiac from a Noble Caledonian ship to pass. And ran onto a sandbank in a flurry of water and sand. The passengers were transferred with great care to the other tender and the crew had to sit it out til the next high tide. TSH, who knows the area, was proven right with his constant warnings about the fast changing tides and the vast difference in level between high and low.

TSH and Diva meandered through the town and then around the walls of the old town. The whole morning exceeded Diva’s expectations.

Leisure at last

Two days in Bordeaux. The advantage of a small ship like Silver Cloud (fewer than 300 passengers) is that we moor right in the centre of the city. No need for a shuttle bus and the view from the ship is of the classical buildings along the water-front. TSH and Diva did not do any tours – they were all variants of go to a chateau, taste wine and eat an unbelievably expensive meal – and walked round the city unescorted. So two days of exercise whilst looking at squares and churches.

On the second evening, returning to the suite after dinner, TSH ruined Rosie’s surprise by opening the curtains which she had carefully closed when ‘turning down’ for the night. So he prematurely revealed her ‘Good morning’ picture which was attached to the window. She really does make enormous efforts to make everything special.

Followed by the only full day at sea for this cruise. The lunch is English-themed with a choice of fish and chips or steak and ale pie and chips (as well as all the usual choices). But they’re expecting us to join in with a ‘typical’ pub sing-a-long.

The weather is improving with the progression North and the sea is fairly smooth. TSH and Diva even managed some Tai Chi, although it is more difficult to balance at sea than it is on land.

Art

Docked near Bilbao at 7:00. Left ship on excursion at 7:15. Private visit to Guggenheim, which was fabulous. All that elegant space with hardly anyone in it. This was followed by a guided walk round the old town, a quick tapas at an Art Deco cafe and the drive back to the ship. All aboard 12:30. We got back on at 12:45 to a welcome reception from what seemed like all the hotel staff – butlers with ‘Welcome Back’ placards. Sailed away 13:00. It was a packed but very enjoyable morning. Rosie has replaced the champagne.

White knuckle ride and an overdose of food

Left Gijon for ride to lakes and mountains, Diva not realising quite what was to come. The first stop to see Covadonga Basilica was fine. But then narrow steep roads and sheer drops. Just enough room for the coach to drive to the extreme edge with part of it over-hanging, before full lock on to turn into the next hair-pin bend. Fortunately the driver was very experienced and careful.

Scenery en route was spectacular – jagged tops and limestone outcrops. The lakes were a bit disappointing. Neither large nor as beautiful as what we saw whilst getting there. The first lake was a steady up-hill walk from the car park and the second was indicated by the guide as being twenty minutes walk away. As the guide was a fast walker and Diva isn’t, Diva opted out of the second one. But as usual TSH went for the whole experience, although he said afterwards that it wasn’t any different from the first one and not really worth the effort. Diva wished she had brought her Kindle. 35 minutes waiting in the mist in the middle of nowhere.

Many alpine wild flowers seen whilst in the mountains including gentians, aquilegia and hellebores plus many nameless others.

Then it was off to a Parador for lunch. 4 cold starters and 5 hot ones. And everybody got all of them. A massive piece of hake in a fabulous cider sauce for  mains and then 4 desserts. This was all way too much for lunch. And then on return to the ship butler Rosie had laid out English Breakfast tea for TSH, Earl Grey for Diva (because that what what they ordered for breakfast on Friday) and a plate of sandwiches. Diva had really wanted peppermint and TSH wanted camomile (yes, I know. He had it in Lisbon when there wasn’t anything else and decided he liked it.) Rosie is trying so hard. And is so trying.

But later Rosie redeemed hersef by delivering a selection of salads to our suite in lieu of the dinner we had no appetite for. Just the thing for a light meal with a bottle of champagne!!

All Aboard

Walked to a viewpoint to see the ship but it wasn’t there. So when TSH and Diva arrived at the cruise terminal stated on the ticket and there was no Silver Cloud, they weren’t really surprised. Turns out the terminal was changed a month ago and no-one had bothered to tell the guests. TSH found a Silversea rep who explained where the ship was but some people didn’t see her and spent some time in cabs driving around looking for the ship. What a shambles! And the same thing happened to some people in Copenhagen for the Baltic cruise last year. Silversea are brilliant on board but their shore operations leave a lot to be desired.

Unpacking in the suite was like arriving at a second home, we know it so well.

Not the best day

A fairly choppy sea overnight, although not as bad as TSH and Diva remember from the Iceland cruise. But this time it affected TSH badly and Diva didn’t sleep so the excursion to the river boat and the port tasting was cancelled. The butler brought tea and toast and matters improved. A rest day and plenty of Stugeron. Diva had lobster for dinner, so things are improving.

Excursion from the port of A Coruna to Santiago de Compostela, which is a pilgrimage destination. People still do the pilgrimage – you can pick them out from the tourists by their shorts, rucksacks and beards. The Cathedral and town are very pleasant, with elaborate buildings and grand squares. The port of A Coruna was also interesting, not least because there were a lot of football supporters who seemed to be preparing for an end of season parade.

Silver Cloud has been re-fitted and there are new chairs, reorganised restaurants and a smarter pool area. Diva and TSH have one of the few suits that still has a bath. Most now have just a shower, but all have been refitted and are much smarter.