We have light (but only when we want it)

At 8 am, the Torvil passed through a very deep lock with a 35m drop, followed by a number of low bridges. This meant that the radar was folded down, the side rails removed, the bridge compartment compressed and the sun-deck cover lowered almost to the level of the deck. Passengers were allowed to remain on the top deck as the low bridge passed close to their heads, although claustrophobe Diva retired below for a few minutes.

During the morning on board, Diva went to Reception to ask for written instructions for the lights. ‘It is not the Viking style’ – they prefer to explain things at check-in. Which they did not do. So the young receptionist accompanied Diva to the cabin and proceeded to press switches. But when Diva tried to repeat what he did, it did not always have the same effect. He assured her that no-one else on board had any problems. 30+ years in IT and Diva has lost her abilities. Or never had them in the first place. The young man provided enough clues that Diva was able to work out a few important principles. One, that operating the rocker switch in itself achieves nothing – your finger has to touch the small detector on the switch. Two, the dimmer only works as you switch on – you keep your finger on until you get the required level of dim. Trying to press it for this purpose later does not work. Three, switching off is not instantaneous. Patience (and Diva and TSH are not strong on this and when nothing immediately happened, were pressing other switches) is required and the lights go out after a few seconds. Simple.

Later, round the water cooler (well, the tea and coffee station), Diva discovered that most people either sleep with the lights on or remove the master card by the door which puts all the lights out. So its not just TSH and Diva, its almost everybody!! As usual, its only Diva who is prepared to ask questions.

TSH got a photo of a train (unfortunately not steam) travelling along the river bank.

There are swifts around and there were gulls in Porto but still no dragons, even little ones. TSH thinks he saw an eagle but a photograph will be submitted for expert confirmation.

The afternoon tour was to the interesting town of Lamego, where the main attraction was the shrine Nossa Senhora dos Remedios, situated at the top of an elaborate flight of over 600 steps. TSH and Diva walked all of them. Later there was a port tasting visit to the Sandeman’s cellar. Getting there involved a narrow steep road with many hair-pin bends and the bus over-hanging sheer drops. Not for the faint-hearted, and Diva mostly did not look. Another person on the wrong bus.

After dinner, excellent local folk singers performed. Their music was very similar to Scottish or Irish folk – the Celtic influence.