Gannets, Auks and a free loading goose

TSH was interested in the little auks that were swimming around the ship at Dundee. They were clearly visible as they swam and dived and chased fish underwater, using very rapid wing beats.

The ship had an escort on the way to Southampton. Gannets glided alongside the ship, whilst a group of small birds and a goose chose to sit it out on deck rather than fly.

Diva and TSH avoided the pub lunch in the bar on the last day. They have experienced the Silversea view of a British pub on earlier cruises. They have never heard songs like ‘Knees up Mother Brown’ in any actual British pub.

The remaining onboard credit was spent, although the prices onboard are high and VAT has to be paid because the ship has never left Britain on the voyage.

Packing to go home is arguably easier than before travelling but dirty washing is sorted so that it is already batched up ready for washing machine loads. The butler did offer to pack but Diva and TSH like to know where things are when they get home.

St Emilion and Belle-ile

The tour to St Emilion was the best Silversea tour this cruise. It took TSH and Diva to a medieval stone village which is a world heritage site. On the way, they passed many famous vineyards, such as Pomeron and Cheval blanc, whose produce is way beyond TSH’s wine budget. One of the highlights of the village was the stone church which had been carved out of the rock. During WW2, it was used to store the stained glass windows of the northern France cathedrals to save them from the bombing. Back in Bordeaux, they had a good external view of the new wine museum, open for just a few days, which is designed to look like wine swirling into a decanter. The inside seems to be a bit like the Guinness museum in Dublin, with tasting in the panoramic view bar at the end.

The Silversea boutique had a sale of venetian glass jewellery, so after a couple of glasses of port, Diva added to her collection.

The excursion to Belle-ile has two narratives. TSH thought it was interesting and scenic and he had a good time. Except when Diva was complaining. Because the walking in the heat up hills and over cobbles was far more than she had expected. And everybody walks faster than she does. It felt like games class at school. Parts of the coast were very wild and rocky, like Cornwall but the interior was mainly rolling small hills. The views on the coast were very dramatic – in one place, it was totally clear and in just a few moments the mist rolled in. TSH took so many pics that his SD card ran out of space.

An unscheduled stop next so that the Silver Wind can officially exit the Schengen area.

TSH photographed gannets following the Silver Wind and on Belle-ile he spotted a few lizards of varying sizes. Also special breeds of cows and sheep.

The executive chef is providing special food most evenings. Mostly cheese but sometimes antipasti, such as olives or oysters. Diva ate the oyster but TSH passed. He had eaten shellfish earlier in the day when he did not wear his specs to visit the buffet and he ended up with seafood pizza.