Last few ports

In scenic St Malo, TSH and Diva took an unguided walk through the narrow streets and along the waterfront outside the city walls. They then re-boarded the tender in order to return to the Silver Moon and enjoy the view from the water. The Captain was also on the tender – he had been to see the port authorities to exchange plaques, as this is Silver Moon’s first visit to St Malo. TSH and Diva have often viewed the plaque collections on the Silversea ships – they did not know that the port authorities also receive a plaque from each ship. Where do they put them all?

On the last formal night of this cruise, TSH ate a filet mignon, whilst Diva had a chicken curry.

St Malo

The tender service started late because of fog around the harbour and consequent safety concerns. However, it lifted slightly and Diva and TSH were able to accompany the executive chef to a local farmers’ market. The chef amazed one stall holder by buying 2Kg of pate – more than she had ever sold in one go before. The group tasted cheeses, of which there were more varieties than most UK people could imagine. Hams and other cooked meats were stored right next to raw chicken but it was not possible to work out if hands were washed between handling the different items. TSH and Diva bought, ate and enjoyed a local speciality – Gallette saucisse – a pancake wrapped round a sausage.

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:

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.