Spain 2025

Photos are at :- https://photos.app.goo.gl/JAQ4sB3r1NE58rFv8

Wednesday 20th August
Doesn't look as if I am going to get a rough passage, as the first hurricane of the season is heading to the north of the UK. And so to sleep, getting up only 3 times during the night.

Thursday 21st

Inevitably I was awake earlier than needed, had set the alarm for 07.00 but was awake at 06.20 and decided I might as well get up about 10 mins later. The excuse was that I had to put the rubbish out, which meant going down to the garage to collect it. Also feeling guilty as it is not supposed to be put out until the night before so it will be out all day for the seaguls to peck at. Despite this I found myself waiting for time to pass, left at 08.30. The train to Cardiff was the one before the one I had to catch and was late - apparently it broke down on the way from Barry Island and had to be re-booted (shut down and re-started). The waiting room on Platform 1 was surprisingly empty and is quite comfortable, unlike the seat on the train.

     Arrived Southampton and it was quite a long walk to the Mayflower terminal. I was thinking I should try the shuttle bus from the car park, if I knew where that was. Ship is nice - turns out it was the old Rotterdam, so is the same class as I did Hawaii last Christmas - comfortable lounges and nice promenade deck. The TV entertainment looks pretty good as well, but the buffet has now closed until 18.00. Spent a long time on deck 10, outdoors with the sun on my back as we came out of Southampton Water and around the Bramble Bank, past Cowes. Dinner was OK but as usual stuff got cleared away between courses.
     The show "Ledgends of Las Vegas" was one of the best I have seen, but I still spent too much time looking at the technical aspects. The Theatre is old style and impressive, quite the contrast with the Virgin offering. Sort of determined to see the supper buffet at 11pm.

Friday 22nd
Pretty much flat calm as I got up and went to breakfast - so much for the Bay of Biscay.

      Had been dreaming overnight about having an International Outdoor Festival for Scouts in Porthkerry Park - interesting given the talk was about where you get your identity from - where is my identity?
      Attended the talk on excursions and a talk from Dawn Sanders on "How to prepare for retirement like an Olympian" in the afternoon it was "10 Things you might not know about Northern Spain" which was not a lot of assistance. However I wish I had been more detailed in my research - will I take the train (as researched) or will I just walk around Santander? Must do better! Ate a lot - the burger was really good but you had to order via a waiter they didn't have the remote machines like on previous cruises. Trying to knap between eating and so far the supper remains the best meal - pity it is at 11pm.

 
Saturday 23rd

Up in time to see us entering Santander, and in time to be told off because the buffet wasn't open until 7.30am. The channel is very close to the beach, or is it a sand bar?      Ashore just after 9am and found the station and even the right one for the C1 line to Reinsoa. Couldn't cope with the ticket machine though. I now have a Tu Card, which got me onto the platform, where there was no information, I had been told by a helpful security guy that it would be leaving from platform 1, but with about 5mins to go the display lit up and it was going from Platform 5 and had been sitting there all the time! Great two hour ride but not as spectacular as it could have been as the leaves on the trees hid the rivers and anyway there was very little water in them. I suspect I got quite high but didn't really notice the train climbing (I noticed it descending on the way back)

     The hike was out to the Roman Ruins of Luliobriga, with a couple of navigation mistakes. The Romanesque church was also interesting, even if it was from a different era. I bagan to get worried about getting back in time for the train as google had given the wrong time for the train up returning and was saying miss this one and you will miss the ship. Don't know how giving the number of trains we passed on our way back (it is single track with passing loops). The river walk would have been nicer without that worry and I could have got the train from Rio Ebro (the stop before the end of C1) Anyway I completed the full circuit and had 2hrs of scenery all the way back. Cost £10 return. The 2 fridge magnets cost 6Euro! Phone battery was overheating again and my right leg is beginning to show its age.
      Pretty knackered but the prawn wrap, burger, chocolate sponge and ice cream was sort of reviving. Ship is sailing along the coast and due alongside Gexco at 11, so it's going to be a long day if I go up and watch and then have supper.

Sunday 24th

I was out by 9am and began walking along the coast. The bridge at the end of the Metro Line seemed a good target but turned out to be a little ambitious. Plenty of people out walking and the path for the first half was really big and textured concrete. However, there were too many beaches with valleys leading down to them so instead of the cliff top walk I expected it was more up and down. By the end I was cutting corners and looking for an escape. Mind you Plentzia was a very pretty estuary and I think I saw a Gem Micro on one of the moorings.

      Took the Metro in to Areeta and walked to the transporter bridge, getting magnets in the souvenir shop before walking along the seafront back to the ship Health App says it is a new record at 35,329 steps or 15.48miles for the day. Anyway I was pretty knackered and there were no tables free so I joined one of the staff singers for lunch which was pleasant enough. Rest of day spent doing photos, watching departure and the stand up comic show. Made the 11pm buffet - but it was not particularly well stocked.Have taken to bringing a plate back to the cabin rather than eat up there.

      Had a letter complaining that they have not been able to service the room and could I arrange a time for them to come and inspect. Something to look forward to as I have to hide the extension lead. Also they want us out of the cabins by 8am tomorrow - at least we should be getting the hour back but it is still much earlier than Virgin who had an off ship time of 10.30.

Monday 25th
Absolutely flat calm this morning! I did see a couple pf porpoises heading south on my way to breakfast (they seemed too small to be dolphins) Morning on photos, wandered out about 11am and spent some time in the Observatory until the music drove me away. Singularly failed to find the library and the Chocklate Fudge turned out to be a chocolate sponge, and there was nowhere to sit. It remains flat calm and everyone is outside. At least I have ordered the duty free, I find it difficult to believe we are allowed 4l of spirits.

      13.15 got bored and went to see about some nibbles. Buffet was allocated seating and nothing I fancied. Burger bar was no seating, Observatory was setting up for afternoon tea and had a video game going, it was getting hot outside and only loungers available. They won't let you sit in on a technical rehersal in the theatre, so here I am back in the cabin, rather than find a lounge and be pestered to purchase a drink. Went up and had tea and decided to stay in the cabin and watch TV rather than go to the show or anywhere. Slight problem getting the duty free delivered as the "Do not Disturb" sign meant tey would  not knock - I got a phone call to open the door. 2litres of gin increased the weight of my backpack considerably.

Tuesday 26th

An hour extra in bed as the clocks went back, but still had to be up at 07.30. Breakfast and off the boat by 0800. No reply from Goddaughter but figured a trip on the ferry would be fun anyway so went Red Funnel on a day return which at £15.60 was the most expensive excursion I have had on this trip. Turns out she was off boating so came back and got back for the 12.11 train. Problem was that it had a lacl of staff so terminated at Westbury. I now have to do a delay repay claim!