Returning to Southampton - May 8, 2017

Well, it's over!

I was amazed as to how quickly the days passed.  When you get on board you have the mind set of ... "this is my home for the next 3 months" ... get used to it!  You unpack, find your way around and settle in.

At first everything is new and as the British say "lovely."  After a while the food does get boring.  Not that its necessarily bad ... but meat and potatoes is the same as potatoes and meat no matter how fancy you make it sound.  The menu is on a 6 week cycle so you would see that same elaborate meals over and over again.  Ugh, lobster again.

Same with the entertainment.  The ships entertainment singers and dancers were good, but the same repertoire every few weeks.  There were many guest speakers and lecturers who got on and off the ship in different ports.  They were quite good.  Many were well known British celebrities ... unfortunately I didn't know them.

The issue with the repetition is really for the world travelers.  They sold the cruise in about 6 segments as well as the 112 or 92 day cruise.  So for the people who got on and stayed 2-3 weeks it was not repetitive.

Met some very nice people from England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa etc.  Yes, English speaking countries but I had trouble understanding them.  Their accents were quite thick, however after a while I understood more and more.  However, I didn't go to the theater when there was a UK comedian.  They spoke too fast and I would lose the punchlines.

I've told this to my students in Santiago ... that I have trouble understanding English and they think it is hilarious

I did learn some different words and expressions ... my new favorite word is "cheeky."
And new expression is when you refer to someone as "a mutton dressed like a lamb."

Back to the US May 8th and having cataract surgery next week.  How's that for returning to reality! All in all I had a great time and feel like I got the value for my money.  I saw many new countries and feel very fortunate to be able to do this.  I could do it again.

Any questions or comments ... feel free to e-mail me.

Love to all.

Bruce

The Queen Elizabeth

Some of you have been asking about the ship, so I thought  that in this blog entry I'd give you some statistics on the ship and where I lived for 92 days.  Cunard is a British cruise line and it has "old world" elegance and charm.  It is rather formal and as the British go, very "proper."  Not quite Downton Abbey ... but there were many pieces of cutlery to use for dinner!

We sailed a total of 35,000 nautical miles or 40,300 regular miles or 68,400 kilometers during these 92 days ... San Francisco to Southampton

Take a look at the pictures.

Cabin Capacity:     1,043
Guest Capacity:     2,081
Ships Crew:          1,005
Length:   964,5 ft  (295 m)
Width:    106 ft  (32.3 m)
Height:   179 ft (54.5 m)
12 Decks

Chess on the upper deck.

Great places to sit relax and read.

This was NOT the Titanic!

Beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Looking off the side from my cabin.

Getting off in port and heading for shore excursion. 

Shuffleboard, tennis, miniature golf. bocce ... etc.

Deck 10 overlooking one of the pools.

Her Majesty the Queen.

Interior stairway.

Interior stairway.

Deck Plan

Funchal, Madeira - May 4, 2017

In the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is west of Morocco and north of the Canary Islands. It is the largest of the Portuguese islands and is about 600 miles southwest of London.  It has a population of about 265,000. The island is known for its beautiful landscapes and flowers.  Each May they have a week long flower festival which we got to see in the quaint "city" area downtown.

We also took a cable car to the top of one of the highest mountains ... a 15 minute ride, and then came down the mountain in a wooden toboggan.  A toboggan is a small wooden sled ... like the one Santa rides in.  Except no reindeer ... we had two guys on the back steering the toboggan down the mountain.  Definitely an experience to remember. 

Still having a good time!

Regards,

Bruce

BRK55305@yahoo.com

Tenerife, Canary Islands - May 3, 2017

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands off the West Coast of Africa.  As a Spanish possession it is very much a tourist destination ... has beautiful beaches and snow in the mountains.  The islands are a are about a two hour flight from Madrid. I was in the Canary Islands some 30 years ago and as one would expect ... unrecognizable!

Still having a good time!

Regards,

Bruce

BRK55305@yahoo.com

Minelo, St. Vincent (Cape Verde Islands) - April 30, 2017

This is a "Maiden Call" to the Cape Verde Islands ... the first the Queen Elizbeth has ever docked in this port.  Usually there is a grand ceremony and big welcome as we dock.  Unfortunately today is Sunday and almost everything is closed and most people were in church.

While Cape Verde is a Portuguese possession they have their own currency and government.  The unit of money is the "Escudo" and not the "Euro" like Portugal. I expected the country to be more European, however it seems like a colorful Caribbean island however with an African flair.  They few places that were open sold caving, masks, beads and statures.  The country is off the coast of Senegal.  

Heading for Tenerife, Canary Islands ... less that a week left of this world tour.

Still having a good time!

Regards to all.

Bruce

BRK55305@yahoo.com