June 6, 2012 - London to Home
We were up at 3:30am and on the road to Heathrow at 5am for our 7:45 am flight. I knew we had a weight problem and we had to repack a bag and take another carry-on with us. We waited in the American Lounge for our flight. We fly to Chicago and then on to Los Angeles.
It was a once in a life time trip to visit the west African counties and overall we had a great time.
That's a wrap...
Sent from my iPad
Hal
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
June 5, 2012 - London
June 5, 2012 - London
Today is the last day of the Queens Jubilee and we ate going to try to get a look up close at the festivities. We actually slept until 8:30am so we did get out to breakfast until about 10am. We found a place that had been recommended and I had an English breakfast while Evelyn ate light. A lot less money then yesterday.
The Queen is riding in her carriage from Westminster to Buckingham starting at 2:20 pm, the ride takes 20 minutes and then at 3:30pm she will come out on the balcony at Buckingham. We are very close to the Buckingham so we will try to get a look.
We decide to walk to Picatilly Circus and then head over to Trafalgar Square. The Queen will leave Westminster and drive up Whitehall and the turn onto The Mall which leads to Buckingham. The walk to Picatilly was about a mile and we just followed the crowds. We got to Trafalgar Square, but the police had all ready shut down access to The Mall. At Talfalger Square they had set up a large TV screen so you could see the procession. It was still two hours away so we decided to visit the National Gallery which is right here.
After our walk through the Museum there was still time to kill and we knew we wouldn't see the Queen in person so we headed to a Starbucks to use the Internet and then to the hotel to watch on TV. When we left the Museum they no longer letting people into Talfalger Square. The crowd control was outstanding, the police were firm, but very helpful. When we first got there we couldn't get to the Mall area because it was closed off, a policeman asked of he could help and then told us how to get to Talfager Square. Once the procession passed the police walked the crowd down The Mall to Buckingham in a very orderly manner. There were at least several hundred thousand people there, and it started to rain. We saw most on TV.
We had to finish packing again as we are being pickup to go to the airport at 5am. We are way over weight. The luggage that is.
We returned to the restaurant area near the hotel and ate in a French restaurant called Le Boudin Blanc. Very good food and not cheap and very French.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
Today is the last day of the Queens Jubilee and we ate going to try to get a look up close at the festivities. We actually slept until 8:30am so we did get out to breakfast until about 10am. We found a place that had been recommended and I had an English breakfast while Evelyn ate light. A lot less money then yesterday.
The Queen is riding in her carriage from Westminster to Buckingham starting at 2:20 pm, the ride takes 20 minutes and then at 3:30pm she will come out on the balcony at Buckingham. We are very close to the Buckingham so we will try to get a look.
We decide to walk to Picatilly Circus and then head over to Trafalgar Square. The Queen will leave Westminster and drive up Whitehall and the turn onto The Mall which leads to Buckingham. The walk to Picatilly was about a mile and we just followed the crowds. We got to Trafalgar Square, but the police had all ready shut down access to The Mall. At Talfalger Square they had set up a large TV screen so you could see the procession. It was still two hours away so we decided to visit the National Gallery which is right here.
After our walk through the Museum there was still time to kill and we knew we wouldn't see the Queen in person so we headed to a Starbucks to use the Internet and then to the hotel to watch on TV. When we left the Museum they no longer letting people into Talfalger Square. The crowd control was outstanding, the police were firm, but very helpful. When we first got there we couldn't get to the Mall area because it was closed off, a policeman asked of he could help and then told us how to get to Talfager Square. Once the procession passed the police walked the crowd down The Mall to Buckingham in a very orderly manner. There were at least several hundred thousand people there, and it started to rain. We saw most on TV.
We had to finish packing again as we are being pickup to go to the airport at 5am. We are way over weight. The luggage that is.
We returned to the restaurant area near the hotel and ate in a French restaurant called Le Boudin Blanc. Very good food and not cheap and very French.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
June 4, 2012 - London
June 4, 2012 - London
We met Don and Myrna for breakfast in the hotel's coffee shop. I had a continental breakfast (coffee, juice, muffins) and Evelyn had the same except she added the fruit. The cost was 38£, including the tip. That is about $60. Tomorrow it's Starbucks. We knew what it would be but for ease we did it anyway. The weather was iffy and Don and Myrna were about ready to leave for the airport.
We left the hotel and walked to the V&A Museum which is in Kensington. We passed Harrods which is in Knightsbridge. Our hotel is in Mayfair, just by Hyde Park. It is a very good location. All three areas are part of Westminster (W1), which has some of London's best addresses.
We had not been in the V&A for a number of years. It has a many exhibits of interest and a large hall filled with the works of Rapfel. We stayed about two hours and then found a Starbucks to have coffee and use the Internet. The weather has been cool, but the rain has stopped for today, tomorrow is suppose to be warmer ( that doesn't mean warm) with rain in the afternoon. We are mastering the celcius to farenheit formula. Someone told me that 16c was about 61f and 28c was close to 82f. None of the other celcius numbers convert that way. There is a formula but I won't boar you. It was just old, rainy, windy and damp...
We then did some shopping at Harrods to pick up some gifts. We walked back to the hotel. When we got to the hotel there was a large protest going on. Two groups were on opposite sides of the street, separated by the street and police. I never found out what the protest was about.
The hotel is located where Hyde Park and Green Park meet. Behind the hotel within a 3 block walk is a restaurant and pub area. There was at least six pubs and as many restaurants with a couple of coffee and breakfast shops. The Hard Rock Cafe and the Playboy Club are also close to the hotel. Gee, I forgot my key...
Last night when walking back from dinner I saw a Mexican and Polish restaurant called L'autre. Who could not go there and the special for tonight was wild boar which I had and Evelyn had a lamp shank done Mexican style. I had a Tyskie (Polish) beer and Evelyn has a Sol. The food was very good and the music was late 50's rock and roll. Here is the story: the place started in the 1970's by polish immigrants and a few years later the Mexican Embassy moved around the corner. About the same time the restaurant had hired a cook who happened to know how to cook Mexican food. Now you have a Mexican/Polish Restaurant.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
We met Don and Myrna for breakfast in the hotel's coffee shop. I had a continental breakfast (coffee, juice, muffins) and Evelyn had the same except she added the fruit. The cost was 38£, including the tip. That is about $60. Tomorrow it's Starbucks. We knew what it would be but for ease we did it anyway. The weather was iffy and Don and Myrna were about ready to leave for the airport.
We left the hotel and walked to the V&A Museum which is in Kensington. We passed Harrods which is in Knightsbridge. Our hotel is in Mayfair, just by Hyde Park. It is a very good location. All three areas are part of Westminster (W1), which has some of London's best addresses.
We had not been in the V&A for a number of years. It has a many exhibits of interest and a large hall filled with the works of Rapfel. We stayed about two hours and then found a Starbucks to have coffee and use the Internet. The weather has been cool, but the rain has stopped for today, tomorrow is suppose to be warmer ( that doesn't mean warm) with rain in the afternoon. We are mastering the celcius to farenheit formula. Someone told me that 16c was about 61f and 28c was close to 82f. None of the other celcius numbers convert that way. There is a formula but I won't boar you. It was just old, rainy, windy and damp...
We then did some shopping at Harrods to pick up some gifts. We walked back to the hotel. When we got to the hotel there was a large protest going on. Two groups were on opposite sides of the street, separated by the street and police. I never found out what the protest was about.
The hotel is located where Hyde Park and Green Park meet. Behind the hotel within a 3 block walk is a restaurant and pub area. There was at least six pubs and as many restaurants with a couple of coffee and breakfast shops. The Hard Rock Cafe and the Playboy Club are also close to the hotel. Gee, I forgot my key...
Last night when walking back from dinner I saw a Mexican and Polish restaurant called L'autre. Who could not go there and the special for tonight was wild boar which I had and Evelyn had a lamp shank done Mexican style. I had a Tyskie (Polish) beer and Evelyn has a Sol. The food was very good and the music was late 50's rock and roll. Here is the story: the place started in the 1970's by polish immigrants and a few years later the Mexican Embassy moved around the corner. About the same time the restaurant had hired a cook who happened to know how to cook Mexican food. Now you have a Mexican/Polish Restaurant.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
June 3, 2012 - Dover to London
June 3, 2012 - Dover to London
We left the ship at 9am and after collecting our bags we found our car service for the drive to London. It is overcast and raining. Today is a big day in London with the Queens Jubilee Theme's River boating ceremony. Our driver was concerned that the traffic would be a problem, but we got right though to our hotel - London Hilton on Park Lane - in about an hour and a half.
After checking in we found a pub for lunch and then then took a walk. We stopped at a Cafe Nero for coffee and then it started to rain hard. We managed to get back to the hotel but were very wet. We watched the Queen's river flotilla on TV. It was quite a spectacle, but then you probably saw it on TV too.
We had dinner at another pub, I didn't think the food or atmosphere were as good as where we had lunch. We had a long day and decided to turn in. Don and Myrna are flying home tomorrow. It was hard to do much, between the rain and none of us really having cold, wet weather clothes. Between the 4 of us we had 2 umbrellas, a few hats and a couple of lightweight jackets. It was fun to be out with the crowds. The Government called for a 4 day weekend with the banks closed Monday and Tuesday so Sunday had a real holiday feel.
There is a lot of police presents at the hotel. They have a large number outside and some inside. They even had dogs, which I figured were bomb dogs. There was a large ethnic wedding (Indian) and maybe that had something to do with it. The sari's I saw in the lobby were exquisite. All the women wore bindi's and some had henna designs on there hands. Lots of gold.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
We left the ship at 9am and after collecting our bags we found our car service for the drive to London. It is overcast and raining. Today is a big day in London with the Queens Jubilee Theme's River boating ceremony. Our driver was concerned that the traffic would be a problem, but we got right though to our hotel - London Hilton on Park Lane - in about an hour and a half.
After checking in we found a pub for lunch and then then took a walk. We stopped at a Cafe Nero for coffee and then it started to rain hard. We managed to get back to the hotel but were very wet. We watched the Queen's river flotilla on TV. It was quite a spectacle, but then you probably saw it on TV too.
We had dinner at another pub, I didn't think the food or atmosphere were as good as where we had lunch. We had a long day and decided to turn in. Don and Myrna are flying home tomorrow. It was hard to do much, between the rain and none of us really having cold, wet weather clothes. Between the 4 of us we had 2 umbrellas, a few hats and a couple of lightweight jackets. It was fun to be out with the crowds. The Government called for a 4 day weekend with the banks closed Monday and Tuesday so Sunday had a real holiday feel.
There is a lot of police presents at the hotel. They have a large number outside and some inside. They even had dogs, which I figured were bomb dogs. There was a large ethnic wedding (Indian) and maybe that had something to do with it. The sari's I saw in the lobby were exquisite. All the women wore bindi's and some had henna designs on there hands. Lots of gold.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
Monday, June 4, 2012
June 2, 2012 - Le Havre, France
June 2, 2012 - Le Havre, France
Our tour to Rouen isn't until the afternoon, so we had a leisurely breakfast and then finished packing. We managed to get everything in the bags. They are pretty heavy, but I don't care. We played an hour of party bridge with Don and Myrna and then had lunch.
Our tour to Rouen leaves at 1:30pm and we don't get back to the ship until 7pm. The drive to Rouen was about an hour (they said 1 1/2 in the brochure). We had a guided tour of the Cathedral, which was very impressive. It took over 300 years to build starting near the end of the 12th century in the gothic style. It is here that Joan of Ark was tried and then burned at the stake. It just so happens that this is the weekend they celebrate the anniversary oh her death. The old town is mostly walking streets and they were filled with people. When we were inside the Cathedral the organ was accompanying a choir which made it difficult for our guide to talk. It was a pipe organ and had an sound. As we left the Cathedral to see the site where Joan of Ark was imprisoned the clock struck 3:30. The church has a collection of massive bells that continued to chime for over 20 minutes. We stopped at the site (supposed) where burning took place and were able to see the flame that is only lit on this weekend each year. There is also a large semi modern cross erected on the site with greenery climbing up it. We then had an hour to shop (Don and I drank beer) and Evelyn found a magnet. We were across from a very modern church and a public square with stalls selling flowers, fruit, fish and other provisions. We all sat with an English couple from the ship until it was time to board the bus for the return trip. The old town was a collection of shops like Zara, Burberry, and Sephora mixed with pubs, cafes and tourist shops all in narrow streets with cobble stones and buildings dating back to the 14th century. Most of the buildings are multi story and the style is referred o as "half timber" which is similar to the Tudor style. The original city was walled and although very little of the wall remains, a small portion remains with a wonderful clock in it. And a sculpture of a Shepard and his sheep carved in the ceiling of the arch you walk through. It dates back to the 16th century.
It was a lovely tour. Our guide spoke understandable English with a lovely French accent. I got the feeling that she was local to the area. I think just about everyone dozed On the bus ride back to the ship.
We got back just before 7pm and I think our tour was the last to arrive. We had dinner in the buffet and said goodbye to some friends. The ship was supposed to leave at about 8pm. Shortly after there was an announcement from the bridge that a tanker was coming in with the help of tugs and once they cleared us we could leave. Rush hour at LeHavre..
Tomorrow we dock in Dover and then drive to London.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
Our tour to Rouen isn't until the afternoon, so we had a leisurely breakfast and then finished packing. We managed to get everything in the bags. They are pretty heavy, but I don't care. We played an hour of party bridge with Don and Myrna and then had lunch.
Our tour to Rouen leaves at 1:30pm and we don't get back to the ship until 7pm. The drive to Rouen was about an hour (they said 1 1/2 in the brochure). We had a guided tour of the Cathedral, which was very impressive. It took over 300 years to build starting near the end of the 12th century in the gothic style. It is here that Joan of Ark was tried and then burned at the stake. It just so happens that this is the weekend they celebrate the anniversary oh her death. The old town is mostly walking streets and they were filled with people. When we were inside the Cathedral the organ was accompanying a choir which made it difficult for our guide to talk. It was a pipe organ and had an sound. As we left the Cathedral to see the site where Joan of Ark was imprisoned the clock struck 3:30. The church has a collection of massive bells that continued to chime for over 20 minutes. We stopped at the site (supposed) where burning took place and were able to see the flame that is only lit on this weekend each year. There is also a large semi modern cross erected on the site with greenery climbing up it. We then had an hour to shop (Don and I drank beer) and Evelyn found a magnet. We were across from a very modern church and a public square with stalls selling flowers, fruit, fish and other provisions. We all sat with an English couple from the ship until it was time to board the bus for the return trip. The old town was a collection of shops like Zara, Burberry, and Sephora mixed with pubs, cafes and tourist shops all in narrow streets with cobble stones and buildings dating back to the 14th century. Most of the buildings are multi story and the style is referred o as "half timber" which is similar to the Tudor style. The original city was walled and although very little of the wall remains, a small portion remains with a wonderful clock in it. And a sculpture of a Shepard and his sheep carved in the ceiling of the arch you walk through. It dates back to the 16th century.
It was a lovely tour. Our guide spoke understandable English with a lovely French accent. I got the feeling that she was local to the area. I think just about everyone dozed On the bus ride back to the ship.
We got back just before 7pm and I think our tour was the last to arrive. We had dinner in the buffet and said goodbye to some friends. The ship was supposed to leave at about 8pm. Shortly after there was an announcement from the bridge that a tanker was coming in with the help of tugs and once they cleared us we could leave. Rush hour at LeHavre..
Tomorrow we dock in Dover and then drive to London.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
June 1, 2012 - at sea
June 1, 2012 - at sea
The seas are much calmer this morning and with the time change we had a late breakfast. There was another lunch with the Cruise Critic group set up for today, however we decided to skip it and started to think about how to pack. It is much cooler, but no rain yet.
Of our four bags I only want to open two while we are in London. We are now in the Tahitian Lounge waiting for trivia, we need to defend our yesterday win. We didn't win, but had a respectable score. If I could just remember all of the useless information I have heard over the course of all the trivia sessions. I do now know that a Medusa creature is a Gargon. now use that information is casual conversation.
After lunch Evelyn and I started packing. We got most of it done but will finish up in the morning. We did pick out the cloths we will wear tonight, tomorrow and to get off the ship in.
We did got to the dinning room for dinner. We won't go tomorrow because our tour to Rouen comes back late. We wanted to say goodbye to our waiter and assistant waiter and give each an extra tip. The waiter was good, but the assistant waiter Franchesca really was great and made the dinning more fun.
It was generally a quiet day. That is what the sea days should be about.
After dinner we played bridge.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
The seas are much calmer this morning and with the time change we had a late breakfast. There was another lunch with the Cruise Critic group set up for today, however we decided to skip it and started to think about how to pack. It is much cooler, but no rain yet.
Of our four bags I only want to open two while we are in London. We are now in the Tahitian Lounge waiting for trivia, we need to defend our yesterday win. We didn't win, but had a respectable score. If I could just remember all of the useless information I have heard over the course of all the trivia sessions. I do now know that a Medusa creature is a Gargon. now use that information is casual conversation.
After lunch Evelyn and I started packing. We got most of it done but will finish up in the morning. We did pick out the cloths we will wear tonight, tomorrow and to get off the ship in.
We did got to the dinning room for dinner. We won't go tomorrow because our tour to Rouen comes back late. We wanted to say goodbye to our waiter and assistant waiter and give each an extra tip. The waiter was good, but the assistant waiter Franchesca really was great and made the dinning more fun.
It was generally a quiet day. That is what the sea days should be about.
After dinner we played bridge.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
Friday, June 1, 2012
May 31, 2012 - at sea
May 31, 2012 - at sea
We have two days at seas before we reach our last stop in Le Havre, France. The British immigration officials are on board and we need to meet with them this morning to clear our entry into the UK. It makes it a lot easier when we disembark in Dover. We will be given our passports to keep. Until now for the most part the ship has held the passports for all the passengers.
Today is a formal night, but I don't think anyone is looking forward to it. There is a cocktail party so we can get a free drink and there is lobster for dinner - again. Life is rough.
We are in Le Havre the day before we get off the ship so we need to pack sometime in the next two days.
The weather is cooler, but the sun is out and the seas aren't too bad. I'm going to try to lay out by the pool this afternoon. That means no bridge game.
We had breakfast with two couples we had not met before which was enjoyable. We did go to the bridge lesson and now are doing the immigration which took about two minutes.
Time for trivia. Victory at last. Our team finally won. Our prize was a magnetic clip. You would have though we had won the world series. We have bragging rights for the day.
I've started to get ready for getting off the ship. I got tip money, the ship adds $24 a day to our bill for tipping the dinning room staff and the room stewart. The bar staff get
15% added to your drink bill. We like to give a little extra to Nathan and Francesca our dinning room staff and our stewart Dennis. I'm using euros because I have a lot left over from our last cruise and they are not worth anywhere what I paid for them last year. No reason to hold them. I checked our bill and I found one problem with a laundry charge. We sent laundry out four times and two of the times was a $20 all you can stuff in a bag special and they only gave me credit for one special and charged regular price for the other 3.
We attended the farewell cocktail party and then dinner.
The seas are rough and that delayed the show, which was a dance production, while they redid some of the dance routines because of the ship's rocking. It was a show we had seen on a previous cruise, but still a good show. It was the last production show by the ship's troupe.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
We have two days at seas before we reach our last stop in Le Havre, France. The British immigration officials are on board and we need to meet with them this morning to clear our entry into the UK. It makes it a lot easier when we disembark in Dover. We will be given our passports to keep. Until now for the most part the ship has held the passports for all the passengers.
Today is a formal night, but I don't think anyone is looking forward to it. There is a cocktail party so we can get a free drink and there is lobster for dinner - again. Life is rough.
We are in Le Havre the day before we get off the ship so we need to pack sometime in the next two days.
The weather is cooler, but the sun is out and the seas aren't too bad. I'm going to try to lay out by the pool this afternoon. That means no bridge game.
We had breakfast with two couples we had not met before which was enjoyable. We did go to the bridge lesson and now are doing the immigration which took about two minutes.
Time for trivia. Victory at last. Our team finally won. Our prize was a magnetic clip. You would have though we had won the world series. We have bragging rights for the day.
I've started to get ready for getting off the ship. I got tip money, the ship adds $24 a day to our bill for tipping the dinning room staff and the room stewart. The bar staff get
15% added to your drink bill. We like to give a little extra to Nathan and Francesca our dinning room staff and our stewart Dennis. I'm using euros because I have a lot left over from our last cruise and they are not worth anywhere what I paid for them last year. No reason to hold them. I checked our bill and I found one problem with a laundry charge. We sent laundry out four times and two of the times was a $20 all you can stuff in a bag special and they only gave me credit for one special and charged regular price for the other 3.
We attended the farewell cocktail party and then dinner.
The seas are rough and that delayed the show, which was a dance production, while they redid some of the dance routines because of the ship's rocking. It was a show we had seen on a previous cruise, but still a good show. It was the last production show by the ship's troupe.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
May 30, 2012 - Lisbon, Portugal
May 30, 2012 - Lisbon, Portugal
We don't dock until noon. This is a port where we saw a Starbucks 2 and a half years ago but couldn't get to because we were on a Hop on Hop off bus and it was too far from the stop. I have located 4 on a map and we will see which is the closest to where we will be to get a mug. We will take a taxi to the shopping area from the port. The cruise port is right on a wide boulevard with a very pretty city scape.
We had breakfast with Sabesteanio, who won the dance contest last night. Very nice young man. He has worked for Princess for about four year and MSC before that. If my grand daughter Isabelle were here, she would be following him like a puppy dog. He's really cute and with that Italian accent he is the whole package, and you can tell he works out too.
We are now sailing into the Lisbon harbor area. Very pictureque, it is the first time we have been awake as we docked. The seas are calm and the temperature is in the mid-70s.
We left the ship just before noon and took a taxi to the city center. The first taxi we asked wanted 20 euros for the ride for the 4 of us. we laughed and found one for four euros. He dropped us off in the central square of the old town and we walked the pedestrian street window shopping and checking out the various cafes for lunch. We found one we liked and order sandwiches and Evelyn had a salad. Don and I each had the very large beer. With tip the lunch was 40 euros.
Portugal like Spain makes very fine olive oil though less available in the states. We purchased some on the walk back to the ship.
After lunch we looked for the Starbucks which was close by. Evelyn was able to buy her mug. We stopped for ice cream and Don wanted to buy one of the hats the employees wear. It was a red English style driving cap, the ice cream guy went in the back and gave Don a bag and wouldn't take any money. The hat was inside and inside the hat was the name Ana, who either doesn't work there anymore or is missing one hat. Don looked very debonair as we walked back to the ship. It was less then two miles and was good exercise.
Lisbon is a very beautiful city and with more time we would explore more. We would even try the underground system they have. The architecture is a mixture of old and new. You see the typical architecture of residential above and retail on the ground floor with interior courtyards so familiar in Paris and other European cities. It is truly a beautiful city, it has many monuments and interesting street art. We passed their Museum of Modern Art and it had a large mural covering a space at least 2 stories high by 200 feet made from colored post it's....
I decided to confirm our pickup in Dover and I called them. No problem as they had our reservation. I changed our pickup time to 9am. I checked the weather in London and I think we may need an umbrella.
We had drinks at the suite party. There are a large number of passengers who can take advantage of the party, but not many do. Today there we less then 10 people in the room.
We had dinner in the buffet and the sat there as the ship sailed from Lisbon. Lisbon is not on the ocean, but is on the Tejo River. It took over an hour until we reached the Atlantic. With the sun setting it was a nice show. The economy of both Spain and Portugal are hurting, but it was hard to see it in the areas we were in. We did notice a number of for rent and sales signs on buildings in the commercial district in Lisbon and maintenance of some looked to be forgotten. On the other hand, in viewing the city scape as we left we saw a number of construction cranes.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
We don't dock until noon. This is a port where we saw a Starbucks 2 and a half years ago but couldn't get to because we were on a Hop on Hop off bus and it was too far from the stop. I have located 4 on a map and we will see which is the closest to where we will be to get a mug. We will take a taxi to the shopping area from the port. The cruise port is right on a wide boulevard with a very pretty city scape.
We had breakfast with Sabesteanio, who won the dance contest last night. Very nice young man. He has worked for Princess for about four year and MSC before that. If my grand daughter Isabelle were here, she would be following him like a puppy dog. He's really cute and with that Italian accent he is the whole package, and you can tell he works out too.
We are now sailing into the Lisbon harbor area. Very pictureque, it is the first time we have been awake as we docked. The seas are calm and the temperature is in the mid-70s.
We left the ship just before noon and took a taxi to the city center. The first taxi we asked wanted 20 euros for the ride for the 4 of us. we laughed and found one for four euros. He dropped us off in the central square of the old town and we walked the pedestrian street window shopping and checking out the various cafes for lunch. We found one we liked and order sandwiches and Evelyn had a salad. Don and I each had the very large beer. With tip the lunch was 40 euros.
Portugal like Spain makes very fine olive oil though less available in the states. We purchased some on the walk back to the ship.
After lunch we looked for the Starbucks which was close by. Evelyn was able to buy her mug. We stopped for ice cream and Don wanted to buy one of the hats the employees wear. It was a red English style driving cap, the ice cream guy went in the back and gave Don a bag and wouldn't take any money. The hat was inside and inside the hat was the name Ana, who either doesn't work there anymore or is missing one hat. Don looked very debonair as we walked back to the ship. It was less then two miles and was good exercise.
Lisbon is a very beautiful city and with more time we would explore more. We would even try the underground system they have. The architecture is a mixture of old and new. You see the typical architecture of residential above and retail on the ground floor with interior courtyards so familiar in Paris and other European cities. It is truly a beautiful city, it has many monuments and interesting street art. We passed their Museum of Modern Art and it had a large mural covering a space at least 2 stories high by 200 feet made from colored post it's....
I decided to confirm our pickup in Dover and I called them. No problem as they had our reservation. I changed our pickup time to 9am. I checked the weather in London and I think we may need an umbrella.
We had drinks at the suite party. There are a large number of passengers who can take advantage of the party, but not many do. Today there we less then 10 people in the room.
We had dinner in the buffet and the sat there as the ship sailed from Lisbon. Lisbon is not on the ocean, but is on the Tejo River. It took over an hour until we reached the Atlantic. With the sun setting it was a nice show. The economy of both Spain and Portugal are hurting, but it was hard to see it in the areas we were in. We did notice a number of for rent and sales signs on buildings in the commercial district in Lisbon and maintenance of some looked to be forgotten. On the other hand, in viewing the city scape as we left we saw a number of construction cranes.
Sent from my iPad
Hal
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