The first stop on our itinerary was Kristiansand,

founded in 1641, it  has around 112, 000 people and a neo-Gothic Cathedral right in the middle.And that's it, really. Oh, and the best sandwich I have had since March 2011. Why, you may ask, can I be so specific? On a cruise with my sister on The Independence of the Seas in March 2011 to Canary Islands we were greeted on the ship with an array of sandwiches to die for.And now they have met their match in a ground floor Sanders store coffee shop in an unassuming  little Norwegian  town.And latte was rather nice, too and served by an utterly delightful girl.

 

A bagel, boiled egg ,  prawns.Simple.Fresh.Delicious. 

Sky Princess

has the name, but will she deliver?Yes, am on a seven night cruise from Southampton to Scandinavia.The check-in on  28th May was a disaster.A mile long queue is often joked about. I know 

it exists. I was in one last Saturday.And I was not laughing. No explanation, no apology.A technical hitch was mentioned. Hmmm.

My stateroom R 321 is well presented. I have two TV sets, one in the  seating are, one facing the bed. The remote control is not user friendly.I have a walk-in wardrobe  and plenty of storage. The fridge is empty.The tea and coffee station uninspiring. I do not like PG tips. The bathroom is compact and cold.I have a bath-tub with a hand held shower fitting hanging over it. Hot water is not quite as hot as I would like it to be. The towels are adequate,  not fluffy soft.

But I have the bed I never want to get out of. It is simply divine.Yes, this is the beauty.

And on Saturday 7th May we docked in Barcelona.

I booked the cruise two years ago, because it was a maiden voyage and we were going to end the journey in Barcelona. I planned to remain in this beguiling city for a week and then return home. The plan was pre covid. Reality now a different matter alltogether,I flew home when we disembarked. 

The star of the whole cruise was The Celebrity Beyond.Beautifully presented. Beautifully run.The staff trained to perfection.The best latte I have ever had on a ship.

But it was not without disappointments.No library. No launderette and therefore no iron.Inadequate wardrobe space for clothes to hang and I was travelling alone. Two people will have  problems.Little things, I know, but on  long sailings they will begin to grind. The food was a hit and miss affair, often served barely warm.Teething ttoubles. Must do better.Service haphazard. Teething troubles.Must do better.

But the cruise started on a high and finished on a high. And the middle bit? High, high, high. Had the most wonderful time.

Can't wait to be on a ship again.

On Saturday 28th May I will be sailing on the Sky Princess to Scandinavia.

The centre of Palma de Mallorca

is about 2-3 km from here,  said the Spanish tourist guide, who greeted us in the cruise  terminal. I got walking.It was more like  6-7, and in the heat on cobbled pavements seemed  like 16-17.   Four shuttle buses carrying passengers from the ship passed me by. But at least I knew I was going in the right direction.  I walked by a lovely street market and bought beautiful ear-rings for the three waitresses in The Blu restaurant where I had dinner every evening.  Mallorca is beautiful.   La Seu, The Cathedral and her  61 windows,   is beautiful. I bought a beautiful dress for the mother of my god-children. Had a very overpriced fresh orange juice  (what is it with the Spaniards,they export oranges, so are really making ungodly profits on the juice)  Then I bought a beautiful dress for myself and took the shuttle back to the ship.

Malaga

is not the place I would chose for a holiday. I dislike any tourist crowded places. The horse just outside the port gate looked at me hopefully, but I said firmly - not today,Alfonzo. All I wanted to do was walk, walk and walk. And walk I did until I came across a delightful restaurant where I had an overpriced fresh orange juice. And then I returned to the ship.

Cadiz followed Lisbon.

We docked in the very centre.A tour to Seville was offered, but I preferred to stay and get to know Cadiz, as I had never been there before.The city centre was delightful.Walking back to the ship just by the gate  it hit me - I had been here before! And I was, several years previously. It rained. My goodness,how it rained! I walked out of the port,water to my ankles,turned round and went back to the warmth of the ship.This time the sun was shining, the birds singing.Lovely.

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal,

is as easygoing and comfortable in its own skin  as I am in mine and that is why we suit each other so well.Have been five times now, took a bus tour around the whole city on my first visit, now I walk, shop,have coffee and the most delicious pastries. 

Bilbao, Spain,

was the second city we docked in.I was in love with this Andalucian gem the moment the shuttle bus left the port for the city centre.The Foral Palace is the most beautiful building in Bilbao.

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But my favourite photo is this. A pink cadillac in front if the Guggenheim museum. Wow!

La Rochelle was our first port of call.

My favourite photo of La Rochelle.

I visited the town and the area with my husband several times years ago.Walking through the narrow streets now, passing one shabby house after another, not shabby chic, just shabby, in need of a lick of paint, I wondered why would  any-one want to come here more than once.Even the large harbour with endless architectual possibilities looked so  very ordinary. And it was rather cold. I found a large  creperie  Cafe Leffe with tables outside.They did not serve latte. France. LaRochelle. No latte. I had cafe au lait. It was good and the service was good.And then I walked to the shuttle for the 15 minute ride back to the ship.

My first cruise since October 2019.

Here I am on the Celebrity Beyond on her maiden voyage, having left Southampton on 27April, we are docking 10 days later in Barcelona an then flying home.

As I write I am sitting enjoying a rather good double latte and grapefruit juice in the  Cafe al Bacio on the 4th floor.It is good because the milk smells like it should-milky.