I was in Lanzarote several years ago

when Mr David Cameron and his family were there on holiday. I could not understand why would a British Prime Minister,for whom  the world is an oyster, choose to holiday on this drab, monotonous island.

The cruise ship has brought me to this barren land again and I am beginning to understand why. 

I have learnt it is the life below the ground that is extraordinary and so worth exploring.

I booked a tour to the famous cave,Jameos Del Agua, where blind albino crabs live.

Our tour guide talked snd talked and talked, laughing  at every attempt of his own jokes, but a child could have organized the entry to the cave better. Other groups were beings ushered in by their guides, Bernardo was nowhere to be seen, consequently we had too little time inside.

And no, I did  not see an albino crab,  but  they  are there  and nowhere else in the world.

On the way to the cave we stopped by the Monumento Al Compesino, sculpture by Cesar  Manrique,dedicated to farm workers.The statue is made of disused water tanks, the site where  it stands marks the geographic  centre of the island.

Tenerife

When I got off the ship in Las Palmas,

Gran Canaria, my heart sank.Once full of life and colour, now a run down concrete jungle.Covid has done its worst here, too.

But I was so happy to be able to take at least these  two  photos.
 I made my way to the centre, had the most excellent fresh orange juice and returned to the ship.

Tenerife.We docked in the capital Santa Cruz.

Tenerife is my sister's second favourite holiday destination after Croatia.

I love the proximity of the port to the capital's centre.And the weather never disappoints.

I walked and walked and walked, then sat down near Zara, they always have excellent free wi-fi, WhatsApp-ed my family and friends and returned exceedingly happy to the ship.

But not before taking the photo of  The Queen Victoria nestled in the bay. No other fleet in the world has red chimney except Cunard.

After 3 days of sailing we stopped on the island of Madeira.

I love Funchal, the capital, and have been 6, 7 times.I had a favourite coffee shop, a favourite shoe shop and a favourite clothes shop.I was looking forward to them all. The coffee shop is now an ice-cream parlour, the shoe shop has changed hands and sells sports wear, the boutique has closed its door for good. Covid has not been kind to Madeira.

So there was no portuguese custard tart for me, I did not have fresh orange juice either.

I hopped on a  Hop On Hop Off bus instead, the ride took 90 minutes. The first hour I was sitting downstairs, no ventilation, the windows could not be opened.It was very unpleasant. Then some tourists left and I went on the upper deck. It was lovely.

On Queen Victoria again,27 April 2023-9 May 2023.

I have been waiting for this cruise impatiently from the day I booked it. If ever I needed a break, this was the time.

When I opened the door to cabin 8044 - I am not going to grace it with the name stateroom - my heart sank. Dark, gloomy, ugly. The bathroom, I hate going inside. The balcony utterly disgusting, chairs most uncomfortable, stained table.

The ship was launched 15 Jan 2007 and no improvement  whatsoever has been done here  since. The furniture is junk.

I am in Britannia Club. No slippers, no vanity set, no shower cap, no pen, no writing paper.

If it was a hotel I would have walked out. But you cannot do so from a cruise ship. Not after you paid £ 6, 493.00  for the cruise.

So, as always in life, I was determined to make the most of it.

Would food make up for the disappointment? No, it does not.

In the self-service on the 9th floor everything on offer is

luke-warm and unpalatable.

In the Britannia club restaurant it is a hit and miss affair, mostly miss.The pub serves  good chicken tikka masala, to date I have had it 5 times for lunch.

Soon I will be laying eggs.

But I persevere and make the most of each day.