Little Lolly's Small Adventures: October 2018

Back in the Netherlands at Last!

Our taxi arrived at the airport on time to take us to the airport in Lisbon. Without much hassle we checked in and went through security to wait for our flight on Ryanair. With Ryanair's tight turnaround time we found ourselves waiting outside in the cold for about 10 to 15 minutes; waiting for the passengers on the arriving flight to disembark first before we boarded. As soon as the last one was off we were allowed to board the aeroplane.

The three hour flight went smoothly and we landed at Eindhoven airport. We had thought

of travelling by bus and train to Breda and then catching a bus to Rijsbergen but with quite a few changes, heavy suitcases along with the chilly wintry weather, Paul decided it would be best to catch a taxi direct to Rijsbergen despite the cost involved. The drive from the airport to Rijsbergen was just under an hour, door to door.

It was good to see Paul's mum, Betty, and Melvin - her cat. He's trying to make up for lost time now, enjoying plenty of affection.

Today we have been unpacking, re-packing and relaxing. Tomorrow we are heading to England. We just seem to be on the go...

Lisbon, Portugal. Bye bye Prinsendam - for now.

We are off the the Prinsendam!

This morning Paul did a handover with his counterpart and then we headed into the port terminal to meet up with a taxi to take us to our hotel. Town was busy and there were problems with the traffic lights and also problems with traffic. Our poor driver had difficulty getting us to our hotel because some of the roads were closed but there were no diversion signs. We later learnt that there was a vintage car show/rally so roads had been blocked off near the vintage cars - which happened to be near our hotel! Instead of taking about 10 minutes to get to our hotel, it took us over half an hour.

It was too early to check into our hotel (Hotel Lisboa) so we left our luggage in the hotel's luggage room and hit town. Yes, we came across the vintage cars during our walk. It was no wonder the roads had been blocked off. The cars were lining the road so vehicular access to them was blocked off - probably to prevent theft or problems.

We made our way through the streets to the market where there was a food market in progress. We had a nice mug of mulled wine to warm us up. Yum!

We continued along the streets, to the waterfront and came across a man playing music on a long two-handled wood SAW! He vibrated the saw with one of his legs, the one hand held the upper saw handle and in the other hand he held a violin or cello bow. As the saw vibrated, the chap drew the bow across the edge of the saw to make the sound. The hand holding the saw handle end was also used to manipulate the angle of the saw so that the saw would produce different sounds or notes whilst the bow was pulled across it. Fantastic!

We made our way up to the hill to the castle, visiting two churches on the way. Inside one church there was a choir practicing. So we sat and listened for a while. The music was lovely and made more beautiful in such a good acoustic setting within the church. At one point I let tears flow - thinking of my parents and twin who passed away in 2015 and 2016; a time to reflect on my life and theirs.

We had hoped to visit São Jorge Castle at the top of the hill but unfortunately there was a long queue of people waiting to get in so we didn't. Instead we walked around the outside perimeter of the castle and a little bit through the village on its outskirts.

We were thirsty so we stopped briefly to have a smoothie before making our way down the hill, back to the waterfront, to wave the Prinsendam goodbye. Unfortunately I think we got our timing wrong. We waited a while but she wasn't leaving so we headed back to the food market for something to eat and more mulled wine. It left us feeling pretty full!

Once back at the hotel we were able to check in properly and put our feet up. We had done quite a bit of walking so our feet deserved a break.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Lisbon, Portugal. Excursion: Fátima & Batalha

Yesterday was a sea day and life went on as usual for staff. I helped Judy (from the Shore Excursions Department) with tour brochure folding and Paul popped his nose around the door - probably checking up on me. He took over the brochure stapling for a few minutes then had to get back to work. The brochures didn't take very long to collate - it was quite a small brochure for the next cruise voyage across the Atlantic.

A bit later on Paul and I took a walk past the ship's infirmary to say 'hi' to the staff; and to enquire if someone could give me a yellow fever injection in preparation for a cruise to areas where yellow fever is prevalent. Yes, one of the nurses could give me the vaccination and the crew doctor would sign it off. Whilst waiting Paul started to have a bit if fun with the electric blood pressure monitor, thermometer and pulse monitor, testing them out on himself and then me! Well, the nurse did need my blood pressure readings so it wasn't in vain. I could have happily smacked Paul, but it was rather funny.

Having had my vaccination we headed back to the cabin to get ready for a formal dinner night. It would be the last one that we would attend for this cruise. Fortunately the guests, at the table we hosted, got on very well and we ended up being almost the last ones to leave the dining room.

We arrived in Lisbon without any hiccups. The day was sunny but chilly, with a good wind blowing.

The tour I went on was the same one that I had been on last time we were in Lisbon. I wanted to see parts of the Batalha Monastery that I had missed seeing at that time due to a guest falling and who I stayed with to keep her company. Joy from the security department came with me as an extra escort (James had come with me the last time).

We left Lisbon (known as the City of 7 Hills), driving past museums, Vasco da Gama Bridge, a 16th century convent which is now a tile museum, past cereals factory and out into the countryside towards Batalha.

Then the 'fun' started.

Four guests went missing at the beginning of the tour. Our guide, Andrea, asked me and Joy to look for them, giving us entry tickets for us and the missing people - should we find them. Andrea couldn’t hold up the tour group and had to get started. Joy and I looked all over monastery grounds, the nearby shops and re-checked the toilets for the missing guests but we couldn’t find them.

After quite some time I went inside the church to look for Andrea to advise that we couldn’t find the guests. When I found Andrea she was over half way through the tour and she advised that the four missing people had gone into the church without waiting for the group and had somehow slipped past the ticket desk too. Naturally I was quite upset because people sometimes don't listen to guides' instructions. And of course I had missed seeing the monastery properly again! I held my tongue and kept my composure though.

The next part of the visit was the Sanctuary of Fátima. Inside the massive courtyard area Andrea talked about the sanctuary and what we could see during our visit after which we had time to wander around the site on our own. Having managed to see the sanctuary during my last visit, I had a wander around some of the shops and that were outside the sanctuary. I ended up purchasing a small cork rucksack that would be big enough to hold my camera and a lightweight jacket or cardigan. I was quite pleased. Fortunately I didn't make an immediate purchase because I discovered that prices varied greatly. The end result was my purchase was about half the price than that of another shop (for the exact same thing)!

We were very hungry by the time we re-boarded the bus. I wished that there had been a break for lunch between the visit to the monastery and the sanctuary, but I was grateful to be on the tour nevertheless. Lunch at Hotel Cinquinta where we had pork, a fish dish, vegetables, salads and dessert. Wine and water served with meal as was coffee (afterwards).

On the way back back to the port Andrea put on a CD with Portuguese music to give us an idea of different styles of singing. We entered Lisbon from a different way than when we left, this time passing the airport, football stadium, University of Lisbon, the library, bull-fighting arena (Campeo Puqueno) where bull fighting still takes place but the bulls are not killed. We also past some art nouveau buildings, Park Edward 7th, St George Cinema, Restoration Square, St George Castle, Augusta Arch and Lisbon Cathedral.

I was tired by the time we got back to the ship but I couldn't put my feet up. After dinner Paul and I had some packing to do in preparation for our departure off the ship tomorrow.

Tomorrow is another day.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Batalha Monastery - the bits I managed to see

Fάtima

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Day 2. Excursion: Botanic Beauty.

The weather was better and lightened everybody's mood somewhat.

For the first part of a tour I went on, we stopped at the local market in Funchal. As we wandered through the market Paula (our guide) pointed out different types of fruit, flowers and fish - giving everyone an idea of what to expect to see at a market here on the island. There were all types of exotic fruit and vegetables - some of which I've not see or come across. The market stall holders were just setting up for the morning so the market hall wasn't too crowded. We were given time to have a wander around the market and make purchases if we wanted too. There was a flower seller selling - of all things - proteas, a beautiful flower found in South Africa. I was tempted to get a bunch but I still had the rest of the tour to get through.

In Monte Paula took us through the gardens, pointing out varieties of plants and flowers; and she also how cobble stone paths/roads were made - as we were walking along such a path.

At the top of the hill, above the gardens, we visited the Church of Our Lady Monte which was beautiful inside. And then we headed to the cableway to get a cable car to the Madeira Botanical Gardens. The cable cars could only take 6 people at a time so we waited at the other end until our guide, who brought up the rear, joined us. The scenery from the cable car was well worth the ride.

Paula gave us a guided tour of the botanical gardens, which were beautiful, after which we had a bit of free time to explore the gardens by ourselves.

Time for some wine tasting! Our bus dropped us off in Madeira's town centre where we took a short walk to San Francisco Wine Lodge. I was more interested in tasting the sweet wines - I still don't like the taste of dry wine or semi-sweet wine but I still hope that my taste-buds might change .... I didn't get a bottle of wine at that point. I hoped that Paul would like to go ashore for a bit in the afternoon and then maybe I would pick up a bottle of wine then,

Some guests wanted to stay in town after tour, rather than coming back to the ship, so Paula reminded them of the 'all aboard' time.

Fortunately Paul was able to get off in the afternoon. Sometimes it is difficult to peel himself away from work and even as we were walking along the pier towards town, Paul was inspecting things along the ship's side.

Anyway, we had a wander through the streets. And yes, we did pick up a bottle of wine. Also we picked up a metal art wall decoration for our cabin steward (Rudi) and fiancée . Rudi had seen an owl metal art decoration that I had bought hanging on our cabin wall - and loved it. So, hence the type of similar gift. They are getting married at the end of the year when he goes home in late November. We will be away in the Netherlands in November so wanted to give Rudi something before we leave.

The Prinsendam has now set sail for Lisbon a day's sailing from Madeira. Life goes on on the cruise ship, it never stops!

PHOTOGRAPHS

Funchal market