NorbertsNiece

Good grief! My morning post has disappeared!! Day 19 Sea day Good afternoon and thanks for following! There's a cough going around and it visited with me. Missed breakfast.

That's a Yorkshire Mess dessert made with rhubarb not strawberries

Thought you'd like to see what's in the cupboard. There's a basket inside of which there's a laundry list; we had 2 linen laundry bags, a shoe horn, clothes brush, hairdryer and binoculars. The umbrella doesn't fit in the basket 🤣 There are also 2 pairs of slippers good for use in the spa. Bathrobes are provided. You can get larger ones. Many, many hangers. There's a small blanket (for use on the balcony?) Two towels for taking ashore.

I want to be up top for sailaway as we're a couple of hours late when given clearance from the Port Authorities to leave. Sadly there's a full downpour of rain which scuppered my plans. We ate in the Supper Club and enjoyed a wonderful meal with excellent company. Each meal we've met such wonderful people it's been such a privilege to hear their stories. The first song the band played was 'Stormy Weather' lol For non Saga cruisers following Specialty Restaurant dining is included in the fare price.

I make my way back to the ship. It's a different route but easy walking. At lunch we spot an extremely expensive yacht in the harbour. Google 'Coral Ocean'!! Have spotted a life raft hanging on the port side coming out from lunch.

I follow signs to a coffee shop but don't find it. The Pisan portal of the right transept, 13th/14th century, blocked by a tuk tuk. Heading downhill I make a 'live from' video, link here ..... and see a lift. A lift. There's a lift. Who knew? Not me for sure! Don't believe it was mentioned in the port talk. Below I can see a very wide open space and what I now know to be the Bastione di San Remy, gateway from the Villanova quarter to the fortifications of Castello in the heart of the old city, the bastion that owes its name to the Baron of San Remy, the first Viceroy of Piedmont, looks out over Piazza Costituzione where the two streets that have historically been havens of leisurely strolls and shopping merge. It was built in a Classic style between 1896 and 1902 on the old city’s medieval bastions. The San Remy Bastion is the result of the levelling and reuse of the old Sperone and Zecca bastions that had been built by the Spaniards in the late XVI century. The lift has a stop on the way down to street level on what is frequently used as an exhibition space. From the furthest wall it's easy to see the lift and Cathedral with stair less access. Something for the port talk people to be aware of.

Under the marble floors of the cathedral, carved out of rock, there are various underground rooms, most of which cannot be visited, intended over the centuries for the burials of various figures, including archbishops, nobles and viceroys. The best-known part of the crypt, the only one currently open to visitors, is the sanctuary of the Martyrs, made up of three rooms, excavated under the presbytery by order of Archbishop de Esquivel at the beginning of the 17th century. It contains a total of 179 niches arranged in the walls of the three chapels. Above each niche there is a marble tile in bas-relief of the saint with his name and the symbols of martyrdom.

The Cathedral is a haven of peace and tranquility. It is the seat of the archbishop of Cagliari. The church was built in the 13th century in Pisan-Romanesque style, obtaining cathedral status in 1258. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was renovated along Baroque lines. In the 1930s it finally received the current façade, in Neo-Romanesque style, inspired by Pisa Cathedral. There are four marble lions, once supporting the Ambo of Guglielmo, now located at the feet of the presbytery balustrade.

Back to Cagliari. There's a few more steps but now I'm in the Cathedral area. The building with the blue banners is a restored historic palace-turned-museum featuring temporary exhibitions of contemporary artwork.

Day 18 Sea day Good morning and thanks for following Next stop Lisbon, Portugal the day after tomorrow. Bom dia e obrigado por acompanhar Forgot to mention, though you may have noticed yesterday, that afternoon tea was served in the Grill according to 'Today' as a Sailaway special! Breakfast of choice, smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel, cereal and herb tea ❤️

Back to my walk about..... there are steps, many, many steps. I'm heading up and up following the satnav, mostly, if not entirely successfully! The Torre dell'Elefante, elephant tower, built in 1307, was part of the city's fortifications in view of the imminent Aragonese invasion of the island, but was damaged in 1708 by English bombing, in 1717 by Spanish cannons, and finally lost its top part in 1793 during a French attack. The building was also used as a prison, and its doors would show the severed heads of the prisoners who had undergone the death penalty in the nearby plazuela (the current Piazza Carlo Alberto). As part of this phenomenon, in the second half of the 17th century, the head of Marquis Cea was hung for several years, as he had been involved in the homicide of the vice-king Camarassa.

Thank you! Not as yet. I know there's a long cruise over to Panama at the start of 2025; will take a look at the itinerary first before deciding.

My post about the start of my morning ashore has gone adrift somewhere. Was all about the town hall, a tree lined avenue, cannoli, a monument to King Charles Felix and a piazza, but it's gone. Here it is again with less info. 🤦‍♀️ WiFi is now playing games with uploading pics. 😭

Sailaway from Cagliari delayed by over an hour and a half already. Problem with a lifeboat engine. I'd seen a couple of lifeboats swung out when I left the Grill at lunchtime.

Day 17 Cagliari (pronounced K-eye-ah-ri) Buongiorno e grazie per seguirci. Arrive 0800. Depart 1600. Centuries-old Cagliari is a memorable sight to behold – especially when approaching by sea. Grand churches, watchtowers and shuttered townhouses that rise over the capital’s seven hills will be revealed on an included panoramic excursion. The cityscape is crowned by Il Castello, the medieval hilltop old town which is penned in by Pisan and Aragonese ramparts. Don’t miss the 13th-century cathedral and the five-mile-long sands of Poetto, a prime example of a Sardinian beach. I shall go walkabout up to the cathedral. I've been here on a cruise before but don't remember it at all! Geoff is on a Saga excursion : WINERY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE Leaving the port area you’ll reach the viewpoint of Bonaria, dominated by the majesty of the Basilica of Bonaria (viewed from the bus). Carry on to Monte Urpinu, a hill with an impressive panoramic terrace facing the Gulf of Angels on one side and the modern-old town on the other. You will then drive past the Naturalistic Park of Molentagius. These salt flats provide a paradise for several bird species, including flamingos. Leaving the Town area, you then head towards the nearby countryside of the Campidano, featuring painted hills in which you will be welcome at a local winery. Enjoy a tasting of wine accompanied by Sardinian products, overlooking the vineyard. Please note: There is up to approximately 550 yards of essential walking at the venue with 20 steps. Any other walking is at your discretion. ------ Geoff is on his tour bus, he says two ambulances have pulled up at the ship. 😢 Shuttle bus departing, walking not allowed in port area

Out on the terrace the view of St Mark’s Square and to the sea is quite spectacular especially as you stand with the horses. Then the battery dies on my phone camera, and I've used up my battery pack! Had a lovely walk through the streets parallel with the way I had come from the ferry. The canals' water level is very high.... there are traffic jams of gondolas unable to get under the bridges!

Those stairs.... quite an achievement to reach the upper level. The horses that currently adorn the exterior of the Cathedral are replicas. These are the original; their age and origin uncertain.

A stroll around the inside of St Mark’s Cathedral. It's stunning inside. But very confusing in its styles. Over the centuries it has been altered and added to with a confusing array of styles e.g Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic. Many of the columns, reliefs, and sculptures were spoils stripped from the churches, palaces, and public monuments of Constantinople as a result of the Venetian participation in the Fourth Crusade. Among the plundered artefacts brought back to Venice were the four ancient bronze horses that were placed prominently over the entry.

Received a disembarkation information letter this evening. Regarding my luggage tag number, when to put my cases out, shared car etc. Geoff didn't get one. Just me. Myself. To be fair some of the neighbours have letters too. But seriously. I have to get off? At all? /throws a hissy fit @Saga Cruises

If the convicted survive their prison sentence they may be released or sent for execution when this is their last view of the outside world. We now head back through the courtyard spotting the St Mark Lion at the top of the staircase. High tide has struck St Mark’s Square and in order to enter the Basilica we have to circumnavigate wide puddles and then climb over protective barriers that have been specially placed at the perimeter.

We now approach the Bridge of Sighs, cross it for the first time to the prison.

Portrait of a lady and her daughter by Titian c1550. A complicated history but simply put had been painted over and only discovered in the 2nd half of the 20th Century. Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy by Artemisia Gentileschi c1620 After Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Neptune Offers the Wealth of the Sea to Venice

Venice/Doge's Palace contd We enter the Sala del Maggior Consiglio which is the place where all the Venetian nobles gathered when they had to make important decisions, such as the election of a new Doge, or the start of a war campaign against the Turks. Foreign guests were brought to this place , which is why the walls of this large room are covered with paintings relating to the great battles and great victories of Venice, engaged in the conquest and maintenance of the territories that gave the city splendor and magnificence. 52.70 meters long, 24.66 meters wide and 11.50 meters high, the Sala del Maggior Consiglio is the largest in the Palazzo Ducale, with its floor covering over 1250 square meters. This is the painting of Doge Marino Falier, appointed in 1354 and who attempted a conspiracy together with other Venetian nobles to subvert the republic. The conspiracy was discovered and the Doge and his companions were arrested and sentenced to death for high treason. The Council decided that the portrait of the Doge had to be covered by a black cloth on which was written in Latin “this was the place of Marino Falier beheaded for treason”. Now looking through one of the windows we could see when we first entered the courtyard

Hi. It's just in the dining room. There's always something savoury and sweet in the Living Room throughout the day. Thank you!! 😀

Today on board. Had a GF bagel today. Will have to try it toasted.... We've been to the hydrotherapy pool again.