Please join us - Spain to the New World on a new ship - LIVE from Oceania Riviera

[1of4]

So beautiful! Thanks for persevering so we can see!

 

The heights are dizzying, literally LOL.

 

Winter arrived this past weekend here and we were shoveling. A friend in NS told me it was 14 there. Toronto had zero.

 

Enjoy the weather and the ship.

[kazu]

So beautiful! Thanks for persevering so we can see!

 

The heights are dizzying, literally LOL.

 

Winter arrived this past weekend here and we were shoveling. A friend in NS told me it was 14 there. Toronto had zero.

 

Enjoy the weather and the ship.

 

 

as they say, "you ain't seen nothing yet" but fow now, I need to go as it is nearly Bingo time. these posts are taking a lot longer than I thought they would:eek:

 

I hear we have torrential rains coming where we live. The rest of the Province is getting snow apparently.

 

Sorry to hear you are digging out. It's too early for that foolishness.

 

Glad we are here where the sun shining beautifully today.

 

edited to say - had my first smoothie today. YUM! This could get addicting! :) ;)

Edited November 23, 2015 by kazu

[retiredkid]

so happy that you were able to find better internet. the photos are fabulous, as always.

thanks for all your efforts to take us along with you.

[ronrick1943]

What a great trip so far, we did this trip a few years ago---loved it. And now it's like doing it all over with your wonderful photo's. Enjoy your trip.

Rick

[kazu]

after visiting Nun's Valley and a few other places, we headed to the second highest sea cliff in the world. It is the highest sea cliff in Europe and second only to China.....

 

Here's the bad thing about it - you have to cross a grate to get to the view point and you need to look down to watch your step (not good for someone like kazu to look down). Then you can proceed to the real sighting point which is sheer glass - uggh. You can't help but look down.

 

 

 

 

This is the track for those that want to take the venincular (sp?) (like a cable car) down to the sea - look at the angle! Not for this kazu for sure. I could only get a portion of it as I did not dare lean over!

 

As you can see, it is very steep. I can't believe people do this!

 

 

You can tell Christmas is coning, this very sweet nativity scene was all set up eve so subtly in the stone. I couldn't resist.

 

[1of4]

as they say, "you ain't seen nothing yet" but fow now, I need to go as it is nearly Bingo time. these posts are taking a lot longer than I thought they would:eek:

 

edited to say - had my first smoothie today. YUM! This could get addicting!

edited by me

 

Oh no, no, no!! I can't peek! :eek: Stunning though

 

Smoothies are DS's favourite on a ship!

 

Just a peek for you because I know you can't wait ;)

 

 

[kazu]

Well, you can't hop in and out of van/Sprint/whatever the right word is and climb stairs etc. without getting hungry. Everyone was feeling the need for some replenishment (and wifi) so Daniel had us whisked quickly from their to our stop for lunch. He knew we wanted a real local lunch and this is what we got.

 

I did take a pic of the restaurant for any of you who might be coming here. It was fabulous.

 

 

Before we went in we had to take a look at the view point of course ( and yes, we got a window table !)

 

 

 

 

 

do you remember the water flowing from the mountains I talked about? The Islanders have made lavalles (sp?) to control the water and bring it to where it's needed. It's become quite the thing for people to walk the path of the lavalles and follow it and there are actual walking paths for people to do this. Here is a pic of the lavalle coming down from the mountain.

 

 

and now for the food porn

[retiredkid]

edited by me

 

 

just a peek for you because i know you can't wait ;)

 

 

 

meanie!!! Lol;)

edited to add For some reason the snow pics won't post)

Edited November 23, 2015 by retiredkid

[kazu]

After seeing the lovely view, we went into the restaurant. Daniel had enlightened us about the Portuguese specialties and shown us the shishkebobs being cooked. That pretty much settled it for most of us.

 

We ordered and then the food arrived....

 

we ordered the corn things - sort of like polenta but better !, chips, green salad and it was SO good and the shishkebob - we opted for the beef.

 

 

 

they put these stakes in the middle of the table and then hang the shish from them when they are ready and we take it off. It was so delicious. We joked we would send the Polo chef there as this meat was better than anything we have had anywhere. Absolutely incredible.

 

 

after a stupendous lunch, it was time to continue our travels to see the pieces of resistance. The island is alive with lovely flowers and I couldn't resist a shot of these angel trumpets

 

 

 

nor the poinsettia

 

 

or the tulip tree. Yes, it's a tree but it's flowers are like tulips!

 

[ger_77]

Love, love, love the photos - scenery and food porn, everything! The funicular reminds me of the one on Santorini; it was a toss up, ride a donkey all the way down or take the funicular. I felt sorry for the donkey, so braved the ride in the cable car.

 

Show us where you're staying; we all are dying to see the PH and accompanying balcony.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Gerry

[kazu]

Sorry, quote doesn't seem to be working.

 

Its much steeper than Santorini's =, believe me. It is nearly a straight descent.

 

DH took the PH pics and as usual, has not given me his memory card - grrrr.

 

I will take my own tonight and hopefully get them posted for you tomorrow.

 

The website and photos in the book are quite realistic. I'll try to include some of the "secrets" I found thanks to another O cruiser.

 

Internet permitting I WILL get there :)

 

Edited to say, it takes a LONG time to uplodad pics cureently so it's slow going.

Edited November 23, 2015 by kazu

[kazu]

and then we were off for some seriously cool views.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vict0riann]

Thanks for all the pictures, Jacqui. I'm trying to get my little brain around that funicular :eek: is it the "cable car to Monte" that is written about, or another one? I imagine with a mountainous region like that, there may be numerous ways of getting up and down! At Monte, I believe you can then slide down the mountain in baskets....:cool:

[kazu]

after a lovely day in Madeira

 

 

it was time to return the ship. We scooted up to the port to get a few minutes of working wifi (where my pics came from yesterday) and then headed to the ship. You DON"T want to get left behind on a last port on a Transatlantic ;)

 

As we said good bye to Madeira, the replica of Christopher Columbus's ship (I believe it is the Christina) sailed by

 

 

Farewell Madeira - what a lovely day we had here.

 

 

 

 

Whew! I do believe the ports are up to date !

 

Now, we will move on to Oceania, pics, food porn, experiences, thoughts, whatever.

 

But..since we are going to La Reserve tonight, I need to get ready so, internet providing, I will try to get lots updated tomorrow for you about O.

 

We are doing the Connoisseur Reserve tonight. It should be quite the experience!

 

Thanks for reading :)

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

after a lovely day in Madeira

 

 

it was time to return the ship. We scooted up to the port to get a few minutes of working wifi (where my pics came from yesterday) and then headed to the ship. You DON"T want to get left behind on a last port on a Transatlantic ;)

 

As we said good bye to Madeira, the replica of Christopher Columbus's ship (I believe it is the Christina) sailed by

 

 

Farewell Madeira - what a lovely day we had here.

 

 

 

 

Whew! I do believe the ports are up to date !

 

Now, we will move on to Oceania, pics, food porn, experiences, thoughts, whatever.

 

But..since we are going to La Reserve tonight, I need to get ready so, internet providing, I will try to get lots updated tomorrow for you about O.

 

We are doing the Connoisseur Reserve tonight. It should be quite the experience!

 

Thanks for reading :)

 

Lovely photographs.

 

Hope about a photo of Jacqui??? or did I miss it?

[CORealtor]

Thoroughly enjoying the review and pictures! Thank you!

[wally_bushy]

While the internet is slow, take solace from the fact your photos are great for us to view

[Leejnd4]

Thanks for the photos of Madeira! I sailed a Regent cruise that departed from Funchal a few years ago, and we went several days early and stayed on the island in a hotel overlooking the Nun's Valley. We had a balcony that overlooked the valley - BREATHTAKING! I'll never forget it, what a view.

 

We also rented a car and drove all over the island. The views everywhere are just stunning. I well remember the walking paths, and the shish kebab stuck straight up in the air...

 

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! :)

[wrl001]

Was this an O tour and if so, what was the tour title? We will be in Madera next April on Rivera Thanks for the pics

[ronrick1943]

Your going to really LOVE dinner tonight---if you have time I'd do another. That place is really good and worth the price.

Rick

[kazu]

Was this an O tour and if so, what was the tour title? We will be in Madera next April on Rivera Thanks for the pics

 

 

It was not an O tour. The buses couldn't get to some of the places we went.

 

It was a private tour with Daniel Madeira taxi tours. A whole 38 euros - LOL.

[kazu]

Lovely photographs.

 

Hope about a photo of Jacqui??? or did I miss it?

 

 

ha! ha! Do you want me to break the camera or cruise critic. Kazu is snapping the pics so you are fortunately saved from having to look at her ugly puss (so far).

 

You just might catch me in a La Reserve photo though ;)

[AZNative2000]

Loving your report and pictures Jacqui, and still hoping for some photos of the ship and your Penthouse.:):)

 

Enjoy your sea days ...

 

Cheers!

[kazu]

Well, it is our second day at sea and I have to say what a beautiful day it is.

 

Sorry for all of you with snow, but it is truly lovely today.

 

And what a perfect day for the O officer's challenge. Yes, the quiet refined O does have pool games. This is the Officer's Challenge going on. All the officers and pursers came our with the O flag and the appropriate music playing and they are challenging the guests to several games.

 

It's actually quite fun. No belly flopping contests or anything like that, but bag it, shuffleboard, gold putting, etc.

 

Ray Michaels is going around soliciting guests and I am keeping my head down.

 

I got a few shots with the camera and once I get them downloaded, I will post them for you.

 

It is nearly a week since we boarded and I told you that the first night we ate in the Terrace Grill. The Terrace Grill is a favourite of many guests and for good reason. Come with me for a tour of some of the offerings one evening.

 

 

that is the menu for the evening above. If you are on an ipad, you can hopefully expand it.

 

 

 

 

 

[kazu]

oops, I forgot to give a food porn warning, didn't I - LOL...

 

Terrace Grill continued.....

 

 

 

 

 

I told the staff people wanted to see them and they were going to be famous - LOL. A number of them started to have fun with it...