Raina's Blogging again - Navigator, Harmony Anthem

[jules815]

Love your reviews. What an exciting trip! Following along, and we'll be on Harmony crossing with you. :)

[tlatrice]

28th September. Fly to England… And the 29th

1st Oct – ‘Navigator’ 14 nights Canary and Africa

14th October – ‘Navigator’ 7 night France and Spain

23rd October - ‘Harmony’ 13 nights Trans Atlantic to Florida

5th November – a trip to New Orleans

10th November – ‘Anthem’ 10 nights Caribbean

20th November – ‘Anthem’ 7 nights Bahamas

27th November – Get off my ship day – to the airport and go

29th November – arrive home

 

:eek: LIFE. GOALS.

 

I can't wait to be able to travel like that!

[jules815]

:eek: LIFE. GOALS.

 

I can't wait to be able to travel like that!

 

Oh my gosh, I know!! Definitely a life goal here too. I am in awe of Raina's travels.

[AussieVisi2r]

Thanks for all the lovely comments. And glad your joining.

Yes - Goals to travel. This trip was not meant to be so big......but us Aussie really do have a mind set that it takes us so long to get anywhere we need to, we should make the most of it. 4 weeks seems to be an average for going to Europe. Still haven't fully accepted that I am on such an amazing trip.

 

The lead up was not idea so I don't think it has really sunk in.There was a huge chance of having to cancel. When I came home from South America, Dad had been suffering lots - heaps - of lower back pain and and had a few 'incidents'. The kind where you look up to see a group saying 'should we call an ambulance?'

I got him an appointment up here (he lives a few hours away on the coast) to see the cardiologist.

And he looked like he was dying! Cold - freezing, white as, and skinny.

The short version....when they went to put in a pacemaker they found an extremely low red blood count. So, many transfusions...then the pacemaker, then removal of that pesky bowel cancer they found, then a 91st birthday, then the discovered that the pain in the lower back that had become unbearable, was in fact nothing left of the R hip joint so a new hip. So the two week visit became 5 month, and needed a fair bit of care. Then to get him back home to his village and set up with home visit nurses, extra home help etc.

 

So here I am - sitting in Southampton starting to think "It really did happen! I am here, and didn't have to cancel". :D

 

Dad'd doing really well and all he cares about is being super fit for the Christmas cruise then a b2 Circumnavigating Australia in Feb. :D

All is good.

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

I'm late today as the internet crashed at the hotel.

 

Day 1 -England. The flight to London was lovely. I slept!!! For a few hours. Yay. British Airways Business class seats are not a patch on the others – but still lovely.

 

We arrived a bit early so off I went to collect my car at about 5.30am. And off I set. I rambled along today – turning when something looked good.

 

Windsor – The place was stunning. Like a movie set. Hahah. Past Ascot races - where the Queen frequents. Then I drove around a beautiful estate. Not sure what it was but it was stunning. ? Great Windsor Park.? Amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

It rained for most of the morning.

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 1 - England.

Winchester. Absolutely stunning place. So pretty. Home of Winchester Cathedral – as in the Beatles song among other things. A Church of England church and one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Construction started in 1070. Jane Austen is buried there.

 

 

 

 

"Let the touristing begin". I was feeling a bit like a Hobbit at this stage. Time clock didn't really know if this was breakfast, Second Breakfast, mid morning tea, lunch etc. To me it was food time. It was 9 am. But last meal was about 4 am - so food was good.

 

 

And a great pity that it was only 9 am (and I was driving) ....as look at the first pub I saw...

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 1 - England

Winchester Cathedral.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 1 - England

The New Forest – with wild New Forest Ponies everywhere. And a herd of donkey. Beautiful houses and building were everywhere. I've always loved this area thanks to the kids pony books like the Jill series.

 

It is amazing. It's National Park, but lived in. Full of amazing villages with thatched roofs and lovely stone work. The villages all have 'cattle grids' across the roads to keep the ponies out of town. The ponies have right of way so are not shy to stop traffic. And the forest!!!! Named the "New Forest" about 1000 years ago! Stunning. You could walk for ever there in the drizzle under the old growth trees. Little crees everywhere. And Ponies! Not so much pure New Forest Ponies, more of a hybrid, but still some very pretty ponies. ANd all the area is not heavily forested. Much is open land.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 1 - England

Then a drive along the cliff drive from Christchurch to Bournemouth for a visit to the famous pier. And that too was lovely.

 

 

 

To Bournemouth Pier.

 

 

 

The surfers were out and then the sun came out. It was beautiful. Temp was about perfect - even I sat out in it!. And the beach boxes looked great.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 1 - England

Bournemouth Pier.

 

Lunch time....as it was noon-ish. Had to train the body when to eat again.

 

 

And I sat watching the zip line. Biggest Pier to Shore one - somewhere.

 

 

 

 

This place must be huge on weekends and summer. Inside the pier were all kinds of activities - climbing walls etc.

 

Edited September 30, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 1 - England

 

Then back to Southampton via a wiggle way – “Oh a corner, I shall turn down it”. I dare not get back too early lest I trip and land on the bed and have a sleep! I DO NOT DO JETLAG when going to a place. I spend a few days messed up when I get home... but don't let it happen the first day....by having huge day then a normal nights sleep. So far 100% successful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I entertained myself with things like visiting a farm shop. Oh the meat looked amazing.

 

 

Then off to the hotel. 5.30pm here and the struggle is becoming real! I have been out of bed since 8am on Tuesday 27th. It is currently 2.30 am on Friday in Canberra. That’s 66 hr since a bed – but I have had 8ish hours sleep since then. But I must not sleep now before dark. And I will sleep well tonight!!!! A quick walk to stop an accidental doze!

It’s dark now. Shower and bed!

 

Raina.

[JamesEM]

Best whishes on your fathers recovery, and I'm enjoying your reports and photos.

[lucymorgan]

Following along with your wonderful review and brilliant photos!

 

We saw the new forest in August before boarding navigator. I asked at the visitor centre how to see the ponies as I thought it would be slightly tricky (like finding kangaroos in Canberra which you would know are easiest found at dawn or dusk). The lady looked at me and said - just drive down that road and you will see them.

 

The ponies and especially the donkeys (mules?) certainly know how to stop the traffic. :D

 

Glad your father is on the road to recovery.

[Island Sunset]

Love following your travel blogs Raina. We're leaving for Hong Kong soon to do the Legend relocation to Brisbane. Have referred to your blog often. Thank you.

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We join you on the Harmony TA. I am following along with the rest of your journey. Amazing trip!!

[LSmit]

Maybe you should add a third trip on Anthem, so you can have both the final cruise with dynamic dining and the first trip on the ship with their new-classic MDR menu.

[AussieVisi2r]

Maybe you should add a third trip on Anthem, so you can have both the final cruise with dynamic dining and the first trip on the ship with their new-classic MDR menu.

 

I am so glad that I am getting to do Dynamic Dining. Just snuck it in.

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

And thanks to the well wishes to Dad. He is amazing.

R

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 2 – Isle of Wight. 30th Sept

After a great nights sleep I headed off – that is after my “Full English Breakfast”. I decided to go over to the Isle of Wight. I thought about taking my car over – that would be fun. Till I found out it is THE most expensive car ferry in the WORLD! So no – I would not be taking the car. Instead I returned it early and headed off on the Red Jet Ferry – the fast speed catamaran. Then bought a day pass on the local bus network.

* Ferry cost 16 quid and the bus ticket was 10. So a not expensive day.

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 2 – Isle of Wight. 30th Sept

Isle of Wight is pretty stunning. Village after village with amazing looking building everywhere. And heaps of history. There is one of the most important Roman sites in the UK, discovered by a farmer in 1879, when he struck a mosaic floor while building.

Carsibrooke Castle where King Charles 1 was imprisoned.

The Jurassic Coast full of dinosaur fossils and the site of a beach of footprints.

Osborne House where Queen Victoria lived with Albert and the nine kids.

The Needles landmark, where you ride a chairlift down the cliff from Alum Bay, then go for a boat ride to see Needles Rocks and the Trinity lighthouse. And the coloured sands. There is also the Fort and Battery above.

 

I rode the bus fro Cowes to Newmarket, then after a wonder on to another bus to he Alum and the Needles. I rode the ski lift down the cliff (6 pound) which was fine. A 'bit' windy. Mind you I do prefer snow underneath not cliffs. But worth if for the sights below.

 

 

The sand cliffs are sediment layers that have had some massive upheavals over the millennium and have rotated. For the Aussies - nothing compared to Tewantin coloured sands LOL- but very impressive.

 

 

 

 

The rocky beach was stunning. Pretty and quiet steep. Not so great for walking on but amazing to look at and listen too.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 2 – Isle of Wight. 30th Sept

Then onto a little boat to go out and see the Needles. (Boat 5.50 quid)

 

The Cliffs are the same vein of Chalk running down the Southern coast line - Dover being the most famous section. The symbol of home for WW11 pilots.

 

These cliffs have also done some huge upheaval and have fantastic strata showing.

 

SO pretty and impressive.

 

 

 

And when you see in so many movie...the horse bolting and people screaming about the cliff below........

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 2 – Isle of Wight. 30th Sept

The Needles and the lighthouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

 

Day 2 – Isle of Wight. 30th Sept

 

I then travelled back on a different bus - via the Jurassic Coast. It's the richest area in UK for dinosaur fossils. A neck bone of a Sauropod, which would have been more than 66ft (20m) long - five times the length of a double decker bus - and weighed about 54tons, was found there.

A 25ft (7.5m) long Neovenator, with saw–like teeth, was also found at the popular tourist spot.

 

It is also one of the few places in the world with dinosaur footprints in rock.I didn't have time to visit but wow...what a stunning place.

 

 

 

 

Then back through more stunning villages and sites.

This bus is a locals bus remember - and they all thought I was very funny squeaking with delight at every second corner. As one person would get off the next would take over at giving me my personal guided tour.

Fantastic.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Day 2 – Isle of Wight. 30th Sept

So Recap on Isle of Wight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this in only the West side of the island. There is still the east..and the sailing and ......

 

Back I went on the ferry and back to Southampton. I walked around the old town walls etc. then back.

 

So...if you are cruising from Southampton and have a few days - wow...there is so much to see here. And Southampton is so close. The beautiful BnBs of the New Forest are just over the river - maybe 30 minutes. The car hire places are right down near the ship docks. The Ferries are near the ship docks.

 

Not really a need to stay in the city - so much to do and see.

 

Looks like I may have to do another cruise out of Southampton.....

 

Now its almost ship day!

[champagne123]

These pics are just blowing me away. Some of them do not even look real