Raina's Blogging again - Navigator, Harmony Anthem

[terrierjohn]

Thoroughly enjoying your review and photos, we stayed in Lymington after our August cruise and could have done with your expertise to point out the highlights for us.:confused: Your photos are indeed superb, you obviously have a good camera, but even better a good eye for how to frame the shot.

Looking forward to the rest of your trip, especially the Navigator part as we do our first RCI cruise on her next year.:)

Edited October 1, 2016 by terrierjohn

[hancogran]

Have a fantastic time Raina and thanks for taking us along. Loved your pics of the Isle of Wight since we spent three days there after a TA cruise last year.. it's a beautiful little place ! :)

[PompeySailor]

Great photos Raina,

 

Isle of Wight was a place as children our parents took us on holiday every year.

There is so much more for you to do there

Best get yourself back there for a week at least and hop on over to Portsmouth as well, plenty of historic places, you would appreciate the dockyards and castles.

 

Did you get some Black pudding with your "Full English" got my mouth watering and also helped me decide what was for breakfast for us today:)

 

Enjoying your review and style of travel

Looking forward to more great pics.

Have a great cruise

 

Happy Days!

[MaiseyM]

Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to your travels.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[jimbri]

Your photos of the Isle of Wight are amazing!

[gaechann]

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

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using ForumsSo pleased to hear how well your Dad is doing!

I'm hoping my Mum of the same age will be up to a little QM2 cruise next February as it's on her "bucket list"!

Thanks for taking me along with you on your latest travels!

Gae

Edited October 1, 2016 by gaechann

[dani negreanu]

Raina,

 

What a joy to "read" you again :)

 

Of course I'm riveted to every word and every picture.

 

Enjoy every minute :):)

 

So happy that your dad is on the mend.

 

 

 

Dani

[reney313]

I'm following along. I was excited to see you blogging again and then to read 3 different ships and soooo many days, I'm thrilled!

[Trixie21]

We've been on harmony and anthem (in Europe ) and are booked on navigator for next year. I would also love to do a transatlantic cruise and would love to go on anthem again from New York to the Caribbean so your posts are of great interest to me! Love your pictures so far!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[AussieVisi2r]

Navigator OTS - 1st Oct – Cruise Day.

I used Uber to get around Southampton. So efficient and the drivers are lovely. Down to the dock cost 7.50 pounds. Lovely. The two Ubers I went in were both Toyota Prius. Both driven by Mohammad, both from Afghanistan. How amazing is that. Both were lovely and we had good chats. Both said Southampton is a great place to live.

The town has an area of the old city wall still standing.

 

 

 

 

I also did a trip through a local supermarket. It's always fun to see the others products etc. The produce looked beautiful. And I was thinking how good the alcohol prices were...till I remembered it was Pounds not US dollars. Super expensive.

 

 

Then onto the ship – and WOW it is so big. I went on Navigator in 2011 but we were very busy with port tours so I didn’t see a lot of the ship. And then I have done the rest of my cruising on small ships. So it was massive.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Navigator OTS - 1st Oct – Cruise Day.

 

Check in was so fast. I got on early as I had to check out of the hotel. So this is huge. It has a promenade arcade running down the centre.

My room is about 300 metres from the lounge – so that has both positives and negatives.

 

There are around 150 D, 120 D+ and 11 P's on boars. The ship is full.

The weather changed from rain to sunny and back a few times then we headed off.

 

We sail out of Southampton and past the Isle of Wight.

 

 

 

Saw many of the same places and had a great view of Osborne House where Victoria and Albert lived.

 

 

This is a 19th Century fort in the harbour mouth. It is now a luxury ..resort/hotel / function centre. At about $1000US a night I shall 'probably' never see it. But that price does include the boat trip out! And meals. But how wonderful would it be!

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

2nd Oct – Sea Day

Today we sailed through the ‘Bay of Biscay’ – famous for its rough waters. Yep – the ship has moved a bit. Maybe a swell of a metre or two. Not quiet sure why the pools are drained and closed. Hope this Captain doesn’t try to sail in Aussie waters!

Did trivia this morning. It was progressive, so don’t know how we rabked..but we got 15/20. And it was very different…”What TV cop show does this music come from?” and who is this photo of – taken about 50 years ago. Good fun!

I went to the Ice Show. It was great – or should I say “Well good!”. (The demographic of the ship is mostly Brits). Spins, flips and other amazing things. A Russian lady spun hoola hoops! 50 hoola hoops! On Skates! On ice! In a wobbling ship!

 

Most impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

Ice shows are fantastic!

[AussieVisi2r]

3rd Oct. Vigo, Spain.

I did a tour up to Santaigo. This area is the north west of the Iberian Peninsular in Spain on the Atlantic Ocean. The area called Galicia and is an autonomous community. It was first inhabited by humans during the Middle Paleolithic period, and it takes its name from the Gallaeci, the Celtic people who developed here before spreading to Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

 

 

It is a bilingual area speaking Galician (not a dialect – a totally different language) and Spanish.

The industry of the area is based heavily on aquaculture with a huge scallop and muscle industry. 200 years ago the monks discovered Eucalyptus trees in Australia, with their great underwater powers, and imported seeds. They now have huge forests to provide wood for the scallops and muscles platforms.

 

 

Cape Fisterra is the western most point. Costa da Morte (Galician: “Coast of Death”), was where the sun went to die each night. The name Fisterra comes from Latin FINIS TERRAE, meaning “Land’s End”. This point was the end of the known world, and is where the drawings of ships sailing off the end of the world are set.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Santiago – Old Town

 

 

James the Apostle brought Christianity here in 34AD, after the crucifixion of Jesus. He was later caught by the Romans and beheaded. His body was stolen and brought back here to be enshrined.

In the 9th century a hermit discovered the tomb of Saint James the Apostle, when a burning star led him there. Word spread that it had been found at the end of the earth. Within years the site became one of the most important Christian pilgrimages. A city formed around the tomb with churches, hospitals etc to support the pilgrims. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compsstela was built on the site. Then, over the millennium many more amazing building.

 

 

The UNESCO site is over 100 hectares and is amazing. Twisting alleys and grand squares surrounded by stunning building.

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Santiago – Old Town

 

The main square is the end of The Camino de Santiago AKA the ‘Way of St. James’. It is the pilgrimage route also known as the Pilgrims Way. There are nine variations of the walk, all finishing at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compsstela in Galicia.

 

 

 

During the Middle Ages the walk became an important pilgrimage – along with walks to Rome and Jerusalem.

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Santiago – Old Town

 

People today walk ‘The Way’ for one of three reasons.

1) As a religious Pilgrimage.

2) As a ‘finding yourself’ mission.

3) Because it is really pretty and a great walk.

 

 

 

 

 

The symbol of Camino de Santiago . the walking pole, the gourd for water, the scallop shell with its nine ways leading pilgrims to Cathedral of Santiago de Compsstela.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Santiago – Old Town

 

When you finish the walk, you declare to the officials your purpose – and are awarded the appropriate certificate.

 

Pilgrims. Pilgrims everywhere!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Latin word for Saint James is Santiago.

 

Witches – good witches are an important part of the Galician life.

 

 

This place was amazing! I did the tour with spaindaytours.com. Cost 69 Euros. 6 hour tour Great.

[Steeler Nation At Sea]

Amazing photos of Santiago de Compostela! Takes me back to last May.

 

Finished a shortened Camino Portuguese last May and the 130 km journey through Galicia was indeed very, pretty and a really great walk. The food and hospitality along the way was wonderful, too.

 

Will someday do another longer route!

 

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

Edited October 3, 2016 by Steeler Nation At Sea

[champagne123]

I just cannot get enough of your photos. Looking forward to today's!!!:)

[eh0101]

Beautiful Photos! Would you be able to post some of the main dinning room menus? I am on this ship in a few weeks & am curious to see how the menus differ from other cruises.

 

Thanks

[Eeyore1962]

I am loving this thread.

:D

Absolutely fantastic photos and such amazing architecture. I am going to have to put sailing out of Southampton on my bucket list for sure.

:eek:

[voyager70]

Another fantastic review Raina and your pics are absolutely stunning. Can't wait to read and see more. I've also seen the Russian lady spinning hoops at the ice show and yes she is amazing! Can't wait for more and sending out best wishes for your father.

[rtazz17]

Awesome,we will be on the november 20th cruise out of cape liberty with you!

[AussieVisi2r]

Awesome,we will be on the november 20th cruise out of cape liberty with you!

 

Yay. We shall have to catch up.

[AussieVisi2r]

Lisbon, Portugal. 4th Oct.

 

Stunning sail in. So pretty. Under the fake Golden Gate bridge....designed by the same person, and past Christ the Redeemer.....designed by the same person and facing the one in Rio.

 

 

 

I did another tour with spaindaytours.com 75 Euro including entries. It was an 8 hr tour to great places.

 

We started with a drive around Lisbon.

 

 

 

Many of the houses are coated in tiles – made famous by the King Ferdinand when he built his palace (more on that later).