Raina's Blogging again - Navigator, Harmony Anthem

[AussieVisi2r]

Gran Canaria – 7th October

 

 

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – is the main city on the island of Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria means Large island of the Dogs.

 

 

The shield represents the population of large wild dog that lived here – holding up the seven mountains to represent the volcanos and the seven main islands.

 

 

It has an almost endless Spring climate ranging from 15 – 28 degrees.

The Canarii – Berber Aborigines lived here since around 100BC. Europeans conquered the island in 1483 by Spain. Took them over 100years to take control.

Christopher Columbus spent time at Las Palmas on his way to be the first European to discover the Americas. It then became an important stopping off point for travellers going to the new world – and also had a large Pirate problem.

 

 

Today I went for a ride on the Hop on, Hop bus (15 Euro) and saw the sights. Different to yesterday. Las Palmas is a major city with all the mod cons and is a resort town. This is one of the places the Europeans flock to for the beaches. Apparently this is the best urban beach in the world!!!! Hum.

 

 

The whole place is very pretty.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Gran Canaria – 7th October

Lovely old building and many modern ones. Parts of the original town wall have survived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Gran Canaria – 7th October

 

 

I went to theCathedral of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Built in 1500. Pretty grand.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 11, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[AussieVisi2r]

Gran Canaria – 7th October

 

And then walked around the many lovely streets and alleys. For some reason the town is crazy for Octoberfest. Guess its because there are so many tourists! I had to work hard to find some Tapas. It was all Kransky and Pork Knuckle. And of course steins of beer served by men in lederhosen, and ladies in little skirts. I worked out that it is because they have such huge numbers of German tourists.

 

And then went down to the beaches for a look. Lovely. But couldn’t get any Churros – as it’s a breakfast food. Also available in the evenings. But at least I walked lots.

 

 

 

I saw a man taking his sheep to the beach. Yep – a sheep. And it was not on a lead. Just following him.

 

 

 

Also saw a man washing his clothes. All his clothes!

 

 

 

Basically a lovely day.

Edited October 11, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[AussieVisi2r]

Tenerife, Canary Islands – 8th October

 

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, and is known as the “Island of Eternal Spring” (Isla de la Eterna Primavera). It has a tropical climate ranging from 18-28! It is dominated by Mt. Teide – a dormant volcano – Spain’s highest peak. Mt Teide is snow covered in winter and has about 1 metre of cover.

The island is like a cone. Seaside with lovely beaches, both white and black sand. Then all the land climbs steeply up to Mt. Teide in the middle. Half way up is a huge ring of pine forrest circling the whole thing. The pine is a native pine – Pinus Canarienus and has really long needles in bunches of three. This pine shoots after fire and is one of the most fire-resistant conifers in the world. SO WHY does Australia – that regularly burns down, grow Radiata not Canary Island Pine?????

The island has an amazing biodiversity of plants with many only found here. Some of the great ones include the Canary Island Dragon Tree – a huge tree that is mainly amazing trunks with a crown of foliage on top, and Tenerife Bugloss – a flowering plant that grown to 3 metres on a wiry looking spike – I saw the dried spikes.

Today I went on a tour with a group from cruise critic. Used Spaindaytouts.com again and it was great. Only problem was it was a short day in Tenerife – so that meant an early start. A really early start.

Ship docked at 7am – tour at 7.30. When I got up to the Diamond Lounge (the one with windows), to have breakfast it was pitch dark.

Oh dear…I had messed up the times and it must have been 5 am. BUT no…it was 7 and it was very dark. So down I went and off the ship. I was the first off! Haven’t done that before…but we were leaving very early. We all arrived and off we went.

First stop was a lookout – amazing view but although it was light the sun still wasn’t up.

 

 

At the second stop they had the local drink – Barraquito. A coffee with condensed milk, steamed milk topped with cinnamon and an added shot of some liqueur. And since I have been trying all the local fare, I though I would give it a go. It was surprisingly nice. After I stirred it. Sweet but nice. - Not I don't drink coffee - EVER. This was my second cup - and yes I was a bit bouncy after it.

 

 

We then travelled through the pine forest. We were up very high now and the sun had risen and started to heat things up. A massive front rolled in from the sea and look away the land below us. We were is bight sunlight looking down at a solid wall of fog/cloud. Sensational. Spooky. Amazing.

And we climbed higher and higher. And higher. Soon we were higher then Australia. (Kosciuszko is 2228m). We were at 2250 – and no where near the top. The top of Mt Teide is 3718m.

The landscape was amazing. Much redder then Lanzarote. And heaps of plugs. When the lava surfaces some of it had a chemical reaction with air and turned green. A moss green colour.

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Tenerife, Canary Islands – 8th October

 

 

 

 

 

Of course they like to name many of the rocks. But “The Flower” rock was very cool.

 

 

As was ‘The Cake’. The strata levels were amazing.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Tenerife, Canary Islands – 8th October

 

 

The hunters were out today. Sunday and Thursdays are legal hunting days. They hunt mouflon and rabbit. Both introduced for hunting and now doing major damage to the sensitive environment. No shooting in the park – so rabbit hunting only. They hunt with dogs and ferrets. Ibizan Hounds. A tall rangy dog like a big whippet. They are a site hound and love to chase. The ferrets flush the rabbits and the dogs do the rest.

 

 

We saw the Mt Teide Observatory, one of the first major international observatories, attracting telescopes from different countries around the world and is one of the three best places in the world for observations. It is currently the largest solar observatory in the world.

 

 

Yep - I got carried away with photos but it it SO hard to pick just a few to share.

 

Then down to La Guarana for a visit to the lovely Old Town.

 

 

 

 

Fantastic day! So worth coming to see the Canary Islands.

 

Los grandes canarios son sensacionales!!!!!!

 

Edited October 11, 2016 by AussieVisi2r

[AussieVisi2r]

Funchal, Madeira. Portugal. The Azores. 10th October

 

The Azores, are an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. And are an autonomous region of Portugal. They are famous for their dramatic landscape, the greenery and lushness, gardens and fishing villages. Again it is of volcanic origins with a huge lake filling the main caldera. Vineyards are all around Mt Pico and are sheltered by huge boulders. I didn’t go to the wine district.

 

AMAZING.

 

 

Today I was wondering around – taxi or HOHO bus- which ever was better.

As I was leaving, I was in the lift with a lady who had missed her tour and was afraid to go out alone. “Sure you can join me”. Off we went. After talking to the bus people I spoke to a taxi. Then others stopped to listen. I convinced them to join us. Really nice taxi, great driver – Josef – and a 2 hour tour for 15 Euro each. Sensational!

 

 

Madeira is very hilly. VERY hilly. Over 200 tunnels. Over 200 bridges. 250,000 people live on the island. 150,000 in Funchal (Fuuuun chai). There is only one hospital for the whole island – and the shipping and the outer islands. They must be a healthy lot.

It is a wealthy town with no poor areas. Although there were some very rich areas.

80% of the economy is tourism. Most people are employed by it. The rest work in the agricultural and fishing industries.

Of course we started by going up one of those big hills for a view.

 

 

 

Market gardens. And more market gardens. Hills and market gardens. Steep hills and market gardens. Very steep hills and market gardens.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Funchal, Madeira. Portugal. The Azores. 10th October

No land in the town was wasted. All built on or gardens. And not easy gardens. All done by hand as you cannot get machinery in.

 

 

Everything was carried up and down. No cars could even get to some of the houses. Watering was done via channels and buckets. Many houses had no vehicle access. Imagine taking your shopping up here.

 

 

 

They grew – bananas (lots), sugar cane, sweet potato (the main staple), egg plant, zucchini,cabbages, tomatoes, passionfruit……

 

 

Some people had large plots, others had a few acres. In Newtown, that we went to later, people with out land were allocated 4m square plots.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Funchal, Madeira. Portugal. The Azores. 10th October

 

A taxi tour was brilliant as we were able to get up all the little roads around the gardens.

 

 

 

It was then up to a cliff lookout. Sensational view. I saw, and then walked on the second highest glass walkway in the world.

 

 

 

I love standing on the glass on the bridge wings.......but this is a bit different.

 

 

At one time I trod on a leaf – it crunched. Did not like that. But the view was amazing. And the area was heavily covered in big Eucalyptus. They smelt soooo good.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Funchal, Madeira. Portugal. The Azores. 10th October

 

Yep. I'm in the Azures.

 

 

Then down to the fishing village. Saw the usual ugly fishing village cats.

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Funchal, Madeira. Portugal. The Azores. 10th October

 

Through New Town with the 5 star hotels, condos, and rows upon rows of British timeshare units.

We then dropped the others off at the ship before taking me to Old Town. And there I saw Ed and Hazel (that I travelled with in Gran Canary) so dragged them into my taxi and off we went.

Then to Old Town with it lovely building and sensational markets. Set in a beautiful old building and full of great clouds and smells. Fruit, spices, flowers, fish. And some of the fruit was delightful. When asked to taste some passionfruit I curled up my nose. After being pushed I did. About 8 different kinds. Tomato, peach, lemon, orange. Fantastic. So good. So I selected four and went to pay. 17 Euro $25AU for four prices of passionfruit. I declined and left them there. Pity as they were amazing.

I then went and had a glass of Madeira and some Madeira cake. Both great. The I tasted a lovely Rhum (local rum), honey, lemon local drink. Must be very good for you! Amazing. But I sure felt it as I got up to walk away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brilliant day. There is so much here that I din’t get to do. Will have to come back!

 

And Hallelujah. Sea day tomorrow!!!!!

 

[cinnamon]

Sorry Raina, but Madeira is not part of the Azores. It is part of a separate archipelago that also belongs to Portugal.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[AussieVisi2r]

Sorry Raina, but Madeira is not part of the Azores. It is part of a separate archipelago that also belongs to Portugal.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Thanks for that. I hate getting things wrong. The thing I looked up said otherwise.

I hate that you cannot go back and edit.

Raina

[Sue's Mom]

Thank you Raina. Madeira looks amazing. DH and I will be there next month. You are certainly helping me with my planning. Bless you. :D

[terrierjohn]

Thank you Raina. Madeira looks amazing. DH and I will be there next month. You are certainly helping me with my planning. Bless you. :D

If you have not already found it in your research then check out the attached webcam site for Funchal.

 

http://www.madeira-web.com/camera/cam-live.html

[mrsfecura]

Following along! Amazing pictures Raina! The sky in Portugal is the bluest blue I've ever seen!!!

 

I'll be on the Nov 20 cruise on Anthem with you! Can't wait.

[barbienj]

Following.

[AussieVisi2r]

10th October – Sea Day.

A lovely relaxed sea day. Well not that relaxed. So much to do.

Progressive trivia.

Dance rehearsal for the Flash Mob performance.

I went into the gaming arcade and watched people play a ball game – Skeet Ball.

I then went to Johnny Rockets for lunch. Most of you know about it but I had only been once 7 years ago. So much fun! It’s a 50’s cafe. Music plays. Staff are in Soda Bar costumes and all is fun. When you walking in the door someone yells “Everybody say hellllllooooo” and the rest of the staff answer “Hellllooooo”.

 

 

50’s music blares out. When ‘the Love Shack’ comes on the staff all run outside and do a dance. And when ‘Johnny Be Good’ comes on they rush to the front and dance. Food is all burgers and shakes, with their famous onion fries and a plate of ‘ketchup’ in a smily face.

 

 

 

We had a ball.

Then I wandered around the ship a bit and saw things. These Brits love the heat. They love lying in it and baking. Me on the other hand – sat on the balcony of the Diamond Club under a bit roof. Lovely.

 

 

I did manage a 20 minute nap today. These trips are just so busy.

More dolphins and two more whales.

Then club time. I hang out in the Diamond Club in the day time – with its lovely windows and balcony. And in the evenings I go to the Concierge Lounge. Diamond club is a bit mental with the crowd and they have to queue for drinks.

[AussieVisi2r]

A Coruña or La Coruña, 12th Oct

 

Today was a late arrival. Very civilised to be out there watching the lovely sail in at lunchtime.

 

A Coruña is the provincial capital of the province and is a busy port on the Atlantic Ocean right on the top corner of Spain. It’s a distribution point for agricultural goods from the region.

It is another warm Mediterranean climate but has huge winds off the Atlantic.

It was originally settled by Artabrians, the Celtic tribe of the area. Remember this is where the Celtic people started. The Romans came here in the second century BC. Julius Caesar came here.

 

 

 

It was pouring rain before we sailed in. Then it stopped. Sail in was very pretty. Heaps came to wave at us.

We arrived and walked into Old Town and wondered around marvelling at the lovely building.

 

 

All the balconies are glassed in due to the high winds. The city is famous for them, known as galerías. , This was originally a naval architecture solution for challenging weather like the huge winds. So they started to build houses like the back of a war ship and added these glazed window balconies to their city-port houses.

 

 

 

[papajoe117@aol.com]

Enjoying your blog can not wait for the next one.http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[AussieVisi2r]

A Coruña or La Coruña, 12th Oct

 

 

City Hall forms one side of the town square and was lovely.

 

 

I sent a picture of this home entitled ‘Spear Maiden’ before I realised the history of continual Viking attacks. --- For the people who watch the show Vikings.

 

 

 

 

[Denversail]

What an amazing trip. Thank you for sharing it with us!

[AussieVisi2r]

A Coruña or La Coruña, 12th Oct

 

 

 

We grabbed a taxi and headed off for a tour. 30 Euro for an hour-ish.

 

 

We went out to the peninsular. The Roman Tower of Hercules is a lighthouse that has been in continuous operation since possibly the 2nd century AD. It’s the oldest working Roman lighthouse in the world. The outside is no longer Roman – but their core is still there. But the internal structure and workings are original.

 

 

Celtic King Breogan in A Coruña.

 

 

The Original town was here but moved due to too many Viking attacks. In 1208 King Alfonso IX re-founded the city at the site of the new Old Town. Heaps of amazing buildings and twisty alley ways. We walked up many of them….and later drove down them in our taxi!

 

[AussieVisi2r]

A Coruña or La Coruña, 12th Oct

 

 

The main beaches has a sand dune made for the winter. The drier told us the waves get up to 13 metres and the road gets covered. I am hoping she meant feet! Or the town would be gone. And in the background is the big football aka soccer stadium where the local club plays teams like Rio Madrid and Barcelona!

 

 

The Millenium Tower. Built of crystal and lit up at night.

 

 

 

There were some great statues around including one for the surfers. Small fountains underneath made waves.

 

 

We then went up to the high point. High and impressive.