Raina's Blogging again - Navigator, Harmony Anthem

[Sherman793]

You live such an amazing life. I love to explore the world in places I will never go and you bring them to life with your beautiful photos. Loving this review as much as the Antarctica one last year. Glad you made it and your dad is better. Keep traveling so we can all go with you!;)

[Erwin Family @ Sea]

Well done Raina, always enjoy your reports.

[depplep]

Absolutely GORGEOUS pictures. I so appreciate that you give the history of every site and city. More interesting than just describing the landscape.

[AussieVisi2r]

Thanks again for the encouragement and lovely comments.

 

Sherman - yes 2015 and 16 are crazy with trips. (I am currently in the best financial position I will ever be (just for the few years) - and have lots of accumulated leave to use up...before I retire. Pity it will not go one like this beyond this year!!!)

 

So yes I am enjoying it.

 

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

Vigo, 17th October

I was in Vigo last trip but went straight up to Santiago.

The Romans first occupied Vigo, with is being more of a string of Parishes around a fishing port.

In the Middle Ages, Vigo was a small village, but suffered many Viking attacks. It was very small well into the 15th century. In 1585 and 1589, Francis Drake raided the city. Then the Turkish fleet attacks so the town walls were built. Vigo then developed as a commerce centre and was given special privileges by the king of Spain.

In 1719, a Spanish fleet which departed from Vigo to invade Scotland in support of the Jacobites. The British then occupied Vigo for 10 days.

As it became more industrialised and became a powerhouse for the area, most of the old wall, fisherman’s houses etc were torn down for development.

It is now a fishing centre. Two huge industries. The modern fleet with gigantic ships and massive processing plants, and the traditional fleet of tiny boats mainly fishing for Octopus and Squid.

Much of the worlds pink and grey granite comes form this area. And so much of the place is built with the granite. Very attractive.

There must have also been a strong connection to emigration going by many of the statues.

 

 

 

 

Today I shared a taxi with a lady from the lounge and toured around for a few hours.

The Beaches.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Vigo, 17th October

 

The fishing village – mainly Octopus fishermen.

 

 

 

 

For drying maize. Many places had them. Must have been one for every farm.

 

 

Roman churches from the 8th Century everywhere.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Vigo, 17th October

 

An old water mill. There was a spring pipe nearby and people were filling bottles of water.

 

 

 

 

Cemetery. No in ground graves. All in the slots.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Vigo, 17th October

 

Heaps more Roman Churches.

 

 

300 year old Olive tree.

 

 

A pigeon house.

 

 

 

[JamesEM]

Thanks again for the encouragement and lovely comments.

 

Sherman - yes 2015 and 16 are crazy with trips. (I am currently in the best financial position I will ever be (just for the few years) - and have lots of accumulated leave to use up...before I retire. Pity it will not go one like this beyond this year!!!)

 

So yes I am enjoying it.

 

Raina

 

Enjoying your postings, after a 34 year career with the US Government I started a my own business so I'm able to continue cruising, i.e. keep busy after you retire.

[UKWLDCruise]

If it is of interest the ship at Portsmouth is HMS Warrior the first all iron hull, armoured war ship. Launched in 1860 with steam engines, but also sails for range, her main guns all 28 of them were 7.9 inch. The tank is a Churchill AVRE with a 11.4 inch petard mortar. The projectile was so big they called it the flying dust bin. The AVRE is one of a number of specialist tanks know as the funnies that served with the 79th Armoured Division under Percy Hobart.

[AussieVisi2r]

If it is of interest the ship at Portsmouth is HMS Warrior the first all iron hull, armoured war ship. Launched in 1860 with steam engines, but also sails for range, her main guns all 28 of them were 7.9 inch. The tank is a Churchill AVRE with a 11.4 inch petard mortar. The projectile was so big they called it the flying dust bin. The AVRE is one of a number of specialist tanks know as the funnies that served with the 79th Armoured Division under Percy Hobart.

 

Awesome. Thanks. Is that the old three master?

 

Raina

[AussieVisi2r]

Vigo, 17th October

 

QUIÑONES DE LEÓN An Art Gallery - it as closed. I didn't go inside. I just loved the building.

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Vigo, 17th October

 

Castro Fortress. The fortress of the Castro was built in 1665.Perched up on a very high hill is the ruins of this fortress. Stunning.

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Vigo, 17th October

Then went and ate some of the said seafood in Rúa Pescadería – a thin pedestrian plaza full of seafood cafes. When out taxi driver said he would takes us there….we didn’t think he meant driving right into the plaza.

 

 

These are taken from inside the taxi!

 

 

I had some great Sangria and a seafood paella. My first Crawfish!

 

 

 

Lovely day.

 

Sorry I have slipped behind a bit. Been so busy! I have also got many menu photos I will get them up for you

 

R

[Coralc]

Vigo, 17th October

I had some great Sangria and a seafood paella. My first Crawfish!

R

 

Oh my goodness! You will have to compare the Spanish Crawfish with those in New Orleans! Our US crawfish have much shorter claws! We've never seen one like that before. Thanks for the photo...it looks like an alien creature, sort of like the mole rats. :D:):D

 

~Patti :)

[AussieVisi2r]

Oh my goodness! You will have to compare the Spanish Crawfish with those in New Orleans! Our US crawfish have much shorter claws! We've never seen one like that before. Thanks for the photo...it looks like an alien creature, sort of like the mole rats. :D:):D

 

~Patti :)

 

So agree - it looks like an alien - not as ugly as a naked mole rat though LOL . Nothing is that bad.

I did think of the symmetry of eating them there and then in New Orleans.

R

[AussieVisi2r]

Gijón, Spain 18th October

 

Gijon, is the largest city in Astaurias – an autonomous community in Spain. It’s on the Bay of Biscay and has had human here since around 5000BC. The first settlement was in around 5th and 6th century and was quickly Romanised.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Gijón became a fishing and commerce area. It then grew into an industrial area until the GFC in 1970-80 and then developed into more of a tourist area.

I had a wonder around day. I did walk down to the “Old Fishing Village” – but it was torn down 50 years ago and is now full of modern building.

 

The port was revolting. A working port and soooo far away from town. We were the last dock and so far away from anything. You were not allowed to walk on the port (as it was a working one) so had to catch the shuttle bus. $10 Euro. I have no objection for paying for a shuttle bus to town, but did object to paying for a ride across a working port. And the ride across the port took well over 15 minutes. So yes I did go and lodge a formal complaint. The GS people thanked me as many complained as until they have a pile of formal complaints they can do nothing. I pointed out that in 6 continents with Royal I have never paid to get across the working ports. Always a free shuttle.

 

But I did get into town. That’s a big tide!

 

 

I just walked around today. Needed cash and finding an ATM was an adventure. And lucky I had a selection of cards. I finally succeeded with a cash advance on a credit card!

There was lots to see. Many lovely building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Gijón, Spain 18th October

 

 

 

The Bottle Tree

 

 

 

Now Thats a sea wall.

 

 

Just a nice relaxing port. Nothing mind blowing but very pretty. I did get some of the best and sweetest figs ever for 25 Euro cents each. We pay a fortune for figs in Australia and the season in about 4 weeks - so that was wonderful.

[Sue's Mom]

Thank you again. I am so enjoying everything you are doing!

[Hobart Hurricane]

You will be all cruised out before I see you on the Explorers Christmas cruise

[AussieVisi2r]

You will be all cruised out before I see you on the Explorers Christmas cruise

 

Or not!!!!!! LOL

[AussieVisi2r]

Bilboa, 19th October

 

I went into Bilboa on the shuttle bus, about 30 minutes from the port. It was a very modern city with old building in between. Very tall buildings and narrow streets.

I got onto a hope on hop off bus and it was a bit funny. It had a roof and windows so you could barely see anything – but still fun. The city was pretty…what you could see by peeping out under the roof and through the dirty windows. But the more you saw the more you realised that it was pretty stunning.

 

Ancient human remains have been found dating back 6000 years. The lord of Biscay founded Bilbao in 1300. It had good reserves of Iron Ore so developed quickly. It was an industrial port for hundreds of years with heavy industry…but the 1970-80’s GFC, followed by the ‘PIGS’ EU crisis killed of most of the factories and industry.

It is now a place of riverside landscapes, quirky buildings and even a Guggenheim, the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao, built of titanium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Bilboa, 19th October

 

 

Art display of all the different lamp posts. Awesome.

 

 

 

 

 

Guggenheim Museum. The terrier is made of metal with flower pots that are changed out. The pansy’s

are just finishing.

 

Back at the ship I saw one of the head chefs accepting a delivery. He would reach into a random box, pick a random piece of meat and chop it open and smell, feel etc. Then nod his head and onto another.

 

[AussieVisi2r]

21st October – To Barcelona

 

An early start to the day – as I was getting off Navigator one day early and heading to Barcelona. I was hoping to get the 8 am train to Paris, then onto the airport to fly to Barcelona.

I was a bit shattered to be getting off early - as my room was the best I've had...and there was a really good group on.

BUT I figured I was better to miss one night - sailing across the English Channel in the dark and docking in Southampton - both of which I did last week, then a 2hr trip to Heathrow to fly to Barcelona. This way I would have an extra full day in Barcelona - which I hadn't been too.

 

I was at Guest Services, packed and fed at 7.30. Immigration had just cleared us so YAY. Out into a taxi and made the train by at least 9 minutes. Then a 2 1/2 hr trip to Paris.

 

 

I made the train and got a Uber car to the airport. The trip took us few a few icons.

 

 

 

 

I made the flight easily and checked in to the tiniest hotel room you have ever seen. My walk in robe was bigger then this room. So funny.

 

 

But it makes you unpack a bit and organise your gear. Or you wouldn’t find anything. And the light is just a bed lamp – so you have to use your torch to find anything. BUT THE AIR CONDITIONER IS GOOD!

But - as I always say…if the door locks, the toilet flushes, there is a light, no vermin and the location is good I am happy. Well this location is AMAZING!

I am on La Rambla – THE tourist strip.

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

21st October – To Barcelona

 

M and R (from the Asia cruise and around the Horn) came to the hotel to meet me and off we went on a 3 1/2 hour walking tour. M is Catalonian – the true Barcelonians, and grew up in the area. So it was AMAZING. “Grandad installed the wood fire oven in that restaurant, I did this here as a kid etc”.

 

 

Down streets, up alleys, to the markets -two different markets one lot more touristed and the other that just local use.