P&O Cruisers - What are things like where YOU are?

[Snow Hill]

4 hours ago, purplesea said:

And a few more (I've no idea why some of them are upside down🙄)

Fortunate to have been to Venice on 2 occasions, once on cruise on Oceana in 2017, the other. 3 day visit around 40 years ago, it has hardly changed in that period, almost a timeless city. We were due to visit again in 2019, then Covid hit and cruise was cancelled. 

[Purdey16]

Early good morning to you all , yet again not much sleep last night probably a bit of excitement again I’ve got the suitcase packed all up and later tonight we’re off to Madeira (early Monday morning) for 10 days ) other half likes to drive through the night much quieter especially when Gatwick has a traffic diversion that takes you all the way round the other side of airport to get to the other side of the roundabout 🥴 

We’re hiring a car for 9 days so going to explore the island all round and going to do a early morning sunrise watch , booked a whale/ dolphin trip, and plenty of those trails on north side on edge of island high up .  Wrote down some restaurants that someone gave me on here so any more tips what to do are greatly appreciate, I will be visiting the botanical gardens and go up the chair lift thing can’t remember what’s it called to early in the day but we won’t be coming down in the basket we done that 20 years ago and we will certainly be visiting Blandys winery 😁 .

Tried to visit here a few times on the ships last one was Iona last March but you know due to high winds etc couldn’t dock , anyway not long watched YouTube video of a plane trying to land at the airport in cross winds and that looks bleeding dodgey too 🫣, anyway sorry I’ve rambled on just a bit bored this morning, so I hope you will all be well and happy this week and not too cold back here and escape the snow if it comes your way stay warm & safe .

[Josy1953]

1 hour ago, Purdey16 said:

Early good morning to you all , yet again not much sleep last night probably a bit of excitement again I’ve got the suitcase packed all up and later tonight we’re off to Madeira (early Monday morning) for 10 days ) other half likes to drive through the night much quieter especially when Gatwick has a traffic diversion that takes you all the way round the other side of airport to get to the other side of the roundabout 🥴 

We’re hiring a car for 9 days so going to explore the island all round and going to do a early morning sunrise watch , booked a whale/ dolphin trip, and plenty of those trails on north side on edge of island high up .  Wrote down some restaurants that someone gave me on here so any more tips what to do are greatly appreciate, I will be visiting the botanical gardens and go up the chair lift thing can’t remember what’s it called to early in the day but we won’t be coming down in the basket we done that 20 years ago and we will certainly be visiting Blandys winery 😁 .

Tried to visit here a few times on the ships last one was Iona last March but you know due to high winds etc couldn’t dock , anyway not long watched YouTube video of a plane trying to land at the airport in cross winds and that looks bleeding dodgey too 🫣, anyway sorry I’ve rambled on just a bit bored this morning, so I hope you will all be well and happy this week and not too cold back here and escape the snow if it comes your way stay warm & safe .

Have a great time.  Madeira is one of my favourite places.  We first went there in 1985 for a walking holiday, the levadas are worth walking if you are feeling energetic.  We also did some walks in the mountains which we also enjoyed.  

[Beckett]

@purpleseaThanks for the lovely photos Pam. So glad you had a good time and are back safely. 

@Purdey16 Have a lovely ten days. Sounds like you have a lot of things booked. Enjoy them all.

@Eglesbrech Sorry to hear this whatever-it-is thing has taken such a hold of you. Take care of yourself and be well soon.

 

Happy Sunday everyone. Keep warm, well, and get your snow boots out!

 

Best wishes everyone. Jane xxx

 

[Peanut006]

2 hours ago, Purdey16 said:

Early good morning to you all , yet again not much sleep last night probably a bit of excitement again I’ve got the suitcase packed all up and later tonight we’re off to Madeira (early Monday morning) for 10 days ) other half likes to drive through the night much quieter especially when Gatwick has a traffic diversion that takes you all the way round the other side of airport to get to the other side of the roundabout 🥴 

We’re hiring a car for 9 days so going to explore the island all round and going to do a early morning sunrise watch , booked a whale/ dolphin trip, and plenty of those trails on north side on edge of island high up .  Wrote down some restaurants that someone gave me on here so any more tips what to do are greatly appreciate, I will be visiting the botanical gardens and go up the chair lift thing can’t remember what’s it called to early in the day but we won’t be coming down in the basket we done that 20 years ago and we will certainly be visiting Blandys winery 😁 .

Tried to visit here a few times on the ships last one was Iona last March but you know due to high winds etc couldn’t dock , anyway not long watched YouTube video of a plane trying to land at the airport in cross winds and that looks bleeding dodgey too 🫣, anyway sorry I’ve rambled on just a bit bored this morning, so I hope you will all be well and happy this week and not too cold back here and escape the snow if it comes your way stay warm & safe .

Hope you have a lovely holiday. We went to Madeira for the first time last Monday on Azura and loved it, would def like to go back for longer. Post some pics if you get chance 

 

Michelle 

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, Purdey16 said:

Early good morning to you all , yet again not much sleep last night probably a bit of excitement again I’ve got the suitcase packed all up and later tonight we’re off to Madeira (early Monday morning) for 10 days ) other half likes to drive through the night much quieter especially when Gatwick has a traffic diversion that takes you all the way round the other side of airport to get to the other side of the roundabout 🥴 

We’re hiring a car for 9 days so going to explore the island all round and going to do a early morning sunrise watch , booked a whale/ dolphin trip, and plenty of those trails on north side on edge of island high up .  Wrote down some restaurants that someone gave me on here so any more tips what to do are greatly appreciate, I will be visiting the botanical gardens and go up the chair lift thing can’t remember what’s it called to early in the day but we won’t be coming down in the basket we done that 20 years ago and we will certainly be visiting Blandys winery 😁 .

Tried to visit here a few times on the ships last one was Iona last March but you know due to high winds etc couldn’t dock , anyway not long watched YouTube video of a plane trying to land at the airport in cross winds and that looks bleeding dodgey too 🫣, anyway sorry I’ve rambled on just a bit bored this morning, so I hope you will all be well and happy this week and not too cold back here and escape the snow if it comes your way stay warm & safe .

I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

It's a cold 2°C here this morning.

It is a sad day as it is my late dad's 12th memory.

Edited March 5, 2023 by grapau27

[wowzz]

3 hours ago, Purdey16 said:

Early good morning to you all , yet again not much sleep last night probably a bit of excitement again I’ve got the suitcase packed all up and later tonight we’re off to Madeira (early Monday morning) for 10 days ) other half likes to drive through the night much quieter especially when Gatwick has a traffic diversion that takes you all the way round the other side of airport to get to the other side of the roundabout 🥴 

We’re hiring a car for 9 days so going to explore the island all round and going to do a early morning sunrise watch , booked a whale/ dolphin trip, and plenty of those trails on north side on edge of island high up .  Wrote down some restaurants that someone gave me on here so any more tips what to do are greatly appreciate, I will be visiting the botanical gardens and go up the chair lift thing can’t remember what’s it called to early in the day but we won’t be coming down in the basket we done that 20 years ago and we will certainly be visiting Blandys winery 😁 .

Tried to visit here a few times on the ships last one was Iona last March but you know due to high winds etc couldn’t dock , anyway not long watched YouTube video of a plane trying to land at the airport in cross winds and that looks bleeding dodgey too 🫣, anyway sorry I’ve rambled on just a bit bored this morning, so I hope you will all be well and happy this week and not too cold back here and escape the snow if it comes your way stay warm & safe .

Have a great holiday.  Driving in Madeira can be, what's the word, ........interesting.  Hope you have been practising your hill starts !

[grapau27]

21 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

It's a cold 2°C here this morning.

It is a sad day as it is my late dad's 12th memory.

It is my late dad's 11th memory.

[purplesea]

 @Purdey16 Have a lovely time. We visited Maderia in about 2004 on our way down to the Caribbean, but didn't get there last year due to high winds. Hopefully next year as it is two of our ports on call.

 

We have visited Venice once on Ventura in 2014  sailed in along the Guidecca Canal, then again last year on Azura but docked at Trieste and bussed in, so it was nice to spend some time exploring without having to keep an eye on the time. I would like to go again as there is still so much to see. We saw before we went away that they are suffering a drought and that some of the canals have dried up, and although we walked miles we didn't see any dry although we could see that the levels were lower.

 

Hope you all have a good Sunday.

Pam

[Beckett]

7 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

It is my late dad's 11th memory.

He's with you Graham. God bless. Jane xxx

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, Beckett said:

He's with you Graham. God bless. Jane xxx

Thank you Jane for your nice words.

Graham xx

 

 

[grapau27]

33 minutes ago, Beckett said:

He's with you Graham. God bless. Jane xxx

I have just posted today's church sermon on Holland America line fleet reports and daily Jane if you want to see it.

Graham xx

Edited March 5, 2023 by grapau27

[kalos]

Morning all 3.c here ,so another nice cosy day inside today.

A week of mixed fortunes and feelings this week for me but that's life.

Had a chat catch up with some old workmates and asking how some were getting on?

Sad to here one of them was on his way to work on his motorbike when a car hit and 

killed him. That left me feeling a bit down but my spirit got lifted when our eldest  of our

Granddaughters told me I was now to be a great Grandad . As one leaves the world 

another enters ,as the saying goes.

Had a meeting with my cardio specialist, who decided that the best way forward for me

is medication only but said he was pleased with how I'm getting on .

So armed with that news I have managed to buy a travel insurance and have a few

that are booked but more about that at another time.

 

Take care !

[Eglesbrech]

1 hour ago, Beckett said:

@purpleseaThanks for the lovely photos Pam. So glad you had a good time and are back safely. 

@Purdey16 Have a lovely ten days. Sounds like you have a lot of things booked. Enjoy them all.

@Eglesbrech Sorry to hear this whatever-it-is thing has taken such a hold of you. Take care of yourself and be well soon.

 

Happy Sunday everyone. Keep warm, well, and get your snow boots out!

 

Best wishes everyone. Jane xxx

 

Thanks. It’s influenza and according to the Doc this years version is hanging around longer than normal. Avoid if possible 😀

 

 

[kalos]

32 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

It is my late dad's 11th memory.

They never leave you just as you are part of them 🙂

[Josy1953]

30 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

It is my late dad's 11th memory.

Try to remember the good times with your late dad and remember that he can never leave your heart.

[kruzseeka]

3 hours ago, Purdey16 said:

Early good morning to you all , yet again not much sleep last night probably a bit of excitement again I’ve got the suitcase packed all up and later tonight we’re off to Madeira (early Monday morning) for 10 days ) other half likes to drive through the night much quieter especially when Gatwick has a traffic diversion that takes you all the way round the other side of airport to get to the other side of the roundabout 🥴 

We’re hiring a car for 9 days so going to explore the island all round and going to do a early morning sunrise watch , booked a whale/ dolphin trip, and plenty of those trails on north side on edge of island high up .  Wrote down some restaurants that someone gave me on here so any more tips what to do are greatly appreciate, I will be visiting the botanical gardens and go up the chair lift thing can’t remember what’s it called to early in the day but we won’t be coming down in the basket we done that 20 years ago and we will certainly be visiting Blandys winery 😁 .

Tried to visit here a few times on the ships last one was Iona last March but you know due to high winds etc couldn’t dock , anyway not long watched YouTube video of a plane trying to land at the airport in cross winds and that looks bleeding dodgey too 🫣, anyway sorry I’ve rambled on just a bit bored this morning, so I hope you will all be well and happy this week and not too cold back here and escape the snow if it comes your way stay warm & safe .

We like to go for a coffee to Camera de Lobos.  It's a pretty little harbour where Churchill liked to paint.  We just catch a local bus (it's close to Funchal) but this link,gives you some ideas of what else to do . You might like to include it in on your travels.

 

https://www.madeira-web.com/en/places/camara-de-lobos.html

 

We went from the harbour area on a Noddy train up to the cliff view point - second highest cliffs in Europe (or something like that) - where you get spectacular views if somewhat vertigo inducing!  

 

Safe travels. Have a lovely time.  It will certainly be a lot warmer than it is here! ☺

[brian1]

10 hours ago, Purdey16 said:

Lovely pictures purplesea it’s one place I would love to visit, I watched a programme the other night about Venice and how they are trying to stop it getting damaged by the rising tides etc with their flood gates that are not working. Glad you enjoyed your holiday.

An economical way to see Venice when landbased is to book a beach holiday in Lido di Jesolo.It is only 20 miles up the road so you can get a travelcard for about 20 Euro covering buses,ferry and vaporetti for a day.Lido has a fantastic beach and a buzzing seafront.We diverted there a few years back on 1 of our drive homes.

[Harry Peterson]

2 minutes ago, brian1 said:

An economical way to see Venice when landbased is to book a beach holiday in Lido di Jesolo.It is only 20 miles up the road so you can get a travelcard for about 20 Euro covering buses,ferry and vaporetti for a day.Lido has a fantastic beach and a buzzing seafront.We diverted there a few years back on 1 of our drive homes.

Often considered that as an alternative, but never tried it. Sounds a good idea. Our best trip to Venice was a couple of weeks with our son when he spent a whole term there as part of his history degree. He knew all the best - and cheapest - places to eat!

 

Never stopped reminding us since though that although we spent a fortnight with him in Venice, somehow we didn’t even manage a full day with him at Warwick.

 

 

[brian1]

5 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

Often considered that as an alternative, but never tried it. Sounds a good idea. Our best trip to Venice was a couple of weeks with our son when he spent a whole term there as part of his history degree. He knew all the best - and cheapest - places to eat!

 

Never stopped reminding us since though that although we spent a fortnight with him in Venice, somehow we didn’t even manage a full day with him at Warwick.

 

 

Hi Harry,the best of both worlds.Beach and culture.Lido has a "golden mile" of restaurants of all standards.Brian.

[purplesea]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

It is my late dad's 11th memory.

 

[Beckett]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

I have just posted today's church sermon on Holland America line fleet reports and daily Jane if you want to see it.

Graham xx

Thanks Graham. I'll head over there now. Jane. Xxx

[Adawn47]

3 minutes ago, purplesea said:

 

What a beautiful sentiment.

It will be 32 years this August since Dad died and  and 29 years in September my Mum, but even though the pain has gone and the tears can still come, the memories and love always remain.

Thinking of you today @grapau27x

Avril

[kruzseeka]

33 minutes ago, brian1 said:

An economical way to see Venice when landbased is to book a beach holiday in Lido di Jesolo.It is only 20 miles up the road so you can get a travelcard for about 20 Euro covering buses,ferry and vaporetti for a day.Lido has a fantastic beach and a buzzing seafront.We diverted there a few years back on 1 of our drive homes.

A three day pass on the vaporetto is another good deal - at least it worked really well for us. 

We bought it early afternoon one day so it ran out 72 hours later which allowed us to use it get to Piazzala Roma  the morning we were leaving where we were able to catch the airport bus (also very reasonable/direct 20 mins to outside the airport entrance).  

We elected to use it one evening at dusk to travel from San Marco to P.Roma via the Grand Canal (iirc at least an hour's trip) then just stayed on and came back by which time it was dark and all the palaces along the grand canal were lit up with their chandeliers.  It was like a excursion!  

We used the pass to go to the islands in the daytime (Burano, Murano and to Lido) then came back by mid afternoon by which time the cruise passengers were making their way back to port (I know - I've been one of them often enough!😀).  But when you're staying there you have the advantage of wandering round the city late afternoon/early evening when it's very much quieter.  

Fabulous city.  

Recommendation - Nico's for icecream along the Guidecca Canal.  Ice creams are superb but they also have a terrace on the waterfront where a Spritzer was extremely reasonable - probably gone up now but a favourite find of ours - just off the main tourist hotspots and therefore not a rip-off.  

[kalos]

3 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

What a beautiful sentiment.

It will be 32 years this August since Dad died and  and 29 years in September my Mum, but even though the pain has gone and the tears can still come, the memories and love always remain.

Thinking of you today @grapau27x

Avril

 

Certain memories fade but things like this can seem only like yesterday.

Mrs K  says " She gets what your saying . My dad has been passed longer than he was alive,

to which feels strange. In my head it feels like yesterday that as a young girl I sat and hugged him."

That must have been one dreadful Christmas mornings for her family almost 50 years ago.

@grapau27 have a cuppa looking out to sea, just you ,your thoughts and dad in your heart🙂