We had to clear US customs before we could go ashore in Boston. Strangely it seemed to work well. Our floor was one of the first to be called. No photos or finger prints were taken, which amazed us. We were ashore by 1pm and shared a cab with another couple to Quincy Markets in the old part of Boston town. There were lots of people and activity, stalls and entertainment. Lots of fun to be amongst. I could have bought $ 5 t-shirts. They went up to $10 on Sunday night. We just wandered all through the markets (bought nothing) and eventually found or way to Little Italy.
We discovered Catholic churches in the space of 100 metres, one being the church where JFK’s mother was baptised and was buried from. We also saw the school she attended. The church had had 3 different Christian denominations practicing in it over last couple of hundred years. A “Bulfinch” church, named after the designer, it was VERY plain but beautiful just the same, photos to prove. We eventually went back to the church at 4.30 for vigil mass. After Mass we caught a cab back to the ship. We saw a graveyard in our travels. All the headstones were much the same height and they took on a misty look in certain lights - quite eerie. We saw Paul Revere’s church and followed part of the Freedom Trail which is mostly marked by a red line.
On Boston Common today we missed the pot festival! Apparently thousands of people crowded into the common and puffed away happily. The Common was ringed by police and if you stepped off the common you could be fined. Plenty of ambulances on standby. Apparently pot is decriminalised but you can still be find. We had afternoon tea with Boston Cream pie. Basically sponge cake with cream and Chocolate icing. I don’t think we had the best example as it was a little disappointing.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday 17th September
At sea – and it was pretty rough but the stabilizers were working a treat. We have had rougher weather in the South Pacific. We played cards yet again. Not much sunbathing
Looks a like it was a good decision to avoid Bermuda.
Looks a like it was a good decision to avoid Bermuda.
Thursday 16th September
Another day at see and Boston is getting closer. The forecast for Bermuda for Sunday was winds in excess of 100 knots with another hurricane close behind Igor.
The decision appears to have been a prudent one – but who are we to question the captain.
Another day of eating playing cards, sun baking, dress up night for dinner and another late night movie on the deck. I wonder why they can’t show the movie in the theatre so everyone doesn’t have to brave the winds and the mist that rolls in occasionally – yet another little question to ask the cruise director. Adrian has such a limited sense of adventure! A
The cruise people are advertising a shuttle to New York airport for when we get there. They will charge € 35 per person which would be $105 Australian. The cab will charge about $55 Australian. All the cabs have written on the side a flat rate of $45 to JFK airport
Someone said yesterday that the Oz dollar is about 94 cents to the American – a good time as shopping approaches.
We are unsure what we will do in Boston but Harvard is about 15minutes from town and the hop-on- hop-off buses may be running for us. We will wait and see.
The decision appears to have been a prudent one – but who are we to question the captain.
Another day of eating playing cards, sun baking, dress up night for dinner and another late night movie on the deck. I wonder why they can’t show the movie in the theatre so everyone doesn’t have to brave the winds and the mist that rolls in occasionally – yet another little question to ask the cruise director. Adrian has such a limited sense of adventure! A
The cruise people are advertising a shuttle to New York airport for when we get there. They will charge € 35 per person which would be $105 Australian. The cab will charge about $55 Australian. All the cabs have written on the side a flat rate of $45 to JFK airport
Someone said yesterday that the Oz dollar is about 94 cents to the American – a good time as shopping approaches.
We are unsure what we will do in Boston but Harvard is about 15minutes from town and the hop-on- hop-off buses may be running for us. We will wait and see.
Wednesday 15th - At Sea
Another glorious day. Hard to believe it is the North Atlantic and not the South Pacific. Played cards, went in spa, read and sun baked. The library is very short on English books so many people have set up their own swapping system. Adrian was reading the Atlas one day. We met a lovely lady who shares her time between Albany in WA and Hervey Bay in QLD. She told us about a fort in Albany. More places for us to visit!! I have not been using sunscreen but do not get burnt. The sun just does not seem to have the same intensity. The Europeans on board sun bake in any weather even if we think it a bit cool. People are much less inhibited about their body shapes and all shapes, sizes and ages wear bikinis.
I (Fay) have won cards two days in a row!!! I have to record this as I don’t beat Adrian often (is everything a competition - of course). Adrian lost (????) the score sheets. Therefore there is no proof! One of the ladies we play with is battling seasickness so the cards are a distraction for her.
Today is when it was decided to divert to Boston because of the hurricane. We have never been to Boston and look forward to a couple of days there and a tea party
I spoke to a couple in the spa and they were looking forward to scuba diving in Bermuda but it was not meant to be.
We watched a movie outdoors on the big screen at last. It was fun but a little cool. We will take a jacket tonight.
TV is abysmal with limited English stations. They need to put a little more thought in if they want to attract English speaking tourists.
We are glad to heading in the direction of home! We miss you all and can’t wait to see you all. Kath, we have seen so many wedding dresses at great prices. Perhaps a trip to check them out would be in order??????
I (Fay) have won cards two days in a row!!! I have to record this as I don’t beat Adrian often (is everything a competition - of course). Adrian lost (????) the score sheets. Therefore there is no proof! One of the ladies we play with is battling seasickness so the cards are a distraction for her.
Today is when it was decided to divert to Boston because of the hurricane. We have never been to Boston and look forward to a couple of days there and a tea party
I spoke to a couple in the spa and they were looking forward to scuba diving in Bermuda but it was not meant to be.
We watched a movie outdoors on the big screen at last. It was fun but a little cool. We will take a jacket tonight.
TV is abysmal with limited English stations. They need to put a little more thought in if they want to attract English speaking tourists.
We are glad to heading in the direction of home! We miss you all and can’t wait to see you all. Kath, we have seen so many wedding dresses at great prices. Perhaps a trip to check them out would be in order??????
Tuesday 14th September – A Day at Sea.
This is the first of a four day sail from the Azores to Bermuda. We headed almost directly West at 20 knots all day and night.
The days at sea are starting to take a pattern, as we play rickety Kate with Hobbo, Vicky, Sally and Ian, who are workmates and partners from AIS. The rest of the day is spent in the sun or reading, interspersed with tea, coffee and dinner.
The days at sea are starting to take a pattern, as we play rickety Kate with Hobbo, Vicky, Sally and Ian, who are workmates and partners from AIS. The rest of the day is spent in the sun or reading, interspersed with tea, coffee and dinner.
Monday 13th September
The Azores are a beautiful set of islands. We had booked a tour, the first for us on the cruise. The tour didn’t start till 12.15 so we set off to explore the main shopping area to try and find an internet café and get the lay of the land. The internet café was eventually found and we just checked for the important emails if any, and then got out for a walk back to the ship for the tour.
The tour was a 2½ hour bus drive up to the mountains to see the crater lakes. The mountain is 2000 feet (660 metres) high. The views really were magnificent and the picture probably will not do justice. On the way back we managed to stop on a part of the mountain range where you could see both the north and south sides of the island from the same point. The Island is wide but not very deep. The sights from the mountain stop looked just like you were looking down the south coast of Australia near Gerringong.
Beautiful blue sea, rich green verdant mountain sides and narrow roads.
The last stop on the way was a pineapple plantation but the difference being that it was in hot houses. I can’t see how they made too much money as pineapples take three years till you get a single fruit from them then you have to start again. There were about 12 or 15 hothouses with about 900 plants in each. The most pineapples you could sell each year would be about 4000, so there couldn’t be much of a living but it would depend how much you got for each.
We then wandered through the shopping area again and back to the boat in time for afternoon tea.
The food is improving. We are blessed with intelligent and entertaining dinner companions. One lady, who has travelled extensively has a very retentive memory and gives us lots of details of her travels. One of the men used to be a headmaster but dad is coping as he is very funny. Two of the ladies have been involved in the travel industry. One lady worked for Thai airline and still has travel benefits. Most people are lovely and we have seen a minimal of the ugly Australian. We found out that that Germans have a different and much more generous drink package then the Australians. You can imagine how the Australians like this.
One of the couples are ’ten pound poms’ Young people talk to old people for explanation. They are lovely and friends with the headmaster and his wife. He does not eat any vegetables that are green. He comes from Northen Island and loves his taties in any shape or form.
Good news about the Raiders! Hope they can win on Friday. We arrive home on Grand final day. Hope someone can meet us!
The tour was a 2½ hour bus drive up to the mountains to see the crater lakes. The mountain is 2000 feet (660 metres) high. The views really were magnificent and the picture probably will not do justice. On the way back we managed to stop on a part of the mountain range where you could see both the north and south sides of the island from the same point. The Island is wide but not very deep. The sights from the mountain stop looked just like you were looking down the south coast of Australia near Gerringong.
Beautiful blue sea, rich green verdant mountain sides and narrow roads.
The last stop on the way was a pineapple plantation but the difference being that it was in hot houses. I can’t see how they made too much money as pineapples take three years till you get a single fruit from them then you have to start again. There were about 12 or 15 hothouses with about 900 plants in each. The most pineapples you could sell each year would be about 4000, so there couldn’t be much of a living but it would depend how much you got for each.
We then wandered through the shopping area again and back to the boat in time for afternoon tea.
The food is improving. We are blessed with intelligent and entertaining dinner companions. One lady, who has travelled extensively has a very retentive memory and gives us lots of details of her travels. One of the men used to be a headmaster but dad is coping as he is very funny. Two of the ladies have been involved in the travel industry. One lady worked for Thai airline and still has travel benefits. Most people are lovely and we have seen a minimal of the ugly Australian. We found out that that Germans have a different and much more generous drink package then the Australians. You can imagine how the Australians like this.
One of the couples are ’ten pound poms’ Young people talk to old people for explanation. They are lovely and friends with the headmaster and his wife. He does not eat any vegetables that are green. He comes from Northen Island and loves his taties in any shape or form.
Good news about the Raiders! Hope they can win on Friday. We arrive home on Grand final day. Hope someone can meet us!
Sunday 12th September
A day at sea between Lisboa and the Azores. The Azores are about 400 nautical miles west of Lisboa in the Atlantic Ocean.
An 11 o’clock card game for 2 hours filled our morning and a lazy afternoon filled our day. Dinner was a highlight of the day – it’s tough!!!!
An 11 o’clock card game for 2 hours filled our morning and a lazy afternoon filled our day. Dinner was a highlight of the day – it’s tough!!!!
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