Cultural Landmarks of Egypt and India Days 6 to 8

Cruising through the Mediterranean Sea at sunset accompanied by many other ships

We were very pleased to get the last blog done using the port WiFi which was very fast, possibly because we seemed to be the only people who could connect to it!

Gibraltar in the distance

We think there are just over 800 people on a ship that takes 1250 which means we all have plenty of space to relax. Though we were very pleased that after lunch on our return from Tangier, Morocco (see our Relive video of our Tangier walk: click here), we managed to get one of the comfy sofas by the pool ready for the going away party. A band we haven't managed to catch before who were well worth a listen were playing, very entertaining . Our focus has been on the ballroom dancing music that alternates between recorded and live and in two different locations. We've been doing a lot of dancing!

Cocktails by the pool as the band played on leaving Tangier

Day 6

Yesterday Brian attended a lot of lectures, flags of the world, the origins of Egyptian writing, both of which I thought a bit heavy, so I went up to the crafting studio to begin making a Maltese Cat. It is a beautiful space to sit in, and it's nice just to have a bit of a chat with people when you have another focus.

View from above the pool as the band played. Tangier in the background

After lunch we did 7 laps of deck 3 which in theory is 2 miles. Amazingly while out Brian's phone rang from a number we managed to identify as our conveyancer. As today is house completion perhaps we'd better buy some WiFi! Nothing to worry about, we have completed, but despite having sent them two emails with where we want the money paid, and despite them knowing we are in the middle of the ocean, they want to confirm bank details by telephone! Thank goodness for WhatsApp calling. So pleased that that is all over, though we are looking forward to checking the bank, to confirm the balance on Sunday, in Malta when we have secure WiFi!

Not a formal dinner suit night, just a regular night out

Another lecture on ballooning across the Atlantic, by the BBC producer. A couple of scones in afternoon tea, the crossword and a G&T. Shower and change before an hour and a half of dancing before dinner.... It's all go!

This was the forecast for tomorrow. This shows expected sea conditions. The top left shows 7.2m swell, confirmed later by our captain. We'll be coming in from the left just off the coast of Algeria and Tunisia, right in the thick of it. Force 8 winds the captain told us

Day7

The captain had warned yesterday of increasing wind and waves, and he wasn't wrong so today has been very lumpy. Fortunately forewarned is forearmed and Brian took a pill before getting out of bed this morning and has been absolutely fine. Wish the same could be said of the piles of crockery and cutlery we heard crashing to the floor in the buffet restaurant and what has hit the deck in the kitchen is anyone's guess, but there's been a lot of noise. Everyone just gets on with it though. 

The forecast was correct. See the wine in the glass and that was not a bad wave, the big ones were accompanied by loud crashed from the kitchen and serving tables

An introduction to our next three ports before I went to craft and B stayed for the astronomy lecture. He's just gone to one about Romans in Alexandria. Fortunately I have a blog to write!

Photos never do it justice but the sea was rough

Tomorrow is Valletta, Malta, where we should get regular data, so this might get posted after we have had an explore of the town 

Day 8

Our ship The Bolette in the long natural harbour of Valletta, Malta. Our captain managed to turn the ship completely around in that width, quite a feat I thought 

Nothing much happened yesterday after I wrote the blog, so today was Valletta. It appeared a very compact town, so again we were planning on exploring on our own. I was expecting much of the cats of Malta, having made one, because apparently there are many. Yes there were some, and yes, they had been built hotels and feeding stations on waste ground, but we didn't see many and those we did didn't want a lot of fuss. So Tangier cats rate a lot higher!

Two cat hotels we passed in Malta

Thoroughly enjoyed our 5 hours and 6 miles in Valletta (see our Relive video: click here). Not a good ratio I know, but we did go to the war museum which had a reenactment for the best part of an hour, and then, lots to read. I didn't let him read everything, but selected stuff we followed through with was very interesting and very well laid out. The reenactment, was quite entertaining, and all in English, but in the shade in a wind tunnel! We were both cold till we got back to the ship.

The City Gate allowing entry to the old (16th C) UNESCO walled city of Valletta

The rest of Valletta, that we saw, was very attractive, and quite enticing to return to. That has to be the plus of cruise port visits, you can decide whether you fancy a proper visit or not.

The Triton Fountain as seen over the very thick city wall

We arrived back just after 14.30, just in time to miss Sunday lunch, but there is always food available at the pool bar! And then afternoon tea, nibbles with pre dinner drinks, dinner and the midnight feast, which we've never even considered going to! It's impossible to be hungry!

St Catherine of Alexandria Church

I'm now trying to write today's blog, while Brian is posting the last couple of days and a quiz has just started. Talk about multi tasking. I shall also be pleased if I can make it to the cookery demonstration later as they've all clashed with other things .

This may be the last post for a while, it all depends on port WiFi through Egypt and on

Inside the fort of St Elmo with its cannons protecting the entrance to the harbour

This is the WWII siege bell monument, but beyond it, if you look, is a big cargo ship entering the harbour. All shipping has to turn hard left after entering, going past this monument and then hard right into the harbour behind. Its quite a tricky manoeuvre, hence tugs are frequently hovering there ready to provide assistance 

Spotted him enjoying the sun

This was inside the war museum at St Elmo and these people were reenacting a parade of the Knights of St Johns who are very famous here. In 1565 they successfully held of a several days long Ottoman Turk invasion while grossly outnumbered. Had they been defeated it would have opened up Italy and Spain to an Ottoman attack, so perhaps they changed the course of history. The excellent museum here tells the story of this plus WWI and WWII heroics very well. Well worth a visit here

The man in black is the Grand Master  of the order. Not sure if they are still an active organisation or they are all just actors recreating the scene

Whatever was happening it finished off with a sword fight and some old guns being fired, apparently to show off their prowess

Looking across the harbour to the buildings opposite. Apparently they are being used as the backdrop for Gladiator 2 currently being filmed (now the Hollywood strike is over)

This city is full of interesting buildings with fabulous architecture, its well worth a visit

Last photo. This is the old city walls on our walk back to the harbour. The new structure on the left is a lift that elevates people from the harbour to the city but, on the right is a lone cannon looking our over the harbour. Hope they don't get a strong wind! That's it for now, must sign off, we'll be setting off again within the hour. Not sure when the next entry will be, possibly from India in a week or so