So here we are at the end of yet another glorious oddysey, during which I saw the sky over:-San Francisco USA. Long Beach USA, Honolulu USA. Apia, Samoa. Tonga. Auckland, Tauranga, Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Uluru, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth, Australia. Singapore. Dubai UAE. Salalah, Oman. Aqaba, Jordon, with Israel across the water. Wadi Rum, Jordon. Suez Egypt. Limassol, Cyprus. Rome, Italy. Barcelona, Spain. Lisbon, Portugal.
Those of you who kindly followed my blog, I do hope you enjoyed this modest account of my incredible tour. And I thank you for your interest. Hopefully, when I arrive back at home, I shall be able to post these final writings with much better internet availability. My packing is almost complete, but I think I have only just enough space; some things never change!
Most people, although they have enjoyed their cruise, do seem thankful to be disembarking tomorrow. In some ways, I am, too, but not with enormous enthusiasm! Wandering as a stranger to different lands is as agreeable as I anticipated all those years ago. However, these global meanderings will resume at the end of May when I shall revisit familiar cities and explore new countries.
The return from Dubai (UAE) on board QM2 continues to be an attractive voyage, although I did the right thing by reaching the UAE, via a westbound course taking almost eight weeks, rather than the ghastly eastbound overnight flight from the UK. Few people who prefixed their holiday with two or three days on QE2 were happy with their choice. To be fair, I doubt if I would have enjoyed my stay, following an overnight flight and hanging around in Dubai for six hours before being welcomed on board QE2.
My travel agent “did me proud”. Not one of the numerous arrangements went wrong, all the car transfers went to plan, no flights were altered or incorrect, and all the trains and buses ran on schedule. All extremely impressive. Lucy and her colleagues at Fred (Olsen) Cruises deserve the highest praise for their exemplary and imaginative service.
I did become, occasionally, “travel weary”, inevitable considering the numerous time changes involved in a trip to the other side of the world. But, this has been not only a privilege but an enriching experience.
Like last year, I intend writing an illustrated account of this journey after my arrival home. But before all that, a final dinner where reluctantly for her, Virginia’s birthday will no doubt be “trumpeted”. We have all bought presents. Mine, although wrapped beautifully, I’m afraid, falls into the “it’s the thought that counts” category!
After dinner, The Rewind Project take to the stage in the Queens Room for a farewell party. This, I must see.
Today may be the first day I fail to reach my modest steps target. We are now out of the Bay of Biscay and in the choppy and very windy mouth of the English Channel. The ship is as steady as a building. I tried a deck walk, but the head-wind overwhelmed me, and I was reminded of my still slightly fragile condition. But 41 days out of 73, of the benefit of sea air can only be good. Virginia’s diet (from which I strayed just once or twice) has been of enormous help, and hopefully I can defer the introduction of diabetic medication which I have avoided for over 8 years.
We bade our farewells during the final dinner at Table 112. Vicky and I headed for the farewell party in the Queens Room where yesterday’s brilliant band performed an enlarged set for tonight’s gig. The place was packed and the atmosphere joyously noisy. Marvellous, and had a second helping of Nights in White Satin!
For some reason, the pictures won’t upload.
Until the next time, thanks for following my blog.
Best wishes,
David.
David's Cruise 