(Started writing, Friday 6th March at 08.50 hrs on board the coach for today’s shore excursion, which I discover, to my horror, features the local speciality, Pisco Sour, which I now know, after several previous tastings, is a very alcoholic beverage!)
On long voyages such as Cunard’s “Discover South America” cruise of 78 nights, what starts off as a holiday, sooner or later, morphs into a routine, with the usual highs and lows normal life has to offer. For pretty much all of the time, one enjoys the hard to dream of routine of having your room and facilities cleaned twice a day, with your cabin converted to daytime use, and then during dinner (or a night out) having the bed made for whatever kind of night’s sleep the Almighty has in mind! The widest choice of breakfast in the world is available, in your room, if you wish, as a self service option on Deck 9, which many if not most people opt for, or served in the Britannia Restaurant between 8 o’clock and 9.30. All this soon becomes a way of life and can be, eventually taken for granted. All day, there are things to take part in, lectures, dancing and dance lessons, an afternoon movie, live music and afternoon recitals, music quizzes, pub quizzes, show-nights, and “much much more!” And in port, a plethora of shore excursions most of which are excellent, albeit a tad expensive. Or, you can do your “own thing” although Cunard can even arrange bespoke days out. You can launder your own clothes in one of several launderettes around the ship. Far better to avoid those dens of gossip and fake news, and have your clothes dealt with professionally. And while all this is going on, one is teleported to what feels like the remotest places on earth in an alien time zone and a climate usually far more agreeable than that at home. Coronavirus is speculated as no more than a flu bug, but is bigged up like a train wreck. There are irritations of course, like the lock on the toilet door which gave up the ghost after I had locked myself in. Fortunately, after skilful manipulation, and around four terrifying minutes, I did manage to get out. I did fear suffocation before assistance could be summoned. Never will I lock a loo door again! Of course, those whom I had kept waiting found it extremely funny, and I was forgiven! A good job I wasn’t there from Wednesday to Saturday!
(7th March 2020.) When I did, eventually catch up with my friends at the foot of the gang way from the ship, I was told that shorts were not appropriate for what I would learn was a city tour of Lima including several places of worship. They day had not started well. After little discussion, I decided not to go back on board and change, but to possibly find a gents outfitters in the city. However, our guide assured us that would not be necessary, short trousers, as elsewhere in these climes is normal and acceptable.
Thereafter, the trip became one of the most interesting of the voyage; for me this was unexpected. We visited churches, squares, the main railway station from which one train leaves each month, and witnessed the first few minutes of the Changing of the Guard. Lunch at a cafe in the suburbs was much appreciated after a morning of sightseeing and some shopping. In the evening, after a freshen up at the ship, we returned to Lima for an incredible laser and water show; I had never seen anything like it, ever! We continued to another venue for dinner and touristic folkloric dancing and displays, all rounded off by a Peruvian horse show. At the time, I felt that this was a “best day ever,” Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I can recall my time in Peru’s capital in “preserved detail.” Perhaps I may in future be able to write much more about my trips to Lima while were docked at the nearby port of Callao.
Much of this blog was compiled, hurriedly around 8am Sat.7th March.
Thanks for reading, David.
David's Cruise 