David's Cruise

(Written the following morning in Costa Rica)

Yet another tranquil and restful day “doing very little.” I did see a few dolphins during breakfast in the Lido. I think I needed to relax after a long but very interesting coach and boat trip in Guatemala. The disaster I described earlier was, in fact, a volcanic eruption with major tragic consequences. I am not sure, yet when this occurred, but I believe fairly recently.

That was yesterday; soon I shall be joining a rail and boat excursion.

In the meantime, a view from where I had breakfast today, and this morning’s positional details.

David. 09.34hrs Lido port side 13th July 2019.

“It ain’t half hot Mum! The early morning weather was a magnificent 82 degrees Fahrenheit. However, in the lakeside town of Panajachel, 5,000 feet above sea-level, a pleasant breeze brings a welcome gentle coolness. We left just after the booked time, after a warm and colourful welcome from the locals, relying on trade from, apparently, the last cruise ship of the season. Lake Atitlan is two and a half hours inland, Panajachel around 45 minutes by pleasure boat across the lake. It was a fascinating coach ride through small unsophisticated, and obviously very poor villages and some pockets of industry. A temporary fault with the air conditioning led to around 10 minutes delay, early in our journey. This was rectified efficiently by the driver.

Our guide pointed out, among other things, the high flying vultures in the hopes of Christmas, courtesy of the demographics of the guests on our coach…! Needless to say, the fowls of the air were disappointed. All in all, an excellent shore excursion to a remote but most attractive and appealing location. As you will see from the pictures, Lake Atitlan is gorgeous, surrounded by hills and volcanoes, one or two of which I understand could “go-up” anytime! On the way to Lake Atitlan, we passed crops of sugar beet and coffee. Our guide delivered a good account, but perhaps slightly rose tinted of everyday life in his country. Needless to say, I hope the journey home is relatively commentary free.

And there’s more delay, just before we head back to the ship. One of the guests has injured herself on a boat. I would find out later she was going for a scan at hospital in Guatemala City, around 70 miles from the port.

Panajachel and Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

I am rather sorry I had allowed my currency to dwindle. I did buy a nice t-shirt from a little woman who would have been brilliant selling life assurance. Little children had phenomenal confidence selling their wares, and I liked them!

More later, David, still on Lake Atitlan.

PS

Nocturnal pictures of Queen Elizabeth at Puerto Quetzal after the long coach trip to Lake Atitlan and back.

Thanks again for reading,

David.

I slept dreadfully last night. For whatever reason, my mind must have been in overdrive. As I lay awake, wide awake, unable to settle, I was fearful of a wasted day ahead. For a few moments, in the middle of the night, I sat on my balcony looking out to an amazing “scape of darkness.” Ink coloured sea met sky of black, with distant lightning and occasional cracks of thunder. The foaming wake from the ship was illuminated slightly by the few lights given off from the hull, creating a white on black marble effect. This brief experience was worth the insomnia I was wading through. Eventually I was somewhere completely different, not approaching the coast of Guatemala at all, but back home, on a rail trip which had gone badly wrong, and bereft of all my important friends who had deserted me. My belongings for the trip were nowhere to be found. Just as suddenly, I was back in my stateroom on board Queen Elizabeth.

We are around 15 degrees north of the Equator and the airlessness confirms this. My eyes are like house bricks, but I decide not to waste the day.

I enjoyed my usual breakfast of porridge, yoghurt and grapefruit, continued my deck walking and managed 21,387 steps between 5pm yesterday and the same time tonight. My initial plan to attend a Dive to the Titanic lecture was curtailed by meeting up with Denise for coffee and an early lunch. She was annoyed, and rightly so about missing her shore excursion in Cabo San Lucas directly as a result of lack of communication when the tendering procedure was delayed by over two hours. Last night at dinner, she was not pleased.

This afternoon, I joined Chris and Sue who had saved me a front row seat for a recital by Jeremy Huw (baritone) and Paula Fan (piano). Paula introducing a piano piece, mentioned the revered name of Nadia Boulanger, a French composer, musician and conductor who in 1963 conducted the Halle Orchestra at a concert in Manchester’s Free Trade Hall. One of the few memories of my early teenage years was attending that historic concert, and on requesting her autograph afterwards, she invited me into her dressing room, encouraging me to explore the music of Hindemith. What little of his music I came across was not unpleasant. Jeremy Huw, I am reminded has made several appearances at Buxton Festival. I could have made the mistake of talking to him about my past involvement and present continued membership of the Festival. Thankfully, he did not ask what I was doing on Queen Elizabeth at the time of Buxton Festival’s 40th Anniversary!

My day, which started not too well, was not wasted. Outside, the breezes were substantial and balmy. The sea had become rough at lunchtime, but the ship moved little. I walked around 11,000 steps, but needed a break for a mini afternoon tea.

23.25hrs

Confirmation of my slightly modified trip from Vancouver to Tokyo was waiting for me in my stateroom “pigeon hole.” Because I am having extra days in Japan’s capital, Cunard have removed the one night complimentary stay. Voyage Sales are enquiring about getting it reinstated. Apparently, it’s part of the flight deal.

Dinner was pretty good tonight. The beef steak was one of the best for a very long time.

The Divas 3 performed another impressive set in the Royal Court Theatre tonight. Again, however, good as the musicians and artistes are, they are rather let down by an overly sharp and slightly too loud sound system. To be fair, however, there was much soft and delicate playing which I did find extremely impressive. The theatre lighting is first rate, and the sound/light engineers exploit its full potential to impressive effect.

It was a good day on the whole. Tomorrow is my excursion to Lake Atitlan and Panajachel, Guatemala.

We are due at Puerto Quetzal at 09.00hrs, the time booked to meet in the Royal Court Theatre.

And it’s goodnight from me,

David.

Below are pictures taken from Queen Elizabeth as she continues her journey south. The hot weather is here to stay for the time-being, and jolly good it is, too. Once again, I was sad to leave the joie de vivre of Cabo San Lucas behind.

Continued 11.46 hrs 9th July 2019

The first picture was taken as we boarded Queen Elizabeth from the tender. We had to wait a long time for the transfer vessel to arrive to pick up what had become a long queue, in now, very hot weather. The procedure for transferring guests ashore and back to the ship, was hampered not only by the swell, but, perhaps by the use of as few tenders as possible.

Tours were delayed with some guests (1 that I know of) “giving up” and staying on board. But, I felt that my persistence was rewarded with a most enjoyable (but fairly costly) “all you can drink” deluxe cruise along the fabulous rocky coast line. The vessel was clearly rigged as an evening dinner and dance cruise boat; I have been on similar in Dubai.

Dinner last night was a “smart-casual” affair. I changed accordingly only to find that the remaining six had chosen to dine elsewhere, and as I would ascertain, independently. I joined Denise for something to eat in the Lido. This was a most enjoyable change from our nightly gathering in the main (Britannia) restaurant.

Thanks for reading,

David.

This isn’t going well! I reported to the Royal Court Theatre for the Deluxe Coastal Cruise which I had booked yesterday. A disgruntled guest had been waiting an hour and a quarter already for her trip an hour earlier.

Outside, the sea conditions are “debatable” and the tender service to the port, severely disrupted. 90 minutes later and I with others are waiting in the Grand Lobby for instructions to proceed to the tender.

Eventually, those instructions were authorised and soon, we were boarding a “very turbulent tender.”

My feelings about shore excursions have become “jaundiced” of late but today’s heavily delayed De Luxe Coastal Cruise was magnificent! Yes, it was noisy with commentary and back to back vintage pop music. But the sun was shining and bobbing around in one of those craggy bays with waves crashing against the base of those cliffs was “very spirit lifting…”

Walking away from the quayside, numerous stall holders (for want of a better word) were enthusiastically plugging their wares, whether it be t-shirts, tours or hats. I may just buy the t-shirt which proclaims proudly “Cabo San Lucas – on the Fun Side of Trump’s Wall!” The boat, a three deck catamaran had tons of space. The tour was billed originally as a whale watching trip. Cunard, in covering themselves re-titled, sensibly, this trip as a “deluxe” cruise. If one was so inclined, alcoholic drink was complimentary and unlimited….as the guide pointed out, we had ready paid for it. Of course we had! But the prolonged views from the vessel were worth every penny. My spirits are restored as if this was the first day of a much awaited vacation. I like Cabo San Lucas, and I won’t mind if I return frequently. That lunch of chicken in a sizzling stew and fajitas was magnificent!

“Carnival Splendor” was anchored close to “Queen Elizabeth” today.

I shall make use of the cafe’s WiFi and then explore further.

Thanks for reading,

David.

Today is “farewell to Alaska” day as we make our final call on this section of the voyage, at Sitka. It is surprisingly warm and I don’t feel like venturing far today. I had caught up on days of lost sleep, the very long daylight hours confusing my body clock. However, I do like these long hours of daylight. My plans to “show-up” at an organised shore excursion were scuppered by an extraordinarily long lie-in. I had passed on a very early boat trip which promised plenteous wildlife sightings. The later “repeat” was sold out, and Eileen from CA talked me out of a high speed raft trip, which I had considered. I would explore Sitka under my own steam. However, I was overwhelmed by the unexpectedly warm weather and slithered into a cafe for some weird but delicious Alaskan dumplings, one portion of beef, one of potato, with strange garnishes. Excellent!I hope I venture to these parts again. Cunard are running a trip from Japan to Vancouver which looks most interesting. I would like to make a second visit, and make slightly better use of my time now that I have a better understanding of “The Last Frontier.” It is more than a bucket list “to-do” destination.I saw little of Sitka, but it’s surrounds are typically picturesque.More news as we head south.David.

Today, the ship was scheduled to sail as close as practicable to Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier between 8am and noon. The forward crew area on Deck 5 had been opened for public viewing of the “mind-blowing” vista ahead. Again, the Almighty treated us to perfect clear weather conditions in which to admire His astonishing creation – or a very small part of it!A symphony of white and rock on the near horizon was a prelude to the “glorious oratorio of splendours to come.” Ice chippings over 400 years old littered the waters through which we were venturing. And like a frozen wave of utter fury, the Glacier revealed itself ever so slowly but prominently until all was spread before those eager observers occupying every suitable vantage point on the ship. I took both video and normal photographs and was very pleased that I had managed to capture footage of ice crashing into the water, creating an almighty roar as it broke away and fell from the front of the glacier. Was this a “wonder of the world?” My enthusiasm was quelled over lunch by a much travelled Australian lady at our table who proclaimed Greenland to be better still! All I can offer are the better pictures I managed from different locations on the ship.

Around Hubbard Glacier. Re-sent 8/7/19

Thanks for reading,

David.

Looking through my Blog, I found two items relating to Alaska “unpublished.” You should have them by now. They are both “worth a look.”

David 7/7/19.

I have been here (Cabo San Lucas) twice before, once with Royal Caribbean on their “Song of America”(2000) and a second time on board N.C.L’s “Norwegian Star”(2005 or 6). I enjoyed these two trips enormously. Both cruise companies were excellent in their own ways, and I enjoyed each’s individual style. If I remember rightly, Cabo San Lucas is the first place I set foot in, in Mexico, back in 2000. I would soon be 51 years of age, and still with no faith in the prospect of a brand new R.M.S. Queen Mary 2!The hot weather is, at last, beginning to establish itself; this lengthy voyage is becoming a “sunshine cruise.” We have enjoyed plenty of warmth right from the beginning, but with many cooler influences which just won’t be around as we head towards Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Aruba and Fort Lauderdale. I suspect the “chills” to return somewhere north of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

I have booked a “Deluxe Coastal Cruise” for my third visit to Cabo San Lucas, and assume that includes coffee.

I am gratified by a number of people whom I met on last year’s World Voyage who have remembered me for, among other things, what seemed to be numerous visits to the Medical Centre… and also for my previous career on The Railway! It is rare now to take a cruise without meeting a “past passenger (guest).” Next year’s travels are finalised; the only item left to be sorted is my Amtrak travel between New York and Vancouver.

Although just past 7pm, it is still beautiful out on the open decks. My lily-white legs are not yet colour-coded with my face and arms!Deck walking has been spasmodic today, but so far, I have exceeded my “steps” target for the first 7 days of July.

Finally, it seems we dodged a couple of substantial earthquakes in southern California. The first one, I have mentioned briefly, but at around 8.30pm on July 4th, the earth shook to 7.1 on the Richter Scale and was felt where I had been wandering about hours earlier. It couldn’t have had serious consequences, there is nothing on the news about it two days later.

The pictures below were taken earlier today and indicate where we were at the time shown underneath the maps.

That’s it for today. It occurs to me that I should write some postcards. Thanks for reading,

David.

P.S.To those who have sent e-mails, I am delighted to have heard from you. I shall reply. However, I have not yet worked out how to write e-mails on my cell phone without being on line, which on board ship is costly once my allowance has expired. E-mails from me will have to be brief until I have figured this out.

Cheers, David.

The sea is calm as we now sail along the coast of Baja California for the first of a couple of days. We are steaming at around 14 knots; all is very gentle.

I awoke at 5am after a respectable four hour sleep. The trouble is that I recall staying awake until getting up. The sky remains overcast. I was surprised to learn that we were required to advance our watches by one hour. I didn’t think that Cabo San Lucas was in a different time zone to Los Angeles. There must be some kind of political explanation! Noon became 1 o’clock leaving just 30 minutes if you wanted lunch in the Britannia Restaurant.

Optimistically, I donned shorts for the first time on this holiday, anticipating warm weather in which to sun-bathe. It’s unlikely to be “a scorcher” today. During a sea day, I shall tour the ship to take photographs of “scenes on board”.

(written the following morning, – 7/7/19)

It did warm up late in the afternoon. At noon the time was advanced by 1 hour, an annoying Cunard peculiarity introduced not too many years ago on east bound voyages. Again, I soaked up the sun, firstly in my little space, and then on deck 9 – to be sociable!Again, it was Gala Night in the evening. Being “sort of” in the tropics, I donned my still immaculate white tuxedo and tried out one of the bow ties I had bought from a lady who makes them for a living in Victoria, Vancouver Island. These are the easiest bow-ties to put on with minimum skill required. I shall be contacting her for more ties as ti(m)es go by! (sorry).

I have yet to tour the ship for detailed interior images. Having received an e-mail requesting a comparison of Queen Elizabeth with QM2, I shall do this in the near future.

Today, being Sunday, I attended the morning worship conducted on this occasion, by the Captain. Prior to this, I visited Voyage Sales to confirm my plans for August 2020. I missed my breakfast this morning, no bad thing methinks.

The view of a calm sea and mixed skies from my room is one to savour. The Pacific Ocean is living up to its name bestowed upon it by (I think) the explorer Magellan. Just ordinary views, but lovely nonetheless.

With best wishes, and thanks for reading,

David.