Barbara's Travels

Farewell Lisbon

Going through flight check in and very slow moving passport and customs control points at the airport was torture. No air conditioning (or else it was not at all effective), long lines, 5 separate passport checks before getting to the gate and checked again when we got there. Not a good experience.

We flew back on United and you have to pay to access the entertainment program, can’t turn off the screen if you don’t choose to pay so it keeps flashing ads at you ad nauseum, and the music program is a real mess. So much for the Friendly Skies of United.

I had paid extra for town car service from Shuttle Express since we were getting in late, and it was worth every penny. The driver met us at the baggage carousel, grabbed our bags, took us direct to the car, and we were home in less time than it usually takes just to get on the shared van. Will do this in the future for all late arrivals, especially from overseas

I have written a detailed letter to Voyages to Antiquity about our non-too-pleasant cruise experience. They acknowledged receipt and promised a fast response, but nothing yet beyond the form letter with the compensation check.

It’s good to be home. Our winter trip was to have been to Dubai and Oman (I really wanted to experience the Oman ophiolite suite on the ground) but was canceled due to lack of interest. So Bob looked around on the internet and spotted a good deal on an 8 day cruise around the Society Islands (Tahiti) and after checking it out thoroughly, I called, paid the deposit, and we will be off over Thanksgiving to where Bob and I met 47 years ago. As he says, back to the scene of the crime. Nothing to do on the windjammer cruise but sit in the shade and relax and read. Maybe a few excursions. Heaven.

Traded In

After lunch, Bob went to the Gulbenkian Museum with a lady from our cruise, I never did learn her name but she was 85 and very active. I, at the advanced age of only 80, rested from the heat

Edward VII Park

On Friday we set out to find a shopping center so I could look for gifts, but the streets are confusing, the street signs almost non-existent, the map no help at all, I’m no great shakes as a navigator, so we ended up going around in circles. We finally decided to walk and sit in the Edward VII Park near our hotel. Very HOT.

Lisbon — and sunshine! July 6th

We arrived early to brilliant sunshine. The first we’ve seen on this trip. Bus tour of the city, stop offs at the usual places — Saint Jerónimos monastery, Belem Tower, Monument to the Discoverers —and were then dropped off on a main shopping street (finally managed to find cough drops, which I had run out of several days earlier) to fill the time until our hotel rooms were ready. That’s the trouble with a ship or plane flight getting in early in the morning: the hotel rooms are not ready until after 3pm so you have to do something to fill the time.

Picture One: Waterfront
Picture Two: Saint Jerónimos monastery
Picture Three: An elevated viewing platform accessible by elevator

Another canceled port

Woke to brilliant sunshine and the news that we were skipping Porto. Exceedingly rough seas over night (I heard the waves slapping at the hull, but otherwise slept through the storm) had forced the ship off course and as a result we would not get to Porto in time for the scheduled excursion and thus would skip Porto entirely. Oh well, we’ve been to Porto before. Between the cost of repairs, compensation, the free bar, and the costs of penalties to vendors for canceled excursions, and the cost of arranging new ones at the last moment, this cruise has likely wiped out the total profit of VtoA this year.

I surrender

Bob sighted the very large gun which protected the coast during WWII, but was never fired. Spain was “neutral — favoring Germany” in WWII and never was involved in the war.

Tapas and Wine

We had tapas and wine at a lovely restaurant and wandered around the grounds — gorgeous hydrangeas!

Scenes from La Coruña

Picture One: Reproduction of an ancient fishing vessel
Picture Two: Bulbous statue, Tower of Hercules in distance
Picture Three: Tower of Hercules, La Coruña

La Coruña Spain, July 5th

All I know about this corner of Spain can be succinctly summarized: the evacuation of British armies through this port in 1809 during the Napoleonic wars in Spain. General Sir John Moore lost his life in the battle and was replaced by Wellington.

It was another dreary overcast day. The vast majority of passengers chose to go to Santiago de Compostela on a full day tour but I didn’t want anything that long so we opted for “A Taste of La Coruña.” We walked through the Plaza Maria Pita, named after the woman who rallied the defenders during the attack by Sir Francis Drake in 1589. We visited the Archaeological Museum and then the Tower of Hercules, built by the Romans 1900 years ago. This location is the Land’s End of Spain.



Picture One: Medieval chapel on the road to Compostela

A Day At Sea

It’s the Fourth of July but no particular notice was paid on board ship. Had a most interesting conversation at lunch with a couple from Australia. One does not realize how convoluted and illogical the American system of politics and government is until trying to explain it to someone who doesn’t know how it works — or does not work. The parliamentary system is so much simpler.

Today we finally saw sunshine but the ship is still rocking and rolling but not enough to make me sea sick again. Guess I finally have my sea legs. The Bay of Biscay is notoriously rough sailing.

One major mistake ship management has made has been to give out only limited and incomplete information on what has been happening leading to a lack of trust among passengers and a perception that the ship is falling apart. It isn’t, but it does give that impression and the ship is starting to look a bit shabby and could use a good refurbishment. 

The Aegean Odyssey is not sailing between mid November and early April. Rumor had it that it was putting into dry dock for a complete overhaul. And then rumor had it that it was not. But the real reason is that due to the situation in the Middle East, there are no safe countries or ports in the eastern Mediterranean, her normal grounds over the winter. Nor have the owners elected to repeat the south east Asia cruises they put on for several winters. So with nowhere to sail, she will be tied up. I believe that would be a opportunity wasted if they do not use that time to give it a complete overhaul and upgrading. Next summer, they are starting new routes around England and Ireland, with two trips to Iceland.