Photo Andy

On 6/10/2024 at 9:30 AM, alserrod said:

 

 

Hello:

Do you remember what dates of the year it happened?
These manifestations are very rare but they continue to exist. I remember very few places where they are held. One of them is Fatima in Portugal, as you say. In Lourdes (southern France) many sick people come with the hope of being healed (and it is striking because the tradition of France as an atheist country is very strong and generates a great contrast).
However, they are almost unique cases. On the other hand, the Camino de Santiago has almost half a million pilgrims annually (people who have walked for at least 100 km, although the usual thing is to do it for a week and there are those who plan to do it in sections for several years, each year. a week because he doesn't have that many vacations). However, it is very difficult to distinguish who does it for religious reasons, who for cultural reasons, who for sport and who for curiosity given that everyone goes with trekking clothing and trekking customs on a route like this.

In general terms, unless you are at Easter, you will not see anything like this again in almost all places.

alserrod, 

I looked up my images from Fatima and the metadata date was Wednesday 7 December 2016. I have attached an image taken of the square where people where walking on knees.

BW

Amy, 

been to Funchal many times on a cruise and stayed 2 weeks in a hotel many years ago. Walk from cruise ship into centre of town about 30 mins, we then walked through town to the cable car and went to Monte. Funchal is easy walking provided you are fit. Monte the gardens are delightful. When we stayed many years ago did 2 Lavada walks, ok walking but over hyped.  

Happy travels.  

Went to Fatima pre pandemic probably 2019. Wore shorts to knee and T shirt, no problems. What did surprise me as I have never seen this previously was people walking on knees for penitence?  I am not particularly religious, seeing people on knees crawling along was very strange. Forgive my religious ignorance but Fatima was interesting and pleased I visited, but would not return as seen it.  

BHA58, recently returned from Iona cruise to Norway and last year Queen Victoria to North Cape. 

May 2024, on Iona walked to Briksdal glacier an Olden port excursion, wanted to do the Loen sky lift but fully booked,  we booked this cruise very late - unusual for us. 

Walking to the Briksdal glacier, the guide stated 45 mins - I am a photographer and photographed various locations on the walk and it was 70mins. We are fit,  walk, gym, mountain bike and the walk was fine. If you are fit, wear boots, and have a Goretex you should be ok. You may have time restrictions for the walk so just be careful. We walked up the path to Mt Aksla in Alesund, 420 steps, biggest problem with this path was the number of tourists walking up a path probably 1m wide - Iona and an Aida ship in port so probably 3k people on the hill. On top a good view of Alesund.  

We really enjoyed Norway, been 3x so far post pandemic, but you need to be fit.   

Image below is on the trail to Briksdal glacier. 

We have cruise cover that includes missed ports and missing the ship when it leaves port, personally that is more important to me - never had to use it, but always a background worry. 

We have missed entering 2 ports - Olden May 2022 and Haugesund May 2024, never claimed on the insurance but our excursion money was returned. 

To me travel insurance is really for medical care, people do not realise how expensive medical care is abroad when we have a free at point of use NHS! 

BW

Derek. 

Thought I would bring you all up to date. It is Sunday night and we are back in UK at home. 

Eventful final few days.

Wednesday in Alesund, we walked up Mt Aksla with many people from P and O Iona and an Aida ship. The footpath was very busy,  I took my camera / tripod images of Alesund  but not from the cafe as it seems permanently closed. Walked back down into the town and fell off a pavement and injured myself up, mostly my right hand knuckles, deskinned and bloody, avoided any facial injuries, a quick check and nothing seemed broken. Back on ship cleaned up, then back out into Alesund to buy some dressings, tape and scissors. (I used to work in the NHS doing tissue viability so self dressing is not a problem). Have you ever tried to pass through ship security with a pair of scissors longer than 40mm? They looked at the dressings we purchased, the tape and my bloody fingers etc. They allowed the scissors on board but we could not open the packet until in our cabin and could not take them out of the cabin. We were meant to have a pm cruise on a fjord but just did not feel up to it. 

Thursday - heavy rain, fog and 35mph wind and the ship had 2 attempts to enter Haugesund but no luck. On the upside we were refunded our excursion money. 

Friday, packed, had a table for dinner at the Keel and Cow, lovely meal, clean plates. 

Saturday, our disembarkation time was 8-55am, in the car and on the way home by 9-30am. 

This was a great holiday, the hand injury was my fault, but Iona was excellent, food, crew, venues etc. Missing a port excursion seems to be an issue in Norway, just stay cool and enjoy the ports you can visit.

BW

Derek.     

Reply to Andy, yes it was a bit of a hike 55mins but 4-5 photo stops, lot quicker coming back down. I have been walking and mountain biking throughout the winter and spring as I am doing two major charity bike rides in the summer. 
Reply to Ardennais, it was drizzle at Briksdal and we just walked through it. Sorry to hear about the Loen Sky lift weather, we booked the cruise late and Loen was fully booked. It is on our bucket list, hopefully next time we come to Norway. Hope your daughter is enjoying the cruise?

Derek. 

Further update. 
Last night went for dinner at the Keel and Cow - clean plates well except the occasional steak bones. I had the trout starter, followed by fillet steak with peppercorn sauce. My wife had no starter but had the ploughman’s. Desert was the sharing platter of ice cream, cheese cake and pecan pie. Superb meal, must book again. 
Just a problem I noted in the cabin no 2 pin round charging point. Searched everywhere and no. My Braun toothbrush was running out of power yesterday am.I had packed chargers or charging cables for all my gear or so I thought. I did not pack a square 3 pin to 2 pin round plug. In Stavanger found a Clas Ohlson selling Philips Sonic toothbrush which charges via a USB to 3 pin square plug. 
Note to all make sure you have all the correct plugs and charging cables. The new toothbrush is really good. 
Arrived and now docked in Olden, walking to Briksdal glacier so if you see a guy with a Nikon camera, zoom lens and a Gitzo tripod say hello. 
Derek - my real name. 
Weather 12c, no wind and snow on tops, cloudy. Looks like rain?

On Iona at present - no squat rack, nor chin up bar, nor lat pull-down machine. Rowing weight machine and person in gym yesterday doing goblet squats with 25 kg- impressive. Probably the best gym at sea. You need a dumbbell routine.

BW.

Reporting from Iona today Bank Holiday Monday in Stavanger. 
Ship looking great, food good, plenty of choice, always hot and passengers seem to be having a great time. Sailing north on the North Sea yesterday (Sunday) lovely and sunny, passengers sitting in the sun, exercising and generally having a great time. Last night was formal night and most people smartened up, what ever the age young and old, people know how to smarten up. 
Now for the downside I observed 4 people not washing hands entering restaurants, or exiting toilets. One man in the restaurant helped himself with his hand in the cheese crackers! No outbreaks yet, just hope our immune systems are working well.

Olden tomorrow. 
We have enjoyed our first few days on board, we have booked another cruise onboard, just where we want to go. 

Further to my post earlier. 

ClaireRuss is correct the ceiling is low so be careful doing overhead press / shoulder press,  sit on the bench,  I did hit the ceiling when standing  doing overhead press - no damage thankfully to anything just embarrassing. You also have the promenade deck for walking / aerobics, and if rough and not allowed outside just walk the stairs - aerobic and lower leg strengthening. 

Probably the best gym on board is P and O Iona, it has everything you originally mentioned. I just alter my routine whether on Victoria or Iona.

BW. 

alphawhiskey, 

I have used the gym on Iona in May 2022 (Norway) and the gym is superb, but busy and the machines are close together so be careful.  Free weights, dumbbells, benches, and an area for stretching, yoga, etc. Cannot remember if they have kettlebells!  I do not use the showers but prefer to return to our suite. (Cannot be bothered to carry a bag with clean clothes and I cool down on the way back to the suite).

I am onboard in early May (Norway) and will attend the gym, will explore and return with an answer unless someone beats me to it.  

No barbells, 

dumbbells from 1 kg to 30kg (?) definitely 20kg (my limit),

Techno gym machines,

NO squat rack,

No chin up bar. 

2 flat benches that can be inclined,   

If you change  your routine to being dumbbell based you should be able to keep fit and keep your muscle mass.

It is a keep fit gym not a bodybuilding gym.   

"The Times on Line" (London, UK) have published a image of Captain Thorhauge being measured for her new Captains uniform.

"Inger Thorhauge, a Cunard captain, receives a final fitting for her uniform from the Savile Row master tailor Kathryn Sargent at her shop in Mayfair, central London. Thorhauge will welcome the first guests on board the new Queen Anne ship in Southampton on May 3".

Hopefully Cunard will obtain a copy of the image and place in an archive. 

Happy  sailing.

Derek. 

Jeep3131, 

last June (2023) we visited Alesund am walked up Mt Aksla (OK if fit), and observed ships / boats sailing the Fjord. Returned to our cruise ship (Cunard Queen Victoria) and booked the afternoon excursion on Hjorundfjord at the ships excursion office. Did not book with a private operator as seemed more like local transport links rather than an excursion and return times were past our embarkation and sail away time. 

NB we were on the stern deck of the excursion boat, very sunny and windy,  wore a balaclava as my beanie hat would have blow off my head. 

Enjoyed it so much we are doing it again in May.   

Hattie,

many thanks, I did use the search button but no luck, probably asked the wrong question. 

BW

Derek. 

Are you allowed to book 2 cruises together?  i.e. Embark Soton, cruise, return to Soton, then disembark then reembark on the same ship and cruise again?  

I appreciate practical issues - luggage off and on again, different cabins etc. Any smart ideas to do this please? 

BW

Derek. 

Sailing on P and O Iona to Canaries and Lisbon. Not sure where we dock in Lisbon does any body know? The real question is it an easy walk from the cruise port to Belem and the Monument of the Discoveries? We are hikers / mountain bikers so fitness is not an issue.   

9 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

As one Grandmother would say “Oh Dear”.

Port Royal, nobody noticed and once saw on Queen Elizabeth (Canaries cruise) a long gowned lady with Tiara wearing training shoes, I only noticed because I was very observant and was used to observing peoples gait for a living. Your gran would have probably loved them as very comfortable and grippy, less chance of a fall. 

Happy cruising.   

Lalof,

My wife wears Nike Black running shoes, I (male husband) wear Merrell Moab 3 shoes (black), Gore-Tex, grippy sole, lace ups, cushioning inlays and very comfortable. As they are black use them for dress shoes with my 3 piece suit, main dining room Cunard Queen Victoria. The Merrell's have been used at the North Cape, Canaries (Lanzarote walking through a lava field and extinct volcano), walking around Lisbon in heat, Disney World Florida in 46.4c and walking the last 5km of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. This was probably the toughest as it was dusty and I was brown from the knees down. Washed the shoes in the shower and left on our balcony and they dried in 2 days. Actually have 6 pairs - yes I like them. 

According to the Merrell web site they do a female version. 

Happy walking.  

Should add this was Queen Victoria. 

We boarded on Tues 6 June at 2-45pm, our official boarding time was 3-15pm. Dropped car with CPS and into terminal, check in ladies were waiting. About 20 people checking in - straight through security, to room and visited muster, watched safety film. Lido eating by 3-30pm. Note we received a letter at check in Norovirus was onboard blaming a passenger from bringing onboard. 
Strict cross infection measures implemented, crew serving you, no salt or pepper on tables, even served the Worcestershire sauce for breakfast. This morning Thurs 8 June restrictions have been lifted.

Written in Starbucks in Stavanger, nice to walk around. 
Derek. 

16 hours ago, Pear Carr said:

We have also been given 3.30 arrival time for 6 June. Very disappointing - no arrival/departure time for QV available at the moment. Cunard need to up their game with regard to embarkation organisation.  Would be interesting to see how many passengers have been given 3.30 - this does not bode well for a relaxing start to our holiday.

We have a 3-15pm arrival 6 June QV North Cape cruise. Latest ever, used to enjoy early embarkation and lunch in the Lido etc. We have changed our travel arrangements (coming from NE UK) overnight in Hemel then slow drive to Soton visiting a National Trust property. We are Platinum on deck 6. Very disappointed!

Hello,

we have not been onboard since late 2019 due to Covid shut down etc. Queen Victoria in the Lido had different dining on an evening - American / Mexican, Italian, Indian and Asian (if I remember correctly). Are they still in operation, (looked on Cunard website and no info) any menus and prices, easy to book? or should we just stick to main dining room?

Any advice gratefully received.

Sailing in June to North Cape.

BW

Derek.  

Lalof,

interesting question esp as wife and I going to Rome (central Med) 2023 and Athens (Eastern Med)  2024. I always carry a DSLR, 24-70 zoom and 70-200 zoom both 2.8.  

The places you have mentioned you could probably just use a 24-70 zoom and travel light. 

We went pre pandemic to Southern Spain,  Gibraltar and photographed some dolphins from a RIB with my 70-200 F2.8 zoom see attached image. I will take my 70-200 zoom to the Med on both sailings whether I use it is debatable? When we walk around Rome I  will just have the DSLR and 24-70 zoom as walking quite a bit, leaving the photo rucksack on board the cruise liner. 

I certainly would not be take a +300mm superzoom etc. 

BW

Derek.