On me 'olidays

[giraffe]

It's the fact that it is on the sea and the sea goes up and down that is my problem.

[gill216]

Don't think I could be confined to a boat for any length of time either.

My widowed SIL has just been on her second "around the world" 3 month trip. She went the other way round this time to take in different places. She also swears by them and as a single lady has made loads of friends.

I did a mini cruise to Egypt from Cyprus Kathlyn. That was worth doing to see the sphinx etc. but it only involved one night on board.

[gill216]

It's the fact that it is on the sea and the sea goes up and down that is my problem.

This works. Head for the bottom of the "boat" and as central as you can get. its the most stable of places to be. Ususally the bar is there but as a non alco drinker thats not of much use to you!!!

[LAT]

If I'm feeling at all sea sick I always prefer to be in the open air. I hate the totally enclosed ferries where you can't get any fresh air.

[giraffe]

One of my worst ever experiences was a 35 minute hovercraft crossing. We were on the last one they let out before cancelling the rest of the day's crossings due to the weather. After 40 minutes I was counting down the seconds until we arrived, when the captain came on the tannoy and told us we were halfway!

I agree with LAT that on deck is the place to be. I sometimes wonder if the constant vibration of the engines isn't as bad as the movement of the boat.

[Laura]

I once went on a trip to Dublin with a friend. I'm seasick and she has a phobia of boats and enclosed spaces. We were a right pair. On the ferry she was greyish white with terror and I was greyish green with seasickness, and it could all have been made so much better by being able to get out into the fresh air but we couldn't.

[Bunnylump]

I went on a hen weekend to Holland on one of those massive ferries. I didn't like being "underwater" at all, especially where I could hear the engines throbbing, and that was where our cabin was. Horrific!! So I stayed up all night instead...

[Bunnylump]

Holiday in the mountains Italy 2013.doc

(36 KiB) Downloaded 324 times

OK usual deal. I type this stuff up so that I can remember what I've been up to, all in one go, no re reading, checking, spelling correction, etc. etc., in the usual drivelly waffle style as it pours out of my head. If anyone is interested, here are a few notes on my recent visit to Italy. Not recommended if you have a life or anything useful to do with your time.

[giraffe]

My friend just got back from Lucca! (Yesterday I think or maybe it was Friday)

[Bunnylump]

That's a coincidence!! She was probably sweating at the same time I was...

[Bunnylump]

Just got back from a weekend in Paris with two girlfriends, wait for it...ON THE EUROSTAR (yes, I did go under the sea in a train in a tunnel!! ) Did all the touristy things, even went up the Eiffel Tower at night (bricked myself, obviously, and couldn't actually look at the view, but at least I actually did it!!) Also had a river trip, saw the Arc de Triomphe, Moulin Rouge (that looks REALLY tacky!) Sacre Coeur - very beautiful, but totally ruined by having a rock band set up out the front , Notre Dame, Montmartre - Place du Tertre, to watch all the artists beavering away, plus, naturally, lots of sitting at pavement cafes with a beer watching the world go by...

Walked MILES, spent a fortune (food and drink is absurdly expensive - and frankly not that great, however much you might hear about wonderful French cuisine!) We had lovely weather, and I must say the city is very beautiful. Of course we had great fun and laughed loads.

Shame about having to go back to work tomorrow.

[Bunnylump]

I meant to say, when I was on about the massive starter in Italy...this was a portion for ONE, the plate is about 10 or so inches across...

[LAT]

That looks good but I am wondering what the thing is that looks a bit like an iced finger biscuit. I'm guessing it isn't that!

[Bunnylump]

No, that's a giant piece of ham with a balsamic vinegar dressing. It was the sheer quantity which amazed me!

[Bunnylump]

Oh, and here's a pic which should have gone with the girl's weekend...

[kathlyn]

Thought it was about time that I gave you a report on our cruise round Italy ( we've only been back for a month!).

The weather was brilliant 70+ degrees and sunny for the whole two weeks, the sea was flat calm and the only people who got rained on were those who went on the trip to Rome (not us).

We went to some interesting places and some very over crowded places. Our favourite places were in Croatia and we would like to go and see some more of that country. The over crowded places being Venice and Dubrovnik were a disappointment. I had been to both places in 1965 and preferred them then when it was the locals who were there and there was room for pigeons to land in St Mark's square and Dubrovnik was also the locals town with associated shops not the wall to wall tourist tat shops and restaurants that are there now.

The cruise ship was ok just 462 passengers and 200+ crew. Food was good service excellent and crew wonderful. The entertainment was good except for one of the singer/dancers who had a rather grating voice and the decibels were a bit much but as there were a lot of very elderly people on board maybe they thought they were hard of hearing.

Now you're asking would I go again - well, not without a lot of thought as to itinerary, size of ship and amount of days spent at sea at any one time. We only had two sea days, they were not consecutive and quite frankly boring as we are not sun worshipers.

[LAT]

Sounds great Kathlyn.
We went on a holiday to Croatia a few years ago (it was a food and wine tour and we had some very memorable meals) and loved the country. We were based in Rovinj and also visited Pula. Where did you visit?
Like you I went to Dubrovnik way back and have always wanted to revisit as I was only about 15 at the time but am now wondering whether I would still like it.

[Bunnylump]

Sounds like and interesting trip, Kathlyn, glad you had a good time. I have never fancied the idea of being cooped up on a ship (those of you who know me realise that I'm a terrible fidget!) but on the other hand you have obviously got to see lots of different places that you'd never probably visit for one holiday.

[chazzie]

Oh - I wonder whether my Mum and Dad were on the same ship - they also did a similar cruise to same places around that time.....

[kathlyn]

The ship was MS Voyager part of the voyages of discovery group.