Well, that was my thoughts, now what have I done over the past ten years?

 Well, that was my thoughts, now what have I done over the past ten years?

Well, I am ten years older, 75 [and wiser?] so in theory I have got 2 more years before I am in extra time, or 7 years if my revised figure of 75 +/- 10% is right. But after losing three close friends along the way, I believe that the time has come to live every day as your last, one day it just might be.

I have had two decent holidays a Christmas cruise from Genoa to Naples and on to Messina before heading across the Mediterranean and out into the Atlantic bound for the Canaries. As we passed out into the Atlantic and turned left [or should that be south] the weather started to warm up and the roof over the pool was pulled back.

We had a visit to Funchal in Madeira, nice town, but hilly, is was hilly some 20 years or so earlier but we were 20 years or so younger, but still nice to visit, this time we had afternoon tea at the Reid’s. We then headed to Las Palmas, Gran Canarias, were we took the option of a bus tour of the island.

On leaving the Canaries we headed for Casablanca, in Morocco [unusual destination for a Christmas cruise] again we chose the bus and walking tour of Casablanca. Which was the old town Market and the Hassan 2 Mosque [on of the largest Mosques in Africa] then back to the ship. The view from the ship was overlooking the Casablanca container port.

Then back to Gerona, making one last stop at Barcelona, always a good place to visit. I wonder if they will ever finish the La Sagrada Familia? Then on to Genoa and the flight back home.

We had a holiday in Inverness and let the train take the strain, traveling as far north a Thurso/Wick East as Aberdeen, west as Kyle of Lochalsh and paid a visit to Eilean Ban and the Gavin Maxwell cottage [Ring of Bright Water] if anyone can watch the film and not have a lump in their throat must have a heart of stone. Also, south as far as Perth, a good weeks break and all done by train and a five day Scotrail pass.

Then we did a cruise from Southampton a cruise around the Bay of Biscay, visiting La Corona, Bilbao and La Rochelle before heading back to Southampton.

As we had developed a taste for cruising, we celebrated our forty years of wedlock by doing a 40-day cruise from Southampton to the Caribbean visiting La Corona [again] on the way before setting out across the Atlantic making land fall at Basseterre on St Kitts and followed the crowd and picked up the tourist train that goes all around the Island.

Then onto Castries on St Lucia, short walk to town from the cruise terminal very laid back, no pressure. Not scenic, but good people.

Then onto Aruba, Holland by the Caribbean, an Island not very lush or green and more like a suburb of the US of A then the Caribbean. But clean, if touristy, a bit like the US Virgin Islands, and a short walk to facilities.

Then on to Montego Bay on Jamaica, were we moored off-shore and then ferried in by the ships lifeboats, Dropped of at a shopping area with sanitised shacks selling souvenirs, but little else, tried to leave the terminal [gated area] we wanted to see a floating Jamaican restaurant [recommended by friends] but the security guard would not allow us to leave the compound, unless we used a bus/Taxi? Maybe she thought we would get mugged all the other islands were not a problem.

Then on to Cozumel, a small island just of the coast of Mexico, [was commandeered by the US In WW2 who built the runway. Laid out much of the town and provided modern facilities, many US pensioners fly down and winter, a laid-back place. But ferries to the mainland Playa del Carma [about a 1.5hr trip] then a bus trip to Tulum to see the Mayan ruins plus we had an hour or so in Playa del Carman before we caught the ferry back to Cozumel.

Then on to New Orleans for a three day stay, on the way we had to do some manoeuvring [ turn to port, then starboard, slow down and speed up] this was to satisfy the US Coastguards that we had not been hijacked, strange people the Americans. The boat moored at the cruise terminal right in the centre of New Orleans, for all of us [inc the ship’s crew to clear the US customs and immigration] not a problem but it took us 2 hours to pass customs. But as I said right in the middle of down town New Orleans, not far from the French Quarter. That was the good news, the bad news was the boat had to sail back down the river to moor up. Not a big deal only about 1.5 miles to the French Quarter along a fairly well-lit promenade, or a ten-minute taxi ride back.

Had a great stay, good music, decent food, still think Americans are strange people, but friendly and do speak English which is a bonus.

Said goodbye to New Orleans, but would like to come back one day, spend a few days then take a bus to Nashville. But the boat had other plans, it was bound for Key West. Interesting place to look around. But very, very touristy and very, very expensive, but for all that nice to see.

Next port of call was Port Everglades and a look at Touristy Florida, probably the cruise capital. A local bus rude to the beach a few beers and then back to the boat.

Next port of call was to port Canaveral and the Space centre, always great to spend a day then back to the boat and overnight to Charleston, a totally different side of America, quaint historical buildings slow pace of life very much deep south and you certainly know which side Charleston supported in the US civil war and it was not the north.

So, of we went bidding Charleston and the US goodbye and heading of into the Atlantic back to Southampton, but with a stop at Ponte Delgada in the Azores. As the boat docked next to town centre, we had a good look around. All in all a good way to spend a fortieth wedding anniversary.

Then the dreaded Covid pandemic and things went on hold.