Monday, September fifth:
On Monday we arrived In Gijon, Spain. This metropolis has the biggest bulk supplies port in Spain. We docked close to a freighter that was both loading or unloading free coal. The pile on the concrete pier was monumental! One hillside featured the spherical tanks used to retailer pure fuel whereas the tanks on the left hand aspect have been oil tanks.
Azamara supplied shuttle busses into the town of Gijon. It’s identified for its maritime and naval heritage. Oh, they make cider too. We have been required to put on masks on the shuttle bus. Azamara conforms to native Covid necessities. Masks have been handed out earlier than you boarded the bus.
We have been dropped off close to a ravishing marina full of pleasure boats. The climate was good. There was a hop on, hop off tour bus parked adjoining to us, so what we might do subsequent was fairly easy to determine. Using across the metropolis ran about 14€ when you factored within the senior low cost. The driving force didn’t take money, solely playing cards and as soon as once more, masks have been required on the bus. We rode one circuit, listened to the English translation and hopped off the place we began.
I had some articles I wanted to file, so I introduced my laptop computer, hoping to discover a cafe with a dependable web connection. There was an important one close by. Connecting to the web was a problem, however our server helped. This was price a beneficiant tip.
As soon as my laptop computer pc was stowed away, we commenced folks watching from the cafe. Now for the primary shock. “Do you serve meals?” No, they solely serve drinks. Sure, you may get a espresso, beer, wine or combined drink within the AM, however should wait till about 1:30 PM to order lunch.
Individuals stroll in Gijon. Sure, this is likely to be a workday, however everybody seems to take their canine out for a stroll about the identical time. The variety of canine we noticed was superb! They’re all obedient and effectively behaved. Our concept is they’re all given Valium earlier than they depart the home. We have been in search of the “lease a canine” store however there was none.
We noticed a sculpture that seemed to be a Christmas tree. Shut, however not appropriate. This large sculpture was fabricated from empty apple cider bottles from completely different producers. This vantage level put us close by of a sq. main to a different sq.. These are lined with sidewalk cafes. The cafes prolong seating into the sq.. Chairs and tables in several colours let you know the place you might be.
It was earlier than 1:30; however we stopped for lunch. Lunch was two bottles of native cider accompanied by a dish of tasty, pitted inexperienced olives. Critically. We folks watched. Extra folks, extra canine.
We headed to the shuttle bus which resumed service about 1:30. Shortly afterwards, we have been again on board. Even reboarding has surprises. You’re provided a vodka spiked lemonade. They’d completely different fruits too.
We had a correct lunch onboard within the Home windows Cafe close to the pool.
We relaxed slightly within the afternoon till about 4:00 when afternoon tea and savories (tapas) have been delivered to our cabin. That is obtainable each day, simply full the cardboard and put it exterior your door earlier than 11:00 AM.
The ship left the dock about 5:00 PM. We sat on our ahead going through balcony because the crew pulled within the large blue mooring ropes. We sat exterior for about an hour.
As soon as we left the harbor we began to come across uneven seas. Our cabin was as far ahead as you may get. We have been proper below the command bridge. My abdomen was not cooperating.
We dressed for our 7:00 PM dinner, becoming a member of the great couple from Northern Eire. We had dinner in the primary eating room and exchanged these “What did you do at the moment?” tales with our pals. Dinner was good, however my abdomen was telling me heading again to the cabin was a good suggestion. Jane stayed with our pals, threatening to purchase out the jewellery store. I used to be in mattress upon her return.
The evening was someplace between degree 3 and degree 6 on the 12 level Beofort scale. This isn’t thought-about tough, however I assume I misplaced my sea legs on this voyage. (I used to be advantageous the subsequent morning.)
Tuesday, September sixth:
On Tuesday we docked for the day in La Corona, Spain. On this event the ship docked inside strolling distance of city. The climate cooperated, so it was an excellent day for strolling round. The ship docked alongside the P&O ship Britannia, which regarded large. We have been bussed to the Customs constructing adjoining to the larger ship. No Customs formalities, the massive ship simply bought the higher parking area.
I’m going to skip forward for a second.
You may assume one port blends into one other they usually all look alike. I’m wondering if different folks assume the identical issues. Once we returned from city that afternoon, a pleasant fellow talking good English requested if we have been from the Azamara cruise. We mentioned sure and he wished to ask us a number of questions as a part of a survey. He requested the place we sailed from, what was the primary Spanish port we visited and what have been the opposite Spanish ports. Fortunately, we gave all the correct solutions, so the great man didn’t assume we felt one port was identical to one other.
Again to our actions. We left the port space with a curving promenade of stylish buildings within the close to distance. Plenty of sidewalk cafes. We headed down a avenue behind them and located an enormous sq. lined with glassed in cafes. It was nonetheless early, so lunch was out of the query. 1:30 PM begins the lunch “hour” in Spain.
Surveying the aspect streets, it seems La Corona is constructed on a hillside. Put one other approach, getting wherever appeared to contain strolling up flights of stone steps. I discovered a avenue on degree floor off to the left and we headed in that course.
This led to a different smaller sq.. We discovered a sidewalk cafe with seating extending into the sq., grabbed a desk and ordered coffees. This led to extra folks watching as as soon as once more, each canine on the town took their grasp or mistress for a stroll. I additionally ordered a glass of native white wine. This got here with peanuts. Complete value for every part was about $6.00. You gained’t discover that at residence.
We left the sq. and found a pedestrian solely zone lined with good retailers. Plenty of jewellery shops, shoe retailers and clothes shops. There was even a Flying Tiger retailer, a Copenhagen chain that carries enjoyable gadgets at low costs.
The procuring avenue led to the boulevard operating alongside the waterfront, so we walked to the left till we discovered the gate heading again to the pier. It was on this return journey we encountered the survey taker.
The Azamara Quest serves meals nearly continuously. The Home windows Cafe on the pool deck serves till 2:30 but the poolside space serves hamburgers till 5:00 PM. We had snuck in below the two:30 wire, so we loved the buffet whereas we sat on the strict outside eating deck.
We’re consuming continuously. We have to be again within the cabin by 4:00 for the supply of afternoon tea and savories. You place your order within the morning, however have to be current when meals arrives.
At 5:00 the ship pulled away from the dock. From our balcony we watched how the crew hauls and shops these large blue mooring ropes. We sat out on our balcony as we left the harbor. The seas bought slightly unsettled as we reached open water.
At about 7:00 we headed right down to dinner within the Discovery restaurant. The featured theme was Mexican, however additionally they had a Spanish dessert distinctive to the port ready on the spot by a few of the ship’s officers.
We skipped the exhibits and headed again to our cabin. It was one other good day.
Wednesday, September seventh:
At this time we visited Porto. However first, we wanted an excellent breakfast. This time we tried the Discoveries Eating Room. They’ve a superb model of eggs Benedict, completed with asparagus. I selected that over steak and eggs. Then it was time to move into Porto and style port.
The ship doesn’t really dock within the metropolis of Porto, it docks in Leixões on the Atlantic coast. The ship supplies a day in Porto by yourself shore excursions, the place they bus you out and in. We determined to do it on our personal.
This port has an impressive wanting cruise terminal. It’s nearly empty as a result of we’re the one ship right here in the meanwhile. There’s a tourism desk. I requested about taking the practice into Porto. This includes “stroll a bit, get the subway, take it to the primary practice station and catch the practice to Porto. We determined to take a taxi as a substitute.
We shared a taxi with two different passengers. They have been dropped within the middle of Porto close to the primary landmark they wished to see. Now we wanted to get to the tasting room for Quinta do Noval, the place we had an 11:30 AM appointment.
The taxi drivers English wasn’t good, however he was very useful and will make himself understood. The port lodges aren’t really in Porto. They’re within the metropolis throughout the river. Then he defined you can not get a taxi into the pedestrian zone.
He bought us to inside about two blocks, after a scenic trip alongside cobblestone streets lined with nice wanting interval buildings. Though the cobblestone avenue operating alongside the financial institution of the Douro River does take visitors, it was jammed with tour busses and supply autos.
Quinta do Noval
Completely different port homes historically operated from lodges. This avenue is lined with tasting rooms setup as eating places with indoor and outside seating. Quinta do Noval was established about 1715. We had a non-public tasting due to a buddy of a buddy. It was wonderful. We purchased a polo shirt on the fairly affordable fee of 20€ as a memento.
Again aboard the ship
The good people on the tasting room have been really capable of name a taxi which bought us again to the port. We returned, going by way of the same old safety. The Azamara employees has a desk setup on the dock with recent fruit and fascinating blended juice drinks. Amazingly, they’d a bowl of recent figs.
We had a late lunch on the Home windows Cafe, then stretched out on the pool deck. We wanted to observe the time as a result of we wanted to get again to our cabin for the 4:00 PM supply of afternoon tea and savories.
We’ll depart the ship a day early as a result of our flight from Lisbon is scheduled to depart at 7:20 AM on Friday morning. We’ve assumed it might be troublesome to go away the ship, about 4:00 AM and get a taxi in Lisbon. Although tipping is included, we wished at hand some white envelopes with tricks to individuals who have made our journey particular. Put one other approach, we bought white envelopes from the purser’s workplace.
At 7:00 we met our pals for a farewell dinner collectively. We dined in the primary eating room. As soon as once more, it was wonderful. We had drinks in The Den, a cocktail bar we had but to attempt. After that, we turned in.
It was one other good day.
Thursday, September eighth:
Our plan has been to go away the ship, baggage in hand at 10:00 AM, take a taxi to our lodge, the Lisbon Marriott and spend the evening, so we may make that 7:20:AM flight to Heathrow.
We awoke early, packed and dressed, then had breakfast within the Discoveries Restaurant. I attempted the steak and eggs this time. I believe the steak was a 4 ounce filet mignon. It was nice.
We walked down the gangway, baggage in hand at 10:00 AM. As soon as we stepped onto the pier, the officer answerable for housekeeping and one other crew member insisted on serving to us with our luggage. Additionally they bought us a taxi! We defined why we have been leaving early. They defined Azamara would have been capable of get us off the ship at 4:00 AM Friday and get us a taxi! Now we all know!
We checked into our lodge, modified garments and grabbed one other taxi to take us to the practice station.
Our lunch in Cascais
There’s a practice line operating alongside the coast heading to Cascais. This can be a seaside city about half-hour exterior Lisbon. It’s a vacationer city, however it’s…nice.
We had an important go to 10+ years in the past and wished to recreate the expertise. There was tons extra growth alongside the route, however the practice platform and streets regarded the identical.
We didn’t discover our restaurant from ten years in the past, however as soon as I visited the vacationer workplace and defined what I used to be in search of, they urged a spot 5 minutes down the road.
Our seafood lunch began with barnacles! Who knew there have been various kinds of barnacles? These have been goose barnacles! They appear to be tiny crab claws with simple to entry meat inside. The primary course was a seafood platter. This included grilled shrimp, two kinds of native fish served as steaks, plus different dishes together with extra grilled shrimp, clams and diced tomato. We drank vinho verde, a lightweight Portuguese wine with the meal. The entrees ran about 27€ per individual. The entire value together with two bottles of wine was about 103€. The place was fairly upscale and the folks watching was nice. We made pals on the subsequent desk.
Wrapping up the day
We staggered again to the practice station, shopping for memento items alongside the best way. As soon as in Lisbon, we discovered a taxi exterior the practice station. Cab rides are affordable in Lisbon.
Again on the lodge we relaxed, visited the manager lounge for drinks and snacks and ready to name it a day.
Azamara did a advantageous job general.
Many due to Azamara and its very succesful crew in working with me on arranging and serving to us with this excellent cruise. Because of the All Issues Cruise crew as effectively for introducing me to Azamara!
See sailings right here: Azamara Quest (cruisecompete.com), Azamara all ships
#Azamara #AllThingsCruise
See earlier posts:
Crusing Southampton, England to Lisbon, Portugal on Azamara Quest – All Issues Cruise
Analysis Issues: Preplanning for our Azamara Quest Cruise – All Issues Cruise
Our Itinerary-Azamara Quest, Southampton, England to Lisbon, Portugal
- Southampton, England. We fly into London a day or so early. Hopefully there shall be no flight cancellations or rail strikes. We take the Underground into London.
- Marriott Kensington Resort. It’s situated about two blocks from the Gloucester Highway Underground station on the Piccadilly Line, which runs from the airport. It’s an excellent lodge that’s moderately priced. They’ve a Concierge Lounge, a Marriott Bonvoy perk.
- Pont de La Tour. We plan to have dinner with pals at our favourite restaurant. It overlooks Tower Bridge, because the title implies. They’ve an excellent value fastened menu along with a la carte choices.
- Nationwide Specific. We’ll take the bus from Victoria Coach Station to Southampton on Monday morning. The fare is about $7.50.
- Bordeaux, France. We’ve an in a single day in Bordeaux so every part doesn’t want to suit into sooner or later. Bordeaux is a metropolis well-known for the wine of the identical title. Probably the most well-known chateaus within the area are simply exterior the town. I’m a wine snob. There are 8,500+ wine producing chateaus in Bordeaux. For my part, solely 87 matter, the chateaus within the unique classification of 1855.
- Go to chateaus. The ship has a 5 hour tour, Medoc Discovery. You go to Chateau Beychevelle and Chateau Kirwan. Sure, they’re on the 1855 listing! Value is about $180pp. It is going to be price each penny. At this second it’s offered out, however we are going to be part of the ready listing upon boarding the ship. We’re contacting the most important chateaus straight as out backup plan.
- Cite du Vin Wine Museum. It’s comparatively new and imagined to be spectacular. Tickets are 21 Euro every. That’s good for a few hours.
- Lunch at a sidewalk café or advantageous restaurant. Mates within the wine commerce suggest Les Noialles or Chapon Fin. We will e book reservations on-line.
- Meals to find. Bordeaux is known for Bordeaux wines. The cheeses are in all probability quite a few too.
- Jean de Luz, France. We’re close to or near Basque Nation, however we’re additionally near Biarritz, the legendary resort city made well-known by Empress Eugenie, the spouse of Napoleon III. Queen Victoria appreciated the place too. It’s the type of place the tremendous rich of the 1800’s visited and Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes would go to whereas fixing a case. The ship has a 3+ hour tour, priced at $99 however we’d discover on our personal if we are able to get there simply. St Jean de Luz appears fairly small. The inhabitants is about 14,000. There appears to be one essential avenue operating from one aspect of city to the opposite. (I’m certain there are different streets.) I believe I learn there’s a frisbee throwing contest, however not once we are there.
- Michelin highlights seven eating places within the city. None get stars, however all are really useful. Normally they’ve lunch menus which might be three programs and value fastened. I’m certain we are going to discover one thing.
- St. Jean de Luz is likely to be small, however there’s a hypermarket close by. Carrefour often has an important wine choice.
- Market Day. Fortuitously we shall be in port on market day. Visiting an outside market in France is at all times a deal with.
- Apparently, the practice from St. Jean de Luz to Biarritz takes ten minutes. Exploring this resort is an possibility.
- Meals to find. Basque cheese is native to the realm. The French wine area Irouleguy is close by.
- Bilbao, Spain. I’m assured Bilbao has tons going for it, however the Guggenheim Museum is the star attraction for us. Tickets are 16 Euro for adults, 8 Euro for seniors. Age has its privileges. I’m assuming discovering an excellent place for tapas shouldn’t be troublesome.
- Guggenheim Museum – If now we have come this far, we should test it out.
- Trams – Bilbao is alleged to have the most effective mass transit system in Spain. I’m assuming we are able to trip trams and get an excellent view of the town.
- Hop on, hop off bus. Apparently Bilbao has a number of competing corporations.
- El Corte Ingles – Spain’s main division retailer chain has a location on Grand Through. (The place else would you set it?) Along with a meals corridor and nice wine division, the chain often has a self-service restaurant and, relying on the situation, a linen tablecloth restaurant. Rioja wines at all times style higher there!
- Meals to find. The Rioja wine area is close by. It’s in all probability the wine of alternative in Bilbao. We’re nonetheless within the Basque area, on the Spanish aspect of the border. We’ll search for Basque sheep’s milk cheese.
- Gijon, Spain. Here’s a metropolis we have no idea a lot about. It’s the 15thlargest metropolis in Spain. Maritime industries and the navy are a serious a part of the town’s heritage. Cimadevilla, the previous fisherman’s quarter, is the oldest part of city. I assume we are going to head there, stroll and discover.
- Gijon has seven eating places acknowledged by Michelin. Auga is the one meriting a Michelin star. They appear to have a six course tasting menu priced at about 60 Euro.
- Roman settlement. The oldest a part of city additionally has a Roman settlement, probably the oldest in Spain. We will examine that out.
- Sure, they’ve a department of El Corte Ingles. Consider it as Spain’s model of Macy’s.
- Yacht membership. It’s additionally situated within the fisherman’s quarter. I’m wondering if they are going to allow us to in.
- Meals to find. Can or not it’s true there are 50 cheeses within the space? Penamellera is one instance. We love wine, however cider is standard on this space.
- La Coruna, Spain. That is the place you discover the Church, Santiago de Compostela, the vacation spot for the pilgrims who do the stroll of St. James, the Camino de Santiago. The entire journey is 500 miles. Seeing the Church shall be nice. We’ll probably discover one other spot for tapas.
- Santiago de Compostela. There are various causes to go to this Church. One is the large censer, a 5 foot lengthy, 180 pound incense burner swung from ropes and pulleys. It’s the biggest on the planet.
- Sure, our favourite Spanish retail chain has a location close to the Church. It’s our backup plan for lunch.
- Michelin acknowledges 16 eating places in La Coruna. One deserves a star, Arbore da Viera. It appears to be like like probably the most affordable of their tasting menus is 60 Euro.
- Meals to find. Native chesses embody Arzua-Ulloa and Queso Telita. Wine must be from the Galacia area.
- Porto, Portugal. We’re wine followers. We’re port collectors. We’ll need to go to one of many historic port lodges, like Grahams. You should purchase vacationer passes to incorporate the practice, boat and a go to to a port lodge. Lunch will slot in there someplace. Porto has some Michelin starred eating places.
- Port lodge. We’re wine collectors. We all know a bit about port. Ideally, we need to get into the most effective port lodge doable and take the tour with the most effective tasting. We notice this can come at a value.
- Having fun with the vacationer go. If we are able to tour by rising a bus and a ship, we are going to give it a attempt.
- Hop on, hop off bus. The yellow bus prices 18 Euro. That’s one other touring possibility.
- Meals to find. Terrincho and Transmontano goat cheese are two to find. Though the town is known for port, the area producing Vinho Verde is close by.
- Lisbon, Portugal. Lisbon now we have visited a number of occasions beforehand. Our #1 exercise shall be taking the practice to Cascais, a seaside city a brief trip exterior the town. The final time we visited, the practice reminded us of classic NYC subway automobiles. On that journey, we exited the practice, walked into city and requested two cops the place we may discover an outside restaurant serving platters of chilly seafood. They laughed, advised us which strategy to stroll and mentioned we might see a number of! We did and had a splendid afternoon we nonetheless discuss at the moment. It was the primary and solely time now we have tried barnacles!
