Sorrento & Santorini

Barely have time to get our sea-legs and we are in Sorrento.  The sea was a little rougher than we have previously experienced, but of course this is a much smaller ship.  According to the passengers who embarked in Dover, they missed a couple of ports due to bad weather.  Even the Captain said that we were lucky to get in as the sea was abating.

On our other cruise we docked at Naples, so it was good to be right in Sorrento and it also meant that we beat the other tourists who had to drive from Naples.  We had elected to take a ship's trip (overly expensive for what we got), which involved a transfer to the Isle of Capri by large fast ferry.  This was a public ferry although was full of tourists of all types.  We were talking to a couple from Norway, who were staying on the island for a week.  Anyway, as mentioned, the sea was rough and before long the sick-bags were being distributed.  Luckily, none were required before we docked on the Isle.

From there we were taken in small busses to Ana Capri, which is above Capri town.  The roads are very narrow and it is amazing how 2 vehicles pass each other, but they are experienced.  We had an hour or so to fill in, so wandered around and got some photos of the view over Capri and we were then bussed down to Capri town for lunch.  This was a 3 course meal, including a bottle of wine for 4 of us - not a good thing in the midday sun!  After lunch, we were invited to go to the gardens (very small) & then fill in another 1.5 hours until we were able to college t tickets for the funicular ride down to the port.  Yet another half an hour hanging around until we got more tickets for the ferry back to Sorrento.  Fortunately the ship's tender was waiting for us and were very pleased to be back on board.

Although we were pretty tired, we did go to the show, which was a little preview of tomorrow night's show, plus a comedian.  He was English and must admit he had us in tears.  Fortunately the next day was our first sea day.

Sea day meant it was the Captain's welcome party and we did get to meet him on the formal reception line.  Great dinner and show afterwards.  Being a smaller ship, there are only 6 dancers & 2 singers but boy they put on a fantastic performance without a break.  Of course they also have day jobs, with line/ballroom dancing instruction, mustering passengers going ashore etc.

The following day we called at Santorini.  Apparently there is only 1 anchorage in the bay (& this was taken by a larger Costa ship), so we just floated around the bay.  It was extremely smooth and we had a good ride ashore.  Vivian had told all in sundry that they used to have donkeys on the farm and that she had been thrown by a donkey and that there was no way she would even look at a donkey.  You can see where this is going - yes, we elected to take the donkeys up the 800 odd steps to Santorini. It was fun and we have a couple of good photos to prove it-  they had a photographer about 2/3rds way up and by the time we got to the top, there were our photos.

Wandered around & did some shopping after having coffee at probably the most expensive place, but it was well worth it for the views.  As it was getting hotter and more crowded we decided to take the cable car down to the port (we certainly were not going to walk, as we had seen how much the donkeys left behind, and there are hundreds of them).

A huge queue for the cable car as the Costa ship was sailing just after 2.00, but we got back to our ship just after 1.00 and enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the back of the ship.  Missed the show (was puppet show of sorts) and after completing the previous blog, was soon asleep.

Today, Saturday, is the first time I have caught up with this blog, so hopefully future entries will be more relevant.  Another sea day today and this morning we had Pirate Drill, yes we enter the Suez Canal early tomorrow morning and are due to complete the transit about 5.00 tomorrow afternoon.  Vivian plays bridge on sea days, so this is a good opportunity to do my housework, before grabbing my book.

Goodbye Mediterranean - it's been a great 3 weeks.  Now that is quite scary to think of how the time has flown and all the things we have experienced.