We were awake anyway, but the noisy lifeboat tender drop is always a reminder that we have arrived at our anchorage point.
As usual, we didn’t rush to be first off the ship as there was no point as we had nothing planned anyway other than our usual amble. By the time we’d had a light snack, got ourselves organised, then headed downstairs, the Elite preferential tender boarding was closing and so we just tagged on to the end, as the others moved down stairs and we were on the tender before they let those with paler cards aboard.
A reasonable run to shore where there is a vast concourse between the water’s edge and the shops and cafes. On this wide concourse, are 100’s of café/restaurant seats and this makes a very attractive setting, with the building facades forming the outer edge of the old town once again.
Like several other recent stops, this is a pleasant place to meander through, with every street and alley a photo opportunity and in the centre, it opens out to a cathedral entrance and also some well-preserved ruins.
We couldn’t help thinking that back in NZ, Christchurch would be far better just making the iconic cathedral safe and making it a tourist attraction of its own, rather than trying to rebuild or restore, and therefore losing many of the reasons for visiting it. Wherever we have been, there are stories of the various ruins and this is fodder for the tourist industry, or even its very lifeblood.
Split is another pleasant stop but having now been to Koper in Slovenia, we realise now just what good value it was, as prices in Split were higher. More to the point, although some places accepted Euros, the most attractive café/bakery wouldn’t, and that seemed a shame - and a missed opportunity for the locals. Far better to accept the Euro and make sure you do OK on the exchange rate and grab the cash, than miss out altogether. Isn’t that what successful tourism is all about?
Paula started to fade again and it started to spit with rain, so we headed back to the dock, where the wind got up and the black clouds rolled in, so we were fortunate to get on the first tender boat. By the time we got back to the ship, the rain had gone. Those out on more distant tours weren’t quite so lucky.
As you will by now have realised, Koper was our Slovakian/Croatian highlight and not Split nor Dubrovnik, though all were good stops.
Our six Kiwi travelling friends (now in Paris) are due to do a 7 day boat/yacht trip in the area, so I am sure we will be comparing notes and photographs in October, but I sent them a quick email anyway before doing this blog.
Back on board, a coffee, a spa and a late call on the buffet for a quick bite. Soup plus a bit of chicken and rice.
Sail-away was pleasant, but it was getting cooler so we headed indoors before Paula started a coughing fit!
Our table of ten is a little bit over formal nights and formal photographs, so we headed for the pizzeria for 7pm, along with Deb and Bob (Dawn Nomads – of course) and leaned on the manager to push three tables together. He seemed a bit reluctant as it means the waiters have to lean over, but that was of no concern at all.
As usual, antipasto galore with pizza bread, then I had the baked cheesy/spinach/white sauce pasta which isn’t really a main at all, plus a nice pizza.
A very pleasant evening indeed, but Arnold decided to have a formal night photograph taken, even though he was in shorts and jandals/flip-flops/thongs. (Depends where you live.)
Talking of photographs. Up until recently, there was a booth on deck 12, geared up for electronic golf. Those who read my 2011 blog will remember that the $25 charge for 30 minutes, made it more expensive than a real game of golf at any and every NZ municipal golf course and more than the visitor fees at many smaller courses. With that in mind, no wonder that it was little used by pensioner passengers. So now it has been scrapped and turned into a photographic studio where you can have a 30 minute sitting at no charge or compulsion to purchase. I sometimes wonder if Princess really understands its passenger dynamics.
We often have an announcement at the dinner table and this time, it was Malcolm. Apparently whilst in town today, he was gazing around, aimlessly and then put his arms around a lady and gave her an intimate hug, whilst staring at the (building!) architecture, thinking it was wife Meg. It wasn’t.
Clocks forward an hour tonight so although it was quite an early night, it wasn’t… Paula definitely on the mend, albeit slowly. Just for a change, a day at sea tomorrow. Conversations and speculations about the forthcoming ports, (after Malta) continue to provide ammunition for the ever present rumour mill.
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