CLASSIC WINGS

FLIGHT OVER CAMBRIDGE

IN A DRAGON RAPIDE

 

It had been an early start, leaving home at 8 am to arrive at the Imperial War Museum Duxford for 10am. The weather was looking favourable although, on arrival at Duxford, the wind became very gusty and the skies turned an ominous shade of grey. As my wife and I entered the museum, we were doubtful that our 10.45am flight would go ahead!

We were booked on a pleasure flight over Duxford, in a 8 seater De Havilland Dragon Rapide. The Dragon Rapide is a short haul twin engined bi plane, first built in 1934. There were a total of 731 of these planes produced, but, sadly, today there are, reportedly, only 17 airworthy examples still remaining.

My wife and I made our way to the Classic Wings booking office, situated adjacent to the runway. Classic Wings are a family run business who have been operating out of Duxford for the past 25 years, providing pleasure flights to the public. They restore and maintain their own aircraft and offer flights in a Tiger Moth and spitfire, as well as the Dragon Rapide. Pleasure flights range from short flights around Duxford, to flights over Cambridge and London. Flights operate on Weekends and Wednesdays throughout the Summer, weather permitting.

 

 

 

We approached the booking desk and handed in our booking form. The polite and helpful staff informed us that our flight had been cancelled, however, we were being rebooked on a flight at 12.30pm. We were then asked to step on some scales to be weighed, before being registered and asked to return at 12.15pm.

This gave us approximately 2 hours to look at some of the wonderful exhibits that Duxford has to offer, as well as having an early lunch in one of the museum's two restaurants. When we returned to the booking office at 12.15am, the Dragon Rapide was out on a flight, which gave us the opportunity to view it land before our safety briefing. The safety briefing was similar to that which you would get on any aircraft, only, on this occasion, we were informed where the first aid box and fire extinguishers were, as well as being informed about the escape hatches in the roof of the plane.

The wings and body of the Dragon Rapide are covered in a fabric, this means that the escape hatch is formed by pulling a ripcord in the fabric of the roof of the plane, which then allows access through the opening created. Next, all 7 passengers were instructed, for safety reasons, to gather at the rear of the plane prior to boarding, in case the propellers should start up. We were also informed we were only to step on the small, solid, black area on the wing when boarding, reminding passengers that the wings are covered in fabric!

After some posing for photographs, we were boarded. The crew member, mindful of weight distribution, started boarding the passengers (all male, bar my good lady), loading the plane from the rear to the front. My wife and I, being the lightest passengers on this trip, were boarded last and were asked to sit in the front seats. The door to enter the plane is, both, very narrow and low in height, so passengers have to be careful when boarding. The 8 passenger seats on-board are in two single rows with a extremely narrow gangway between the seats. Every seat is a window seat, so affording excellent views for everyone.

My wife and I made our way to our seats, which meant an uphill climb, and a chuckle, due to the inclination of the plane, we then settled into our surprisingly comfortable seats directly behind the cockpit. As we were fastening ourselves into our seats, the pilot boarded the plane and took up his seat directly in front of me. Other than the pilot, my wife and I had the best seats on-board, we could not only see from our own side windows, but also through the cockpit, straight ahead, and through the glass roof above the pilot, it appears there are advantages to being small!

 

 

In no time at all, we were airborne. The weather had decided to be kind to us, the wind had dropped and the sun was now shining. The views, as we took to the sky and headed towards Cambridge, were absolutely wonderful. On reaching the beautiful city of Cambridge  the pilot flew a couple of circuits over the city, banking one way and then the other, ensuring that all passengers on-board got a good view of the city below. Being a small aircraft, you could feel every slight turbulence and hear the propeller engines working away, this really did feel like flying as it should be.

 

 

 

All too soon, our time was up and the pilot headed back to Duxford. After a very smooth landing, we were back on solid ground. Unloading of the aircraft was done in reverse order, so my wife and I were first off the plane, this time grinning as we tackled the decent towards the exit. This had been a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience, one that will remain in our memory forever. Thank you to all the staff at Classic Wings for making this experience possible.

Flights with Classic wings can be purchased on the day at Duxford, depending on availability. However, if you book your flight in advance online, you also get free entry to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Following our flight, my wife and I spent the next few hours looking around the extensive museum, we left Duxford having had an absolutely fantastic day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information on Classic Wings, and to book flights, please visit their website at: http://www.classic-wings.co.uk You won't be disappointed!

A WINTERS BREAK IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, CROATIA

I had started my short break to the Croatian capital Zagreb at the Europa Hotel, Gatwick airport. I had booked a one night, pre-flight stay at the hotel. The one night stay included car parking for the 5 days that I was to be away, it made for a far more leisurely, relaxing start to the holiday.

My flight from London Gatwick to Zagreb was due to leave at 07:50am, this meant a very early start. I checked out of the hotel at around 04:45am, then drove to the APH off site car park. After checking in my car I was transported to the airport by coach, the journey took about ten minutes.

I arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare. Check-in was very quick and efficient, and once in the departure lounge, I had time to relax and have something to eat and drink before finally catching my flight. Flight time was just two and a half hours, and uneventful. I was flying with Easyjet, so no frills. But, all in all it was a good flight.

 

This was a late winter break, and snow covered the ground on arrival at Zagreb airport. I had only ever been to Croatia once before, to Split, on the Dalmatian coast. It was August, and was sweltering hot on that occasion, quite a contrast to this trip. However, although there was snow on the ground, it was relatively mild, bright and sunny, and the weather would be kind to me throughout my stay.

I took the airport bus to the bus station in Zagreb, from there it was a short taxi ride to the Four Points by Sheraton, my hotel for the next four nights. One of the first things I tend to do, when arriving at a destination for the first time, is to pick up a local map from the tourist information office. This I did, at the bus station before getting my taxi to the hotel. Now armed with my map, and having enjoyed a substantial lunch in the hotel's restaurant, I ventured out to explore Zagreb.

With less than 800,000 inhabitants, Zagreb is not a large city. Indeed, the entire population of Croatia is only around 4.29 million, far less than the population of the city of London. Although my hotel was not situated within the city centre, it was within a reasonable walking distance if one felt so inclined. However, the easiest way to get around is to use the extensive and cheap tram system. Tourism accounts for around 20% of Croatian GDP, so it is very important to the Croatian economy.

As I had such an early start to the day, I decided not to venture too far on my first day, and soon returned to my hotel. I took advantage of the free internet access in the business centre, had supper in the hotel bar, then retired for the night in my comfortable room.

The following morning, after breakfast and catching up on my emails, I headed into the city centre for a proper exploration. I walked into the city, taking in the sights along the way. There were numerous museums and art galleries to explore, but as today was a beautiful sunny day, I decided to leave those for another time.

The city centre is split into the lower and the upper town. After first exploring the lower town, with its modern shops and restaurants, I climbed the steps to the upper town, visiting the farmers market and the Cathedral along the way. I stopped for lunch at a traditional Croatian restaurant, Ivica I Marcia. This excellent restaurant is situated on Tkalciceva 70, and is one of Zagreb's leading health food restaurants, serving food free from preservatives, artificial colouring or GMO ingredients. The meal was delicious and the environment very welcoming, with the restaurant traditionally furnished, and the waiting staff looking resplendent in their pristine national costumes featuring three hearts, a Croatian national symbol. Next door to the restaurant, can be found their sister restaurant Hansel and Gretel, a wonderful, magical place to eat with children, with the restaurant attractively furnished in a fairytale theme.

 

 

After lunch I had my first experience of a Zagreb tram. Tickets for the tram can be purchased at ticket booths on the side of the street. You can purchase either single tickets, or a day ticket which allows unlimited travel within a 24 hour period. On this occasion I purchased a single ticket to get me back to my hotel.

My second full day in Zagreb. Today, I purchased a day ticket for the trams, allowing me to get around easily and experience more of the city. Besides revisiting some of the sites that I had seen the previous day, I also rode the Funicular from the lower town to the upper town. The ride only took a mere one and a half minutes, but it saved walking up an awful lot of steps! Once at the top, I viewed the rooftops of Zagreb, it was a beautiful sunny, warm day, and you could forget it was still winter, easily mistaking it for a summers day.

 

To make use of my tram ticket, I decided to ride the tram to its furthest point, Savisce, in order to view more of the city and surrounding area. My round trip took me about one and a half hours. On returning to the city centre, I went for dinner at Tratoria Al Pittor, an Italian restaurant serving great food, in very relaxing and interestingly furnished surroundings. 

 

 

On my last day in Zagreb, I decided to travel further afield. I had made enquiries at a tourist office regarding possible coach tours. Unfortunately, as it was out of season, there were no organised trips available. However, the helpful staff did suggest a couple of places, within a short distance of Zagreb, that were worth visiting. I had settled on Samobor, close to the border with Slovenia.

I caught the tram to the main train station and made enquiries. Unfortunately, there were no trains going to Samobor. I then made my way to the main bus station, here I managed to book a place on a bus to Samobor. The journey took approximately 40 minutes and cost around £10 return. On arrival at Samobor bus station, I made my way to the town centre, a 15 minute walk.

 

There was much more snow to be found here than there was in Zagreb, but it was still sunny and warm. The walk into Samobor was most enjoyable, as I was rewarded by an incredibly beautiful town. The town was extremely busy, with locals and tourists out enjoying the sunshine. I went to the tourist information office to pick up a map of the area. The young girl who served me also informed me there was a special re-enactment taking place that afternoon. The re-enactment was of a medieval battle that had taken place over the ownership of Samobor. The mock battle would be in full armour and take place below the ruined castle, the site of the original battle.

On my way to the site of the battle, I visited a museum which portrayed Croatian life in times past. The walk to the battle site took me alongside a long and winding river, through fairly deep, bright and powdery snow. I was not alone on my walk, it appeared that the entire population of Samobor were also going to the battle!

The re-enactment was an impressive display of archery and swordsmanship, great entertainment and very atmospheric with the ruined castle looming over us, and the smoke from the burning fires adding to the authenticity of it all.

 

After the battle, I went to a local restaurant and enjoyed my penultimate meal in Croatia. Once again, I was not disappointed, fantastic food at an unbelievable price. I returned to Zagreb by bus and, once back at my hotel, had a drink in the bar and savoured my last few hours in this delightful city.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast in the hotel, I booked a taxi to take me to the airport for my flight home to the UK. This had been only a short break, but I felt that I had filled every minute, and had seen a good deal of Zagreb and the surrounding area. Would I return to Zagreb? Most probably, would I return to Croatia? Definitely, without hesitation!

MY FIRST TRIP ABROAD

GRAPE PICKING IN FRANCE

I was sixteen years of age, had recently left school, and was in my first job. I was working as a Nurseryman, getting paid just £15 a week. Well, it was 1974! I had never been abroad before, and had only ever had one holiday in my life, but all that was about to change.

My friend Derek, who was four years older than me, told me of a chap he knew who was soon to be leaving for France to do some grape picking. Derek asked me if I would fancy going to do the same. Would I? I didn't need long to think about it! The only problem was, however, I would have to lie about my age as they were only employing people eighteen and over. The temptation was too much. The forms were duly completed, and in no time at all we had received our offer of employment.

Our employer was Champagne Jardin, Le Mesnil-Sur Oger, near Eperney. We were to be paid 46 francs a day (about £4.50), half as much again as I was earning on the Nursery. Our job description was 'Harvester', and we were told to take waterproof clothing and boots.

We left on 26^th September 1974. After catching the London bound train from our home town into Liverpool street station, we then made our way across London to Victoria station where we were to catch the night 'boat train'. Even this first stage of our journey was a big deal for me, I had only ever been to London once or twice before, and never without my parents.

The train from Victoria station would take us to Dover where we would then travel by ferry to Dunkirk, and then onto Paris by train. We were travelling on a young persons ticket (under 26 years) and the price for this journey was just £5. Due to the length of the journey and timings of the overnight train and ferry, it was no surprise to find that most of our fellow passengers were young people, taking advantage of the cheap fare. We soon started to make friends and one Australian guy, who was most interested in our plans, asked if he could tag along with us.

We slept very little on, both, the train and ferry. The ferry was overcrowded, with people resting and trying to sleep where ever they could, on the floors, the stairs, anywhere! Once in Paris, we had to make our way to Gare De l'est to catch our train to Eperney. It was all very rushed and none of us, neither Derek, myself, or our newly found Ozy friend, really knew what we were doing. Eating properly was the last thing on our minds, yet we did manage to grab a hot dog at some point, but I was soon to regret that purchase. On the train to Eperney I was taken ill, I felt very faint, almost passing out and falling onto another passengers suitcase. I had to rush to the toilet to be ill.

After such a dreadful start to my adventure, I was glad to arrive in Eperney, where my employer, a middle aged woman, was waiting to drive us to the vineyard. Another new experience for me, driving on the wrong side of the road! As part of our contract, we were to receive all meals, including wine with dinner, and sleep in dormitories, one for the men and one for the women. We also had access to hot showers.

The next two weeks consisted of us getting up very early and being loaded into the back of a truck, having had only a cup of coffee, breakfast would follow after an hour or two of work. Most days lunch would be served out in the fields, only returning for dinner after a full days work. The food provided was very good and plentiful, with table wine offered every night with dinner. One night our Australian friend decided to sing our employers a song, accompanying himself on guitar. The self penned song was basically asking the boss for Champagne instead of wine, it worked, and for one night only we were all treated to Champagne, a memorable first experience for me!

Most evenings we entertained ourselves within our dormitories, but there was a village pub within walking distance which we visited on one occasion. One night my fellow Harvesters threw a party, but, unfortunately, I was unable to attend as I was ill in bed with a very bad cold. We had experienced some torrential rain during the harvest, it was so bad one day, that many of the workers refused to go out into the fields. Our employer, who was clearly unhappy with the situation, went around opening all the windows in the dormitories, until it was just as cold inside as it was outside, soon convincing them to return to work!

Our fellow Harvesters were a mixed bunch. I was obviously the youngest, which came as a huge shock to my fellow workers when I accidentally let it slip at dinner one night. The majority of the others were in their twenties, with a few in their thirties, all of various nationalities. Towards the end of our stay, a few of our work colleagues talked about going on to Spain to do some fruit picking there. The idea of extending our experience so appealed to us that Derek and I were quick to put our names forward for this further adventure.

On our final day, we went into the office to receive our pay. We then hitch hiked to the railway station in Eperney. There was eight of us in total who had teamed up for this Spanish adventure, so we split up into pairs to make thumbing a lift easier. Derek and I watched as one by one we saw our travelling companions passing us in cars and on the back of trucks. We even heard, before we saw, two of them singing ' Hi Ho' (the song from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) as they passed us, waving from the back of a truck. Incidentally, this had become our little group's team song. Our turn finally arrived, when we too managed to get a lift, and we met up with the others at the train station. 

From Eperney, we caught the train to Paris. We then decided to get a bus from Paris to Fontainbleau, some 43 miles south of Paris, stay overnight in Fontainbleau and then, splitting up into pairs again, make our own way to Spain. We arrived in Fontainbleau late at night, in darkness and heavy rain. Derek had brought his two man tent with him, and one of the others also had a tent. We pitched our tents in a wooded area, fighting against the wind and rain, and settled down for the night. However, it wasn't to be a very restful night's sleep, we had four men in a two man tent, cosy for the two in the middle, but very cold and wet for the two on the outsides, pressed up against the wet canvass. I was fortunate enough to be one of the ones in the middle when we first settled down for the night, but this, unfortunately, was short lived, as following a trip to the toilet, ie the nearest tree, I returned to find my space now occupied. I was, therefore, forced to spend the rest of the night squashed up against the cold, wet canvass!

The next morning, the rain had stopped, the sun was shining, and we could now see where we had pitched our tents - in the grounds of a school or university, which must have been a source of amusement for any of the locals who may have spotted us!

Once again, we set off in pairs, heading in, what we hoped was, the general direction of Spain. I don't know what knowledge or experience of travelling any of the others had, but Derek and I had none, and it soon began to show. Derek and I had walked ten long miles without getting a single lift, and we found ourselves on the outskirts of Nemours. We had been walking along country roads, through villages and now we were confronted by a motorway. There were barriers across the road and small booths barring our way. I had no idea, then, what these were, but having driven many times in France in latter years, I now know that these must have been toll booths for the motorway. We started to approach the barriers with the intention of asking for directions, however, two Policemen started to walk towards us, with their firearms clearly on display. Not being used to seeing Police carrying firearms, we decided to take no chances and turned around and left.

We called into a petrol station by the entrance to the motorway and tried to thumb a lift from there, but all to no avail. We could not see any alternative route for us other than the motorway, so after a while we, very naively, started to walk along the side of the motorway. We hadn't gone far when a Police car pulled up along side us and we were told politely to leave the motorway and make our way back to the petrol station.

Resigning ourselves to the fact that thumbing a lift in France wasn't going to be easy, we decided to return to Paris. Knowing that the night train to Barcelona left from Gare De Austerlitz, we made our way there. Having purchased our tickets to Barcelona, we sat in the waiting room and pondered our situation. Neither of us had much money on us, basically, just our wages from grape picking, we didn't have any work lined up for when we reached Spain, and neither of us had any experience in this sort of thing. By this point, feeling somewhat despondent and homesick, we decided to postpone our trip to Spain for another year. We went back to the ticket office and got a refund on our tickets. That night we slept rough in a bus shelter, close to the Bastille, another cold and very restless night. The following day we returned to England.

I returned home a little richer financially, a lot more worldly wise, and with a burning desire to travel more. Derek and I did make it to Spain the following year, but, as they say, that's another story.

NATIONAL TRUST

The National trust is a UK charity that receives no money from the British government. Instead, it relies on membership fees, donations, and revenue from entrance fees and sales of merchandise. The charity is responsible for the upkeep of over 350 historic properties, as well as forests, woodlands, beaches, and ruined castles etc.

During 2014 I had the pleasure of visiting four National Trust properties. I hope to have the opportunity to explore many more sites in 2015, but in the meantime here is a little information on the sites visited in 2014. For opening times, entrance fees and further information, please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk .

IGHTHAM MOTE

Ightham Mote, near Sevenoaks in Kent, is without doubt one of the best examples of a Tudor Manor House in England. It really does have it all, from medieval moat to a Victorian gentleman's billiard room. There is also the crypt of a medieval knight and the painted ceiling of a Tudor courtier. All of this comes with an American's take on an English country home.

The grounds are a delight and include beautiful gardens, featuring tranquil lakes, an orchard and many beautiful and generously stocked flower borders. There are some steep inclines to navigate so the less able bodied should contact the information desk prior to their visit to assess suitability.

Coaches are welcome, with parking just 200 yards from the main entrance. Suggested time needed to explore this site is around two hours, and guided tours are available. There is a licensed restaurant and a shop selling all manner of interesting gifts.

SUTTON HOO

Overlooking the river Deben in Suffolk, this impressive Anglo-Saxon burial ground was excavated in 1939. One of the biggest and most exciting finds was that of a burial ship measuring 89 feet in length. The ship had lain undisturbed for over 1,300 years. Also discovered was a hoard of richly ornamented weapons, utensils, and jewellery. The site was handed over to the National trust in 1998.

Besides the burial mounds and museum, there is also beautiful country walks around the extensive estate. Tranmer House makes for an interesting visit, being furnished in the fashion of the 1930s. Visitors will also find a shop and a café For those visitors wishing to spend a little more time visiting the area, there is also three holiday apartments for rent.

 

 

MELFORD HALL

 

 

Opposite the Green in Long Melford, Suffolk, Melford Hall is still home to the Hyde-Parker family. Visitors will be enthralled by this magnificent building, and intrigued by its fascinating history. Surprisingly, although not evident today, a large part of the building was destroyed by fire in the 1940s.

 

 

The property is home to some very interesting artefacts, including Beatrix Potter sketches, family photographs, a collection of Naval paintings and Chinese porcelain, and the original Jemima Puddle-Duck toy.

The Hall is set in beautiful grounds, with landscaped gardens which are well worth a walk around. There is also a splendid tearoom serving snacks and cakes, with a variety of hot and cold drinks.

ICKWORTH

Nestled in the Suffolk countryside, not far from Bury St Edmunds, stands Ickworth. A substantial building featuring an 18^th century Rotunda, commissioned by the 4^th Earl of Bristol to house his collection of priceless treasures, acquired during his tours of Europe.

This collection was added to, over the following 200 years, by the Hervey family, who also created the earliest example of Italianate gardens in England. Portraits of the family by Gainsborough, Hogarth and Reynolds adorn the walls.

Visitors can enjoy walks around the extensive grounds and gardens, as well as experiencing the lives of 1930s domestic servants in the restored servants basement.

There is a gift shop as well as a licensed restaurant in the West Wing, and a café serving snacks and drinks in the Porters Lodge, near the car park. Ample parking is available in the main car park and coaches are welcome. There is a golf buggy service from the car park to the West Wing during the main season.

FORTY YEARS OF TRAVEL

GRAPE PICKING IN FRANCE

I woke up this morning and I realised that it is almost exactly forty years since I first travelled abroad! Unfortunately, for that journey I did not keep a journal, therefore, I have never written an account of my trip.

I was just 16 years old and had only ever had one holiday in my entire life. That one and only holiday had been on the Norfolk Broads in the UK, a mere 70 miles from where I lived.

For my first trip abroad I was travelling to Epernay in the Champagne region of France to pick grapes for two weeks. I was travelling with my best friend Derek, at 21 years old he was the one who had organised our trip, applying, through an agent, for the position of fruit picker. I had to lie about my age as applicants were supposed to be at least 18 years old.

We travelled by train and ferry via Dover, Calais and Paris. The owner of the vineyard picked us up at the train station at Epernay to drive us the final few miles to Champagne Jardin, our home for the next two weeks.

It was hard work, and not very pleasant when having to work in all weathers, but the harvest had to be got in on time. The pay was good for me, as a recent school leaver, working in the horticultural trade, I was only earning 35p an hour. Picking grapes I was earning the equivalent to about 50p an hour. The food was excellent and we had wine with every evening meal. We slept in a dormitory and the experience was, on the whole, a good one.

When we had finished grape picking, Derek and I joined some other travellers making their way to Spain. Sadly, due to lack of experience and money, we only got as far as Nevers in central France before we gave up trying to thumb a lift to Spain. Instead we caught the train back to Paris and returned home, tired and in need of a bath, but satisfied at our achievements.

This was a great first experience of travel for me, it had given me an appetite for travel and the following year I returned to France and finally made it to Spain. In the intervening years I have travelled as much as I can, visiting large areas of Europe, a little of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, North America and Canada. I can pack my bag and be ready to go at the drop of a hat, any excuse!

It is only in the last few years that I have turned my hand to writing about my travels, I have by no means covered all of my adventures, there is more to come. Hopefully readers of this blog enjoy reading my travel reviews and will return to read more reviews as they are posted. Please do leave comments if you find anything of interest or of help in your own travel arrangements.

Here's to the next forty years!

SAGA PEARL ll

(EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE OVER 50s)

 

 

Passing the towering cranes of Felixstowe container port, Saga Pearl ll gracefully eased her way into the port of Harwich. In the glistening May sunshine this small, but elegant, cruise ship looked every inch the epitome of luxury, very much resembling a modern yacht in her blue and white livery. I watched from a vantage point along the roadside, a mile from the port, as the ship made her way towards the cruise terminal. Having watched her arrive. I made my own way, by car, to the terminal in order to board.

At the cruise terminal, passengers mingled with crew members, all waiting to board. There was an air of excitement about the place as old friends met, and new friendships began to form. Many of the entertainment staff, waiting to board, were youngsters in their late teens/early twenties, some of them embarking on their very first cruise. The entire terminal building buzzed with excited chatter, and the feeling of anticipation was almost palpable.

 

 

I boarded the ship at 3.30pm, having had my passport checked and gone through the usual security checks. My first impression was very favourable, cheerful staff greeted me as I stepped aboard and made my way towards the reception area. At only 18,591 tons, Saga Pearl ll is a small ship. This, of course, is reflected in the communal areas, but, although smaller than most, the reception area was bright and welcoming and served its purpose well. The main reception desk also served as a Bureau de Change, there was also a tours desk for booking excursions at the ports of call.

As boarding had commenced later than usual, it was too late for lunch, however, afternoon tea was now being served in the Discovery Lounge. This sumptuous tea consisted of hot sausage rolls and fried scampi, an extensive range of sandwiches, rolls, and cakes, and of course the obligatory scones, jam and clotted cream. This magnificent spread was laid out buffet style for the passengers to either help themselves or be assisted by the ever helpful staff. Once seated, passengers were served tea and coffee by attentive waiting staff. 

 

 

 

Having indulged myself with the afternoon tea, I went to explore the ship. As one of the first people to board, I was in the enviable position of having both the time and the space necessary to really appreciate the facilities.

I decided to work my way from the lowest deck (C Deck) up through all seven decks to the Sun Deck. C Deck is home to the spa area,with its indoor fresh water swimming pool, gym, sauna, and treatment rooms. The spa area is open from 7am to 7pm, towels and gowns are provided and changing rooms are available. The Medical Centre is also situated on this deck.

 

 

 

 

Up one deck to B Deck. This is the first deck to accommodate passengers, with accommodation consisting of standard sized cabins. Located on this deck is the hair and beauty salon (open 8am to 7pm) and the Cinema. The cinema is fairly small, but I was informed that it seldom gets full, so plenty of space with comfortable seating for those passengers who want to take in a film during the cruise. The cinema is also used for keep fit classes.

 

 

 

 

Up another flight of stairs to A Deck. This is the deck on which I had boarded the ship, here you will find the reception area as well as more passenger accommodation. On this deck the cabins are a mix of standard and superior grades. The ship has a total of eight cabin grades, this gives passengers a wide variety of cabin style from which to choose, and a level of accommodation to suit all budgets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Promenade Deck is the entertainment hub of the ship, you will not find any cabins on this deck. At the front of the ship is the Discovery Lounge, home to a small stage on which the main entertainment takes place, this is also where I had my fabulous afternoon tea! Making my way from the Discovery Lounge towards the rear of the ship, I pass the ship's Shop and the Briefing Room. The Briefing Room is home to several computers which, although do not have general Internet access, are available to use for online newspapers and for photograph editing etc. There is free wifi on-board as well as computers with free internet access in the very well stocked Library. Just off of the Library is Shackleton's, a very classy, intimate cocktail/piano bar. Before I reached the Main Dining Room, I passed the Card Room, often a popular place for passengers on these smaller cruise ships. The Dining Room was very tastefully decorated and the tables elegantly laid out in readiness for this evenings meal. In this restaurant you have both fixed and open dining options and meals are waiter service. Occasional, intimate dining can be arranged in the small Chart and Ward rooms, situated either side of the main dining room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Boat Deck has only twenty cabins, these are the higher grade cabins and suites, twelve of which have balconies. On this deck you will also find the Verandah Restaurant (the second dining room). In this restaurant breakfast and lunch is self service but dinner in the evening is waiter service. From the restaurant there is access to the outside verandah area, which is home to the outdoor, salt water, swimming pool. 

 

 

 

 

Up another flight of steps to the Bridge Deck. Only seventeen cabins to be found on this deck, these are superior cabins and suites, including the Owners Suite, the ultimate in luxury! On this deck you will also find the Sundowners Bar, an intimate little bar, ideal for a quiet drink with friends. The bar opens out onto the sun deck and barbecue area.

 

 

 

 

The seventh and final deck is the Sun Deck, this is purely for pleasure with an area for sunbathing, as well as various games to play. There is a Short Tennis court, Shuffle Board, Table Tennis, and a Dart Board. During my exploration of the ship I have used the stairs to access all of the decks, but for those less mobile there are lifts available.

 

 

 

 

With all these amenities on-board, I am sure every passenger boarding today will have a wonderful time on this fifteen night cruise to the Northern Cape, Norway is beautiful at any time of year and what could be better than to view this magnificent country from the comfort and safety of this elegant and luxurious cruise ship?

 

A Few Facts & Figures:

The ship weighs in at 18,591 tons and has a twenty foot draught.

Total passenger capacity is 449 and total crew 252.

There are seven decks and eight cabin grades.

Two restaurants and three bars.

Two swimming pools, inside fresh water, outside salt water.

Cinema, Gym/Spa, Hair & Beauty Salon, Library, Shop, games facilities.

Refurbished in 2010

For more information visit: www.saga.co.uk/cruises  

Splendour of the Seas

CRUISE WITH ROYAL CARIBBEAN

It was a beautiful sunny July morning, and I was boarding Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines‘ Splendour of the Seas’ in Venice, surely life doesn’t get much better than this! ‘Splendour of the Seas’ at 70,000 tonnes is a medium sized ship which has a capacity of 2,076 guests, with a guest to crew ratio of three to one. The cruise that I was about to embark on was a six night cruise out of Venice calling at Athens, Mykonos and Split, I was in a standard inside cabin which turned out to be reasonably spacious with twin beds, two bedside cabinets, dressing table, television, soffa and coffee table, shower and WC, and plenty of wardrobe space.

Check -in at Venice had been remarkably quick and efficient, it helped that I had pre-registered on-line which saves time at check-in. I was onboard the ship by 11:30 but as the staterooms would not be ready until 13:00 I had a look around the ship before going to the ‘Windjammer’ for lunch at 12:00. The ‘Windjammer’ serves hot and cold food from self service food stations and the food is of a good quality, I got my food then sat facing  one of the windows, looking out towards Venice I could see  two other cruise ships in full view. The ’Legend of the Seas’ is the sister ship to ’Splendour of the Seas’ and the other cruise ship was the ’Poesia’ the newest ship from MSC.

After checking out my cabin and grabbing my swimwear I headed to the outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs, the perfect way to unwind after a long journey, I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing before returning to my cabin to change for dinner, I was on second sitting, so plenty of time for a pre-dinner cocktail or two in the ’Viking Crown Lounge’. The lounge is on the top deck with great panoramic views, it also doubles as the night club later in the evening.

Dinner was at 20:30 in the main dining room and was excellent, the service and food was of a very high standard, after dinner I went to the ’Top Hat’ lounge where a live band was playing.

The next day was a day at sea so a chance to relax and make use of the facilities. Even with the ship being full and having a day at sea (the time when everybody wants to use the facilities) it was still possible to find a space away from the crowds, I used the Spa steam room and sauna, which although not as extensive as many cruise lines was adequate and not too busy. I also swam in the indoor pool which is in the solarium with a sliding roof, enabling the pool to be used in all weather. this pool was never as busy as the outdoor pool and so ideal for getting away from the crowd.

That evening was spent investigating more of the bars onboard, having another excellent dinner and taking in one of the shows in the theatre which was of a very high standard.

The following morning we arrived at our first port of call, Piraeus (Athens). I walked to the train station from the port which took me about twenty minutes, there were local buses which would also take you there for 80 cents. I caught the train into Athens which again only cost 80 cents for a journey of about twenty minutes.

I spent some time just walking around the ’Agora’ and the little streets in that area, then I took the tourist ’road train’ which for 5 euros took us up to the ’Acropolis’ and around Athens. The total journey took about an hour, but you could choose to get on and off as often as you wished for the same price.

The cruise line does of course offer excursions at all its ports of call and for some, especially lone travellers or less independent people, would be worth taking up, but Athens is cheap and easy to get to from the port for those wishing to go it alone.

The third day of our cruise and our second port of call, Mykonos one of the Greek islands. I took the cruise lines shuttle bus from the port to the town which took about ten minutes. From where the bus dropped us off it was an easy walk into the main shopping area  where all the restaurants, bars and cafes were. Take care as you walk around as there are many scooters darting about the little streets, it seems to be the transport of choice for local tradesmen. I walked through the town past the many clothes shops which I was told by some fellow passengers were very expensive. I then proceeded on to view the Mykonos Windmills.

For those looking for a beach to chill out on, there is a large resort type beach in the north of the island.You would need transport to get to the beaches, local taxi being the safest bet, but it would probably pay to pre-book your return trip as if the taxis are in great demand you may have difficulty getting back to the ship on time, and if you are not on a ships excursion and you are late back, there is every chance the ship will sail without you. I spent the morning in Mykonos then spent the afternoon relaxing by the swimming pool, the weather had been fantastic throughout the cruise but it did mean that sometimes it was a little too hot to walk around exploring too much.

The fourth day of the cruise was another day at sea so even more time to relax and check out the ships facilities. I took advantage of a tour of the ships kitchens which was very interesting, the Head Chef showed us around a very large and spotlessly clean kitchen which was run very much like an assembly line with each person having a specific task to do.

The show that night was a string quartet, very talented musicians but also very entertaining with a lot of humour in their act. Later in the evening I met up with the quartet in the ’Viking Crown Lounge’ and we had a good old ’sing song’which went on into the early hours.

Day five and our third and final port of call, Split in Croatia. We anchored outside the port and used the Tenders to get ashore. Disembarking was easy and straightforward and it was just a short trip across the harbour to reach dry land. Once ashore it was an easy stroll into the town with it’s historic buildings, beautiful squares and vibrant market place. Today was probably the hottest day of the cruise and the sun was at times unbearable so it was refreshing to walk amongst the market stalls and make use of the shade they provided.

I spent about two and a half hours walking around Split and I was impressed with what it had to offer, it is a very beautiful area and I would very much like to return one day and spend a little more time there. That is one of the advantages of a cruise, you get to visit many places and it gives you an insight to whether you would enjoy spending more time there, if it is a place you are not particularly impressed with at least you are not stuck there for the entire holiday.

The rest of the cruise was spent relaxing and visiting any of the bars that I had so far not had time to check out, each bar would have some form of entertainment be it a pub quiz, a pianist, live band etc. All in all a most enjoyable cruise, the ports of call were all new to me, and I found them all interesting and very accessible, the ship was a lovely ship and a good size for finding your way around, the staff were very efficient and friendly and the food and entertainment was excellent.

.

IBIS HOTEL

IBIS HOTEL, LONDON EXCEL

　

There are many reasons why people visit the docklands area of London, the proximity to London city centre (only 6km), with all the attractions of the capital city, being just one of them. There is, of course, the fascinating history behind this area, and the modern redevelopment which includes residential as well as commercial premises, and several very good restaurants and hotels.

 

The reason for my visit, on this occasion, was to visit the Telegraph Cruise Show which was being held at the London Excel. For those who don’t know, the London Excel is a huge exhibition centre situated between Custom House and Prince Regent DLR train stations. Within two minutes walk of either station, London Excel is easily accessible by train, as well as by road.

 

As I was visiting the cruise show over two days, I decided on an overnight stay on the Saturday night. My choice of the Ibis Hotel proved to be a very wise choice indeed. Situated, virtually, on the doorstep of the London Excel, the Ibis Hotel is approximately only 150 yards from the conference centre, just one to two minutes walk. The close proximity of the hotel would prove invaluable as it meant I could easily nip back to my hotel room during the course of the day, if I needed to.

 

On entering the hotel, I was struck by how bright and modern the reception area was. This modern style of hotel décor is not always to everyone’s taste, however, the Ibis, unlike many other modern, contemporary hotels, still manages to retain a warm and very welcoming atmosphere, and I for one found it very pleasing. The welcoming atmosphere was enhanced by the very efficient and friendly reception staff. Check in was quick and efficient and every care was taken to ensure that I was happy. As I had arrived early in the morning, long before check in would normally commence, I left my luggage in a secure area whilst I visited the cruise show.

 

On returning to the hotel, later in the afternoon, I was given my room key. The key took the form of an electronic swipe card, like so many hotel keys do nowadays. The card also operated the lifts from the reception area to all eight floors. This is a great security measure, as it means no one wandering in off the streets can gain access to the guests rooms.
 

My room was situated on the 7^th floor and overlooked the Royal Victoria docks. This elevated position afforded me wonderful views of not only the docks, but also the river Thames in the distance, as well as the O2 Arena and the recently constructed Emirates cable car attraction. All 278 rooms at the Ibis London Excel have similar facilities comprising of: WiFi, automatic wake up call, telephone, TV with pay to view channels, smoke alarm, en-suite shower, hair dryer, tea/coffee making facilities, desk, sofa and a stool. Where the rooms may differ is the bed configuration. You can choose from a double room with a queens size bed, a twin room with two single beds, or a family room with a double bed and a single bed. There are 15 rooms with facilities for guests with reduced mobility.

 

The room was perfectly acceptable, with everything that I would need for my stay. The hotel itself is not big on facilities, you won’t find a swimming pool or spa here! But this is not a resort type hotel and is aimed at the business visitor and those who merely want a clean, comfortable hotel to base themselves, whilst they visit the local area. The hotel does, however, have a very nice bar area adjacent to reception which is open from 11:00 to 01:00, and the breakfast dining area is used as the restaurant between 18:00 and 22:00, serving a good selection of reasonably priced international dishes. There is also a business area opposite reception where free Internet use is available on two computers.

 

The breakfast room/restaurant is in keeping with the décor of the rest of the hotel, modern, but tasteful. There is a combination of seating, from the more conventional table and chairs, to higher bench style tables with high stools. Breakfast is self service from a very impressive range of both hot and cold foods. Everything from the traditional full English to a more continental style breakfast is on offer, catering for all tastes. Tea, coffee, juices, yogurts, fresh fruit, cereals, it is all there to be enjoyed.

 

 

For anyone visiting the dockland area of London, and, in particular, London Excel, I highly recommend the ideally situated Ibis Hotel for a convenient, clean and comfortable stay.

Other information that may be of interest:

If not eating in the hotel restaurant, there are many fine restaurants within easy walking distance, ranging from Indian to Chinese, to Italian, as well as more traditional food. And of course London, with its plethora of eating establishments, is easily accessible.

Parking can be arranged at the Novotel hotel which is attached to the Ibis. The cost is £15 per day. Advance booking is recommended as space is limited to 70 places.

 

The current General Manager of Ibis London Excel is Mr Brian Opauka.

Address and contact details for Ibis London Excel are:

9 Western Gateway

Royal Victoria Dock
London E16 1AB
Tel: (+44) 207/0552300
Email: H3655@accor.com
Website: http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-3655-ibis-london-excel-docklands/index.shtml