I`m back on terra firma after experiencing some beautiful places. Home for the last week has been Adonia the smallest of the P&O ships . I prefer the smaller ships as you really do get a chance to meet people and hear their stories. The Adonia is a pathfinder ship, as it can explore the smaller ports that the larger ships can’t. The majority of passengers on board this Festive cruise seemed to be Welsh. Sailing around the Canary Islands and hearing Welsh spoken at times was rather funny to say the least.
I joined at Santa Cruz, Tenerife where I met Rhian & Linda West ex Carmarthen Youth Opera members. They moved out to Tenerife years ago and have a wonderful life out in the sun. I must admit I was little jealous of their laid back lifestyle.
Next morning we approached the island of La Palma. I love the old cobbled streets with its cafes and small independent shops that sell local artists’ beautifully crafted designs. For me sitting with mouth-watering tapas in the piazza watching the world go by is just perfect.
Back on board for the sail away north towards Funchal, Madeira. I hadn’t been to Madeira in years. The last time was to reopen the beautifully restored opera house which I`m glad to say was still looking glorious. Whilst in Rome ……….
It seemed the right thing to eat the local cake & drink the local booze surrounded by the most amazing flowers – both colours and scent. It was suggested that I took the famous cable car ride to the top of the island, walk the gardens and then descend in the wicker toboggan sled ride – and so I did – oh YES!!!! Mail on Sunday 6 must do things in Madeira – DONE!
Two sea days with 24 hours of celebrations for the new year. I managed to dance till 3am! On Friday though Captain Box announced that there was a medical issue so he set best speed and course to the nearest port of Vigo, Spain. In the early hours of the morning the passenger was handed over to a specialised medical team and as far as I’m aware is doing well. The captain and his team managed this emergency brilliantly.
Just a few hours behind schedule and we arrived at La Coruna. Another beautiful jewel. I found the best cured meats I have ever seen or tasted. Marvellous – my taste buds are still on over-drive.
The final sea day back to Southampton and I was very kindly offered a lift home by John Virgo and his wife – not the snooker player but a farmer in Cwmbran and it was straight to Winter Wonderland in Cardiff for my final Xmas present – a skating session with my daughter. The trip was great but the skating was just the best present ever.
This article was originally published in the Carmarthen Journal in Mark’s weekly column for the paper.
