Portland, it seems, is a "tied island", i.e., an island tied to the mainland by a narrow beach along which runs one road that, by bridge, hops to the mainland.
At mid-day an MSC cruise ship arrives; capacity 4,810-6,234.
Here we've selected a tour to the Abbotsbury Swannery on the mainland since everything else was sold out. For reasons not given, HA canceled this tour without telling us. The remaining five tours all have parts that require greater physical effort than we wish to try. We'll wander the town later.
First we took breakfast in the MDR at a table for ten with nine present. Next to us sat the couple we partnered with at trivia two nights ago, real world travelers. Across from us was a couple from Rotterdam who had booked this cruise at the last minute to celebrate their 60th anniversary. O's European cold plate was good, but D's Eggs Benedict took forever to be served, as did others all-American breakfasts. Dining service is lacking on this ship.
We went to a W. H. Smith's store so D could buy little things for small people. Amazingly, they neither give nor sell bags. So we went to the Boots drug store across the way and bought a bag. Nothing else, just a paper bag.
Down the street we saw Stanley's Coffee Shop. We stepped in tor a nibble. D had hot chocolate, O had coffee, and each had a lemony muffin. Very nice for 11.5.
We couldn't see much else that we needed or could use, so we went back to the shuttle and back to the ship.
Back at the ship, O worked on this page while D took an extended nap since she hadn't slept well.
O went off to trivia and joined three ladies, two who discovered a common background in Columbus OH. We only got 13 when the winners got 18 (tough quiz). O wanted a Gibson during the game, but the bartender told him none of the bars have the needed cocktail onions. Humph.
On deck 11, the deck above the pool, there is a deli operation called New York Deli. All the usual NY stuff, plus individual pizza. We each had a pizza for dinner.
After dinner we went to the show - a bunch of dances to music of the 70's. Very good choreography.
Then back to the cabin to settle and sleep.
202410116 Wednesday Brest, France
We slept as though drugged. Didn't wake up until 1000 this morning. No idea why.
This is a short stop (1000-1800). O would like to see the WW2 Nazi U-boat pen, but it's in the center of the current French Naval HQ. No access.
But D's hip is complaining again. It is raining, and very foggy.. This combination causes us to say we'll stay inside where it is warm and dry, and the walks are short.
After making that decision we looked up menus, and decided on the Lido for lunch. We each had this-and-that, but my assortment included cocktail onions - that which the bartender insisted they didn't have.
Iman did the room while we were gone. Now we'll play games until Trivia and watch Brest slide by as we depart for Bermuda and Fort Lauderdale.
… and that's about what we did. At Trivia we did poorly, 19 of 30. And we'll forget some of that.
We did dinner in the MDR, where once again we were befuddled at the antics of the wait-staff. There must be some means of creating an organization that can handle this task efficiently, or at least with less fuss. We were finally shuttled upstairs to the domain of Dannyboy. He served us well, minimum fuss and bother, and good food.
After coffee we looked ahead to the entertainment. Hmm… Sid something or other as the night's comedian show. Don't need laughs tonight. So off to the cabin.
Picture at left is the dock next to the cruise terminal. It's the grain unloading rig here at Brest, France.
The ship is now on four engines at full speed, about 18 knots. The Captain said he would maintain this speed all the way to Bermuda. Amazingly, the low cloud layer that was giving us all the doom and gloom went away about 10 miles offshore. We expect a nice sunny day tomorrow, cool due to the latitude of 48*20'N.
The clocks advance an hour tonight, and we begin the 'At Sea' phase of the trip, so turn to the next page, please.
