mandb trips: February 2024

Thursday, 29 February 2024

CRUISING the Caribbean - 2023 -

Let's start with a short video involving the cruise ship:-

INSTRUCTIONS: You need to click the arrow and then click again to begin watching.

Some facts about our ship:

The 'ARVIA' (had only been in service for one year - so brand new ! )

5,200 guests + 1,800 crew

Rising from deck 3 (medical) up to deck 19 (sky deck)

16 lifts; 4 pools; 30 bars / restaurants; 8 entertainment venues

We were on deck 4 - inside cabin. starboard side, midships (get the lingo 😄)

Having seen these huge floating hotels sail out of Venice we said we'd never take one of them. But here we were aboard this huge vessel sailing the high seas in the Caribbean.

Calling at Barbados (Bridgetown); British Virgin Islands; Dominican Republic; St Maarten; Antigua; St Kitts; Martinique; St Lucia; & back to Barbados. 8 countries in 2 weeks.

"Hello Margie, hello Bill"
THE DAILY MANTRA OF OUR CABIN STEWARD, GANESH

The weather was perfect and while we think the ship wasn't full, it was very busy. Quiet places did exist on board and we found our inside cabin was peaceful and the TV webcam did allow us to see where we were - our porthole to the outside world.

Here is a [graphic] sheet I created to show our day to day itinerary:-

Many ports and countries were similar and each visit was so brief that more time would have been nice. As a snapshot of the Caribbean it was very good and we did book excursions on four occasions along with a ferry across the bay in Fort de France, Martinique.

With so many countries only briefly visited it would be crazy to pass judgement. However we did very much enjoy Bridgetown, St Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia and definitely [though not expected] Martinique.

VERDICT: Very efficiently run cruise and ship, great food and entertainment. Aside from the flights there and back, which we won't go on about, you couldn't fault the value for money!

😀How about some music to listen to in the background while you view our photos >>>

Video LINK HERE [will open a new page] so just click back to your previous tab and view galley below

Music is Dédé Saint-Prix - 'Mi bel kous kanno' >

Colourful Caribbean wall paintings (and animals) were everywhere.

St. Maarten beach bum: surf backdrop as changing weather approaches.

Nelson's Dockyard and a complimentary rum punch.

Antigua: View from Shirley Heights to Nelson's dockyard.

St. Kitts: around the island, train trip.

Martinique: Beach bar across the bay from Fort de France.

My best Brown Pelican shot. Martinique.

Martinique: More colourful buildings and wall paintings.

St. Lucia: The Pitons famous landmark.

Leaving Tortola, British Virgin Island.

Drinks on the promenade deck as we pull out to sea.

Always time for a beer...

Silent Disco Nights.
On the Red channel or the Blue, either way a world of your own !

And a suntanned farewell cocktail - cheers, here's to next time...

Friday, 23 February 2024

SCOTLAND 2023 - [Coast to Coast]

During June 2023 we toured Scotland. Visiting for the first time in 12 years.

Having begun on the South Coast [in Fairlight naturally] we drove to the very top of mainland Britain to John O'Groats. Quite literally Coast to Coast !
We took our time and were away for nearly three weeks while enjoying some unexpected sunshine north of the border (see photographic evidence).

We entered Scotland by the side door - the A1 - easterly approach from England, staying three days in Dunbar for easy access to relatives living nearby. Without wishing to sound like that song 'I've Been Everywhere' the following is likely to sound a bit like it. From Dunbar to Falkirk and The Kelpies and The Wheel. On through Perth, Forfar to a B&B near Arbroath (for 'smokies') and then we followed the coastline around Aberdeenshire. To Fraserburgh and then westward along the coast. Stopping to see a cousin in the back of beyond, near to Pennan (location for film 'Local Hero' - see link). The sunshine continued past Elgin and Inverness to Portmahomack (where it did rain briefly- see pic below). Continuing along the East coast we were now on Scotland's North Coast 500* - going East to West. Leaving the dramatic west coast scenery till last, though the East Coast, it has to be said, while gentler was beautiful and equally wonderful. Reaching our overnight stop and three night stay at Lybster, just south of Wick. From here we drove to John O'Groats and Duncansby Stacks and Dunnet Head. Also seeing the 'Flow Country' an area of peatland and wetlands in the far north east of the country.

The narrow roads from Wick along the 500 were busy with motorbikes, cars and small motorhomes. No coaches or larger vans at all, because of the many passing points along the single track sections all along the North - Kyle of Tongue, Durness and Rhiconich - before two lanes reappeared and we drove on to Kylesku and eventually down to Ullapool. A very nice town and overnight stop (we almost stayed another night but the lovely B&B wasn't available.)
Driving on south the sunny days disappeared behind us and it rained most of the way to Fort William. Next day we visited our Land ! A few years ago Margaret's nephew Jon Jon gifted us Highland Titles. We are Lady Margaret & Laird William Pocock of Glencoe. It's only a square foot of land within a Nature Reserve but it was nice to visit and see the good work being done. See pic.
Our next overnight was south of the Highlands in Stirling, where we visited the Castle and the Bannockburn memorial.
The final few days were spent with relatives once more around Penicuik. Before the long drive back to England on motorways and roads far far busier than we'd experienced in Scotland. In total we drove 2,350 miles - Coast to Coast - a great trip !

* Enjoy this neat YouTube video that takes you along the roads - West to East - watch on full screen and note the map and the wee dot bottom left of screen as you travel along. Click >

PHOTO Gallery >>>