Earlier today we turned right from the slightly more turbulent Bay of Biscay into a much less disturbed English Channel for the very, very last stretch at sea of this epic
trip. Three seagulls were like pilots
today, for hours and hours flying ahead of the ship, and then dropping to the
side of the ship, reminding us of how close we are to islands in the Channel.
The sea has been quite rough but the ship has stayed stable.
As we move along we can hear doors opening and our colour
coded labelled suitcases being wheeled out all over the place, collected by the
staff and moved to the lifts. Half of
the lifts are now out of action as the lifts are being used for suitcases
only. We have had the flyer with details
of time slots and places to meet before the grand disembarkation. It’s all very final now.
So how have we spent our final day on board? We woke early,
had a gorgeous fresh coffee in bed, we took an early breakfast and I attended a
30 minute yoga class at 9 a.m., followed by art where we did a still life
- some brought fruit, croissants and
other food on plates, we brought my wooden Buddha carving. I did a water colour painting and Khachik did
a pencil drawing – we are both very happy with our final pieces. Just looking for Khachik's to post with this.
After lunch (which incidentally for me included a very
special chocolate chip pudding with toffee sauce) we went for our final art
exhibition with Easa and fellow passenger-artists, full of gratitude and other
feelings then a 45 minute work-out in the gym, another 45 minute yoga class, a
Costa coffee and then the very very final hot tub.
And then it was time to eat a five courser again in the
Meridian Restaurant, and get ready for the Palladium. It’s 20.30 hours as I am
writing this, and the sun is setting on day 106, very beautifully, so we have
captured it on a photo as this one is the sunset of the cruise. We’re off to the Palladium for some 60’s and
70’s music from Zack Winningham and the Four Seasons Tribute “Walk like a Man”.
P.S. Performances
were fabulous, especially Zack. Would have been great if he’s been able to do
another full show instead of sharing. Tomorrow
morning we arrive in Southampton, reunite with our luggage, find the coach and
head on up the M6 to junction 18/19 once again. Three months older, 36,000+ miles
better travelled, more knowledgeable about 38 ports, and been rendered
breathless by several wonders, having
sailed many seas, crossed many “lines” (some certified!!!!), used currencies we’d
never heard of, met the most interesting group of people, picked up artists’
brushes for the first time in 45+ years, and learned how to use them, practised
a few new dances (even certificates of achievement for the ballroom dancing
arrived in our post today). Here's our final cruise sunset.
The goodbyes have started, and there's a lot of reminiscing going on. There could be tears tomorrow.
Tears or not I now can’t wait for whatever’s next, to see and hug our very patient and understanding family
and catch up with everything we have missed (hope the bairns remember us!), to get started with teaching yoga again and to relearn how
to live off the ship and eat normal sized meals! More of this tomorrow. xx
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