Yesterday and today - one week on

It’s the start of the week, and sadly Mrs PBT’s and I are on the last leg of our cruise, and slowly making our way home. At around 11am this morning, Queen Victoria began her passage through the Straits of Gibraltar, but this time in a westerly direction. Unlike our outward voyage, we passed through this narrow maritime passage during daylight hours, although the view – in both directions was slightly hazy, due to sea mist. It was still possible though, to see the coasts of both Morocco and Spain, and I must say the rock itself looked imposing and impressive, rising as it does, straight up from the sea.

The 11am passage meant having to miss legendary cricket commentator Henry Blofeld's  “Blowers” second talk, although those who did attend claimed it was nowhere near as good as his initial presentation, which took place a few days ago. The speculation was that perhaps, too much wine had been taken, but that was just a rumour, of course. Having said that, we have discovered that gossip spreads both rapidly and rather too easily on a ship, with one example being the story of two passengers, left behind in Cagliari, because they didn’t get back on board ship in time.

It turned out to be a complete fantasy, but another rumour was doing the rounds this morning, along the lines that extreme weather conditions might prevent the ship docking in Lisbon tomorrow (Tuesday). I’m not sure where that one came from, although the ship’s captain did advise that there might be a 3-metre swell later on tonight, due to increasing south-westerly winds. The weather has been glorious so far, and it’s still warm and sunny as I sit here out on the balcony, typing this post. 

It would be a shame if we did have to miss the Portuguese capital, as the city represents my first foray onto foreign soil, as a shy, 17-year-old schoolboy, taking part in an educational cruise.  I’m fairly certain I wrote about that trip a few years ago, so I won’t bore you again with the details now, but that voyage represents my first and only visit to Portugal, so I am keen to renew my acquaintance with a country that is England’s oldest ally.

Since my last post, we have visited Santorini, Cephalonia with its lovely capital Argostoli, and Cagliari, the charming, cosmopolitan capital of Sardinia. It was blisteringly hot, when we docked in the town, two days ago, so much so that Eileen, who doesn’t like the heat at the best of times, only got as far as the exit from the port area, before deciding to turn back. I carried on, being made of sterner stuff – mad dogs and all that, but I stayed in the shade as much as possible and had a good time exploring this lesser-known capital, on my own.

I took a look at the city’s compact and modernised, railway station, before climbing the hill up into Cagliari’s old town. I only made it so far though, as beyond the main square there is a much steeper ascent up into what must have been the original part of the town. An imposing, and impregnable looking fortress dominates this area, as does a majestic cathedral, but I was content to sit at a table outside one of the many cafés and bars, overlooking the old market square.

A couple of cooling glasses of a craft IPA, brewed on the Italian mainland, along with some slices of ham and cheese, in a soft-flat, white roll was just the thing to set me up for the rest of the day, but not before taking in the local comings and goings, of this bustling Sardinian port. Some of the local girls, dressed to impress and in time for a coffee and snack, provided quite a spectacle, and woe betide anyone who got in their way, or tried to spoil their enjoyment.

After this light lunch I did a spot of shopping, purchasing a couple of Sardinian craft beers, some local virgin olive oil, some Sardinian honey, plus a bar of a nougat-like confectionery, that wouldn’t melt in the excessive heat. 

Finally, no visit to Italy could be called complete without some local ice-cream, and the mango-flavoured Gelato, served in a cone, and enjoyed under the shady shop canopy overlooking the seafront, proved the perfect way to end my all too brief visit to this charming, Mediterranean island.

I made my way back onboard the cruise ship and tracked down Mrs PBT’s. After a welcoming cup of coffee, we went out on deck and watched as the Queen Victoria slipped her moorings, and sailed majestically out of Cagliari harbour, once in open waters, the ship took a westerly course at first, towards the Spanish coast, before changing to a south-westerly one, down towards the southern tip of Spain, and the coastline of Africa. That is where we came in, and this is now, where we must leave.