The Saga Rose, in the mist
Many reunions
Wine tasting
Up in the mountains
Lisbon's electric Christmas tree
Meeting of the 'Sisters'
This morning there was an eery mist over the river as we steered slowly into Lisbon port. As we arrived, two things began to slowly appear out of the murk. The first thing you noticed was the huge suspension bridge, the second was an almost identical replica of the Saga Ruby - this was The Saga Rose, the Ruby's sister ship. There was something very 'Marie Celeste-ish' about the whole thing, and as we came closer, finally to berth stern-to-stern. People on our ship came out indroves to look across at this other ship, from which other faces peered across. It was, I suppose, a bit like gazing into a huge mirror. What was very moving about it was the excitement generated by the Philippino staff, many of whom have boyfriends, girlfriends, brothers and sisters on board The Rose. They work 10 months on and 2 months off, most of the time, and it's only on occasions like this that they get to see each other. This was seriously moving stuff! Apparently, the two ships have been known to pass each other in the middle of the ocean on dark nights, and on these rare occasions, both ships turn on all their lights and the two captains wave at each other wearing those comical giant plastic hands. Anyone wishing to visit the other ship are free to do so, although apparently, apart from a few minor differences they are more or less the same. Both ships are in port until 11pm tonight when, together, both will be heading to Southampton - I'm wondering if we're going to make a race of it!
This afternoon's tour, the last of the cruise, was very enjoyable, and went as smooth as clockwork. First, we visited a castle on top of a hill, then we were given a tour of a winery, the climax which of course was a free wine-tasting. It's funny how people are on these things. They are herded into dark, cold cellars to look at rows and rows of big dark barrels and bored silly with the standard company-promoting schpeel about how the winery was formed, who by and when. But what they all really want is THE WINE TASTING!!! ("Where's the wine?", bored visitors are heard to mutter as yet another cellar with identical barrels to the last one are shown to us). One thing that I did find interesting was a comment made by the guide who was taking us around. She said it is an offence to kill the spiders in the cellar. At which point, several nervous passengers started to look around with worried expressions on their faces. It is true, she said, that spiders are an integral part of a wine cellar because they kill any termites that might decide to try their luck there - which would of course be disastrous to the barrels, some of which have been stored there for hundreds of years.
After our wine-tasting (I was so impressed with it that I bought two bottles), we concluded the tour with a drive through the Addabega (think that's how you spell it - if not, I'll correct it later) mountains, and National Park, which was suitably impressive. When we finally hit the windy coast road, that looks out over the Atlantic Ocean, I was dead chuffed to learn that this very road is the same road that George Lazenby, as James Bond 007 loses his new wife to a passing gunman in one of the closing scenes 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' - Brilliant!!
1 Comment(s).
Posted by lisa dood:
hi painty pete
how exciting to be on the same road - no fast cars passing by then? dont think i will be visiting any winery's then if there are spiders there! not my cuppa tea but like the idea of wine tasting.
hi Jules - yep the kitchen is up and running now - hurrah not only that but the bathroom and both bedrooms are done now too.
back to petey, did you manage to borrow a guitar for your debut or is it yet to come? re the picture i thought you were going to say something wonderful, like you painted it ! big whahooooo for selling a painting too ment to mention it before soz.
getting nearer to when we will see you again so come on mr Holmes get cracking you've romances n such to uncover before you dock.
loopy lisa n Sy xx:)