First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to all those that sent me birthday greetings. A special day was made all the more special by you all. So once more, a really big thank you.
Also, let me say that from here on in, any updates from me will be sporadic or less frequent. This is in part because I’ll be in those post birthday blues :-(, partly because there is only one more port of call :-(, and partly because we are in the final few days of our cruise 😦 :-(. But, I remain cheerful. How can one not remain cheerful on a P&O Cruise and especially on a cruise on the Oceana.
Anyway, today was our last day in the Canaries (boo) :-(, but also, my birthday :-), and for our last day we visited Lanzarote. We’d been to Lanzarote before wen we took the opportunity to visit the Fire Mountain and the lava fields, both stunning locations and well worth a visit. But, as we’d been there before, and because it was my birthday, we elected to do our own thing and wonder ashore at our leisure, after a late lazy breakfast. But, not before I had opened my cards and present, a lovely MacBook Air: Ooh, it’s so lovely; just like a baby iMac. Mrs Me has been good to me. I also got a very nice card from the Captain withe some rather lovely chocolates that lasted about 30 seconds.
As was our breakfast lazy, so was out stroll into town: we took the shuttle bus. As it turned out, the journey was less than half a mile (had we known that, we would have walked it) and not surprisingly ended right next to another blooming market which pleased Mrs Me, as usual. Why is that as soon as she, and so many other Mrs Others, sees a market there is an insatiable urge to seek out something they ‘need’ and buy it? Fortunately, the market only consisted of a couple of dozen stalls so we soon got through to the other side, having made the obligatory purchase of one scarce (she has many such items). It was then but a short walk across a couple of bridges across the water inlets from the sea (even on land I can’t get away from sea) and onwards to the ‘town centre’.
It wasn’t long before I decided that I didn’t like the town of Arrecife. I’m sorry guys but I really didn’t like it at all; it gave a very poor representation of Lanzarote. Realising my dislike, Mrs Me suggested we went over to the fort, “you might be able to see the sea” she said. “oh goody” said I, “that’s just want I want, to see the sea: After all, being on a ship for over a week sailing the seas I haven’t actually seen much sea”. Although I’m sure she realised the stupidity of what she said, I still got a thick ear and was made to go looking at naff shops for 20 more minutes before I was allowed to head back, via a bar, actually, a very nice bar with a very nice little waitress. Just don’t tell Mrs Me I said that other wise, I’ll get another thick ear.
Back on the ship, Mrs suggested that as it was my birthday, she would treat me to a special lunch in Marco Pierre White’s Cafe Jardin. What I didn’t know what that it was all a ploy to prevent me having food I liked such as chips. It didn’t get much better when I poked the corner of the menu straight into my eye; but they still wouldn’t let me have chips. I had to make do with a Panini with, wait for it, salad. Obviously, a nice glass of Rioja was permitted, which was nice.
Come evening it was time for dinner. On entering the dining room, many waiters waiter greeted me with a ‘Happy Birthday’. Our table was easy to spot. It was the one with balloons hanging over it. Actually, there were quite a few tables with balloons having above. Clearly, November 21st is a good birth day. Anyway, my lovely table companions, now good friends had sought out some appropriate cards for me although the one of a camp looking wine waiter on the front worried me a bit. Did they think I was camp, or liked wine? I really don’t know. I do like wine though.
After dinner, all, and I mean ‘all’ the waiters came over to sing happy birthday to which most of the restaurant joined in followed closely by a lovely birthday cake (sponge cake, with icing of course). This I selflessly shared with my dining colleagues as I was more than a little bit full. Then, it was off to the bar for a bed-time drink in the Yacht & Compass bar where my new girl friends (bar tender and waitress of course) were waiting wish me a happy birthday and shower me with birthday hugs and kiss’s. Actually all I got was a peck on the cheek. and then, to add insult to injury, she rationed my drinks, in cahoots with Mrs Me of course; I’m so picked on, it just isn’t fair.
The end of day came all to soon at a quarter past midnight, we retired to our quarters for an ‘early’ night as our next stop would be Lisbon, although this was two nights and a days sailing away. So until then, all we would see would be sea. Thank goodness i didn’t go to the fort.
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