Cartagena

Tuesday 29th November

I had told Jenny that I did not want to make any time plans for the next day, so we decided that if we met up that would be fine, but otherwise we would go our separate ways. I was finally ready for breakfast about midday! That’s how I like ship’s mornings.

I had found a map of a walking tour on the internet and I decided to follow it. The weather was fine; the sun was shining and it was about 15 degrees. I set off walking along the harbour towards the main shopping street. Cartagena is a city of different levels and there are different ways of accessing it. I could have climbed steps opposite the harbour but it was easier to walk along to where access was at street level. Further back there is a park accessed by three escalators (though I was told the middle escalator did not work so you needed to use steps). In another area there is a scenic lift to the top of the hill where you can see war bunkers – but the lift was not working and even if it had been, there was a walk along a glass-sided walkway to actually get to the hilltop for the scenic views. Not for me!

I enjoyed just wandering through the streets and looking at the lovely architecture. Most of the central part is pedestrianised. My route map took me past some Roman remains and a shop with local handicrafts. I found a square where I chatted to a couple of other passengers who I seem to meet up with on most shore days! The square was being prepared for the Christmas market. There were a couple of impressive ficus trees, about 100 years old.

Back at the ship I noticed part of the ongoing work to keep the ship in good order. It may have been a port day for me but it was part of a busy working schedule for the crew.

I visited the Commodore club to write up my diary. I decided to try a Cosmopolitan after talking carefully to the bartender. This was much better than the one at the cocktail party but it has not inspired me to order another one during the cruise.

I could feel the effects of the drink so I went to afternoon tea in the hope that there might be some battenberg cake. It was there and I asked for a few slices to take back to my room. Unfortunately it was dry and as tasteless as the M&S variety! It was really not worth getting fat for but I felt committed to it after ordering extra. What was really nice, though, were little tarts with raspberries and an almond mixture. I took a few of those back to my room to eat for dessert and supper. They were definitely the nicest of all the desserts or cakes I have had on a ship.

I sat in my room to read, interrupted by the great view as we left the harbour of Cartagena and a phone call from Jenny to arrange dinner in the Lido instead of the restaurant, as she had eaten lunch late. We met up just before 7.

The Dance Hosts had supposedly organised a new system for asking people to dance, but it did not seem to be working well to me. In the early session I had 3 dances (each with a different Host) in quick succession. I thought they needed to start at different points in the room rather than mainly starting near our table. It really is not rocket science and yet some of the Hosts flit from one side of the room to the other instead of working a whole table and then progressing to the next table.

Frances and I chatted during the break while Jenny and Sarah went to the show. I had decided not to stay late as I could see no point in sitting around for 2 hours just for 4 dances. I stayed for about 15 minutes and scored 2 dances in that time so I felt I was ahead.

I was at an exciting point in my book – an exciting point that was taking ages to actually resolve itself! My sleeping tablet kicked in and I had to go to sleep before I’d actually reached the resolution.