We were surrounded by a sea of blue, sky of blue, deck of blue and Sarahās new āHokusai” dress …of blue. š Ā Ā
ā¬ Sarah wearing her new āHokusaiā dress! ā¬
view our full cruise from Croatia
Tag Archives: Holiday
iReminisce: Palma By Plane
October 24, 2021 
0 Comments
Yay, the plane…
I was excited to be travelling on an airplane again, and was totally surprised i managed to capture a piece of Palma upon take off!Ā š² Ā
iReminisce: Warrior Princess
October 23, 2021 0 Comments
This has to be one of my favorite photos!! Iām glad to see Sarah(The Greatest Warriorā parting some of her knowledge and instruction to an inferior ranked warrior on how to correctly throw a spear!Ā šŖš¼
View our full day inĀ Alicante
iReminisce: The Coffee Port
October 22, 2021 1 Comment
My fave place āThe Coffee Portā on the Thomson DreamĀ cruise ship (now Marella Dream) for a birthday Cappuccino with a stunning view!Ā š² Ā
ā§Ā My fave seat in the Coffee PortĀ ā§
iReminisce: The Unimog
October 21, 2021 0 Comments
The 1961 Yellow Unimogā¦
Awww friendsā¦.Let me introduce you to this Yellow, 1961 Unimog…..have you seen the tires, lol! It threw us around like crazy and i still can’t believe that he didn’t slow down for anything. There is no way a vehicle can hit rocks, huge pot holes, climb cracked hills and go around tight bends whilst travelling at break neck speed, it would have destroyed anything else and left them in a pile of spare parts, lol. I’m not sure they issued these with brake pedals! š
View our full day (Sarahās Birthday) at Bonaire
iReminisce: Surf & Smile
October 20, 2021 0 Comments
Back at the dockā¦š³Ā
After a short boat ride back to the ship, we had enough time to get changed, leave our bags and have a well needed iced-coffee before heading out to explore as much as we can without getting lost before the ship leaves.
We walked up one street and turned right before Sarah stopped and said āWow, sheās having her photo taken in front of that cool wall art/sign. Quick get one of meā āOk my lovely, youāre wearing your new yellow Michael Kors t-shirt too, i hope i get everything inā. Sarah had bought this t-shirt for our holidays and couldnāt wait to put on the lovely bright colours and flowers.
Ā This is one of my fave photos as it shows Sarahās smile is as bright as her t-shirt.Ā
View our full day at Aruba
iReminisce: The Coconut Cake
October 19, 2021 0 Comments
Speightstown, Barbados…
And speaking of lovely architecture and colonial towns, your first stop is at Speightstown. Here you’ll enjoy seeing historic buildings and beautiful tropical beaches.
The tour guide kept talking about the PRC Bakery at our first stop, and said she was going in to get something for the trip. āOOohhhh maybe we could get a small cake for your birthdayā āYes letās follow her and see what goodies they have?ā As we walked in to the little bakery the guide said āOh yes a lead pipeā as she picked one up and went to pay for it. āWhatās a lead pipe?ā i said to the guide āItās a local cake but it can be used as a weapon too as itās very heavyā. Sarah then passed me a bag with a cake in and said hold this āWow this weighs about the same as a 16lb bowling ballā āeverything is so heavy in here, nothing has fluffy cream like in England as it would melt instantly, lolā.
Sarah told the baker that we loved coconut and did e have anything with coconut in them? We only got 1 coconut slice as we didnāt know how sweet it was or even if we liked it?!Ā š Ā Ā
Ā I never (ever) stop talking about this coconut slice as itās the nicest cake iāve ever tasted! The bell on the āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā was destroyed as this flew to the top of the cakes list! If iād have known i wouldāve stayed in the bakery and continued to eat every single last one of them! But we only had that one and weāve never been able to go back since this monumental occasion. Oh yesā¦This monumental occasion is my lovely wife Sarah’s birthday! š¤£
View our full day (Sarahās Birthday) in Barbados
iReminisce: V8
October 13, 2021 0 Comments
While on holiday last year in Hunstanton, Norfolk I kept hearing a fat american V8 driving around the town, and one day it was parked up so I could snap it with my camera!Ā š² Ā
My friends dad always had american cars Ā and vans and I’ve enjoyed them for most of my life, so I was excited when I could finally put a picture to that beautiful sound.Ā šĀ
Camera UsedĀ ~Ā iPhone 4s
iReminisce: Heacham Breakers
September 29, 2021 0 Comments
As i was walking along the lovely quiet beach in Heacham, Norfolk (2006) with Sarah & Bruce i stopped to take this photo. As i have very little sight i still think this looks like a snake! lolĀ š¤£ Ā
Camera usedĀ –Ā SONY Alpha a100
āļø #66 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #4” š§š§ (2019)
March 10, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 66 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Ā Ā My ‘Blind Sightseers’ shirt collectionā¦š¤£Ā
Ā I wanted to take a photo of all of my shirts that iād collected whilst on my travels, to show everyone (especially Sarahās dad) that i donāt only wear black, lol! š¤£Ā
The Gapā¦
We had a final walk along the gap to say a sad farewellā¦When Sarah found another way for us to cool down, lol! š¤£Ā Ā
Ā My birthday Bajan towelā¦š§š§Ā
On my birthday, Sarah also bought me this great colourful towel from the gift shopā¦I wouldnāt stop talking about it! I said āHey Sarah can you take a photo of me on the beach holding my towel in the wind? I can hold it out like a flagā. I was failing miserably to hold it against the windā¦But just as i was about to give up, George and Cynthia walked past and asked if weād like them to take some photos?! šŖš¼ šĀ Ā
Then as we were finishingā¦A kind person asked if weād like a photo all together? Wow another photo weāll cherish. šĀ
Ā Weād had an amazing time here in our fave place on earthā¦But it was time for a few more farewell photos before we head back home.Ā
Ā The final sunset…
Just as we were watching the sun fall away for the last time here in paradiseā¦A kind lady asked if weād like a photo together? Awww what a lovely surprise on our final evening, more precious memories.šĀ Ā
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #65 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #3” š§š§ (2019)
March 9, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 65 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Ā Good morning friends! Ā
NOPE..I just canāt get bored of the viewā¦Ever! š Ā
Breakfast and bathingā¦šŖš¼ Ā
NOPEā¦I canāt get bored of this breakfast either, lol! š¤£ Ā
Then itās time for Sarah to have a swim in the pool whilst i try and not get fried. āļø Ā Ā
Ā Sarah showed me where to get the lovely ice cold water (with cucumber or lemon) so i could refill while she was in the pool. Once iāve been shown iām pretty good at remembering where to go and what to do. The water was on a table underneath a tent like thingā¦And i could just make out a shape of a palm tree above it but i didnāt know it was glowing! āļø š“Ā
The beach and Bajan blast…š
Wowā¦I donāt think weāve ever been anywhere that is so accessible for us. Itās so much easier for us to be independent and do everything that we want to without too much hassle or struggleā¦And everything is so near by and we find it hard to even leave Southern Palms.
Speaking of whichā¦āSteve letās go on the beachā Sarah said as she blew pas me! I love this time of day and i’ll never get bored of seeing Sarah run, splash and play on this empty Caribbean beach. My only struggle is trying to point the camera towards the happy sounds! š¤£ Ā Ā
Ā After another fantastic time on the beach, itās time to dry off and cool offā¦And what better way to cool off than a iced coffee at Sharkeyās! š Ā
Sharkeyās Tropical Cafe…
Ā Surf and turfā¦šĀ
Ā And guess what?? Itās time for Ā the āSouthern Burgerā and the āShrimp Cocktailā again, Sarah says the shrimp are as big as your face and sheās never seen anything like it before! š¤£ Ā
Sarahās beautiful new green dress…
Sarah was excited to wear her beautiful new green dress, and as our room was right on the front facing the beach i said iāll stay on the balcony and get some photosā¦No pressure, lol! š¤£ I didnāt have my āBig Burthaā (Nikkor 80-400mm lens) or any of my DSLRās but i did have my iPhone and tested the digital pinch zoom range! š Ā
Ā Hey look whoās backā¦?Ā š² Ā
Just as Sarah was walking back from the beach we heardĀ āSarahā¦Hello weāre backā it was George and Cynthia! Theyād had a lovely time visiting family in Saint Vincent and youāll never guessā¦?
If you remember when we stayed here last year and i had āThe Coconut Sliceā in Speightstown on Sarahās birthday island tourā¦Well obviously i was telling George about it and he said āWe have a local one like that can Saint Vincent called āRed Bellyā and it sounds the sameā.Ā
Thenā¦š¤ Ā
George said āPut out your handā and continued to place a āRed Bellyā coconut slice into my hand! I couldnāt believe itā¦His kindness was ineffable. He continued I went to the bakery on the island and they only had 2 left and were not making any more, i got one for you and one for meā. š I donāt have the hyperbole to describe the coconut slice, and sorry i donāt have a photo as it disappeared so quicklyā¦Not sure where it went, lol! š š¤£Ā
The Bajan sunset…
Ā Wow what a relaxing day on this incredible holiday. Thankfully we have 1 more full day at this beautifully colourful place before we head back to Gatwick and the cold, wet and grey London hue!
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā š
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #64 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #2” š§š§ (2019)
March 8, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 64 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Ā Good morning friends!Ā
Breakfast and braidesā¦š„šššš
After the consistently delicious, fresh and tasty breakfast we headed off to the salon. It was the same lady from last year, so she knew exactly how we liked our hair and we had a good catch up too! š Ā Ā
Our new friends George and Cynthia…
If you remember the 1st day of our cruise inĀ Aruba, we met George and Cynthia at the evening meal when weād shared a table. We had no idea that they were also staying at Southern Palms for a week too. They had stay here 20 years ago and wondered if it had changed and to get a photo at the same spot theyād had a photo back then. George and Cynthia were going to Saint Vincent to visit family for a few days and weād meet back up with them for the last couple of days.Ā
But before they left (as they are so loving and kind)for Saint Vincent they knew it was our birthdays and as a complete surprise present they bought us a top each with Barbados written on them. Yes mine is the stupendous blue Carribbean shirt iām wearing! š Ā Ā
Ā Right now we donāt have to fight against the wind all holidayā¦Letās see what weāll be doing on this cool excursion.Ā
Harrisonās Cave…
Go deeper underground with a visit to Harrisonās Cave. All limestone stalactites, caverns and grottoes, itās like taking a trip to the moon. Add rock pools, streams and some red and orange mood-lighting, and it takes on a volcano-like edge. Itās easy to see why the locals call it one of the seven wonders of the island. Boarding a little electric tram, youāll take a mile-long tour through the chambers, passing pillars formed by stalagmites and stalactites that have met in the middle. At the bottom, youāll see the star of the show ā a mighty waterfall below the ground.
The hard hat…
First off, take a comedy picture once youāve put on your hard hatā¦Check! š¤£ Ā Ā
Ā Weād just listened to about 15 minutes of history inside a mini cinema type place before boarding this cool little tram, then it was into the darkness to find some light. š Ā
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tEmSnb3H9k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jbqR1XN0lg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Is_dUBJCYk
Ā Wow what a ride! We had a fantastic trip and were very thankful that weād not had to walk as it wouldāve been impossible. But sitting back and relaxing in the tram was fantastic and the guide was knowledgable and we learned lots! š Ā
Bac at room 112…
Wow i could stay here for the next 40 years, lol! š¤£ Ā
Ā The sea and the sunset…
āQuick Steve thereās still time to play in the sea before the evening meal and sunsetā Sarah said as she blasted past me and ran for the sea, lol! š¤£ Ā āļø Ā
Ā Wow what a sunset on another blessed day! Thanks so much for taking the Barbados underground with us on this monumental adventure. š
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #63 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #1” š§š§ (2019)
March 7, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 63 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Ā Good morning friends!
Welcome to š“ Southern Palms š“…!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms6f0NgnzMI
Yay, itās also my birthday today! Weād managed to book this cruise and stay which covered both of our birthdays, and after Sarahās āUnimog Birthday Blitzā i knew this would be a little more relaxed! After our amazing time here last yearā¦Weād said if ever we had the chance to come back here weād try and book room 112. Last year we had a side room which had no window at all but 112 faced directly south and looked out over the stupendous beach, palm trees and sea. Iād messaged Southern Palms to ask if they could hold the room for usā¦And they did! š āļø š“
Walking into the room was simply breathtaking and we couldnāt believe the view from our roomā¦And also from our balconyā¦š² Ā
Ā Wow we have a week of this view, i think iām going to have a hard time leaving the room, lol! š Ā
It didnāt take long for us to unpack and make this our new home, then we quickly walked up to the reception to see if we could book ourselves to get birthday braides. The staff were incredibly friendly and knew weād be back! The on site salon didnāt open until the next day so we didnāt have long to cope with fluffy hair, lol. As we are the āBlind Sightseersā we also booked an excursion to āHarrisonās Caveā tomorrow as we missed doing it last year. š Ā
Before we had a walk along the gap to see if our favourite cafe was still there, it was time tfor Sarah to put her feet on the sand and have a paddle in the sea. As you could tell from the photos of our room (above) it wouldnāt take long! š¤£ Ā Ā
Sarah and the Bajan blast…š
My birthday treatā¦ā¤ļø
I know it looks like Sarah is having all of the fun, but for me to watch (well listen) to Sarah laughing, playing and totally enjoying herself without having her insulin pump attached is one of my best feelings, and itās certainly a birthday treat for meā¦Well one of them as iām hoping they still do the āSouthern Burgerā tonight. š Ā
The Gap…
Rightā¦All of that standing still and taking photos of my lovely wife Sarah whilst being burnt to a crisp is really thirsty work, so letās go and see if the āSharkeyās Tropical Cafeā is still there. Ā
Ā Southern Palms…
After a couple of hours on the gap it wasnāt long before the sunset would be blessing us with itās slow descent, then itād be time for the evening meal until we could sit on our balcony to watch the sun completely disappear! We did this every night and it was stunning every time! š Ā
Ā Evening meal…
DINGā¦DINGā¦DINGā¦BOOM…š„
Although it was my birthday Sarahās āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā bell explodedā¦It was for the best āShrimp Cocktailā sheād ever tasted, anywhere! š Ā
Ā And guess what?? They still did the āSouthern Burgerā and it was consistently stupendous for the whole week. As you know this burger hit the top of my leaderboard last year so no bell this year for meā¦Just the amazing taste! š Ā š Oh and itās my birthday tooā¦What a time to have the āMagnum Opusā of the southern palms.! š Ā
Ā Sunset and the rocks…
Now it was time for us to walk off some of that delicious food, and take a lovely slow walk along the Barbados beach until we reach the rocks for the sunset. We needed to get back to our room before the sun set totally as it would be too dark and our eyes really donāt work in the dark! We had just enough time for Sarah to say hello to you guys! Ā
Ā The balcony of 112…
ā¢ļø HEALTH WARNINGā¦š² Ā
I asked Sarah if she could take a monumental birthday panorama for me from the balcony…Ā
Ā After i thanked her and we were sitting down enjoying the sunset, saying hello to the other guests as they walked by Sarah said āWait a minuteā¦Iāve never seen that before?!ā She stood up looking to the right and then to the left. āSteve, the moon is shining over there on the left, and the sun is shining over there on the right, let me try and get them both in a panoramaā.Ā
Ā Wowā¦I have never seen anything like this before! Have you? š¤
Thanks for joining us today, and What a way to end my birthday and begin our Bajan blessing.
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #60 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Kralendijk, Bonaire” š§š¶ (2019)
March 4, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 60 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!
Welcome to Bonaire on this fantastic occasionā¦I wonder what surprise is in store for Sarah? š¤ Ā
Arawak Off-road Safari…Ā
This trip is all about getting to grips with Bonaireās historic best bits. Clamber aboard one of the 4x4s, and in a couple of minutes youāll be whizzing along the off-road trails.ĀFirst, youāll climb into the Subi Rincon hills, where the convoy will stop at a set of time-worn Indian caves. Then, itās on to one of the islandās only two towns ā Rincon. Keep an eye out for the honey-yellow church tower as you pass through, then hop off the truck when you arrive at pretty Boca Onima. This rocky stretch of coastline is home to some of the best cave art in Bonaire, which gives you a real glimpse of the islandās past.ĀOne of the best bits is saved ātil last ā the beauty spot, Seru Largu. This cross-topped monument sits on a raised platform, setting you up with panoramic views of the capital, Kralendijk.
On the dockā¦š³Ā
This shore excursion was a second choice as the first choice was sold out weeks before weād even started our cruise. We were thinking about the 4×4 Land Rover trip weād done in the Azores(see here) but couldn’t really get excitedā¦As it was much hotter here and the thought of being crammed in the back of a Land Rover really wasnāt doing anything for us today. So what we thought was going to be an anticlimaxā¦Turned out to be the best trip of the whole holiday! Oh and iād just travelled in my best vehicle of all time! šĀ
The 1961 Yellow Unimogā¦š² Ā
Awww friendsā¦.Let me introduce you to this Yellow, 1961 Unimog…..have you seen the tires, lol! It threw us around like crazy and i still can’t believe that he didn’t slow down for anything. There is no way a vehicle can hit rocks, huge pot holes, climb cracked hills and go around tight bends whilst travelling at break neck speed, it would have destroyed anything else and left them in a pile of spare parts, lol. I’m not sure they issued these with brake pedals! š
Subi Rincon hills…Ā
Ā Bertrand was our fantastic guide, and even better rally driver, lol. He said he had a PHD(pot hole dodger) although he didnāt dodge anything but drove straight over everything which made the ride so much funā¦We were all hanging on for dear life as our bums were ‘getting airā as they lifted off our seats!! Ā Ā
We Ā climbed higher and higher into the Subi Rincon hills, where the amazing yellow Unimog stopped at a set of time-worn Indian caves. This place had lots of rocks to walk over and Bertrand told Sarah āYouāre a fantastic guideā as she was expertly weaving me through the rocks! He told the group how the first explorers crawled through these caves in the pitch black, an inch at a time without knowing what was coming. šØ Ā
Ā Back on the Unimog…
Bertrand put the ladder in place at the rear of the Unimog so we could climb in and out. I was very careful the first time as i was feeling with my feet to find out how many (and where) the steps were. But after a few times i was flying off them! š Ā Ā
He kept slowing down and then (klunck) slamming it into low gear as he climbed ludicrously steep and rocky slopes until we got to a high viewing point. Ikept forgetting it was Sarahās birthday and not mine! š¤£ Ā
Ā The Bonaire Donkeyās…
We were screaming down a dirt track when Bertrand hit the breaks. He jumped out of the Unimog and tried to call out to the Donkeys to see if theyād come over. He told us:
Donkeys have been around on Bonaire since the 17th century. The Spanish brought the donkeys for transportation. When modern vehicles became available like pushcarts, donkeys were redundant and left to their fate.
Bonaire is a predominantly rugged and arid island, making it difficult for the donkeys to survive. Nevertheless, there are hundreds of donkeys on Bonaire present. Because the donkeys can move freely on the island this regularly leads to traffic accidents.Ā
Fauna ezel thumbThe donkeys live in small herds of about 20 animals and can be 40 years old. During the day they seek the shade of the trees. In the early morning or early evening the donkeys are usually active.
Since 1993 injured, sick and orphaned donkeys are cared in a shelter, called Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire. Volunteers take care over 400 donkeys in a closed area. The shelter is open to visitors and is located south of the airport on the Kaya Ir.R. Statius van Eps.Ā
I heard āEEEYYOOORRREEE, HONK, HONK, HONK) and Bertrand said āOk i hear youā to the donkeys and āThey donāt want to say helloā to us as he climbed back into the Unimog and drove to our next stop…
ā¢ļø HEALTH WARNING…š²Ā
Wait a minuteā¦How did Sarah take a panorama whilst sat in the Unimog? “Nobody likes a show off, lolā š¤£ Ā
Ā
After another blitzing ride we parked at the beauty spot, Seru Largu. We walked up quite a few steps to get to the top, but it was worth it!
Ā
Ā
This beautiful place sits on a raised platform which set Sarah up with panoramic views of the capital, Kralendijk.
Ā
Ā Bertrand stopped in many interesting places, he even fed lizards by hand as we stood on a sandy park burning to a crisp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd0phsrO6V4
Weād had a simply breathtaking trip on the fantastic yellow Unimog and we were really sad when we pulled back into the dock.
Back at the ship…š³
After the incredible and mind bending ride in the Unimog, we quickly went on board and had an iced coffee before heading out into the town to see what goodies we could find.
It was absolutely scorching so the first place was a tiny local bar where Bertrand told us to try the locally (and traditionally) Ā brewed beer āBonaire Blondā. Sarah sat me down at a small table and soon came back with a birthday celebration drinkā¦The 2 bottles of ice cold Bonaire Blond. The bottles were soon empty as the room was just too hot and we needed to get back outside.Ā
Yay, we managed to buy another bauble for our Christmas treeā¦Oh and i bought another bright and colourful shirt that youāll see at a later date! š Ā š Ā Ā
The Evening Meal…š½
Ā As we walked into the usual evening restaurant we were guided to our seats. Sarah said āSteve i think weāve sat somewhere we shouldnāt, it looks much posher here and even the napkins are red instead of whiteā. After a few more seconds Sarah continued āOh have you done this? Have you booked me a surprise birthday meal? I bet youāve done this!ā I’d kept quiet so far wondering myself what had happened, and wondering if i should tell Sarah that i had booked a special table for her birthday even though i hadnāt, lol!
Ā
āNo i havnāt booked anything special but i wish i had nowā i said as the waiter brought Sarah the menu. Sarah used the built in magnifier on her iPhone to read the menu aloud āItās the italian restaurant, youāre going to love thisā āNo way i thought you had to book for this oneā i said wondering if they did Arancini (they did).Ā
Ā
The Italian restaurant was free like the main restaurant, the only difference is that you had to specify that you wanted to eat there which we hadnāt. We still think they knew it was Sarahās birthday and sat us there without sayingā¦But we still donāt know and it was a lovely surprise for Sarahās birthday. š Ā
Ā
Thenā¦
Ā DINGā¦DINGā¦DINGā¦DINGā¦BOOM!!š Ā
Ā
Ā
YAY, Itās Sarahās bell from her āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā. Moving straight to the top of her āDessertsā leaderboard were the sugar free Profiteroles. Sarah said they tasted amazing and never seen any of these anywhere that were sugar free and didnāt mess her blood sugar up. We told the waiter how good they were and soon the chef came over and chatted to us as we thanked her too! š Ā
Ā
Now that was a fantastic ending to an even greater day!Ā Happy Birthday Sarah!!Ā ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø I LOVE YOU!! ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø Ā
Ā
Ā Thanks for joining us on this fantastic day on Bonaire! Have you been here before? Have you ever been in/on a Unimog? š¤Ā
Ā
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #59 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Willemstad, Curacao” šØš¼ (2019)
March 3, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 59 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Ā šØš¼ Good morning friends!
Ā Welcome to day 2 of this ‘Tropical Delightsā cruse. Wow what a colourful place! Letās see what shore excursion weāre doing today?! š Ā
Discover Curacao Island:Ā š² Ā
Youāll get to see two of the islandās biggest attractions on this tour, starting with a drive past the islandās salt flats and on to the Hato Caves. They were formed below sea-level and today theyāre full of stalagmites and stalactites.
Next up, weāll head over to the Chobolo Liqueur Factory, passing the Queen Juliana Bridge on the way. At the factory, youāll get to see how the islandās famous Blue Curacao Liqueur is made. The drink is distilled from the dried peel of bitter oranges, and youāll get to taste it for yourself.
Lastly, youāll head back to the ship via downtown Willemstad ā you can get dropped off if youād rather stay and have a look around.Ā
On the coach…š
After we boarded the coach and met our tour guide, we drove up and over the dock and had a fantastic view of the ship!
Hato cavesā¦āļø Ā
Leaving the air conditioned coach we walked into a wall of fire (i mean heat) and made our way to the bottom of the steps for the Hato cave. After a steep, difficult and gruelling climb up lots of uneven and twisty steps, we finally made it (super sweaty) to the top which is the mouth of the cave. šŖš¼ Ā
Upon entering the cave we were quickly ensconced with darkness. Our torch could not pierce this blackened world so we stopped, turned around and let other people squeeze past as we walked back out. We told the guide (who was waiting outside) that it was way too dark and dangerous for me and Sarah, so we made our way carefully back down the steps on a tactical withdrawal.Ā
On the plus side, We found a fantastic small yellow cafe which served local coffee. We walked to a table with a beautiful view (and breeze) and it was so quiet with only a handful of locals sipping their drinks and chatting. š We heard the group arriving and it wasnāt long before we were back in the coach.Ā
The Chobolo Liqueur Factory…š¹
Sarah was excited to learn all about the origins of this drink and how it was made, as she and her friend Caroline used to like this drink back in the day! The guide also gave us little testers of each flavour to see which ones we liked and disliked, then we could buy the ones we wanted in the gift shop. Sarah bought a bottle to send to Caroline as sheās never had one from the actual place before and we thought sheād love itā¦She did! šĀ
Back at the ship…š³
After a lovely iced coffee and quick refresh we thought weād have a little walk into the town. It was pure midday burning sun and it seemed to take about half an hour just to walk the length of the ship. But we kept going and finally got to the stunning bridge, and knew we were heading in the right direction.Ā
This was Sarahās favourite place as she could gaze upon the vivid colours of the buildings that lined both sides of the dock.
The town…š
We had a little walk around this beautiful town to see what we could find, and first of all we found a clothes shop! āOoohhh i wonder if they sell a caribbean shirt for meā i said as Sarah was trying to find the most colourful section. Sarah then pulled out a fantastic orange and black shirt with Curacao written all over it (see image lower down). āYes iāll have that oneā i said with a huge smile on my face. Sarah also bought a top with Curacao on the front and we left the shop to find more souvenirs. We didnāt have to wait long as we found another bauble for our Christmas tree, yay! š Ā
The sun was burning hot and microwaving my bones as i walked round like the ‘Ready Brek’ man causing a heat haze around me. So Sarah stopped at a small bar and got us a bottle of ice cold āAmstelā.Ā
Thenā¦š² Ā
āHOWDY!ā Both Sarah and i spun around and faced the american man from yesterday as he continued āOh Sarah, I love your trainers theyāre so colourfulā we said āWow how amazing that youāre here, we thought weād never see you again. How are you?ā He said that his cruise ship had to wait a long time for the big bridge (one weād just walked over) to lift and let us into the dock, so we arrived a lot later than you. Shortly after his wife turned up and we started chatting for a while, before saying āMaybe weāll see you tomorrow? I canāt believe youāre here todayā. š
After parting ways (again) we started on the long trek back, but we did get to walk back over the bridge with the colourful buildings, yay! Ā
Ā On the ship…š³Ā
We quickly nipped back to the cabin so i could put on my new shirt, then we walked out on deck as i wanted a photo in Curacao whilst wearing my new Curacao shirt. š Ā Ā
Towel creature…Ā
Ā On our return to our centre front cabin we found our first towel art. Sarah thought is was a rabbit sniperā¦Please let us know what you think it is in the comments below?! šĀ
Ā ā§ Sarah on her tranquility seat ā§Ā
Ā And finally we were blessed with a beautiful sunset from our cabin window, wow what a day!
Thanks for joining us at this wonderfully colourful placeā¦Have you been here before?
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #58 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Oranjestad, Aruba” š¦š¼ (2019)
March 2, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 58 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
š¦š¼Ā Good morning friends!
Thanks for joining me and Sarah on another Birthday celebration cruise and stay in the Caribbean, itās great to have you guys along for the ride.
Marella Explorer (Apr 2019)ā¦š³ Ā
Unbelievably this is the Blind Sightseers 6th cruse! We have never been on the Marella Explorer and Sarah had booked cabin 8001 which is dead centre and right at the front of the ship. She chose this cabin as she thought the views from the window would be fantasticā¦.Sheās right again! šĀ
All it was missing is a steering wheel, lol.
ā§ View from our cabin NĆø 8001 ā§Ā
Before getting to Aruba we had a day at sea. We were pleased with this as it gave us time to walk about 80,000 steps to find out where we could get Breakfast and the evening mealā¦But most of all find the Coffee Port to see if they made lovely strong coffee? They did! š Ā
Ā š¦š¼ Aruba…
As usual we had booked an excursion for each of the 5 islands we were visiting and todays excursion is:Ā De Palm Island – Full Day, Aruba.
De Palm Island has got it all. Set adrift off the Aruban coastline, this private reef offers up pristine waters and a huge variety of exotic marine life, itās a first-class spot for an underwater exploration. Your day will start off with a short boat trip over to the island, where the friendly staff will be waiting to meet you. After a short safety briefing, youāre ready to slip on your mask and wade into the warm, clear waters. Expect to meet friendly blue parrotfish and angelfish. Back on dry land, thereāll be time to sprawl out on the sand, take your seat for a banana boat ride or visit the islandās small waterpark before heading back to the ship. Don’t forget that a full buffet lunch and refreshments throughout the day will be included.Ā
On the dockā¦š³ Ā
Ā We had a short walk around the dock until we arrived at the place to get the little fun boat.Ā
The little fun boat…š¤
Ā Yay, it didnāt disappoint as it bobbed up and down spraying us in the face with nice cool sea water.Ā
De Palm Island…š
Ā ā§ My lovely Wife Sarah catching some long awaited sunshine outside the cafe ā§Ā
When booking this shore excursion we had visions of excitement and adventure from the amazingĀ Xel-HaĀ island in Mexico, unfortunately this wasnāt like that. This place was tiny in comparison which worked well for us not getting lost but there wasnāt much to do either. The weather was overcast and muggy, until the clouds parted and gave the sun chance to burn a hole through your flesh! š„Ā
I was well impressed by the solid wooden walkways that curled around the whole place, and i marvelled on how long it must have taken to construct this very accessible path. When i was fully sighted i worked as a panel beater in a bodyshop so i know a little about sanding etc. I was enjoying the smoothness of the wood when Sarah pulled me from my reverie…āSteve! Come on stop touching everything to see how smooth it is, lol!ā š¤£ Ā
We found the cafe first (funny how that happens) and use it as our starting reference point. We found a souvenir shop (weāll be back) then the toilets (useful) and passing the bar and food court (Mmmmmm) we stumbled upon the sun bed area. Seeing that all of the sun beds were taken and weād only just got here, we walked back to the cafe to see if they had iced coffee?! š Ā
Walking around the cafe looking at the assortment of food we suddenly heard an american man with a bright and cheery accent right behind us āHOWDYā Sarah and i turned to face him and he continued āI hope you donāt mind me interrupting? But i saw you have an insulin pump and wanted to ask about itā Sarah talked to him about how long sheād had Type 1 diabetes and how long sheād had the pump. The man was a chemist/Pharmacy person and his niece was debating whoever to get one or not? After Sarah talked about how much of a life saver the pump has been i think his niece will be getting one! The man (sorry forgot his name) had arrived on the āCelebrity Silhouetteā cruise ship that weād noticed towering over ours in the dock, and it was also his first time in Aruba, then we finished up our coffees (no iced coffee, just a machine) and parted ways with the lovely man. š Ā
Ā Yayā¦It was the first time in a while that iād been able to wear the bright orange shirt i bought in Saint Kitts from our first cruiseā¦Read all about it here.
We quickly figured out that this place was mainly for snorkelers, and that wasnāt an activity the ‘Blind Sightseers’ could do (yes even we have limits, lol). We managed to secure 2 sun bems ( nobody wanted them as they were in the shade) and as i sat down Sarah went to see if she could have a paddle in the sea?! Sarah quickly returned looking sad as theyāre were rocks pretty much all the way round and lots of āBeware of Jellyfishā signs. More clouds came and lowered the temperature so we walked into the food court place as it was lunchtime already. Ā
Yayā¦I was happy as they were mainly serving burger and chips (well french fries which are fake chips) and Sarah said they served salad too! š¤£ Once again (like the sun beds) every table was taken except the only one in the blistering sun no-one wantedā¦So we sat down and i placed my āTactical sun hatā on my frying head and enjoyed the burger, although i wasnāt sure which one of us was barbecued, lol! Ā š Ā āļø Ā š Ā
āHOWDYā the man said whilst walking past, i said to Sarah āI donāt have to ask who that was as his accent is fantasticā as we waved in his general direction. As Sarah and i canāt make eye contact itās almost impossible to make friends or start a conversation unless people come over to us. So it felt great to make a friend here who always says āHowdyā when seeing us! š Ā
Sarah & i had a great time wondering around this beautiful little island and we found lots of little places until stumbling intoā¦.The gift shop! We love to find souvenirs that help us remember the amazing journeys/adventures we have conquered, and Sarah bought a fantastic t-shirt with “Biba Dushiā written on the front. Biba dushi in Aruba means āliving the sweet lifeā. The language is actually called Papiamento and is one of Arubaās two official languages spoken by many on the island. Papiamento is a Creole language derived from Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, and African languages.
Back at the shipā¦š³Ā
After another fun ride on the little boat back to the ship, we had enough time to get changed, leave our bags and have a well needed iced-coffee before heading out to explore as much as we can without getting lost before the ship leaves.
We walked up one street and turned right before Sarah stopped and said āWow, that lady is having her photo taken in front of that cool wall art/sign. Quick get one of meā āOk my lovely, youāre wearing your new yellow Michael Kors t-shirt too, i hope i get everything inā. Sarah had bought this t-shirt for our holidays and couldnāt wait to put on the lovely bright colours and flowers.
Ā This is one of my fave photos as it shows Sarahās smile is as bright as her t-shirt.Ā
Walking back to the ship we finally found a local Bauble makerā¦Her daughter makes and paints them herself. We bought a beautiful one which even had a cruise ship painted on with the Aruba island and even 2019 on it. š š Ā
We’ve started collecting Christmas Tree Baubles since i started going abroad 5 years ago. We love unpacking them at Christmas and filling the tree with all Ā of the places we visit. We think its a lovely idea to fill the tree with our lives journeys and give thanks to God for everything.
Our wonderful new friendsā¦š Ā
Sarah & i like to share a table with other passengers, mainly to take this opportunity to try and be sociable( being blind and trapped in your very small world & not having any eye contact itās almost impossible to be sociable. or start conversations). So asking someone to read the menu for you because we are blind is a great ice breaker, lol!Ā
We met 2 lovely couples that night and you will hear a little more about them throughout this trip.
Thanks for joining us on our visit to Aruba! Have you been here before? š¤
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #56 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #4” š§š§ (2018)
February 28, 2021 3 Comments
Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 56 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Ā Good morning friends!
This is our last full day before we have to fly home. šĀ Weāre going to miss this view! Ā
Breakfastā¦š Ā
Ā We had our penultimate breakfast (yes sausagesā¦I mean fruit) and i was wearing my new āBirthdayā t-shirt. Sarah had seen it in the little gift shop (on site) and knew she just had to get it for me. It says āDonāt sweat the small stuffā and has a surf board with a large bite mark out of the side, it also has Barbados written on itā¦Fantastic! Sarah was wearing her āWorld Cancer Research Fundā t-shirt which is the charity she works for, and itās the reason for my impending doomā¦Let me explain…
The Blindman Tough Mudder!Ā š¤ Ā
People who know me?! know that Iāve been struggling and fighting all kinds of obstacles for the past 18 years since being registered blindā¦..BUT Iāve never faced obstacles such as these.
I was recently challenged (strong-armed) to do the Tough Mudder 5K by Sarahās nail tech/artist Ashley, who works at Ooh La La Hair & Beauty Salon. I chose the team name ‘HARD AS NAILSā and I’ll be competing and raising funds for one of my favourite charities Ā -World Cancer Research Fund
My lovely wife Sarah works forĀ World Cancer Research FundĀ and I was stopped in my tracks by one of the statistics she showed me – That 40% of cancer cases are preventable ….that’s around 147,000 cases each year in the UK alone. And that after not smoking eating a healthy diet, being more active and maintaining a healthy weight are the most important things you can do to reduce your cancer risk. This totally blew my mind!
āWhat??? There are cancers that I can prevent? I thought cancer was something that you just got!ā š±Ā
The light switched on for me and I thought āWhy didnāt I know this?Ā
I want to share this good news with everyone so we can all be aware and empowered to start fighting the cancers we can prevent.ā šŖš¼ Ā
Since then Iāve been following World Cancer Research FundsĀ recommendationsĀ and have never felt more healthy and energised (even though Iām on beta-blockers). Most of all I know Iām helping to not dig my own grave with my own knife and fork!
Can a blindman do a ‘Tough Mudderāā¦?Ā (post coming tomorrow!)
Now itās time to spend our last full day on the immensely packed beach! š¤£ Ā āļø Ā
Ā After our 1st wave (see what i did there, lol) of beach fun it was time for a cool down, but first i had to try and get Sarah off the beach. š¤£ Ā
Ā Just as iād gotten comfortable in the shadeā¦āSteve letās play some crazy golf! I bet you canāt beat me, lol!ā Not another challenge! šŖš¼ Ā Ā
Ā Putting (pun intended) the ācrazyā into crazy golf…
This hotel and beach club was just fantastic for us as there were no steps to trip us up. Walking out of our roomā¦The main swimming pool was about 10 meters away, the restaurant/bar was about 20-30 meters away, and the crazy golf course was about 30 meters and just around the back of the hotel in the beautiful grounds. š Ā
Ā We were happy straight away as the course had a lighthouse obstacleā¦Sarah loves lighthouses and we stayed in the āOld Hunstanton Lighthouseā for our honeymoon and then for the following 5 anniversaries! š ā¤ļøĀ
We didnāt have the course to ourselves as there were also some children playing, this really helped us out when Sarah did her ‘Happy Gilmore’ impression and smashed the ball off the course and into a load of bushes! The children (who were a lot smaller kindly returned Sarahās ball as they could fit under the bushes! š¤£ Ā
We had no idea whoād wonĀ the game as we were having too much fun!Ā š Ā
Ā Back to the beach…
As the hotel is great and accessible for usā¦The empty beach was fantastic. When youāre registered blind you hardly ever get to walk freely without millions of obstacles coming at you from every angle. So once Sarah plonked me by the sea and said itās safe to just walk up and down and follow the edge of the sea, i got moving. Itās a freedom i never ever thought about when i was fully sighted but now i love these brief moments!
Ā After spending lots of time playing in the shallow water and being splashed (blasted) by the waves, we walked as far as we could along the bay (east), then we walked all the way back to Sarahās favourite placeā¦The rocks (west). You may recognise this place as the sunset location, as this is the place we always come to every night to capture a sunset. š Ā
Ā It was a beautiful place to stop and listen to the sound of the waves crashing and to sit Ā (or stand) in reverie.Ā
Well now thatās out of the way itās time to try and catch up with Sarah. I really need to take more video clips as the auto focus isnāt fast enough to keep up with Sarah, lol!Ā
Ā Goodbye Sharkeyās…
After our scorching day on the beach we headed off to our local for an iced coffee! š Ā Ā
Ā Farewell Barbadosā¦ š§š§ Ā
Ā Weāve had such an amazing time staying at the Southern Palms Beach Club, playing on Dover beach and enjoying Barbados! So i thought there would be no better way to leave this place as to let the beautiful Bajan sun set on our holiday. šĀ
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā š
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #55 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #3” š§š§ (2018)
February 27, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 55 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….
Good morning friends! Yay weāre still at the š“Ā Southern Palms š“Ā
Ā Southern palms breakfastā¦š Ā
āWow, how nice are these bananas with a little fresh orange juice drizzled over them!ā i said as Sarah puts some fresh water melon next to me. āWhat a way to start the day, they taste so much fruitier and juicier than back homeā. Sarah loved going over to the numerous tables and getting fresh fruit, nuts and best of allā¦The coconut bread! We then walked over to the cooked food table where we ordered our fresh omelettes.šššš°š„„
But then…
DINGā¦DINGā¦DINGā¦šĀ
Yayā¦Thatās the sound of my (not Sarahās) āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā bell again. This time it was for the nicest sausages iāve ever tasted. I have no idea what herbs and spices they used but itās right up at number 1 for sausages! š Ā
After being dragged (kicking and screaming) away from the sausages, we had a monumental walk back to our room (about 30 meters) as Sarah wanted to go for a swim. The pool was fantastic and not very busy! š Ā Ā
Ā There was always a cold fresh jug of water (with cucumber or lemon) available under an umbrella for guests to drink. It was a life saver for me who just boils to death the second i leave the air conditioned room. Being sat under an umbrella next to the pool, hearing Sarah splashing around and having fun with the view over the beach (see image below)ā¦It wasnāt the worst place to be, lol! š¤£ āļø Ā Ā
Sitting still is not the usual Blind Sightseers way of doing things but suddenly Ā i heard an airplane pretty close to us. I just pointed my phone towards the noise and i didnāt expect to capture anything, but to my surprise i managed to get the plane. My ears must be well calibrated! š¤£ Ā
Ā Sharkeyās Tropical Cafeā¦ā Ā
Ā You may remember from my ‘Barbados #1‘ post that weād had a walk up the āGap’ from our hotel to explore. We walked past Sharkeyās and thought weād try it another dayā¦Well now we are here! š We absolutely loved the incredibly bold and vivid colour scheme and it wasnāt long before weād sat down and had our iced coffees. We chatted with the man (making the coffees) and when he found out Sarah was diabetic he said āHey, i can make a special one for you! Itās good that you told me as nobody dies on my watch, lol! š¤£ Ā
Just when i thought this place couldnāt get any brighterā¦Sarah hits me with that amazing smile! Ā
Ā The Birthday Bajan Braides…
As we were on a ‘Full Day Island Tour’ yesterday, we didnāt have time to book Sarah into the on site hairdressers to get her birthday Ā braides. As you may know the wind here is quite strong (and cooling) so i already had my hair in braides, as itās my birthday 4 days after Sarahās. It was the same lady whoād done my braides and Sarah looked fantastic! š ā¤ļøĀ
Ā The evening…
Weād already had another lovely day but it was time for the evening meal. The hotel had a different band playing every few nights, and sitting in the restaurant next to the perfect postcard beach was stunning. Ā
Ā DINGā¦DINGā¦DING…DINGā¦š Ā
Yes you know what this meansā¦Itās my āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā and something has just smashed itās way to the top, i wonder what it could be??
This one isnāt for the faint hearted but i donāt have enough hyperbole to do this justice! So iāll just introduce you to my favourite burger of all timeā¦The āSouthern Burgerā This is hard to write about without drooling. š I must confess that i ordered this on the first night and then for all 7 nights! Once youāve hit the top thereās nowhere else to go! š š Ā Ā
Ā The sunset…
Thankfully we walked along the beach for the sunset before we had the evening meal. We always knew exactly what time to leave for our daily beach sunset walk as the ‘Bajan Whistling Frogā would start singing at the same time every night! šĀ
š“ The āSouthern Palmsā and Barbados was already our fave place and island and weād not even been here a week. As the sun set on another fantastic day i wanted to leave you with this stunning view. Ā
Ā Iād like to say that iād set up a tripod, set the self-timer and walked into position, But (you guessed it) Sarah āTop Trumpedā me again with this beautiful photo! š Ā
Thank you so much for taking time to join us in Barbados, but itās still not over yet! š Ā
Have you ever been to Barbados? Iād love to hear about it!Ā
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #54 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #2” š§š§ (2018)
February 26, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 54 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Good morning friends!Ā
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!! š Ā
Wow what a view to start your Bajan Birthday whilst eating an amazing fresh and juicy breakfast. š š š š šĀ š„ We couldāve stayed here foreverā¦But we have a fantastic birthday trip starting in a moment! š Ā
Ā The Barbados 360 Island Tourā¦š² Ā
Ā The Barbados 360 Island Tour is a great way to see BarbadosYour incredible experience begins with pick-up at your hotel by a friendly local guide/driver.
Southern Palmsā¦š“
We didnāt even have to leave the hotel as the coach pulled right up to the entrance. We were one of the first on the coach and it was nice to get the chance to see the other hotels as the driver stopped to pick the other people up.
Bridgetown…
You’ll be driven through our bustling capital city of Bridgetown which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here the architecture and charm of a bygone era merges with the beauty of a modern city.
The tour guide told us lots of history as we drove through Bridgetown. It looked (and sounded) fantastic and itās a definite place for us to go and explore at a later date! šĀ
Speightstown…
And speaking of lovely architecture and colonial towns, your first stop is at Speightstown. Here you’ll enjoy seeing historic buildings and beautiful tropical beaches.
The tour guide kept talking about the PRC Bakery at our first stop, and said she was going in to get something for the trip. āOOohhhh maybe we could get a small cake for your birthdayā āYes letās follow her and see what goodies they have?ā As we walked in to the little bakery the guide said āOh yes a lead pipeā as she picked one up and went to pay for it. āWhatās a lead pipe?ā i said to the guide āItās a local cake but it can be used as a weapon too as itās very heavyā. Sarah then passed me a bag with a cake in and said hold this āWow this weighs about the same as a 16lb bowling ballā āeverything is so heavy in here, nothing has fluffy cream like in England as it would melt instantly, lolā.
Sarah told the baker that we loved coconut and did e have anything with coconut in them? We only got 1 coconut slice as we didnāt know how sweet it was or even if we liked it?! šĀ
DINGā¦DINGā¦DINGā¦š Ā Ā
I never (ever) stop talking about this coconut slice as itās the nicest cake iāve ever tasted! The bell on the āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā was destroyed as this flew to the top of the cakes list! If iād have known i wouldāve stayed in the bakery and continued to eat every single last one of them! But we only had that one and weāve never been able to go back since this monumental occasion. Oh yesā¦This monumental occasion is my lovely wife Sarah’s birthday! š¤£Ā
Ā āIf i can just break this cake in to small pieces then i could hide it in my pockets. Iām sure this cake is too sweet for Sarah and she just wonāt like it!ā š¤£ Ā
āNothing to see here, i hope i havnāt got crumbs all over me!ā š¤£ Ā
A kind person from our group asked if weād like a birthday photo together? Iām sure she must have noticed us fighting over the coconut slice, and thought sheād better break us up, lol! š¤£ Ā
Oh yes, this beautiful place wasnāt just about the coconut sliceā¦Who am i kidding? Yes it was! š¤£ Ā
But itās not my birthday and it was time for us to get back on the coach.
Morgan Lewis Windmill…
Get your cameras ready for the stop at Cherry Tree Hill, our favourite look-out spot on the island! Sugar cane fields and the lush countryside lead down to a beautiful coastline.
ā¢ļø HEALTH WARNING…š² Ā Ā
Oh wow, itās not my birthday but Sarah treated us all to a stunning stupendous panorama! š²Ā
Ā
North point and Saint Lucy…
After a short drive we ended up at North Point, the most northern part of Barbados. Instead of flat sandy beaches this place had cliffs and big waves. But first Sarah had to have her photo taken with Saint Lucy. š Ā Ā
Ā We walked inside the cafe/bar area as we had enough time for a cold drink, and then lots of noise and singingā¦It was the tour guide and a few of the staff singing Happy Birthday (stevie wonder style) bouncing and dancing around whilst carrying a bowl of flying fish with a sparkler sticking out of the top! It was a special moment for Sarah and weāve never had anything like this before, a lovely thing for them to do. š Ā
It was an amazing place and totally different to the postcard beaches weāre used to at our hotel. āļø
Bathsheba & the soup bowl…Ā
Next you travel along that coastline to the seaside village at Bathsheba, to see fascinating rock formations standing strong against the battering waves. You might also see surfers enjoying the white surf of the world famous “Soup Bowl”.
Ā Leaving the coach we realised why this was great for surfersā¦The wind was really strong and we had to be really careful not to get blown away! Ā
ā¢ļø HEALTH WARNING… š² Ā
Hey Sarah has tried to sneak another monumental panorama! šĀ
Ā This place was beautiful and wild and also very different from the normal beaches. Just before we arrived at the next location our driver treated us by singing (with a great voice) āAll of meā by John Legend. Every time we hear this song playing it takes us back to this stunning place! š Ā āļø Ā
Ā Sunbury Plantation House…Ā
By now you might be feeling a bit hungry, so it’s off to Sunbury Plantation House, for a delicious local buffet lunch and a tour of this beautifully restored historic home.
Wow what a place packed with so much history. We had a short walk around looking at the antiques then sat down for a stunning buffet birthday lunch. We tried an omnifarious amount of local foods and it was so tasty! š Ā
Ā This was the view from the tableā¦Stunning! šĀ
Ā We were sad to leave this place but the āBajan Birthday Tourā hasnāt ended yet.Ā
St. Johns Church…
After enjoying the beauty of nature it’s time to visit St. Johns Church, a gothic Church that boasts amazing views from its hilltop location.Ā
Ā This was the last stop on our epic tour of the island and it was beautiful. Ā
Ā The day ends as you are safely returned to your hotel…
After a long day filled with excitement, surprises and beautiful scenery, the coach pulled up outside our hotel. We said our goodbyes and headed back to our room.
And thenā¦š Ā
As we opened the door to our room we were greeted with this lovely surprise for Sarahās birthday from the hotel staff.š Ā Ā
Ā But the birthday isnāt over yet. Sarah then dragged me out on to the beach for a lovely walk before it gets too dark.Ā
Ā Wait a minuteā¦Is Sarah getting tiredā¦Impossible! š¤£ Ā
Ā Today was a perfect day and Sarah really enjoyed her bajan birthday. Itās been great having you guys with us to celebrate too. Have you enjoyed Barbados?
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #53 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #1” š§š§ (2018)
February 25, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 53 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Ā Good morning friends! Yay weāre in Barbados! š Ā āļøĀ š§š§ Ā
After our relaxing breakfast (no excursion today) we had a couple of hours on the ship. We were excited not to be flying home as usual but to be staying a week on Barbados. Weāve never done a cruise and stay before so had no idea what to expect. But while we are waitingā¦How about a game of blind crazy golf? š¤£ Ā Ā Ā
Ā We made sure there wasnāt many people playing as i take too long on a shot. I canāt see my feet never mind a golf ball, lol! To take a shot i bend down and place the ball on the floor while holding the club against it. Then slowly rise up whilst at the same time trying not to move the club or the ball at all. Hopefully the wind hasnāt blown my ball away from the club (happened a few times as i swung and just hit air) then i swing. If i make contact with the ball itās a bonus, but sometimes i just fluke a hole in one! š šŖš¼ Ā
Ā After a very hot round of crazy golf (i think Sarah won) and a farewell iced coffee it was time for us to leave this lovely ship.Ā
Ā š“Ā Southern Palms š“…
Ā After a short ride in a minibus with the driver telling us some great places to visit if we get the chance, we pulled up a the hotel. We were welcomed by a steel drum band and Sarah just had to get a video of this place! š² Ā Ā
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms6f0NgnzMI
Once weād been shown around our room with lovely air conditioning, we unpacked our case and went for a little walk round which included the beach. āļø šĀ
Welcome to ourĀ perfect Caribbean postcard beach…
Ā We couldnāt believe how empty the beach was and had a walk up and down up to the limits of our hotel (the hotel was wider than we’d thought) and there were not many people on the beach at all. We walked around the whole bay (which wasnāt very big) and there were more people on the beach in front of the next hotel down, but hardly any in front of our hotel..Excellent. š Ā
The sunset photo…
As the Southern Palms faced directly south we headed right along the beach so i could find a lovely sunset photo, i knew the sunsets must be amazing here so wondered where we could stand to get one?! Wow i think this looks like the place! We couldnāt believe it as this place was about 50 meters from our hotel, and it was the end of the bay so we couldnāt walk any further anyway. Sarah quickly found her new āHappy Place’ on the top of the rocks.Ā š²
Ā It was beautiful and we stayed as long as we could before it got too dark for us. It had rocks, coastline and trees for composition and we were happy to come here for the next 7 days! Ā
Ā We knew instantly that this place was something special and weād love itā¦And i havnāt even mentioned the evening meals yet!! Oh the āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā is going to get busy! More about that on a later date. Ā
The following day…
We had breakfast and evening meal included at the hotel, and wow what a breakfast (tell you later!) So when weād filled our tanks we headed out of the hotel for a short walk. As the hotel was located on St Lawrence Gap we thought even if we get lost, someone would always know about the gap and take us home, good plan.Ā
St Lawrence Gapā¦āļø Ā
It was scorching hot (and then some) but there was a sprinkling of stalls, shops and cafe/bars along the gap, so i could stand underneath in the boiling hot shade, lol! Then walking further along the gap we found (which is now) our favourite and most colourful cafe…āSharkeyās Tropical Cafeā.Ā
Ā We didnāt have time to stop at the moment as we were on exploration mode. The gap then turned 90Ė to the right until we hit the main road. We knew we could just turn back and get back the way we came, but weād read about the legendary public buses and wanted to try one!Ā
The busā¦š Ā
Wow, let me tell you a little about the bus! Remember how i was telling you about my favourite cars of all time back inĀ Corsica, yes the insanely fast āGroup Bā rally carsā¦Well when weād walked along the main road a little, on some tiny paths that took some navigatingā¦One of these blasted past (i enjoyed the breeze,lol). āWow that was closeā i said whilst trying to sort my shirt out as it had been blown violently around. Climbing on board one of these missiles (it was heading the way of another coffee shop iād found on Facebook) the first thing that we noticed was the noise! It had a hugely loud raspy exhaust (like Group B cars) and it only accelerated hard and fast. There were no cruising and just hard braking for anyone else brave enough to get on. It took us about 7 seconds (maybe 10 minutes) before we could breathe again and the g-force came down to normal and we could step off.
It stopped right outside the āVictoria Coffee Shopā and we were greeted with this fantastic sign as we walked inā¦I canāt remember what it said though, lolā¦Maybe a super kind reader could enter the text in the comment section below?! šĀ
Ā The coffee shop was beautiful and we had a lovely strong coffee with some local banana bread, Mmmmm. Ā š Ā
Ā After another dizzying blast on the rocket fuelled bus we managed to get back to the hotel after a good time exploring. Sarah said (i think sheād seen my hair after the bus ride) āShall we book you in to get your hair braided as the hotel has itās own hair salon?ā My hair did look like a cross between āAslanā and āWorzel Gummidgeā so i was happy to get it out of the way for a whole week! š Ā Ā
Ā The lady did a fantastic job and we had a great time chatting to her and learning more about Barbados.
Sarahās Birthday in Barbados…
Tomorrow will be Sarahās birthday and weāve booked an excursion that will take us all around the island, showing us the different coastlines of this beautiful place. Weāre really looking forward to it and canāt wait to share Sarahās birthday with you in Barbados. š§š§ š Ā Ā
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #49 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Antigua” š¦š¬ (2018)
February 21, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 49 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!Ā
Ā Good morning friendsā¦Wow weāre in Antigua! š² Ā āļø Ā
Well the trip is still going ahead (i knew they wouldnāt cancel this one) but letās remind ourselves what the āBlind Sightseersā (and you) are doing today?! šØ Ā
Antigua Zip Line Canopy Adventure:Ā
Hear the distant sound of running water, exotic chirps and the whistling of birds flying over the canopy. This is an adventure playground with a difference. It all takes place 50 to 300 feet off the ground in Antiguaās rainforest canopy, including a series of 12 zip-lines – some stretching lengths of over 300 feet, a leap of faith, 3 aerial walkways and a suspension bridge. Not forgetting the hidden tree house where the world seems to stand still.
This thrilling journey includes 26 elements and 9 typical challenge course features, with water stations along the way. This really is an adventure in the sun! Donāt worry, youāre in safe hands, all the rangers here are trained to world challenge course standards and before you set off in your harness youāll have a full safety briefing, to learn all about the equipment.
On the dockā¦š³ Ā
Yay weāre back in Antigua! If you remember the last time (our first time here) we did horse riding across the beach. We love that all of the assistance people on the dock wear bright yellow t-shirts too. After following our assistance person to the taxi place we got in a nice minibus that took us to the deadly zip lines. šØ
The safety harness…
Our small group went inside and had a short safety briefing and as they know iām registered blind i got my own assistant. They let me hold the harness and the huge carabiners. I started to feel a little better after holding the super heavy duty harness. The assistant strapped it on really tight and i was ready. I checked that Sarah was still next to me and had everything sorted too. Sarah often gets neglected as the people see that iām the blind one and then leave Sarah to carry on without helpā¦But Sarah is also registered blind but not quite as severely as me (totally different eye problems).Ā
The ranger dudeā¦š Ā
Walking out and onto the start of the wooden bridge with thousands of steps leading up and through the rain forest and above the canopy Sarah and i was greeted by the amazing ranger guide (forgot his name unfortunately). He was simply fantastic and guided me up every step by calling out when a step was coming etc. He said āIāll clip onto the cable behind you and fly down with youā i said āThanks as i wonāt be able to see the end and when i need to brake, iāll just fly straight into the tree at the end like a cartoon characterā. š¤£ Ā
Here goesā¦šØ Ā
He used really clear instructions and before long i was lifting my feet up and landing on the platform at the other end. āWow that was coolā i said whilst laughing and trying to find the rail to lean against. I wonder where Sarah isā¦Sarah was last and all on her own to figure out how to do it all, she of course managed it somehow! š The ranger asked if we were both ok and if we enjoyed the little zip line to start with.
TH LITTLE ONE???
I said āLittle one? Yeah it was amazing, so is there longer and higher ones?ā āOh yes the longest one is called the screamer and iāll let you know when we get there as it takes a video of you tooā.Ā
I remember wishing i had a camera up here as it was beautiful, and i still canāt believe we only had 2 photos and 1 video of the dayā¦But thatās better than nothing. š¤£ Ā
We had much more fun on the longer zip lines, climbing higher and higher steps with the guide passing us cups of water at each water station, wow i needed that.Ā
And thenā¦The Screamer!!!Ā š² Ā
We finally arrived at āThe Screamerāā¦It’s the highest, fastest and longest zip-line in this place. It stretches 328 feet across a ravine and is 350 feet above the rain forest floor.
I stepped slowly to the edge of the platform, my heart was trying to pound its way out of my chestā¦Even though iām on beta blockers and my heart rate cannot go over 120bpm no matter how hard i try. I reached above my head and clipped my carabiner onto the cable and took a deep breath as I sat my whole weight into my harness. āAre you ready to make some noise?ā the ranger dude behind me said āOh yeahā and we stepped of the incredibly high platform…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8AOqkE3j4w
YAY…Weāve done it!! Sarah flew down too and even did a couple of spins (nobody likes a show off, lol) we both laughed lots and with just a couple of zip lines left we could safely say āThe Blind Sightseersā have conquered another challenge! šŖš¼ Ā š Ā
Ā The cafe, bar and gift shopā¦š Ā
Finishing the last zip line and then walking across rope bridges we ended up in the gift shop. I thanked the ranger profusely as he left to guide another group. š Ā
āWow it would be fantastic if we could buy something from here to remind us of this monumental day. Sarah found a beautiful Antigua bauble for our Christmas tree and she bought a really cool t-shirt (Sarah modelling it below) that says āFor a good attitude, change your latitudeā.
Returning to the dockā¦š³Ā
We had a quiet ride back as we both were reflecting on managing zip lining as blindies and the relief that i didnāt die today. š The minibus pulled in and we started walking back towards the ship for our iced coffee refresh when…
Sarah said āMy hatā āWhat do you men?ā i said āIāve lost my hat?!ā āWhat your really cool one that youāve had for yearsā āYes that one, i think iāve left it at the zip lining place or on the minibus. I lost my sunglasses yesterday and now my hat todayā. We walked back to the taxi rank and asked the man who then phoned one of his drivers. About half an hour later another minibus arrived with the second group from our tour and the driver had Sarahās hat! Sarah must have left it in the cafe after all of the excitement! Phew! š Ā Ā
Back on the shipā¦š³ Ā
“Aww now thatās a Ā nice cold coffeeā i said whilst sitting back in the lovely big arm chair in the coffee place āI canāt believe weāve done it, a blind man (and woman) have done zip lining!ā āI knew we would do it and i still get to keep one of my fave hatsā. š Ā
Weāve booked a photo session tomorrow like the one we had last year when we were at āOlympiaā, itās a colour shoot this time instead of black and white. And of course as itās another lovely new island we have another shore excursion booked too.Ā
Did you enjoy your time in Antigua? Have you ever done zip lining before?Ā
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
ā¬
Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ Ā ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
š«š·#45 The Blind Sightseers Power Slide To Corsica! (2017)
February 17, 2021 0 Comments
Ā Ā Hi friends and welcome to Day 45 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!Ā Ā
Bonjour mes amisĀ (Good Morning My Friends)Ā
No way weāre in Corsica! My lovely wife Sarah is going to kill me for ruining this post with another of my digressionsā¦But my fave cars of all time raced here and i canāt contain myselfā¦.Yes itās Group B rally cars! Ā
Awwww i can hear that ferocious engine sound (and the monster dump valve) of one of my favourite carsā¦The Lancia Delta S4. It had an Abarth-designedĀ superchargedĀ andĀ turbochargedĀ 500bhp 1.8-litre engine, it could hit 60mph in just over two secondsā¦And this was 1986!Ā
Butā¦After a fatal accident (here in Corsica) Group B rally cars were banned and a FISA investigation later proved that driversā reactions were too slow to keep up with Group B cars, and driversā eyes could not adjust their focus between the fast corners, which caused tunnel vision. Now thatās fastā¦And insane!!Ā
They said the cars had so much raw power but with little containmentā¦I have a wife like that, lol! Sorry Sarah! š¤£ Ā
What is the āTour de courseā for the blind sightseers today…
A visit to Corsicaās most southern tip is on the cards on this tour. On the drive over, youāll stop at Roccapina, where you can see the lion-shaped granite rock that looks over the Genoese tower ā itās an opportunity for some great photos. Once you arrive in Bonifacio, the mini train will take you past the ruins of three mills, and the Church of St Dominique. Youāll also be treated to panoramic views over the neighbouring island of Sardinia. Youāll continue on foot to the citadel ā your guide will tell you all about the chapel of St John the Baptist, and the 14th-century Church of Saint Marie Majuere. The walking tour finishes up in the marketplace. From there, you can brave the 100 steps down to the marina. Or, hop back on the mini train and it will get you there.
Next, youāll be boarding a boat for a tour of the Bonifacio caves. From the sea, youāll have views over the town, perched on top of 230-feet-high limestone cliffs. Youāll see Sdragonatto cave, meaning the little dragon ā itās shaped like Corsica. The tour wraps up with some free time ā you can sit in a cafĆ©, or do some shopping.
On the coachā¦šĀ
After another lovely breakfast we started our exciting tour. The weather was hot but very windy so a little unpredictable today. After a while the coach stopped at the side of the road and we got off to take some photos.
ā¢ļø HEALTH WARNING… Ā Ā
Wow what a view! Hang onā¦Fasten your 5 point safety harness as Sarah is drifting towards another stupendous panorama! š Ā Ā
Ā Thenā¦The wind started to blow really fast (or was it an old Group B rally car screening past) Ā and Sarah took this funny photo of me.Ā
Ā Whilst watching us taking photos of each other a kind person from our coach took a photo of me and my lovely wife Sarah! Yay one more i can cherish! Ā ā¤ļøĀ
Ā The crazy boat…š¤
Arriving at Bonifacio we were meant to go on a boat ride alongside the legendary cliffs and even steer through a small cave/rock but the weather was too windy and the sea too rough and choppy.Ā
But this is a āBlind Sightseersā tour so we climbed on board. Some of the group opted out and stayed behind to make their way for the town. We were initially disappointed when we sat down in the middle of the boatā¦But we soon appreciated being sat here! Suddenly a choir of voices shrieking, shouting and laughing as the waves came over the side and drenched everyone except me and Sarah! š¤£ Ā Ā
Ā The boat was bobbing up and down lots which was great for me as i canāt see whatās around us but i like the tactile fun bobbing and splashingā¦Thankfully i donāt get sea sick! š Ā Then we entered this really dark narrow rock.Ā
Ā The stunning cliffs of Bonifacioā¦.Ā š² Ā
Ā The fun train…š
After the memorable bumpy boat ride it was time to be escorted to the top of the cliffs byā¦”No way itās not a Lancia Delta S4 is it?ā I said āNo but itās a fun train similar to the one in Hunstanton that we likeā Sarah said whilst pushing (i mean guiding) me into a seat. š Ā Ā
Ā Then…
ā¢ļø ANOTHER HEALTH WARNING…Ā
Whilst heel toe shifting, maintaining perfect balance and keeping up turbo boost pressure Sarah manages another monumental panorama
Ā We had such a lovely time exploring the upper city in this special place. First we found a cafe and quickly ordered coffees and a coissont (no it didnāt beat the Amalfi coissont but it came close) then found a souvenir shop. We bought a fantastic bath towel with beautiful photo prints of Bonifacio! After exploring further it was time to catch the fun train back down and meet the group ready to head back to the ship.Ā
Back on the shipā¦š³ Ā
After another lovely evening meal we stumbled upon these creations made out of fruit an vegetables! š Ā Ā
Ā We hope youāve enjoyed Corsica? Weāve had a fantastic time and made so many memories.Ā
We are not out of fuel yetā¦I wonder where we’re going to end up tomorrow? š¤£ Ā
Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā š
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ Ā ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
š®š¹The Blind Sightseers Visit Rome & The Colosseum!! šŖš¼ š (2017)
February 16, 2021 0 Comments
āļø #44 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Rome, Italy” š®š¹ (2017)
Ā Ā HiĀ friends and welcome to Day 44 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!Ā Ā
Ā Ā Ā Buongiorno amiciĀ (Good morning friends) Ā
Yesterday we visited Sorrento, Amalfi and Pompeii all in 1 day (we donāt mess about, lol) itās time for 11 hours of aĀ gladiatorian excursionā¦I hope you donāt think youāve come on holiday to relax! š¤£ Ā
Where are the blind sightseers going today…Ā
Rome & The Colosseum shore excursion…
From the toga-wearing days of Julius Caesar to the artistic boom of the Baroque, Rome is a city that catapults you through time. Itās as if history seeps from every cobblestone, and traversing it all is no mean feat. And thatās where this tour comes in. It showcases the very best the Eternal City has to offer – plus it gives you an inside view of two if its biggest attractions.
The trip follows a classic itinerary through the heart of the Italian capital. Youāll get to see global landmarks that need no introduction – places like the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. But one of the biggest highlights has to be the Colosseum. Head inside and relive the days of the gladiators as you wander round this ancient landmark.
This is going to be a clash of the Titans, i wonder if the Gladiators have met my āWarrior Wifeā yet? Sarah (dressed in her new camo skirt) is ready! Ok iāll start being serious now. š¤£ Ā
The walking tour…
First our guide gave us the radio ear thingy so we could hear him over the noise of the crowds as Rome is a busy city. Then it was time to get walking! Once again iāll shut up for a while as you enjoy this beautiful and majestic place.Ā
The Spanish Steps…Ā
Ā
Wow weāve been walking for hours but then a kind member of our group asked dif weād like a photo together. Ā š Ā Ā
Then a street artist type dude…Ā Ā
The Pantheon…Ā
Free timeā¦š Ā
Just as the guide had told us we had 40 minutes free timeā¦The clouds moved in and darkened the whole place. It started raining and instantly umbrellas sprang up from nowhere, stall workers flipped over their items and were selling umbrellas all of a sudden and we ran into a shop! Iād never seen anything like it, it was like somebody had hit the secret bookshelf and itād flipped around without anyone noticing. š¤£ Ā
āOoohhhhhā Sarah said as she picked up and tried to show me a massive hand made intricately designed Christmas tree bauble. “This would look wonderful on our tree this year”. š Ā Ā
The Colosseum…
Wow what a piece of history and to think what went on in this arena was soberingā¦.Especially after just finishing the audiobook āFoxeās book of Martyrsā by John Foxe.Ā
TheĀ Architecture is simply stunning.
ā¢ļø HEALTH WARNING… Ā Ā
I thought for a moment that Sarah had found a gladiator to fightā¦But she was lining up one of her mighty panoramasā¦Lucky for the gladiator! Ā
Back on the shipā¦š³ Ā
Wow what a day and what an incredible place. I hope youāve enjoyed it as much as us? Have you been to Rome before?Ā
After the ship set sail and we were thinking about all of the places weād seen today,..There was just enough time to…Ā
I wonder where weāre going tomorrow? š¤ Weāve already seen some fantastic ‘Treasures of the Mediterraneanā and there are still more gems to see.Ā
Hope youāve enjoyed the adventure todayā¦Let me know your favourite part?! š¤ Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā š
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“Ā Next DayĀ Ā ā”
šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
š®š¹The Blind Sightseers Visit Sorrento, Amalfi & Pompeii š®š¹ (2017)
February 16, 2021 4 Comments
Ā Ā āļø #43 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Sorrento, Amalfi & Pompeii Italy” š®š¹ (2017)
Ā Ā HiĀ friends and welcome to Day 43 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!Ā Ā
Ā Ā Buongiorno amiciĀ (Good morning friends) Ā
We are really looking forwards to todays excursion. Itās going to be a long one but Sarahās dad always talks about how beautiful Sorento and the Amalfi coast is, and if we ever get the chance to visitā¦Youāll love it. š Ā
Ā
Well the blind sightseers have arrived in Sorrento and after a lovely breakfast weāre ready for the excursion.
Amalfi &Ā Pompeii…
Youāll tick off 2 of the Neapolitan Rivieraās heavyweights on this tour. Weāll start with a camera-worthy journey along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most scenic drives in the world. Weāll snake along dramatic cliffs, passing castles that cling to the hillsides and pastel-painted villages that tumble down to the Tyrrhenian Sea below. When we arrive in Amalfi, weāll tour the townās historical heart and youāll have some free time to explore and grab a bite to eat.
UNESCO-listed Pompeii will be our next port of call. Sitting in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, the town was buried for centuries by ash and pumice after the volcano blew its top in 79AD. Youāll have almost 2 hours to explore the ruins, starting with the Forum and meandering past mansions, temples and amphitheatres.
On the coachā¦š
Youāll be pleased to know i donāt need to write much as Ā youāll just see how beautiful this place really Ā is.
The Amalfi coast… Ā
Amalfi town…Ā
After a lovely drive along the wonderful Amalfi coast, time seemed to just fly by as we arrived in the town. We had quite a long period of free time to enjoy this incredible place. We headed straight for the sea, and after a while we managed to find this tiny dock thingy. š Ā
Ā It was a little oasis away from the crowds and we could either look out to sea or look back and see the townā¦Wow. š Ā Ā
Ā Wait for it…Ā
Yayā¦Now weāve arrived! šŖš¼Ā
Before exploring the busy part of town (the centre) we thought weād try walking up the hill to see how far the town goes, Wow itās beautiful up here!
Ā The Cafe, Coffee and THE Ccissont…
Yay we found a little coffee shop and Sarah said “we have to try the croissants with a black coffee”. We sat outside and i said āWooaaaahhh have you tried your croissant yet? Itās the best one iāve ever tastedā āMmmmmmmā Sarah said and thatās all i needed to hear. š
AND THENā¦š² Ā
DINGā¦DINGā¦DINGā¦Yay itās a new entry on theĀ āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic LeaderboardāĀ šĀ
This coissont went straight to #1 and iām not sure itāll ever be knocked off!!
Every croissant weāve had since eating this one 3 years ago has had to be compared with this one. Itās still the remaining champion as no other croissant anywhere has even come close! š Ā
The centre of townā¦.
This town was good for us as it wasnāt very big and we thought itād be hard for us to get lost. Walking into the town we found a lovely gift shop, both me and Sarah got a souvenir. Sarah bought another t-shirt with Amalfi across the front and i bought a great Amalfi vest. š Ā
We left the shop and found the natural spring fountain the tour guide was talking about and Sarah went over for a drink.Ā
Sarah was soaking and was walking towards meā¦Yes she spun around like a helicopter and soaked me through. š¤£ Ā She said she wanted to cool me down as i was too hot againā¦But she also enjoyed soaking me too, a win-win situation. ! š¤£Ā
Now time to explore the backstreets…Ā
Time for another attempt at a selfie with my lovely wife Sarah…Ā
ā¢ļø HEALTH WARNING… Ā
Then Sarah stretches and lines herself up to take some stunning panoramasā¦ š² Ā
What a beautiful place.Ā
Back on the coach…š
Wow what a lovely town., itās now time to head towards Pompeii.
Pompeii…
We followed the group towards a square near the main gate entrance. The guide said āNow itās time for you to try the amazing local Margharita pizzaā¦.
DINGā¦DINGā¦DINGā¦Yay itās a new entry on the āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā šĀ
Wowā¦This was the best Margharita pizza iāve ever tasted and also sets the bar at the top of the āBlind Sightseers Pizza Leaderboardā. We never stop talking about thisĀ experience!Ā š Ā Ā
Moving swiftly on we walked through the main gate on onto the excellently preserved ruins. Iāll shut up for a moment whilst you sit back and enjoy the photos, lol! šĀ
The guide was really knowledgable and gave us a lot of history on this place.Ā
ā¢ļø HEALTH WARNING…Ā
Why struggle and take lots of shots when you can fit everything intoā¦A stupendous Sarah panorama! š Ā
The walking…
Yay the blind sightseers have found the worst walking conditions to date, it was horrendous! As many of you know i canāt see much and i certainly canāt see my feet never mind the path. I have no idea how Sarah guided me around this placeā¦But she managed it. I owe all of my holidays to her as i couldnāt do anything without herā¦Never-mind get to see some of the most beautiful places in the world! ā¤ļø šŖš¼ š
My new walking sandals were great and protected my toes from being stubbed at least a few times. They allowed my ankles to roll over without snapping and had great grip when i needed it. šŖš¼ Ā
We finally managed to go inside the beautiful buildings and hide from the burning sun. āļø Ā Ā
We were coming to the end of our walking tour of Pompeii and after a few more statues we ended up at the Centaur statue. Ā
The statue ofĀ Centaur…Ā
One last Sarah panorama…Ā
Back at the shipā¦š³ Ā
Wow what a memorable shore excursion! We talk about this trip all of the timeā¦Oh wait, we talk about all of our adventures! š¤£ Ā
After the excursion (but before the evening meal) we enjoy going out on deck to enjoy the fantastic coast line whilst looking back on the day. Itās also a great time to take a few shots of my lovely wife Sarah! ā¤ļøĀ
Then Sarah spotted a boat which looked like it was heading towards our ship. I said āItās not āGibbsā again and the NCIS special agents looking for the blind sightseers? They must have followed us from Montenegro, lol!ā Ā āNo i think itās just a tender boatā š¤£ Ā Ā
Quiet reflectionā¦š¤
Being blind and guided (expertly) by Sarah throughout each day normally gives me a massive headache as there is just too much external stimuli. My sight is super blurry and walking around quickly whilst listening intently to Sarah (as donāt want to break my ankles, legs or worse) and trying to learn lots of history from the guide is simply too much to process. Itās like trying to use modern day apps when i can only process things as fast as an old Commodore 64. Awww i remember my dad breaking lots of joysticks trying to beat me on āThe way of the exploding fistā gameā¦But i digress! Oh yes i was trying to say i really enjoy everything being quiet as i lean on the rail and give thanks. š Ā Ā Ā
Just when you think youāve had another incredible dayā¦Youāre blessed with a beautiful sunset.Ā
Wowā¦What a beautiful part of the world. Thanks for joining us again on ourĀ incredible, breathtaking and above all memorable tour. š Ā
I wonder where weāre going tomorrow? š¤
Hope youāve enjoyed the adventure todayā¦Let me know your favourite part?! š¤ Weāll meet tomorrowā¦Same timeā¦Same place for another adventure!Ā šĀ
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šĀ Join us:
- Tuscany Tour
- Transatlantic Sunset Cruise
- Matlock Bath
- Mayan Treasures Cruise
- Classical Greece Cruise
- Treasures of the Mediterranean Cruise
- Seven Isles Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #1
- Tough Mudder 5K
- Tropical Delights Cruise
- Barbados – Southern Palms #2
- Aegean Shores Cruise
- Ancient Kingdoms Cruise
- Ultra Step Challenge
āļø #65 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #3” š§š§ (2019)
June 12, 2020 1 Comment
Ā Good morning friends! Ā
Nope..I just canāt get bored of the view! š Ā
Breakfast and bathing…
Nopeā¦I canāt get bored of this breakfast either, lol! š¤£ Ā
Then itās time for Sarah to have a swim in the pool whilst i try and not get fried. āļø Ā Ā
Ā Sarah showed me where to get the lovely ice cold water (with cucumber or lemon) so i could refill while she was in the pool. Once iāve been shown iām pretty good at remembering where to go and what to do. The water was on a table underneath a tent like thingā¦And i could just make out a shape of a palm tree above it but i didnāt know it was glowing! āļø š“Ā
The beach and Bajan blast…Ā
Wowā¦I donāt think weāve ever been anywhere that is so accessible for us. Itās so much easier for us to be independent and do everything that we want to without too much hassle or struggleā¦And everything is so near by and we find it hard to even leave Southern Palms.
Speaking of whichā¦āSteve letās go on the beachā Sarah said as she blew pas me! I love this time of day and i’ll never get bored of seeing Sarah run, splash and play on this empty Caribbean beach. My only struggle is trying to point the camera towards the happy sounds! š¤£ Ā Ā
Ā After another fantastic time on the beach, itās time to dry off and cool offā¦And what better way to cool off than a iced coffee at Sharkeyās! š Ā
Sharkeyās Tropical Cafe…
Ā Surf and turfā¦Ā
Ā And guess what?? Itās time for Ā the āSouthern Burgerā and the āShrimp Cocktailā again, Sarah says the shrimp are as big as your face and sheās never seen anything like it before! š¤£ Ā
Sarahās beautiful new green dress…
Sarah was excited to wear her beautiful new green dress, and as our room was right on the front facing the beach i said iāll stay on the balcony and get some photosā¦No pressure, lol! š¤£ I didnāt have my āBig Burthaā (Nikkor 80-400mm lens) or any of my DSLRās but i did have my iPhone and tested the digital pinch zoom range! š Ā
Ā Hey look whoās backā¦?
Just as Sarah was walking back from the beach we heardĀ āSarahā¦Hello weāre backā it was George and Cynthia! Theyād had a lovely time visiting family in Saint Vincent and youāll never guessā¦?
If you remember when we stayed here last year and i had āThe Coconut Sliceā in Speightstown on Sarahās birthday island tourā¦Well obviously i was telling George about it and he said āWe have a local one like that can Saint Vincent called āRed Bellyā and it sounds the sameā.Ā
Then…
George said āPut out your handā and continued to place a āRed Bellyā coconut slice into my hand! I couldnāt believe itā¦His kindness was ineffable. He continued I went to the bakery on the island and they only had 2 left and were not making any more, i got one for you and one for meā. š I donāt have the hyperbole to describe the coconut slice, and sorry i donāt have a photo as it disappeared so quicklyā¦Not sure where it went, lol! š¤£ Ā
The Bajan sunset…
Ā Wow what a relaxing day on this incredible holiday. Thankfully we have 1 more full day at this beautifully colourful place before we head back to Gatwick and the cold, wet and grey London hue!Ā
To be continued…Ā
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āļø #64 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #2” š§š§ (2019)
June 11, 2020 2 Comments
Ā Good morning friends!Ā
Breakfast and braides…
After the consistently delicious, fresh and tasty breakfast we headed off to the salon. It was the same lady from last year, so she knew exactly how we liked our hair and we had a good catch up too! š Ā Ā
Our new friends George and Cynthia…
If you remember the 1st day of our cruise in Aruba, we met George and Cynthia at the evening meal when weād shared a table. We had no idea that they were also staying at Southern Palms for a week too. They had stay here 20 years ago and wondered if it had changed and to get a photo at the same spot theyād had a photo back then. George and Cynthia were going to Saint Vincent to visit family for a few days and weād meet back up with them for the last couple of days.Ā
But before they left (as they are so loving and kind)for Saint Vincent they knew it was our birthdays and as a complete surprise present they bought us a top each with Barbados written on them. Yes mine is the stupendous blue Carribbean shirt iām wearing! š Ā Ā
Ā Right now we donāt have to fight against the wind all holidayā¦Letās see what weāll be doing on this cool excursion.Ā
Harrisonās Cave…
Go deeper underground with a visit to Harrisonās Cave. All limestone stalactites, caverns and grottoes, itās like taking a trip to the moon. Add rock pools, streams and some red and orange mood-lighting, and it takes on a volcano-like edge. Itās easy to see why the locals call it one of the seven wonders of the island. Boarding a little electric tram, youāll take a mile-long tour through the chambers, passing pillars formed by stalagmites and stalactites that have met in the middle. At the bottom, youāll see the star of the show ā a mighty waterfall below the ground.
The hard hat…
First off, take a comedy picture once youāve put on your hard hatā¦Check! š¤£ Ā Ā
Ā Weād just listened to about 15 minutes of history inside a mini cinema type place before boarding this cool little tram, then it was into the darkness to find some light. š Ā
Ā Wow what a ride! We had a fantastic trip and were very thankful that weād not had to walk as it wouldāve been impossible. But sitting back and relaxing in the tram was fantastic and the guide was knowledgable and we learned lots! š Ā
Bac at room 112…
Wow i could stay here for the next 40 years, lol! š¤£ Ā
Ā The sea and the sunset…
āQuick Steve thereās still time to play in the sea before the evening meal and sunsetā Sarah said as she blasted past me and ran for the sea, lol! š¤£ Ā āļø Ā
Ā Wow what a sunset on another blessed day! Thanks so much for taking the Barbados underground with us on this monumental adventure. šĀ
To be continued…Ā
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āļø #63 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #1” š§š§ (2019)
June 10, 2020 2 Comments
Ā Good morning friends!
Welcome to š“ Southern Palms š“…!
Yay, itās also my birthday today! Weād managed to book this cruise and stay which covered both of our birthdays, and after Sarahās āUnimog Birthday Blitzā i knew this would be a little more relaxed! After our amazing time here last yearā¦Weād said if ever we had the chance to come back here weād try and book room 112. Last year we had a side room which had no window at all but 112 faced directly south and looked out over the stupendous beach, palm trees and sea. Iād messaged Southern Palms to ask if they could hold the room for usā¦And they did! š āļø š“
Walking into the room was simply breathtaking and we couldnāt believe the view from our roomā¦And also from our balcony… Ā
Ā Wow we have a week of this view, i think iām going to have a hard time leaving the room, lol! š Ā
It didnāt take long for us to unpack and make this our new home, then we quickly walked up to the reception to see if we could book ourselves to get birthday braides. The staff were incredibly friendly and knew weād be back! The on site salon didnāt open until the next day so we didnāt have long to cope with fluffy hair, lol. As we are the āBlind Sightseersā we also booked an excursion to āHarrisonās Caveā tomorrow as we missed doing it last year. š Ā
Before we had a walk along the gap to see if our favourite cafe was still there, it was time tfor Sarah to put her feet on the sand and have a paddle in the sea. As you could tell from the photos of our room (above) it wouldnāt take long! š¤£ Ā Ā
Sarah and the Bajan blast…Ā Ā
My birthday treat…
I know it looks like Sarah is having all of the fun, but for me to watch (well listen) to Sarah laughing, playing and totally enjoying herself without having her insulin pump attached is one of my best feelings, and itās certainly a birthday treat for meā¦Well one of them as iām hoping they still do the āSouthern Burgerā tonight. š Ā
The Gap…
Rightā¦All of that standing still and taking photos of my lovely wife Sarah whilst being burnt to a crisp is really thirsty work, so letās go and see if the āSharkeyās Tropical Cafeā is still there. Ā
Ā Southern Palms…
After a couple of hours on the gap it wasnāt long before the sunset would be blessing us with itās slow descent, then itād be time for the evening meal until we could sit on our balcony to watch the sun completely disappear! We did this every night and it was stunning every time! š Ā
Ā Evening meal…
āDING DING DING DINGā Although it was my birthday Sarahās āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā bell went offā¦It was for the best āShrimp Cocktailā sheād ever tasted, anywhere! š Ā
Ā And guess what?? They still did the āSouthern Burgerā and it was consistently stupendous for the whole week. As you know this burger hit the top of my leaderboard last year so no bell this year for meā¦Just the amazing taste! š Ā š Oh and itās my birthday tooā¦What a time to have the āMagnum Opusā of the southern palms.! š Ā
Ā Sunset and the rocks…
Now it was time for us to walk off some of that delicious food, and take a lovely slow walk along the Barbados beach until we reach the rocks for the sunset. We needed to get back to our room before the sun set totally as it would be too dark and our eyes really donāt work in the dark! We had just enough time for Sarah to say hello to you guys! Ā
Ā The balcony of 112…
I asked Sarah if she could take a monumental birthday panorama for me from the balcony…Ā
Ā After i thanked her and we were sitting down enjoying the sunset, saying hello to the other guests as they walked by Sarah said āWait a minuteā¦Iāve never seen that before?!ā She stood up looking to the right and then to the left. āSteve, the moon is shining over there on the left, and the sun is shining over there on the right, let me try and get them both in a panoramaā.Ā
Ā Wowā¦I have never seen anything like this before! Have you? š¤
Thanks for joining us today, and What a way to end my birthday and begin our Barbados blessing.Ā
To be continued…Ā
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āļø #60 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Kralendijk, Bonaire” š§š¶ (2019)
June 7, 2020 1 Comment
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!
Welcome to Bonaire on this fantastic occasionā¦I wonder what surprise is in store for Sarah?
Arawak Off-road Safari…Ā
This trip is all about getting to grips with Bonaireās historic best bits. Clamber aboard one of the 4x4s, and in a couple of minutes youāll be whizzing along the off-road trails.First, youāll climb into the Subi Rincon hills, where the convoy will stop at a set of time-worn Indian caves. Then, itās on to one of the islandās only two towns ā Rincon. Keep an eye out for the honey-yellow church tower as you pass through, then hop off the truck when you arrive at pretty Boca Onima. This rocky stretch of coastline is home to some of the best cave art in Bonaire, which gives you a real glimpse of the islandās past.One of the best bits is saved ātil last ā the beauty spot, Seru Largu. This cross-topped monument sits on a raised platform, setting you up with panoramic views of the capital, Kralendijk.
This shore excursion was a second choice as the first choice was sold out weeks before weād even started our cruise. We were thinking about the 4×4 Land Rover trip weād done in the Azores(see here) but couldn’t really get excitedā¦As it was much hotter here and the thought of being crammed in the back of a Land Rover really wasnāt doing anything for us today. So what we thought was going to be an anticlimaxā¦Turned out to be the best trip of the whole holiday! Oh and iād just travelled in my best vehicle of all time! šĀ
The 1961 Yellow Unimogā¦
Awww friendsā¦.Let me introduce you to this Yellow, 1961 Unimog…..have you seen the tires, lol! It threw us around like crazy and i still can’t believe that he didn’t slow down for anything. There is no way a vehicle can hit rocks, huge pot holes, climb cracked hills and go around tight bends whilst travelling at break neck speed, it would have destroyed anything else and left them in a pile of spare parts, lol. I’m not sure they issued these with brake pedals! š
Subi Rincon hills…Ā
Ā Bertrand was our fantastic guide, and even better rally driver, lol. He said he had a PHD(pot hole dodger) although he didnāt dodge anything but drove straight over everything which made the ride so much funā¦We were all hanging on for dear life as our bums were ‘getting airā as they lifted off our seats!! Ā Ā
We Ā climbed higher and higher into the Subi Rincon hills, where the amazing yellow Unimog stopped at a set of time-worn Indian caves. This place had lots of rocks to walk over and Bertrand told Sarah āYouāre a fantastic guideā as she was expertly weaving me through the rocks! He told the group how the first explorers crawled through these caves in the pitch black, an inch at a time without knowing what was coming. šØ Ā
Ā Back on the Unimog…
Bertrand put the ladder in place at the rear of the Unimog so we could climb in and out. I was very careful the first time as i was feeling with my feet to find out how many (and where) the steps were. But after a few times i was flying off them! š Ā Ā
He kept slowing down and then (klunck) slamming it into low gear as he climbed ludicrously steep and rocky slopes until we got to a high viewing point. Ikept forgetting it was Sarahās birthday and not mine, lol!Ā
Ā The Bonaire Donkeyās…Ā
We were screaming down a dirt track when Bertrand hit the breaks. He jumped out of the Unimog and tried to call out to the Donkeys to see if theyād come over. He told us:
Donkeys have been around on Bonaire since the 17th century. The Spanish brought the donkeys for transportation. When modern vehicles became available like pushcarts, donkeys were redundant and left to their fate.
Bonaire is a predominantly rugged and arid island, making it difficult for the donkeys to survive. Nevertheless, there are hundreds of donkeys on Bonaire present. Because the donkeys can move freely on the island this regularly leads to traffic accidents.Ā
Fauna ezel thumbThe donkeys live in small herds of about 20 animals and can be 40 years old. During the day they seek the shade of the trees. In the early morning or early evening the donkeys are usually active.
Since 1993 injured, sick and orphaned donkeys are cared in a shelter, called Donkey Sanctuary Bonaire. Volunteers take care over 400 donkeys in a closed area. The shelter is open to visitors and is located south of the airport on the Kaya Ir.R. Statius van Eps.Ā
I heard āEEEYYOOORRREEE, HONK, HONK, HONK) and Bertrand said āOk i hear youā to the donkeys and āThey donāt want to say helloā to us as he climbed back into the Unimog and drove to our next stop…
Wait a minuteā¦How did Sarah take a panorama whilst sat in the Unimog? “Nobody likes a show off, lolā š¤£ Ā
Ā
After another blitzing ride we parked at the beauty spot, Seru Largu. We walked up quite a few steps to get to the top, but it was worth it!
Ā
Ā
This beautiful place sits on a raised platform which set Sarah up with panoramic views of the capital, Kralendijk.
Ā
Ā Bertrand stopped in many interesting places, he even fed lizards by hand as we stood on a sandy park burning to a crisp.
Weād had a simply breathtaking trip on the fantastic yellow Unimog and we were really sad when we pulled back into the dock.
Back at the ship…š³
After the incredible and mind bending ride in the Unimog, we quickly went on board and had an iced coffee before heading out into the town to see what goodies we could find.
It was absolutely scorching so the first place was a tiny local bar where Bertrand told us to try the locally (and traditionally) Ā brewed beer āBonaire Blondā. Sarah sat me down at a small table and soon came back with a birthday celebration drinkā¦The 2 bottles of ice cold Bonaire Blond. The bottles were soon empty as the room was just too hot and we needed to get back outside.Ā
Yay, we managed to buy another bauble for our Christmas treeā¦Oh and i bought another bright and colourful shirt that youāll see at a later date! š Ā š Ā Ā
The Evening Meal…
Ā As we walked into the usual evening restaurant we were guided to our seats. Sarah said āSteve i think weāve sat somewhere we shouldnāt, it looks much posher here and even the napkins are red instead of whiteā. After a few more seconds Sarah continued āOh have you done this? Have you booked me a surprise birthday meal? I bet youāve done this!ā I’d kept quiet so far wondering myself what had happened, and wondering if i should tell Sarah that i had booked a special table for her birthday even though i hadnāt, lol!
Ā
āNo i havnāt booked anything special but i wish i had nowā i said as the waiter brought Sarah the menu. Sarah used the built in magnifier on her iPhone to read the menu aloud āItās the italian restaurant, youāre going to love thisā āNo way i thought you had to book for this oneā i said wondering if they did Arancini (they did).Ā
Ā
The Italian restaurant was free like the main restaurant, the only difference is that you had to specify that you wanted to eat there which we hadnāt. We still think they knew it was Sarahās birthday and sat us there without sayingā¦But we still donāt know and it was a lovely surprise for Sarahās birthday. š Ā
Ā
Then…
Ā
Ā āDING, DING, DING, DINGā YAY, Itās Sarahās bell from her āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā. Moving straight to the top of her āDessertsā leaderboard were the sugar free Profiteroles. Sarah said they tasted amazing and never seen any of these anywhere that were sugar free and didnāt mess her blood sugar up. We told the waiter how good they were and soon the chef came over and chatted to us as we thanked her too! š Ā
Ā
Now that was a fantastic ending to an even greater day!Ā Happy Birthday Sarah!!Ā ā¤ļø
Ā
Ā Thanks for joining us on this fantastic day on Bonaire! Have you been here before? Have you ever been in/on a Unimog? š¤Ā
Ā
To be continued…
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Ā
āļø #59 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Willemstad, Curacao” šØš¼ (2019)
June 6, 2020 3 Comments
Ā šØš¼ Good morning friends!
Ā Welcome to day 2 of this ‘Tropical Delightsā cruse. Wow what a colourful place! Letās see what shore excursion weāre doing today?! š Ā
Discover Curacao Island:
Youāll get to see two of the islandās biggest attractions on this tour, starting with a drive past the islandās salt flats and on to the Hato Caves. They were formed below sea-level and today theyāre full of stalagmites and stalactites.
Next up, weāll head over to the Chobolo Liqueur Factory, passing the Queen Juliana Bridge on the way. At the factory, youāll get to see how the islandās famous Blue Curacao Liqueur is made. The drink is distilled from the dried peel of bitter oranges, and youāll get to taste it for yourself.
Lastly, youāll head back to the ship via downtown Willemstad ā you can get dropped off if youād rather stay and have a look around.Ā
On the coach…š
After we boarded the coach and met our tour guide, we drove up and over the dock and had a fantastic view of the ship!
Hato cavesā¦āļø Ā
Leaving the air conditioned coach we walked into a wall of heat and made our way to the bottom of the steps for the Hato cave. After a steep, difficult and gruelling climb up lots of uneven and twisty steps, we finally made it (super sweaty) to the top which is the mouth of the cave. šŖš¼ Ā
Upon entering the cave we were quickly ensconced with darkness. Our torch could not pierce this blackened world so we stopped, turned around and let other people squeeze past as we walked back out. We told the guide (who was waiting outside) that it was way too dark and dangerous for me and Sarah, so we made our way carefully back down the steps on a tactical withdrawal.
On the plus side, We found a fantastic small yellow cafe which served local coffee. We walked to a table with a beautiful view (and breeze) and it was so quiet with only a handful of locals sipping their drinks and chatting. š We heard the group arriving and it wasnāt long before we were back in the coach.Ā
The Chobolo Liqueur Factory…š¹
Sarah was excited to learn all about the origins of this drink and how it was made, as she and her friend Caroline used to like this drink back in the day! The guide also gave us little testers of each flavour to see which ones we liked and disliked, then we could buy the ones we wanted in the gift shop. Sarah bought a small 3 bottle selection to send to Caroline as sheās never had one from the actual place before and we thought sheād love itā¦She did! šĀ
Back at the ship…š³
After a lovely iced coffee and quick refresh we thought weād have a little walk into the town. It was pure midday burning sun and it seemed to take about half an hour just to walk the length of the ship. But we kept going and finally got to the stunning bridge, and knew we were heading in the right direction.Ā
This was Sarahās favourite place as she could gaze upon the vivid colours of the buildings that lined both sides of the dock.
The town…š
We had a little walk around this beautiful town to see what we could find, and first of all we found a clothes shop! āOoohhh i wonder if they sell a caribbean shirt for meā i said as Sarah was trying to find the most colourful section. Sarah then pulled out a fantastic orange and black shirt with Curacao written all over it (see image lower down). āYes iāll have that oneā i said with a huge smile on my face. Sarah also bought a top with Curacao on the front and we left the shop to find more souvenirs. We didnāt have to wait long as we found another bauble for our Christmas tree, yay! š Ā
The sun was burning hot and microwaving my bones as i walked round like the ‘Ready Brek’ man causing a heat haze around me. So Sarah stopped at a small bar and got us a bottle of ice cold āAmstelā.Ā
Then…
āHOWDY!ā Both Sarah and i spun around and faced the american man from yesterday as he continued āOh Sarah, I love your trainers theyāre so colourfulā we said āWow how amazing that youāre here, we thought weād never see you again. How are you?ā He said that his cruise ship had to wait a long time for the big bridge (one weād just walked over) to lift and let us into the dock, so we arrived a lot later than you. Shortly after his wife turned up and we started chatting for a while, before saying āMaybe weāll see you tomorrow? I canāt believe youāre here todayā. š
After parting ways (again) we started on the long trek back, but we did get to walk back over the bridge with the colourful buildings, yay! Ā
Ā On the ship…š³Ā
We quickly nipped back to the cabin so i could put on my new shirt, then we walked out on deck as i wanted a photo in Curacao whilst wearing my new Curacao shirt. š Ā Ā
Towel creature…Ā
Ā On our return to our centre front cabin we found our first towel art. Sarah thought is was a rabbit sniperā¦Please let us know what you think it is in the comments below?! šĀ
Ā ā§ Sarah on her tranquility seat ā§Ā
Ā And finally we were blessed with a beautiful sunset from our cabin window, wow what a day!
Thanks for joining us at this wonderfully colourful placeā¦Have you been here before?Ā
To be continued…
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āļø #58 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Oranjestad, Aruba” š¦š¼ (2019)
June 5, 2020 0 Comments
š¦š¼Ā Good morning friends!
Thanks for joining me and Sarah on another Birthday celebration cruise and stay in the Caribbean, itās great to have you guys along for the ride.
Marella Explorer (Apr 2019)…
Unbelievably this is the Blind Sightseers 6th cruse! We have never been on the Marella Explorer and Sarah had booked cabin 8001 which is dead centre and right at the front of the ship. She chose this cabin as she thought the views from the window would be fantasticā¦.Sheās right again! šĀ
All it was missing is a steering wheel, lol.
ā§ View from our cabin NĆø 8001 ā§Ā
Before getting to Aruba we had a day at sea. We were pleased with this as it gave us time to walk about 80,000 steps to find out where we could get Breakfast and the evening mealā¦But most of all find the Coffee Port to see if they made lovely strong coffee? They did! š Ā
Ā š¦š¼ Aruba…
As usual we had booked an excursion for each of the 5 islands we were visiting and todays excursion is:Ā De Palm Island – Full Day, Aruba.
De Palm Island has got it all. Set adrift off the Aruban coastline, this private reef offers up pristine waters and a huge variety of exotic marine life, itās a first-class spot for an underwater exploration. Your day will start off with a short boat trip over to the island, where the friendly staff will be waiting to meet you. After a short safety briefing, youāre ready to slip on your mask and wade into the warm, clear waters. Expect to meet friendly blue parrotfish and angelfish. Back on dry land, thereāll be time to sprawl out on the sand, take your seat for a banana boat ride or visit the islandās small waterpark before heading back to the ship. Don’t forget that a full buffet lunch and refreshments throughout the day will be included.Ā
On the dock…
Ā We had a short walk around the dock until we arrived at the place to get the little fun boat.Ā
The little fun boat…
Ā Yay, it didnāt disappoint as it bobbed up and down spraying us in the face with nice cool sea water.Ā
De Palm Island…
Ā ā§ My lovely Wife Sarah catching some long awaited sunshine outside the cafe ā§Ā
When booking this shore excursion we had visions of excitement and adventure from the amazing Xel-Ha island in Mexico, unfortunately this wasnāt like that. This place was tiny in comparison which worked well for us not getting lost but there wasnāt much to do either. The weather was overcast and muggy, until the clouds parted and gave the sun chance to burn a hole through your flesh! š„Ā
I was well impressed by the solid wooden walkways that curled around the whole place, and i marvelled on how long it must have taken to construct this very accessible path. When i was fully sighted i worked as a panel beater in a bodyshop so i know a little about sanding etc. I was enjoying the smoothness of the wood when Sarah pulled me from my reverie…āSteve! Come on stop touching everything to see how smooth it is, lol!ā š¤£ Ā
We found the cafe first (funny how that happens) and use it as our starting reference point. We found a souvenir shop (weāll be back) then the toilets (useful) and passing the bar and food court (Mmmmmm) we stumbled upon the sun bed area. Seeing that all of the sun beds were taken and weād only just got here, we walked back to the cafe to see if they had iced coffee?! š Ā
Walking around the cafe looking at the assortment of food we suddenly heard an american man with a bright and cheery accent right behind us āHOWDYā Sarah and i turned to face him and he continued āI hope you donāt mind me interrupting? But i saw you have an insulin pump and wanted to ask about itā Sarah talked to him about how long sheād had Type 1 diabetes and how long sheād had the pump. The man was a chemist/Pharmacy person and his niece was debating whoever to get one or not? After Sarah talked about how much of a life saver the pump has been i think his niece will be getting one! The man (sorry forgot his name) had arrived on the āCelebrity Silhouetteā cruise ship that weād noticed towering over ours in the dock, and it was also his first time in Aruba, then we finished up our coffees (no iced coffee, just a machine) and parted ways with the lovely man. š Ā
Ā Yayā¦It was the first time in a while that iād been able to wear the bright orange shirt i bought in Saint Kitts from our first cruiseā¦Read all about it here.
We quickly figured out that this place was mainly for snorkelers, and that wasnāt an activity the ‘Blind Sightseers’ could do (yes even we have limits, lol). We managed to secure 2 sun bems ( nobody wanted them as they were in the shade) and as i sat down Sarah went to see if she could have a paddle in the sea?! Sarah quickly returned looking sad as theyāre were rocks pretty much all the way round and lots of āBeware of Jellyfishā signs. More clouds came and lowered the temperature so we walked into the food court place as it was lunchtime already. Ā
Yayā¦I was happy as they were mainly serving burger and chips (well french fries which are fake chips) and Sarah said they served salad too! š¤£ Once again (like the sun beds) every table was taken except the only one in the blistering sun no-one wantedā¦So we sat down and i placed my āTactical sun hatā on my frying head and enjoyed the burger, although i wasnāt sure which one of us was barbecued, lol! Ā š Ā āļø Ā š Ā
āHOWDYā the man said whilst walking past, i said to Sarah āI donāt have to ask who that was as his accent is fantasticā as we waved in his general direction. As Sarah and i canāt make eye contact itās almost impossible to make friends or start a conversation unless people come over to us. So it felt great to make a friend here who always says āHowdyā when seeing us! š Ā
Sarah & i had a great time wondering around this beautiful little island and we found lots of little places until stumbling intoā¦.The gift shop! We love to find souvenirs that help us remember the amazing journeys/adventures we have conquered, and Sarah bought a fantastic t-shirt with “Biba Dushiā written on the front. Biba dushi in Aruba means āliving the sweet lifeā. The language is actually called Papiamento and is one of Arubaās two official languages spoken by many on the island. Papiamento is a Creole language derived from Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, and African languages.
Back at the ship…
After another fun ride on the little boat back to the ship, we had enough time to get changed, leave our bags and have a well needed iced-coffee before heading out to explore as much as we can without getting lost before the ship leaves.
We walked up one street and turned right before Sarah stopped and said āWow, that lady is having her photo taken in front of that cool wall art/sign. Quick get one of meā āOk my lovely, youāre wearing your new yellow Michael Kors t-shirt too, i hope i get everything inā. Sarah had bought this t-shirt for our holidays and couldnāt wait to put on the lovely bright colours and flowers.
Ā This is one of my fave photos as it shows Sarahās smile is as bright as her t-shirt.Ā
Walking back to the ship we finally found a local Bauble makerā¦Her daughter makes and paints them herself. We bought a beautiful one which even had a cruise ship painted on with the Aruba island and even 2019 on it. š š Ā
We’ve started collecting Christmas Tree Baubles since i started going abroad 5 years ago. We love unpacking them at Christmas and filling the tree with all Ā of the places we visit. We think its a lovely idea to fill the tree with our lives journeys and give thanks to God for everything.
Our wonderful new friends…Ā
Sarah & i like to share a table with other passengers, mainly to take this opportunity to try and be sociable( being blind and trapped in your very small world & not having any eye contact itās almost impossible to be sociable. or start conversations). So asking someone to read the menu for you because we are blind is a great ice breaker, lol!Ā
We met 2 lovely couples that night and you will hear a little more about them throughout this trip.
Thanks for joining us on our visit to Aruba! Have you been here before? š¤
To be continued…Ā
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āļø #56 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #4” š§š§ (2018)
June 3, 2020 0 Comments
Ā Good morning friends!
This is our last full day before we have to fly home. šĀ Weāre going to miss this view! Ā
Breakfast…
Ā We had our penultimate breakfast (yes sausagesā¦I mean fruit) and i was wearing my new āBirthdayā t-shirt. Sarah had seen it in the little gift shop (on site) and knew she just had to get it for me. It says āDonāt sweat the small stuffā and has a surf board with a large bite mark out of the side, it also has Barbados written on itā¦Fantastic! Sarah was wearing her āWorld Cancer Research Fundā t-shirt which is the charity she works for, and itās the reason for my impending doomā¦Let me explain…
The Blindman Tough Mudder!Ā
People who know me?! know that Iāve been struggling and fighting all kinds of obstacles for the past 18 years since being registered blindā¦..BUT Iāve never faced obstacles such as these.
I was recently challenged (strong-armed) to do the Tough Mudder 5K by Sarahās nail tech/artist Ashley, who works at Ooh La La Hair & Beauty Salon. I chose the team name ‘HARD AS NAILSā and I’ll be competing and raising funds for one of my favourite charities Ā -World Cancer Research Fund
My lovely wife Sarah works for World Cancer Research Fund and I was stopped in my tracks by one of the statistics she showed me – That 40% of cancer cases are preventable ….that’s around 147,000 cases each year in the UK alone. And that after not smoking eating a healthy diet, being more active and maintaining a healthy weight are the most important things you can do to reduce your cancer risk. This totally blew my mind!
āWhat??? There are cancers that I can prevent? I thought cancer was something that you just got!ā š±Ā
The light switched on for me and I thought āWhy didnāt I know this?Ā
I want to share this good news with everyone so we can all be aware and empowered to start fighting the cancers we can prevent.ā šŖš¼ Ā
Since then Iāve been following World Cancer Research Funds recommendations and have never felt more healthy and energised (even though Iām on beta-blockers). Most of all I know Iām helping to not dig my own grave with my own knife and fork!
Can a blindman do a ‘Tough Mudderāā¦? (post coming tomorrow!)
Now itās time to spend our last full day on the immensely packed beach! š¤£ Ā āļø Ā
Ā After our 1st wave (see what i did there, lol) of beach fun it was time for a cool down, but first i had to try and get Sarah off the beach. š¤£ Ā
Ā Just as iād gotten comfortable in the shadeā¦āSteve letās play some crazy golf! I bet you canāt beat me, lol!ā Not another challenge! šŖš¼ Ā Ā
Ā Putting (pun intended) the ācrazyā into crazy golf…
This hotel and beach club was just fantastic for us as there were no steps to trip us up. Walking out of our roomā¦The main swimming pool was about 10 meters away, the restaurant/bar was about 20-30 meters away, and the crazy golf course was about 30 meters and just around the back of the hotel in the beautiful grounds. š Ā
Ā We were happy straight away as the course had a lighthouse obstacleā¦Sarah loves lighthouses and we stayed in the āOld Hunstanton Lighthouseā for our honeymoon and then for the following 5 anniversaries! š ā¤ļøĀ
We didnāt have the course to ourselves as there were also some children playing, this really helped us out when Sarah did her ‘Happy Gilmore’ impression and smashed the ball off the course and into a load of bushes! The children (who were a lot smaller kindly returned Sarahās ball as they could fit under the bushes! š¤£ Ā
We had no idea whoād wonĀ the game as we were having too much fun!Ā š Ā
Ā Back to the beach…
As the hotel is great and accessible for usā¦The empty beach was fantastic. When youāre registered blind you hardly ever get to walk freely without millions of obstacles coming at you from every angle. So once Sarah plonked me by the sea and said itās safe to just walk up and down and follow the edge of the sea, i got moving. Itās a freedom i never ever thought about when i was fully sighted but now i love these brief moments!
Ā After spending lots of time playing in the shallow water and being splashed (blasted) by the waves, we walked as far as we could along the bay (east), then we walked all the way back to Sarahās favourite placeā¦The rocks (west). You may recognise this place as the sunset location, as this is the place we always come to every night to capture a sunset. š Ā
Ā It was a beautiful place to stop and listen to the sound of the waves crashing and to sit Ā (or stand) in reverie.Ā
Well now thatās out of the way itās time to try and catch up with Sarah. I really need to take more video clips as the auto focus isnāt fast enough to keep up with Sarah, lol!Ā
Ā Goodbye Sharkeyās…
After our scorching day on the beach we headed off to our local for an iced coffee! š Ā Ā
Ā Farewell Barbadosā¦ š§š§ Ā
Ā Weāve had such an amazing time staying at the Southern Palms Beach Club, playing on Dover beach and enjoying Barbados! So i thought there would be no better way to leave this place as to let the beautiful Bajan sun set on our holiday. šĀ
Ā To be continued…Ā
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āļø #55 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #3” š§š§ (2018)
June 2, 2020 0 Comments
Good morning friends! Yay weāre still at the š“Ā Southern Palms š“Ā
Ā Southern palms breakfast…
āWow, how nice are these bananas with a little fresh orange juice drizzled over them!ā i said as Sarah puts some fresh water melon next to me. āWhat a way to start the day, they taste so much fruitier and juicier than back homeā. Sarah loved going over to the numerous tables and getting fresh fruit, nuts and best of allā¦The coconut bread! We then walked over to the cooked food table where we ordered our fresh omelettes.šššš°š„„
But then…
āDING DINGā yes thatās the sound of my (not Sarahās) āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā bell again. This time it was for the nicest sausages iāve ever tasted. I have no idea what herbs and spices they used but itās right up at number 1 for sausages! š Ā
After being dragged (kicking and screaming) away from the sausages, we had a monumental walk back to our room (about 30 meters) as Sarah wanted to go for a swim. The pool was fantastic and not very busy! š Ā Ā
Ā There was always a cold fresh jug of water (with cucumber or lemon) available under an umbrella for guests to drink. It was a life saver for me who just boils to death the second i leave the air conditioned room. Being sat under an umbrella next to the pool, hearing Sarah splashing around and having fun with the view over the beach (see image below)ā¦It wasnāt the worst place to be, lol! š¤£ āļø Ā Ā
Sitting still is not the usual Blind Sightseers way of doing things but suddenly Ā i heard an airplane pretty close to us. I just pointed my phone towards the noise and i didnāt expect to capture anything, but to my surprise i managed to get the plane. My ears must be well calibrated! š¤£ Ā
Ā Sharkeyās Tropical Cafe…
Ā You may remember from my ‘Barbados #1‘ post that weād had a walk up the āGap’ from our hotel to explore. We walked past Sharkeyās and thought weād try it another dayā¦Well now we are here! š We absolutely loved the incredibly bold and vivid colour scheme and it wasnāt long before weād sat down and had our iced coffees. We chatted with the man (making the coffees) and when he found out Sarah was diabetic he said āHey, i can make a special one for you! Itās good that you told me as nobody dies on my watch, lol! š¤£ Ā
Just when i thought this place couldnāt get any brighterā¦Sarah hits me with that amazing smile! Ā
Ā The Birthday Bajan Braides…
As we were on a ‘Full Day Island Tour‘ yesterday, we didnāt have time to book Sarah into the on site hairdressers to get her birthday Ā braides. As you may know the wind here is quite strong (and cooling) so i already had my hair in braides, as itās my birthday 4 days after Sarahās. It was the same lady whoād done my braides and Sarah looked fantastic! š ā¤ļøĀ
Ā The evening…
Weād already had another lovely day but it was time for the evening meal. The hotel had a different band playing every few nights, and sitting in the restaurant next to the perfect postcard beach was stunning. Ā
Ā āDING DING DING DINGā Yes you know what this meansā¦Itās my āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā and something has just smashed itās way to the top, i wonder what it could be??
This one isnāt for the faint hearted but i donāt have enough hyperbole to do this justice! So iāll just introduce you to my favourite burger of all timeā¦The āSouthern Burgerā This is hard to write about without drooling. š I must confess that i ordered this on the first night and then for all 7 nights! Once youāve hit the top thereās nowhere else to go! š š Ā Ā
Ā The sunset…
Thankfully we walked along the beach for the sunset before we had the evening meal. We always knew exactly what time to leave for our daily beach sunset walk as the ‘Bajan Whistling Frogā would start singing at the same time every night! šĀ
š“ The āSouthern Palmsā and Barbados was already our fave place and island and weād not even been here a week. As the sun set on another fantastic day i wanted to leave you with this stunning view. Ā
Ā Iād like to say that iād set up a tripod, set the self-timer and walked into position, But (you guessed it) Sarah āTop Trumpedā me again with this beautiful photo! š Ā
Thank you so much for taking time to join us in Barbados, but itās still not over yet! š Ā
Have you ever been to Barbados? Iād love to hear about it!Ā
To be continued…Ā
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āļø #54 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #2” š§š§ (2018)
June 1, 2020 9 Comments
Good morning friends!Ā
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!! š Ā
Wow what a view to start your Bajan Birthday whilst eating an amazing fresh and juicy breakfast. š š š š šĀ š„ We couldāve stayed here foreverā¦But we have a fantastic birthday trip starting in a moment! š Ā
Ā The Barbados 360 Island Tour…
Ā The Barbados 360 Island Tour is a great way to see BarbadosYour incredible experience begins with pick-up at your hotel by a friendly local guide/driver.
Southern Palms…
We didnāt even have to leave the hotel as the coach pulled right up to the entrance. We were one of the first on the coach and it was nice to get the chance to see the other hotels as the driver stopped to pick the other people up.
Bridgetown…
You’ll be driven through our bustling capital city of Bridgetown which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here the architecture and charm of a bygone era merges with the beauty of a modern city.
The tour guide told us lots of history as we drove through Bridgetown. It looked (and sounded) fantastic and itās a definite place for us to go and explore at a later date! šĀ
Speightstown…
And speaking of lovely architecture and colonial towns, your first stop is at Speightstown. Here you’ll enjoy seeing historic buildings and beautiful tropical beaches.
The tour guide kept talking about the PRC Bakery at our first stop, and said she was going in to get something for the trip. āOOohhhh maybe we could get a small cake for your birthdayā āYes letās follow her and see what goodies they have?ā As we walked in to the little bakery the guide said āOh yes a lead pipeā as she picked one up and went to pay for it. āWhatās a lead pipe?ā i said to the guide āItās a local cake but it can be used as a weapon too as itās very heavyā. Sarah then passed me a bag with a cake in and said hold this āWow this weighs about the same as a 16lb bowling ballā āeverything is so heavy in here, nothing has fluffy cream like in England as it would melt instantly, lolā.
Sarah told the baker that we loved coconut and did e have anything with coconut in them? We only got 1 coconut slice as we didnāt know how sweet it was or even if we liked it?! šĀ
Ā I never (ever) stop talking about this coconut slice as itās the nicest cake iāve ever tasted! The bell on the āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā was destroyed as this flew to the top of the cakes list! If iād have known i wouldāve stayed in the bakery and continued to eat every single last one of them! But we only had that one and weāve never been able to go back since this monumental occasion. Oh yesā¦This monumental occasion is my lovely wife Sarah’s birthday! š¤£Ā
Ā āIf i can just break this cake in to small pieces then i could hide it in my pockets. Iām sure this cake is too sweet for Sarah and she just wonāt like it!ā š¤£ Ā
āNothing to see here, i hope i havnāt got crumbs all over me!ā š¤£ Ā
A kind person from our group asked if weād like a birthday photo together? Iām sure she must have noticed us fighting over the coconut slice, and thought sheād better break us up, lol! š¤£ Ā
Oh yes, this beautiful place wasnāt just about the coconut sliceā¦Who am i kidding? Yes it was! š¤£ Ā
But itās not my birthday and it was time for us to get back on the coach.
Morgan Lewis Windmill…
Get your cameras ready for the stop at Cherry Tree Hill, our favourite look-out spot on the island! Sugar cane fields and the lush countryside lead down to a beautiful coastline.
Ā Oh wow, itās not my birthday but Sarah treated us all to a stunning stupendous panorama! š²Ā
Ā
North point and Saint Lucy…
After a short drive we ended up at North Point, the most northern part of Barbados. Instead of flat sandy beaches this place had cliffs and big waves. But first Sarah had to have her photo taken with Saint Lucy. š Ā Ā
Ā We walked inside the cafe/bar area as we had enough time for a cold drink, and then lots of noise and singingā¦It was the tour guide and a few of the staff singing Happy Birthday (stevie wonder style) bouncing and dancing around whilst carrying a bowl of flying fish with a sparkler sticking out of the top! It was a special moment for Sarah and weāve never had anything like this before, a lovely thing for them to do. š Ā
It was an amazing place and totally different to the postcard beaches weāre used to at our hotel. āļø
Bathsheba & the soup bowl…Ā
Next you travel along that coastline to the seaside village at Bathsheba, to see fascinating rock formations standing strong against the battering waves. You might also see surfers enjoying the white surf of the world famous “Soup Bowl”.
Ā Leaving the coach we realised why this was great for surfersā¦The wind was really strong and we had to be really careful not to get blown away! Ā
Ā Hey Sarah has tried to sneak another monumental panorama! šĀ
Ā This place was beautiful and wild and also very different from the normal beaches. Just before we arrived at the next location our driver treated us by singing (with a great voice) āAll of meā by John Legend. Every time we hear this song playing it takes us back to this stunning place! š Ā āļø Ā
Ā Sunbury Plantation House…Ā
By now you might be feeling a bit hungry, so it’s off to Sunbury Plantation House, for a delicious local buffet lunch and a tour of this beautifully restored historic home.
Wow what a place packed with so much history. We had a short walk around looking at the antiques then sat down for a stunning buffet birthday lunch. We tried an omnifarious amount of local foods and it was so tasty! š Ā
Ā This was the view from the tableā¦Stunning! šĀ
Ā We were sad to leave this place but the āBajan Birthday Tourā hasnāt ended yet.Ā
St. Johns Church…
After enjoying the beauty of nature it’s time to visit St. Johns Church, a gothic Church that boasts amazing views from its hilltop location.Ā
Ā This was the last stop on our epic tour of the island and it was beautiful. Ā
Ā The day ends as you are safely returned to your hotel…
After a long day filled with excitement, surprises and beautiful scenery, the coach pulled up outside our hotel. We said our goodbyes and headed back to our room.
And then…
As we opened the door to our room we were greeted with this lovely surprise for Sarahās birthday from the hotel staff.š Ā Ā
Ā But the birthday isnāt over yet. Sarah then dragged me out on to the beach for a lovely walk before it gets too dark.Ā
Ā Wait a minuteā¦Is Sarah getting tiredā¦Impossible! š¤£ Ā
Ā Today was a perfect day and Sarah really enjoyed her bajan birthday. Itās been great having you guys with us to celebrate too. Have you enjoyed Barbados?Ā
To be continued…Ā
ā¬ Ā Previous DayĀ š“ Next Day ā”
āļøĀ Start tour from beginningĀ š Or join at:
āļø #53 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Barbados #1” š§š§ (2018)
May 31, 2020 0 Comments
Ā Good morning friends! Yay weāre in Barbados! š Ā āļø Ā
After our relaxing breakfast (as no excursion today) we had a couple of hours on the ship. We were excited not to be flying home as usual but to be staying a week on Barbados. Weāve never done a cruise and stay before so had no idea what to expect. But while we are waitingā¦How about a game of blind crazy golf? š Ā Ā
Ā We made sure there wasnāt many people playing as i take too long on a shot. I canāt see my feet never mind a golf ball, lol! To take a shot i bend down and place the ball on the floor while holding the club against it. Then slowly rise up whilst at the same time trying not to move the club or the ball at all. Hopefully the wind hasnāt blown my ball away from the club (happened a few times as i swung and just hit air) then i swing. If i make contact with the ball itās a bonus, but sometimes i just fluke a hole in one! š šŖš¼ Ā
Ā After a very hot round of crazy golf (i think Sarah won) and a farewell iced coffee it was time for us to leave this lovely ship.Ā
Ā š“Ā Southern Palms š“…
Ā After a short ride in a minibus with the driver telling us some great places to visit if we get the chance, we pulled up a the hotel. We were welcomed by a steel drum band and Sarah just had to get a video of this place! š Ā
Once weād been shown around our room with lovely air conditioning, we unpacked our case and went for a little walk round which included the beach. āļø šĀ
Welcome to ourĀ perfect Caribbean postcard beach…
Ā We couldnāt believe how empty the beach was and had a walk up and down up to the limits of our hotel (the hotel was wider than we’d thought) and there were not many people on the beach at all. We walked around the whole bay (which wasnāt very big) and there were more people on the beach in front of the next hotel down, but hardly any in front of our hotel..Excellent. š Ā
The sunset photo…
As the Southern Palms faced directly south we headed right along the beach so i could find a lovely sunset photo, i knew the sunsets must be amazing here so wondered where we could stand to get one?! Wow i think this looks like the place! We couldnāt believe it as this place was about 50 meters from our hotel, and it was the end of the bay so we couldnāt walk any further anyway. Sarah quickly found her new āHappy Place’ on the top of the rocks.Ā š²
Ā It was beautiful and we stayed as long as we could before it got too dark for us. It had rocks, coastline and trees for composition and we were happy to come here for the next 7 days! Ā
Ā We knew instantly that this place was something special and weād love itā¦And i havnāt even mentioned the evening meals yet!! Oh the āBlind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboardā is going to get busy! More about that on a later date. šĀ
The following day…
We had breakfast and evening meal included at the hotel, and wow what a breakfast (tell you later!) So when weād filled our tanks we headed out of the hotel for a short walk. As the hotel was located on St Lawrence Gap we thought even if we get lost, someone would always know about the gap and take us home, good plan.Ā
St Lawrence Gap…
It was scorching hot (and then some) but there was a sprinkling of stalls, shops and cafe/bars along the gap, so i could stand underneath in the boiling hot shade, lol! Then walking further along the gap we found (which is now) our favourite and most colourful cafe…āSharkeyās Tropical Cafeā.Ā
Ā We didnāt have time to stop at the moment as we were on exploration mode. The gap then turned 90Ė to the right until we hit the main road. We knew we could just turn back and get back the way we came, but weād read about the legendary public buses and wanted to try one!Ā
The bus…
Wow, let me tell you a little about the bus! Remember how i was telling you about my favourite cars of all time back in Corsica, yes the insanely fast āGroup Bā rally carsā¦Well when weād walked along the main road a little, on some tiny paths that took some navigatingā¦One of these blasted past (i enjoyed the breeze,lol). āWow that was closeā i said whilst trying to sort my shirt out as it had been blown violently around. Climbing on board one of these missiles (it was heading the way of another coffee shop iād found on Facebook) the first thing that we noticed was the noise! It had a hugely loud raspy exhaust (like Group B cars) and it only accelerated hard and fast. There were no cruising and just hard braking for anyone else brave enough to get on. It took us about 7 seconds (maybe 10 minutes) before we could breathe again and the g-force came down to normal and we could step off.
It stopped right outside the āVictoria Coffee Shopā and we were greeted with this fantastic sign as we walked in…Ā
Ā The coffee shop was beautiful and we had a lovely strong coffee with some local banana bread, Mmmmm. Ā š Ā
Ā After another dizzying blast on the rocket fuelled bus we managed to get back to the hotel after a good time exploring. Sarah said (i think sheād seen my hair after the bus ride) āShall we book you in to get your hair braided as the hotel has itās own hair salon?ā My hair did look like a cross between āAslanā and āWorzel Gummidgeā so i was happy to get it out of the way for a whole week! š Ā Ā
Ā The lady did a fantastic job and we had a great time chatting to her and learning more about Barbados.
Sarahās Birthday in Barbados…
Tomorrow will be Sarahās birthday and weāve booked an excursion that will take us all around the island, showing us the different coastlines of this beautiful place. Weāre really looking forward to it and canāt wait to share Sarahās birthday with you in Barbados. š§š§ š Ā Ā
To be continued…
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āļø #49 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Antigua” š¦š¬ (2018)
May 27, 2020 3 Comments
Ā Good morning friendsā¦Wow weāre in Antigua! š āļø Ā
Well the trip is still going ahead (i knew they wouldnāt cancel this one) but letās remind ourselves what weāre doing today?! Ā
Antigua Zip Line Canopy Adventure:
Hear the distant sound of running water, exotic chirps and the whistling of birds flying over the canopy. This is an adventure playground with a difference. It all takes place 50 to 300 feet off the ground in Antiguaās rainforest canopy, including a series of 12 zip-lines – some stretching lengths of over 300 feet, a leap of faith, 3 aerial walkways and a suspension bridge. Not forgetting the hidden tree house where the world seems to stand still.
This thrilling journey includes 26 elements and 9 typical challenge course features, with water stations along the way. This really is an adventure in the sun! Donāt worry, youāre in safe hands, all the rangers here are trained to world challenge course standards and before you set off in your harness youāll have a full safety briefing, to learn all about the equipment.
On the dock…
Yay weāre back in Antigua! If you remember the last time (our first time here) we did horse riding across the beach (click here for the post). We love that all of the assistance people on the dock wear bright yellow t-shirts too. After following our assistance person to the taxi place we got in a nice minibus that took us to the deadly zip lines. šØ
The safety harness…
Our small group went inside and had a short safety briefing and as they know iām registered blind i got my own assistant. They let me hold the harness and the huge carabiners. I started to feel a little better after holding the super heavy duty harness. The assistant strapped it on really tight and i was ready. I checked that Sarah was still next to me and had everything sorted too. Sarah often gets neglected as the people see that iām the blind one and then leave Sarah to carry on without helpā¦But Sarah is also registered blind but not quite as severely as me (totally different eye problems).Ā
The ranger dude…
Walking out and onto the start of the wooden bridge with thousands of steps leading up and through the rain forest and above the canopy Sarah and i was greeted by the amazing ranger guide (forgot his name unfortunately). He was simply fantastic and guided me up every step by calling out when a step was coming etc. He said āIāll clip onto the cable behind you and fly down with youā i said āThanks as i wonāt be able to see the end and when i need to brake, iāll just fly straight into the tree at the end like a cartoon characterā.
Here goes…
He used really clear instructions and before long i was lifting my feet up and landing on the platform at the other end. āWow that was coolā i said whilst laughing and trying to find the rail to lean against. I wonder where Sarah isā¦Sarah was last and all on her own to figure out how to do it all, she of course managed it somehow! š The ranger asked if we were both ok and if we enjoyed the little zip line to start with.
I said āLittle one? Yeah it was amazing, so is there longer and higher ones?ā āOh yes the longest one is called the screamer and iāll let you know when we get there as it takes a video of you tooā.Ā
I remember wishing i had a camera up here as it was beautiful, and i still canāt believe we only had 2 photos and 1 video of the dayā¦But thatās better than nothing. š¤£ Ā
We had much more fun on the longer zip lines, climbing higher and higher steps with the guide passing us cups of water at each water station, wow i needed that.Ā
And then…
We finally arrived at āThe Screamerāā¦It’s the highest, fastest and longest zip-line in this place. It stretches 328 feet across a ravine and is 350 feet above the rain forest floor.
I stepped slowly to the edge of the platform, my heart was trying to pound its way out of my chestā¦Even though iām on beta blockers and my heart rate cannot go over 120bpm no matter how hard i try. I reached above my head and clipped my carabiner onto the cable and took a deep breath as I sat my whole weight into my harness. āAre you ready to make some noise?ā the ranger dude behind me said āOh yeahā and we stepped of the incredibly high platform…
Yay!! Weāve done it!! Sarah flew down too and even did a couple of spins (nobody likes a show off, lol) we both laughed lots and with just a couple of zip lines left we could safely say āThe Blind Sightseersā have conquered another challenge! šŖš¼ Ā š Ā
Ā The cafe, bar and gift shop…
Finishing the last zip line and then walking across rope bridges we ended up in the gift shop. I thanked the ranger profusely as he left to guide another group.Ā
āWow it would be fantastic if we could buy something from here to remind us of this monumental day. Sarah found a beautiful Antigua bauble for our Christmas tree and she bought a really cool t-shirt (Sarah modelling it below) that says āFor a good attitude, change your latitudeā.
Returning to the dock…
We had a quiet ride back as we both were reflecting on managing zip lining as blindies and the relief that i didnāt die today. š The minibus pulled in and we started walking back towards the ship for our iced coffee refresh when…
Sarah said āMy hatā āWhat do you men?ā i said āIāve lost my hat?!ā āWhat your really cool one that youāve had for yearsā āYes that one, i think iāve left it at the zip lining place or on the minibus. I lost my sunglasses yesterday and now my hat todayā. We walked back to the taxi rank and asked the man who then phoned one of his drivers. About half an hour later another minibus arrived with the second group from our tour and the driver had Sarahās hat! Sarah must have left it in the cafe after all of the excitement! Phew! š Ā
Back on the ship…
“Aww now thatās a Ā nice cold coffeeā i said whilst sitting back in the lovely big arm chair in the coffee place āI canāt believe weāve done it, a blind man (and woman) have done zip lining!ā āI knew we would do it and i still get to keep one of my fave hatsā. š Ā
Weāve booked a photo session tomorrow like the one we had last year when we were at āOlympiaā, itās a colour shoot this time instead of black and white. And of course as itās another lovely new island we have another shore excursion booked too.Ā
Did you enjoy your time in Antigua? Have you ever done zip lining before?
To be continued…Ā Ā
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āļø #45 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Corsica” š«š· (2017)
May 23, 2020 15 Comments
Bonjour mes amisĀ (Good Morning My Friends)Ā
No way weāre in Corsica! My lovely wife Sarah is going to kill me for ruining this post with another of my digressionsā¦But my fave cars of all time raced here and i canāt contain myselfā¦.Yes itās Group B rally cars! Ā
Awwww i can hear that ferocious engine sound (and the monster dump valve) of one of my favourite carsā¦The Lancia Delta S4. It had an Abarth-designed supercharged and turbocharged 500bhp 1.8-litre engine, it could hit 60mph in just over two secondsā¦And this was 1986!Ā
Butā¦After a fatal accident (here in Corsica) Group B rally cars were banned and a FISA investigation later proved that driversā reactions were too slow to keep up with Group B cars, and driversā eyes could not adjust their focus between the fast corners, which caused tunnel vision. Now thatās fastā¦And insane!!Ā
They said the cars had so much raw power but with little containmentā¦I have a wife like that, lol! Sorry Sarah! š¤£ Ā
What is the āTour de courseā for the blind sightseers today…
A visit to Corsicaās most southern tip is on the cards on this tour. On the drive over, youāll stop at Roccapina, where you can see the lion-shaped granite rock that looks over the Genoese tower ā itās an opportunity for some great photos. Once you arrive in Bonifacio, the mini train will take you past the ruins of three mills, and the Church of St Dominique. Youāll also be treated to panoramic views over the neighbouring island of Sardinia. Youāll continue on foot to the citadel ā your guide will tell you all about the chapel of St John the Baptist, and the 14th-century Church of Saint Marie Majuere. The walking tour finishes up in the marketplace. From there, you can brave the 100 steps down to the marina. Or, hop back on the mini train and it will get you there.
Next, youāll be boarding a boat for a tour of the Bonifacio caves. From the sea, youāll have views over the town, perched on top of 230-feet-high limestone cliffs. Youāll see Sdragonatto cave, meaning the little dragon ā itās shaped like Corsica. The tour wraps up with some free time ā you can sit in a cafĆ©, or do some shopping.
On the coach…Ā
After another lovely breakfast we started our exciting tour. The weather was hot but very windy so a little unpredictable today. After a while the coach stopped at the side of the road and we got off to take some photos.
Ā Wow what a view! Hang onā¦Fasten your 5 point safety harness as Sarah is drifting towards another stupendous panorama! š Ā Ā
Ā Thenā¦The wind started to blow really fast (or was it an old Group B rally car screening past) Ā and Sarah took this funny photo of me.Ā
Ā Whilst watching us taking photos of each other a kind person from our coach took a photo of me and my lovely wife Sarah! Yay one more i can cherish! Ā ā¤ļøĀ
Ā The crazy boat…
Arriving at Bonifacio we were meant to go on a boat ride alongside the legendary cliffs and even steer through a small cave/rock but the weather was too windy and the sea too rough and choppy.Ā
But this is a āBlind Sightseersā tour so we climbed on board. Some of the group opted out and stayed behind to make their way for the town. We were initially disappointed when we sat down in the middle of the boatā¦But we soon appreciated being sat here! Suddenly a choir of voices shrieking, shouting and laughing as the waves came over the side and drenched everyone except me and Sarah! š¤£ Ā Ā
Ā The boat was bobbing up and down lots which was great for me as i canāt see whatās around us but i like the tactile fun bobbing and splashingā¦Thankfully i donāt get sea sick! š Ā Then we entered this really dark narrow rock.Ā
Ā The stunning cliffs of Bonifacioā¦.Ā
Ā The fun train…
After the memorable bumpy boat ride it was time to be escorted to the top of the cliffs byā¦”No way itās not a Lancia Delta S4 is it?ā I said āNo but itās a fun train similar to the one in Hunstanton that we likeā Sarah said whilst pushing (i mean guiding) me into a seat. š Ā Ā
Ā Then…
Whilst heel toe shifting, maintaining perfect balance and keeping up turbo boost pressure Sarah manages another monumental panorama
Ā We had such a lovely time exploring the upper city in this special place. First we found a cafe and quickly ordered coffees and a coissont (no it didnāt beat the Amalfi coissont but it came close) then found a souvenir shop. We bought a fantastic bath towel with beautiful photo prints of Bonifacio! After exploring further it was time to catch the fun train back down and meet the group ready to head back to the ship.Ā
Back on the ship…
After another lovely evening meal we stumbled upon these creations made out of fruit an vegetables! š Ā Ā
Ā We hope youāve enjoyed Corsica? Weāve had a fantastic time and made so many memories.Ā
We are not out of fuel yetā¦I wonder where we’re going to end up tomorrow?
To be continued…Ā
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āļø #44 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Rome, Italy” š®š¹ (2017)
May 22, 2020 3 Comments
Ā Ā Ā Buongiorno amiciĀ (Good morning friends) Ā
Yesterday we visited Sorrento, Amalfi and Pompeii all in 1 day (we donāt mess about, lol) itās time for 11 hours of aĀ gladiatorian excursionā¦I hope you donāt think youāve come on holiday to relax! š¤£ Ā
Where are the blind sightseers going today…Ā
Rome & The Colosseum shore excursion…
From the toga-wearing days of Julius Caesar to the artistic boom of the Baroque, Rome is a city that catapults you through time. Itās as if history seeps from every cobblestone, and traversing it all is no mean feat. And thatās where this tour comes in. It showcases the very best the Eternal City has to offer – plus it gives you an inside view of two if its biggest attractions.
The trip follows a classic itinerary through the heart of the Italian capital. Youāll get to see global landmarks that need no introduction – places like the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. But one of the biggest highlights has to be the Colosseum. Head inside and relive the days of the gladiators as you wander round this ancient landmark.
This is going to be a clash of the Titans, i wonder if the Gladiators have met my āWarrior Wifeā yet? Sarah (dressed in her new camo skirt) is ready! Ok iāll start being serious now. š¤£ Ā
The walking tour…
First our guide gave us the radio ear thingy so we could hear him over the noise of the crowds as Rome is a busy city. Then it was time to get walking! Once again iāll shut up for a while as you enjoy this beautiful and majestic place.Ā
The Spanish Steps…Ā
Ā
Wow weāve been walking for hours but then a kind member of our group asked dif weād like a photo together. Ā š Ā Ā
Then a street artist type dude…Ā Ā
The Pantheon…Ā
Free time…
Just as the guide had told us we had 40 minutes free timeā¦The clouds moved in and darkened the whole place. It started raining and instantly umbrellas sprang up from nowhere, stall workers flipped over their items and were selling umbrellas all of a sudden and we ran into a shop! Iād never seen anything like it, it was like somebody had hit the secret bookshelf and itād flipped around without anyone noticing. š¤£ Ā
āOoohhhhhā Sarah said as she picked up and tried to show me a massive hand made intricately designed Christmas tree bauble. “This would look wonderful on our tree this year”. š Ā Ā
Ā
The Colosseum…
Wow what a piece of history and to think what went on in this arena was soberingā¦.Especially after just finishing the audiobook āFoxeās book of Martyrsā by John Foxe.Ā
TheĀ Architecture is simply stunning.
Ā I thought for a moment that Sarah had found a gladiator to fightā¦But she was lining up one of her mighty panoramasā¦Lucky for the gladiator! Ā
Back on the ship…
Wow what a day and what an incredible place. I hope youāve enjoyed it as much as us? Have you been to Rome before?Ā
After the ship set sail and we were thinking about all of the places weād seen today,..There was just enough time to…Ā
I wonder where weāre going tomorrow? š¤ Weāve already seen some fantastic ‘Treasures of the Mediterraneanā and there are still more gems to see.
To be continued…Ā
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āļøĀ Start From #1Ā š Or join the adventure at:
āļø #43 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Sorrento, Amalfi & Pompeii Italy” š®š¹ (2017)
May 21, 2020 4 Comments
Ā Ā Buongiorno amiciĀ (Good morning friends) Ā
We are really looking forwards to todays excursion. Itās going to be a long one but Sarahās dad always talks about how beautiful Sorento and the Amalfi coast is, and if we ever get the chance to visitā¦Youāll love it. š Ā
Ā
Well the blind sightseers have arrived in Sorrento and after a lovely breakfast weāre ready for the excursion.
Amalfi &Ā Pompeii…
Youāll tick off 2 of the Neapolitan Rivieraās heavyweights on this tour. Weāll start with a camera-worthy journey along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most scenic drives in the world. Weāll snake along dramatic cliffs, passing castles that cling to the hillsides and pastel-painted villages that tumble down to the Tyrrhenian Sea below. When we arrive in Amalfi, weāll tour the townās historical heart and youāll have some free time to explore and grab a bite to eat.
UNESCO-listed Pompeii will be our next port of call. Sitting in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, the town was buried for centuries by ash and pumice after the volcano blew its top in 79AD. Youāll have almost 2 hours to explore the ruins, starting with the Forum and meandering past mansions, temples and amphitheatres.
On the coach…
Youāll be pleased to know i donāt need to write much as Ā youāll just see how beautiful this place really Ā is.
The Amalfi coast… Ā
Amalfi town…Ā
After a lovely drive along the wonderful Amalfi coast, time seemed to just fly by as we arrived in the town. We had quite a long period of free time to enjoy this incredible place. We headed straight for the sea, and after a while we managed to find this tiny dock thingy.
Ā It was a little oasis away from the crowds and we could either look out to sea or look back and see the townā¦Wow. š Ā Ā
Ā Wait for it…Ā
Yayā¦Now weāve arrived! šŖš¼Ā
Before exploring the busy part of town (the centre) we thought weād try walking up the hill to see how far the town goes, Wow itās beautiful up here!
Ā The Cafe, Coffee and THE Ccissont…
Yay we found a little coffee shop and Sarah said “we have to try the croissants with a black coffee”. We sat outside and i said āWooaaaahhh have you tried your croissant yet? Itās the best one iāve ever tastedā āMmmmmmmā Sarah said and thatās all i needed to hear. š Ā
Every croissant weāve had since eating this one 3 years ago has had to be compared with this one. Itās still the remaining champion as no other croissant anywhere has even come close! Ā
The centre of townā¦.
This town was good for us as it wasnāt very big and we thought itād be hard for us to get lost. Walking into the town we found a lovely gift shop, both me and Sarah got a souvenir. Sarah bought another t-shirt with Amalfi across the front and i bought a great Amalfi vest. š Ā
We left the shop and found the natural spring fountain the tour guide was talking about and Sarah went over for a drink.Ā
Sarah was soaking and was walking towards meā¦Yes she spun around like a helicopter and soaked me through. š¤£ Ā She said she wanted to cool me down as i was too hot againā¦But she also enjoyed soaking me too, a win-win situation. ! š¤£Ā
Now time to explore the backstreets…Ā
Time for another attempt at a selfie with my lovely wife Sarah…Ā
Then Sarah stretches and lines herself up to take some stunning panoramasā¦ š Ā
What a beautiful place.Ā
Back on the coach…
Wow what a lovely town., itās now time to head towards Pompeii.
Pompeii…
We followed the group towards a square near the main gate entrance. The guide said āNow itās time for you to try the amazing local Margharita pizza. Wowā¦This was the best Margharita pizza iāve ever tasted and also sets the bar at the top of the āBlind Sightseers Pizza Leaderboard’. š Ā
Moving swiftly on we walked through the main gate on onto the excellently preserved ruins. Iāll shut up for a moment whilst you sit back and enjoy the photos, lol! šĀ
The guide was really knowledgable and gave us a lot of history on this place.Ā
Why struggle and take lots of shots when you can fit everything intoā¦A stupendous Sarah panorama! š Ā
The walking…
Yay the blind sightseers have found the worst walking conditions to date, it was horrendous! As many of you know i canāt see much and i certainly canāt see my feet never mind the path. I have no idea how Sarah guided me around this placeā¦But she managed it. I owe all of my holidays to her as i couldnāt do anything without herā¦Never-mind get to see some of the most beautiful places in the world! ā¤ļø š
My new walking sandals were great and protected my toes from being stubbed at least a few times. They allowed my ankles to roll over without snapping and had great grip when i needed it.Ā
We finally managed to go inside the beautiful buildings and hide from the burning sun. āļø Ā Ā
We were coming to the end of our walking tour of Pompeii and after a few more statues we ended up at the Centaur statue. Ā
The statue ofĀ Centaur…Ā
One last Sarah panorama…Ā
Back at the ship…
Wow what a memorable shore excursion! We talk about this trip all of the timeā¦Oh wait, we talk about all of our adventures! š¤£ Ā
After the excursion (but before the evening meal) we enjoy going out on deck to enjoy the fantastic coast line whilst looking back on the day. Itās also a great time to take a few shots of my lovely wife Sarah! ā¤ļøĀ
Then Sarah spotted a boat which looked like it was heading towards our ship. I said āItās not āGibbsā again and the NCIS special agents looking for the blind sightseers? They must have followed us from Montenegro, lol!ā Ā āNo i think itās just a tender boatā š¤£ Ā Ā
Quiet reflection…Ā
Being blind and guided (expertly) by Sarah throughout each day normally gives me a massive headache as there is just too much external stimuli. My sight is super blurry and walking around quickly whilst listening intently to Sarah (as donāt want to break my ankles, legs or worse) and trying to learn lots of history from the guide is simply too much to process. Itās like trying to use modern day apps when i can only process things as fast as an old Commodore 64. Awww i remember my dad breaking lots of joysticks trying to beat me on āThe way of the exploding fistā gameā¦But i digress! Oh yes i was trying to say i really enjoy everything being quiet as i lean on the rail and give thanks. š Ā Ā Ā
Just when you think youāve had another incredible dayā¦Youāre blessed with a beautiful sunset.Ā
Wowā¦What a beautiful part of the world. Thanks for joining us again on ourĀ incredible, breathtaking and above all memorable tour. š Ā
I wonder where weāre going tomorrow? š¤
To be continued…Ā
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āļø #42 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “Trapani, Sicily” š®š¹ (2017)
May 20, 2020 2 Comments
Ā Buongiorno amiciĀ (Good morning friends) Ā
No wayā¦Weāre in Sicily! One of our favourite places to eat is Sicily Restaurant and we always say when speaking to Grace or Dora āWe come to Sicily but weāve never been to Sicily!ā Now that has changed, yay! š Ā
Now weāre here letās see what weāll be doing…
To see the best of Sicily, you have to climb to great heights. And on this trip you’ll do exactly that. After a coach drive to the cable station, youāll take the cable car up to the top of a mountain. Take in the view out over the Trapani salt pans, the turquoise sea and all the way to the Egadi Islands – it’s breathtaking. While you’re up here, you’ll explore the Medieval town that is Erice. Wander the winding cobbled streets. Visit the Mother Church that’s stood here for over 700 years. And admire the Castle of Venus where the son of Athena, goddess of love, built a temple in his mother’s honour. But save some sighs for the gorgeous Balio Gardens in all their rainbow bright glory. Last but not least you’ll have time to enjoy the atmosphere in Ericeās dinky plaza, before you take the cable car back down to the ship.
Yayā¦I love cable cars, and weāve already been on 2 during this lockdown memory tour (see Gibraltar and Matlock Bath).
Leaving the ship…
The breakfast on the Thomson Majesty didnāt disappoint and we stepped out into the warm sunshine. Itāās September so itās not boiling hot (28ĖC) but itās much warmer than England. š Boarding the coach was fine and it wasnāt long before we weāre driving through the beautiful Sicilian streets and hills.Ā
The cable cars…
The cable car seated about 10 people (all in a circle) and we all instantly started chatting about our experiences on cruise ships, other cruises and if weād been to Sicily before? As this is now our 4th cruise (unbelievable) we sounded like seasoned professionals, lol! š¤£ Ā
Then it fell silent as we climbed higher and we all caught sight of the view…Ā
Iām not sure iād like cable cars half as much as i do if i was fully sighted. I think itās because i canāt really tell how high i am as iām actually a bit scared of heights! š Ā Ā
Sarah said āSteve stop looking out of the window, face me and have your photo takenā.Ā
Ā Surely itās not that time already?? Itās much to early to be stunned by another blisteringly stupendous Sarah panorama…
Hang onā¦Hereās another…
Eris…
Wow this place was incredible. It was quite surreal to have climbed so high in the cable car to get to this beautiful town. The colours were so vivid as the bright buildings contrasted the deep blue sky. Ā
Following the guide was hard work as the narrow lanes/walkways had large stones (about 4 inches) and were fantastic at tripping you up or stubbing your toe on, if you were lucky youād do both. But the blind sightseers Ā donāt let little details like that stop us, lol! š Ā
Once weād walked (and walked) to the very top of the town a Sicilian man came with a horse (maybe donkey i canāt see it or remember, lol) and carriage and played some traditional Sicilian music on his Harmonium.
The plaza…
We had about half an hour free time and Sarah & i quickly went to find a souvenir shop. The main item of sale was the Sicilian nougat which we didnāt really want as Sarah is diabetic. The plaza was beautiful and we spent some time wondering around until we got to sit down.
Eris was a stunning place and weāre so blessed to be able to visitā¦But now back to the cable cars.Ā
Ā Back at the dock…
After a quick refresh on the ship we were ready to explore! The dock was nice and flat and had lots of multi coloured boats in long rows so we looked around here first. Wait a minuteā¦Did Sarah buy one of these little boats in the souvenir shop at Eris, lol! š¤£ Ā Ā
Of course we canāt leave Sicily without Sarahās Sicilian victory pose…Ā
Trapani town…
We left the dock and started walking along the first street we came to. We noticed that the streets were in a big square and if we walked all the way round weād end up back here without getting lostā¦Here goes.
āOh it looks like all of the shops and cafeās are closedā Sarah said sounding a little disappointed. We continued along the second street and still nothing was open. āWe might as well return to the dockā Sarah said āI only wanted to try some Arancini in Sicilyā We always order these in āSicily Restaurantā back home so i thought whilst we were here i’d try one too.Ā
Turning right again onto the 3rd street of the square i was increasingly despondent and crestfallen.
But suddenly…
Sarah says with plenty of excitement āSteve look, i thinkā¦Yes iām sure it isā¦Let me go and see if iām rightā Sarah walks quickly ahead and upon her return says āSteve youāre going to love thisā taking my hand (as i was heartbroken) she led me into a little shop (which is the only one open around here) which only cooked Arancini!! I simply couldnāt believe it! We ordered a couple of different flavours and an espresso too! š²Ā
Wowā¦Now all that is left is the taste test… Ā
Awww unbelievable now that tastes great! Yet another moment i wonāt stop talking about. š¤£ Ā
After a lovely time relaxing, eating Arancini and drinking espresso in the sun it was time to head back to the ship. walking around the last corner of the square we noticed a tiny market stall selling hats. I said āI wonder if they sell a hat with Sicily on for Vini (Nephew) who loves collecting baseball caps?ā They did (i holding it in the image below).Ā
Yay the ship is here…Ā
Oh no i donāt think i have enough energy left to be able to Ā take another stupendous, Magnificent and sublime Sarah panoramaā¦ She keeps top trumping my photography, lol! š¤£ Ā
Back at the ship…
Sorry guys but no towel folding creatures on this ship!
The blind sightseers had a lovely time in Sicily and weād definitely return (if we get the chance after lockdown) as there are many more shore excursions for us to try all over Sicily.
We hope youāve enjoyed Sicily and this new ship? Itās such a blessing to see you here.š Ā
To be continued…Ā Ā
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āļø #18 The Blind Sightseers “Escape The Lockdown” With Distant Memories: “St Johns, Antigua”š¦š¬
April 26, 2020 0 Comments
After another early start(and youāve guessed it) a bacon roll, we headed off the ship. The shore excursion lady was at the bottom of the gangway steps, and she showed us where to join the queue. Well i say queue, there were only about 8 of us in total. I thought āI think we may have over reached on this one. Maybe itās going to be too difficult, and really not suited for the blindā.Ā
We were then led towards the minibus. We were told theyād saved us the 2 seats in the front next to the driver, i said āSweetā, and climbed aboard. I really didnāt expect what happened nextā¦the driver turned on his CD player which started playing Ed Sheeran āThinking out loudā and he started singing as i tapped away on my legs to the beat. His voice was incredible, it was like we were having our own concert in the front of the minibus, whilst driving around paradise. Ā Quite a surreal moment. After more fantastic singing toĀ Tarrus Rileyās Ā “She’s Royalā, he pulled up at Fort James Beach where we were to start our horse ride.
Welcome to Paradise…
We left the minibus and were instantly greeted with a stunning view of porcelain palm fringed sands, and stilted turquoise waters of Fort James beach, also we received a further warm welcome by the āHorseman(sorry, i forgot his name)ā. šĀ
Ā ā§ The horseman strolling along the beautiful beach ā§ Ā
ā§ Horses being led to the sea to cool off ā§ Ā
The Horse Ride…
Once everyone was fitted with a protective hat, it was time to line up and meet the horses. He asked for experienced riders first, then one at a time they mounted the horses. It was about this time i started to get a little nervous. I was saying to Sarah āHow do we get up there? Are there steps? Which foot do i put forward first? Are the horses big enough to carry me?ā
The horseman was out of earshot, but i think he could see my face, he said āDonāt worry, i have a couple of special horses for you twoā. This put my mind a little more at ease. Sarah mounted first on the horse named āSunshineā, what a perfect horse for her! š Then i mounted easily with the excellent help from horseman onto the horse named āLittle Manā,Ā
After a short tutorial on how to hold(and use) the reins, it was time to move on out! We had only walked along next to a road for about a minute, and iād just got used to the weird motion of rocking side to side whilst not being able to see the ground or the horse in front. When…a huge commotionā¦Lots of shouting from horseman, and the horses. I thought(at first) it sounded like a car had hit one of the horses. I pulled back on the reins as i saw Sarah(who was in front of me) appear at my side, Yay my horse stopped! š We found out at the end, that a car got too close and spooked a few of the horses, so no one(or horses) were hurt.
My plan was to take my Samsung WB550 compact camera with me to take photos & video whilst on the horse, but that was soon foiled when i got onto the horse, and my shorts were pulled tight around my pocket, so it had seal it shut. I didnāt want to try and move, as i thought the horse might mistaken my movements and start galloping off!. I did eventually get an opportunity when my foot suddenly got smacked out of the stirrup by an aloe vera plant(it got a few of us), and as my leg was free i quickly grabbed my camera! š Note to self, next time take my other camera with a neck strap! šĀ
The horseman who was overseeing us said āWelcome to Sandhaven Beachā…
ā§ āLittle Manā taking me on a beautiful journey š ā§Ā
ā§ Sarah on āSunshineā & in sunshine, along Sandhaven beach ā§Ā
ā§ Sarah ensconced in Sunshine! š ā§Ā
Words completely fail me when i try and describe the feeling of riding in paradise. The sound of the waves, the feel of the hot sun with the cool breeze, the movement(and sound) of the horse, topped off with the amazing panorama. We really didnāt want to leave our new fave place on earth!! šĀ
We left Sandhaven beach and headed back to Fort James beach. Weād been riding for around 1Ā½ hours, and just before we finished, the man asked for my cameras so he could take a photo of us on our horses.
My horse ālittle Manā was busy eating grass, i think he had my appetite! šĀ
Ā ā§ āLittle Man & āSunshineā ā§Ā
Once off the horses, we were given a bottle of water each as they prepared for stage 2. Stage 2 gave the chance for the experienced riders to ride faster(or gallop as iām told), and the chance to ride bareback into the water. Sarah and another lady paired up together to do this.Ā
Sarah said āI was sat trying to balance without a saddle, when suddenly i was thrown back as one of my legs was pulled up. I looked down to see that the horse had taken a liking to one of my bright yellow laces, and was pulling on it as though it was spaghetti! šĀ
Once stage 2 was over, we had about 45 minutes before the singing taxi arrived. āNo way, does this mean you get to swim in paradise again?!ā i said as Sarah was already half way down the beach!! šĀ
The Swim…
ā§ Sarah excited to be the only one in the beautiful sea ā§ Ā
ā§ What a way to relax! š ā§ Ā
Ā ā§ I think Sarah enjoyed her swim! š ā§Ā
The taxi ride was just as fun. The drivers stunning voice carried us all the way back to the ship.
Ā Back on the ship…
We now had to say goodbye to the Caribbean. š¦ We took our usual sofaās in the coffee port, and with coffeeās in hand, we watched the island slowly disappear.Ā We both agreed that this was our fave place of the trip, and the horse ride was our best experience so far!!
Our new friend…
On returning to our cabin, the steward had created a folded towel turtle, and used my hat as the shell, fantastic!! Ā šĀ
Our Route 4 2day…
This afternoon Thomson Dream sails to Horta, Portugal, weāll arrive on Sunday late morning, after 5 leisurely days at sea. having travelled 2,173 nautical miles, at an average speed of 16 knots.
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