24th March 2016

We entered the port of Limassol on a lovely, warm spring day. Watching from our little window on the world, we saw the town gradually come into view before heading up for breakfast. From the restaurant windows, we could see that our ship had berthed alongside another cruise liner, the ‘Spirit of Thomson’.

Just before 8 am, we made our way through security and boarded the shuttle bus parked on the quay. The journey into the town centre took around 15 minutes. We couldn’t help but notice some intrepid (or perhaps foolhardy) passengers who had chosen to walk. Clearly, they hadn’t read, or had chosen to ignore, the ship’s magazine, which had informed everyone that the centre was too far to walk.

After getting off the bus, our first stop was the castle. It’s definitely worth a visit. The rooms and exhibits were first-rate, offering a fascinating glimpse into the castle’s architecture and the everyday life of its inhabitants through the ages. The views from the battlements, bathed in warm sunshine, were perfect for taking photos. As we were leaving, a large group of Greek schoolchildren arrived with their teachers. How lucky can you get?

We meandered through the narrow streets of Limassol’s old town, stopping at a small corner shop to pick up a copy of the ‘Daily Mail’. In the old market square, Sue bought some sweets and later found a table runner for Sarah. We also visited the grand and ornate Greek Orthodox church before heading to the beach and strolling along the picturesque, tree-lined esplanade.

We then returned to the old town, dipping in and out of tourist shops. Sue tried on several tops but decided against them. She came close to buying some Murano glass, but I managed to persuade her not to. We ran into Mike enjoying a beer outside a bar in the sun, so I joined him while Sue continued her search for souvenirs. When she returned, I finished my peanuts and drink, waved goodbye to our fellow cruiser, and we made our way back to the coach.

On board, we headed straight for lunch after Sue dropped off our ‘booty’ in the cabin.

In the mid-afternoon, we watched the ship leave port. Three loud blasts on the horn echoed off the mountains in the distance, bouncing off the streets of the town. The response was immediate from other ships in the harbour, with passing trucks on the adjacent road joining in. It brought a smile and a laugh when a moped making its way along the quay below gave a feeble beep. The world loves a trier.

Back below decks, I turned on the TV, listened to the horrific news from Belgium, and dozed off. Sue, eager to read the paper, found a cosy spot up top. Later, she attended the quiz on album covers before joining me for a nap. This would never happen at home, both of us sleeping in the afternoon, with so many activities going on around the ship. We’ve gone soft. Perhaps the kitchen staff will let us help with the washing-up tonight to bring us back to reality?

One advantage of being far away is that we hear little of the news from the UK. BBC World gives little coverage of events back home unless they have global implications. I suspect that with the current troubles in Brussels, the ‘No to Europe’ lobby must feel fairly confident of success. I have to confess, I agree with them; from a distance, the EU seems like a decaying corpse, not yet buried.

The restaurant was quieter tonight. Perhaps a day of retail therapy in Limassol had worn out the best of us, and unlike us, they had decided to sleep through until it all starts again tomorrow in Rhodes.

Our evening entertainment in the theatre was ‘Ross: My Life’, an Italian singer who worked his way through every popular sing-along tune known to man, surprising us all with his finale, an excellent tribute to Elvis, complete with outfit and actions! Highly entertaining.

Our deck ramble was conducted under a vivid full moon on an unexpectedly warm and breathless evening. As the sandman caught our attention, two sleepy heads made their way back to a comfy bed to dream of shops and castles.