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Darren and Janet
Darren and Janet

Darren and Janet

traveled in 36 countries Read more🇦🇺Adelaide
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  • Darren and JanetEngland and MaltaDarren and Janet
    Fountain Court, Hampton Court Palace
    CourtyardKing's StaircaseEast Wing entranceGreat HallKing's Guard ChamberAnne Boleyn's Gateway and astronomical clockIce skating in the palace groundsPond GardenDecorative Tudor brick chimneys

    I'm Henry the 8th, I am, I am

    January 1 in England ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

    Today was a visit to Hampton Court Palace, one of the favourite residences of Henry VIII and his six wives.

    Henry did massive renovations when he took over the palace from the Archbishop of York (who gave the palace to Henry to try to save his own life), quadrupling the size of the kitchens to allow his entourage of over 1,000 people to be fed, and built the Great Hall and Royal Tennis court, as well as his personal living quarters.

    Subsequently William III added his own living quarters and reception rooms, so the palace has 2 distinct styles inside.

    We walked back to our accommodation via Bushy Park, the second largest of London's Royal Parks, home to large herds of deer, and the birthplace of the Parkrun movement.

    Dinner was in the Turkish Restaurant next to our apartment.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetEngland and MaltaDarren and Janet
    4Happy New Year!
    Top deck travelGTech Stadium, home of The Bees, nestled amongst apartment blocksWater tower, London Museum of Water and SteamLondon Museum of Water and SteamBlack headed gull, plentiful along The ThamesMonument to The Battle of BrentfordDespite the sun being day out, air temperature was below zero most of the day1Our transport todayPre-wedding NYE dinner, The Marlborough, Richmond Hill1Frosty start to the new year, -1 feels like-6 🥶

    Home of The Bees... and Happy New Year!

    December 31, 2025 in England ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

    We had a late start today, so only ventured as far as Brentford, home of Premier League club The Bees. We had hopes of attending their home game tomorrow night, so dropped into the stadium on the slim chance there were tickets available. But with a public holiday match and only a 17,000 seat stadium, all tickets were gone.

    We briefly visited the London Museum of Water and Steam, then walked along the Thames via a number of caches, with lunch at a Thai restaurant.

    Our last stop was the monument commemorating The Battles of Brentford - the first an Anglo-Saxon victory in 1016 against Danish invaders, and more recently, a Royalist victory in 1642 during the English Civil War, where Charles I's forces pushed the Parliamentarians back towards London.

    When the weather got too cold to continue our outdoor activities (most of the day was "feels like -1"), we caught the bus back to Twickenham for afternoon coffee from the Turkish cafe next door, in preparation for night ahead.

    Pre-wedding event dinner tonight was near Richmond Hill, so at midnight we wandered down to the viewing point and saw in the New Year to a cacophony of fireworks from all directions. The celebrations continued for quite a while, and we were serenaded by the random popping of fireworks as we walked back to our accommodation.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetEngland and MaltaDarren and Janet
    Santa working some serious overtime in Kew Gardens
    Some Swan upping on the Thames at WindsorWindsor Castle1The last original blue mailbox in the UK, Windsor, used for airmail only, from 1930 to 1938Christmas markets, Windsor1The people you meet in Windsor...Christmas at KewAmusement rides, Kew Gardens1Christmas at Kew1Christmas at KewChristmas at Kew

    Windsor, right on Kew

    December 30, 2025 in England ⋅ 🌙 2 °C

    We awoke to blue sky and sunshine... but still only 2 degrees! We caught the train to Windsor, but no castle visit as it was closed today. The Bavarian themed Christmas market was still operating, so we partook in some mulled wine before continuing our walk around town. Without the tour buses, the streets were pleasant to walk, so we had a leisurely lunch in a cafe before catching the train back to Twickenham.

    A quick turnaround at our apartment, and we caught the bus to Richmond, then walked to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for their Christmas at Kew light display. This was the first of the wedding events organised by Erin, so we had the opportunity to meet many of the other wedding guests. The gardens were very popular, with hundreds of families walking the 2 hour circuit, complete with food stalls, amusement rides and Santa still in residence!    Read more

  • Darren and JanetEngland and MaltaDarren and Janet
    Holly Road Garden of Rest
    3Holly Road Garden of Rest4Squirrel, Holly Road Garden of Rest3Twickenham pedestrian shopping precinct1St Mary's Church, we'll be back in a few days for the weddingThames River, Twickenham1York House statues3Lunch of fish, chips, mushy peas and curry sauce.1Xmas themed yarn bombing

    Walking tour of Twickenham

    December 29, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    We began our walk around Twickenham with a visit to the Holly Road Garden of Rest, a disused cemetery now being utilised as a playground and dog park. It was the burial ground of the parish from 1782, but was full by 1835, and remained untouched until it re-opened as a public park in 1953.
    Some notable burials include Thomas Twining, founder of Twinings Tea, and William Howe, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army during the American War of Independence.

    We continued along the banks of the Thames, past the church and reception venue of the wedding in a few days. We stopped for lunch at a pub, before returning to our accommodation via a stop at Tescos for supplies.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetEngland and MaltaDarren and Janet

    Welcome to Twickenham

    December 28, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    We departed Adelaide on time at 10.40pm Saturday for our flight to Dubai. We had 4 hours in transit, then an onward flight to London, arriving to overcast skies and 7 degrees.

    Our accommodation for the next week is an apartment in the Twickenham high street, behind the hairdresser. After a quick visit to the grocer across the street for breakfast supplies, we had a quiet night in.Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Expo 2020 site, main entrance
    1The crowded main boulevard of Expo CityApproaching Al Wasl Plaza, centrepiece of Expo 2020Al Wasl Plaza.. world's largest interactive dome. Who knew that was a thing!3Saudi Arabia exhibit1Metro station, Expo City1Driverless Metro trainAfternoon traffic1Dubai Tram has one line (10km), running between Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina1Walkway from the Metro to the monorail goes through a building under construction

    Expo 2020... missed it by that much!

    June 30, 2025 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Our final day in Dubai and we headed to the site of the 2020 World Expo. It gets mixed reviews, with the most positive claiming it's a futuristic extravaganza. We saw the polar opposite, more like the back lot of a movie studio, with most exhibits closed and only staff in attendance.

    In fact, we didn't find anything open apart from a hotel and eateries... but there were many staff keen to give us a guided tour of the site by golf buggy, for a hefty fee.

    We caught the metro back to near the palm, then the monorail to our hotel for a late lunch.

    In preparation for our flight tonight we had an afternoon nap, a walk along the beachfront promenade for dinner, and a 10.30pm pickup booked for our 2am flight home.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Atlantis The Palm
    View through the haze of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, from the end of the palm breakwater41View of the outer frond, from the monorailOne of the fronds has been demolished already (no doubt to be rebuilt bigger!)View down the trunk, from the monorailMonorail tracks walking trailMonorail walking path, Nakheel Mall and Tower in the backgroundDubai skyline silhouetteOn the beachfront near our hotel

    Tour of Palm Jumeirah

    June 29, 2025 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    As we're staying at a hotel on the trunk of the palm, today we toured around the palm.

    Palm Jumeirah is the largest man made island in the world, constructed from 2001-2007 from 7 million tons of rock and sand mined from the Hajar Mountains, 400km away. It has a trunk and 17 fronds, creating 73km of beachfront, and it's own monorail.

    We caught a taxi to the far end of the outer breakwater (predominantly to get a cache 😁), then stopped in at Atlantis The Palm resort and waterpark on the way back (of course it's the world's largest waterpark, with 105 slides and rides). We didn't partake this time.

    We caught the monorail half way back, to Nakheel Mall for lunch, then late afternoon continued our monorail journey back to our hotel on the trunk.

    At dusk we went for a walk along the promenade under the monorail tracks, then I had a refreshing evening dip in the pool.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Burj Khalifa
    2Fountain, Dubai MallDubai Mall aquarium (and OLED screen)Dinosaur skeleton in Dubai Mall... as you do 🙄Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall in the foregroundCinnabon afternoon tea overlooking the ice skating rink inside Dubai MallView of the private beaches along the palmRooftop pool was busy tonightSunset dip in the rooftop poolDubai FrameDubai Eye after dark

    Dubai - world's largest everything

    June 28, 2025 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    Very late start today - we made it to breakfast 20 minutes before it closed at 11 am.

    The weather isn't conducive to walking anywhere, with 41 degrees, feels like 47, so we caught a taxi to Dubai Mall (largest mall in the world).

    First stop outside was photos of the Burj Khalifa (tallest building plus various other records), then inside to wander in air conditioned comfort for a few hours.

    We visited the aquarium (largest aquarium in a mall... now they're grasping at straws 🤣), which also has the largest high definition video wall above it.

    The taxi ride back to our hotel took us past The Dubai Frame (largest building in the shape of a picture frame)... which epitomises Dubai in many ways - if you build something weird enough it will get a claim to fame and people will pay to see it!

    As the sun was setting it was the perfect time for a swim in the hotel's rooftop pool... complete with a great view of the Dubai Eye (largest observation wheel). Seems an apt way to finish the day.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Museum of the Future looked good at night
    View from our roomAlso the view from our room.. 24 hour construction just below usWe're staying at the case of the palm (but not at the Hilton as it may appear 😁)

    Welcome to Dubai

    June 28, 2025 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    We had to disembark the ship by 9am, for a 2.15pm flight to Dubai, so today was a lot of waiting around.

    The flight to Dubai was late taking off, but we still arrived on time at 12.50am... and the temperature was still 37 degrees!

    Given the hour, the roads were remarkably busy, and we arrived at our hotel just after 2am.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    1Catching the 25 tram
    Entering Lisbon up the Tagus RiverView approaching LisbonPraça Comercio SquareOn the 25 tramEstrela ChurchEstrela GardensWalking the cobblestone streets1Of course we had Portuguese tarts...Miradouro Observation Point1About to catch the funicular down1Lisbon Train StationRestaurant stripFinal trivia session today

    Lisbon by foot and rail

    June 26, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    We had an afternoon arrival into Lisbon, sailing into the mouth of the Tagus River and past Belem Tower, docking at 3pm.

    No bus for us today, our tour of the city was by foot and rail. We only had a group of 12, and began with a walk to Praça Comercio, the main square on the waterfront. From there we caught the 25 tram to Estela Church, had a refreshment break in Estela Gardens then walked on to the Principe area.

    We had free time to explore the local shops, and festivities in the park before walking to Miradouro Observation Point and catching the funicular down the hill toward the main square and crowded restaurant strip, with hundreds of locals enjoying dinner al fresco.

    Finally, we caught the metro back to the cruise dock, arriving at 8pm, having walked 11.3km for the day! We had just enough energy to grab a couple of caches outside the cruise terminal before boarding for late dinner and an Abba themed farewell party in the lounge bar.

    We are in dock overnight before disembarking at 9am tomorrow.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Finale of the crew talent show
    Engine room preso2Trivia team dinnerLisa Lawton, UK soprano and swing performer

    Final sea day

    June 25, 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Our last sea day of the cruise, spent in the usual way - in the morning a preso from the engineering team about the engine room, then bracelet making, trivia and more eating!

    We had an early crew show on stage tonight, followed by dinner with my trivia team, and finished the night with a performance by a soprano/swing performer.Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    2The new mountain formed by the 2021 eruption
    Entering Santa Cruz harbour, 7amCigar selection at the factoryHandrolling cigars4View from Viewpoint La Conception, our ship in dockView from La ConcepciónSome considerabe trimming of the mountain was required to construct the coast road!Our Lady of the Snows ChurchThis road is the runway of the original La Palma airport, until 1970, on a plateau above Santa CruzBlack lava flow on the left, untouched town on the rightWalking trail, Caldera de Taburiente National ParkDeserted streets in Santa Cruz todaySanta Cruz Town Hall1Replica of Columbus' ship, Santa MariaBlack volcanic sand beach, Santa CruzSanta Cruz foreshore, old and new1Barraquito!

    Lovely La Palma

    June 24, 2025 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    We arrived in Santa Cruz, capital of the island of La Palma, Canary Islands, to clear skies and bright sunshine.

    La Palma is one of the smaller of the 7 Canary Islands and receives considerably less tourists than it's more famous neighbours - 120,000 per year, compared to Tenerife (6 million), Grand Canaria (4 million), and Lanzarote (3 million). Most come here for the natural beauty and tranquillity.

    Our day tour began at the Royal Island Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snows, a church in the hills above Santa Cruz. The church houses a 14th-century sculpture of Our Lady of the Snows, believed to have been brought by merchants before the arrival of the Spaniards. Every five years she is carried down to Santa Cruz in a grand procession, which begins next week, so the city is deep in preparation for the month long festival to celebrate it.

    We drove to the west of the island via a cigar factory, and a local farm for refreshments, to the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, a popular walking and hiking area. We took a short walk, but the planned 1 hour walk was not possible as they are currently upgrading the track. The park is also home to the largest telescope in the world.

    We continued west to view the site of the most recent volcanic eruption in the Canaries, where the Cumbre Veija Volcanic Ridge erupted for 85 days in 2021, leaving a 6.2 km long and 3km wide lava trail which reached the sea and displaced 7,000 residents. The main road has been repaired, but the damage is still very visible, as is the newest mountain on the island which was created in the process.

    Returning to the port at 2pm, we had 1.5 hours to explore the city on foot, so we visited the main shopping area. It was a religious holiday today, so many of the shops were closed and the streets almost deserted, but we managed to sample the local coffee specialty, the barraquito - a multi-layered drink containing condensed milk, Liqueur 43, coffee with milk, milk foam, cinnamon, and lemon.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Churros for dessert
    Cooking demo with the executive chef

    Water, water everywhere

    June 23, 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Another day surrounded by water, so today's fun facts are about water.

    The ship has its own desalination plant which produces 600,000 litres of fresh water a day, used for drinking, cooking, flushing and washing (people and clothes - there are 5 laundries on board)

    Today's activities were bracelet making, a cooking demonstration and the usual trivia, with a comedian as evening entertainment.

    After 4 consecutive sea days, we're certainly ready for a shore day tomorrow in the Canary Islands.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Country Fair on the pool deck
    Pool emptied because of the rough seasName that spice, with the restaurant departmentHorse racesCorn holeWater PongAnother parlour game...1Afternoon teaAcoustic duo in the cocktail bar

    All the fun of the fair

    June 22, 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    The Country Fair was on today, where all the ships departments host a game booth of a classic fairground game, with the chance to win some ship's merch.

    The seas were the roughest so far this trip, so the pool was emptied to improve stability and the risk of spillage on the decks. Games and activities, however, continued as planned, including a lecture about the colonisation of Africa, daily trivia, and afternoon tea with a strudel theme.

    Evening entertainment was an acoustic duo in the cocktail bar, before changing the clocks for a time zone change... the 6th change of the cruise!    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    1Breakfast as we leave Cape Verde 😭
    Entering Porto Grande harbour, Sāo Vincente Island, Cape Verde2On the upside, I finished a book and returned it to the book swap. Quite an achievement for me 🤣3Entering the harbour, Porto GrandeHello Cape Verde...and goodbye Cape Verde

    Cape Verde... almost

    June 21, 2025 in Cape Verde ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

    We were on time for our 7am arrival at the island of Sāo Vincente, the second most westerly of the Cape Verde islands.

    Cape Verde is named after the westernmost cape of Africa, located in Senegal, the nearest point on the continent. It consists of nine inhabited islands and one uninhabited island.

    Unfortunately, this morning we experienced 40 knot winds as we were attempting to dock, so after one aborted attempt the captain gave up and cancelled our visit, and we headed towards our next port, the Canary Islands.

    So after a leisurely breakfast on the deck, we had a day of bracelet making, lunch, playing cards and the usual trivia.

    We were hoping the extra day could be spent at dock in the Canary Islands, but it's not possible for "operational reasons", so we now have 3 days at sea, at a reduced pace, and will be reaching the Canary Islands in line with our original schedule.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    2Brown Booby on the wing
    1Donut or cronut for breakfast?1Oh, yes please!Booby flips, ready to dive1Afternoon teaFirst sight of the eastern Cape Verde Islands (we travel overnight through to the western islands)

    A hatch of Boobies*

    June 20, 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Another travelling day, on the way to Cape Verde, and for the first time this trip we had a flock of birds following the boat for a few hours. We identified them as Brown Boobies as they soared along next to us, then flipped over and dived into the ocean to catch a fish, occasionally emerging triumphant. The fish were almost presenting themselves by jumping out of the water, so this entertainment kept us amused for quite a while this afternoon.

    This morning's presentation was by the ship's bridge officers about what happens on the bridge, and other useful bits of information such as how our waters are pumped into various tanks and used as ballast (fresh water, grey water and blackwater), and how recycling is done on board (all waste is sorted, and the ship has a glass crusher, a baler for cardboard and aluminium, and food waste is pulverised for later disposal)

    *the collective noun for a group of boobies is a hatch, a congress or a trap    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    3African Renaissance Monument
    1Goree Island... as close as we got3View from the African Renaissance Monument, cemetery in the foregroundMosque of the DivinityOur taxi crewOur chariotCoffee sellers are popular on the streets3Dakar Train StationPlenty of street sellersLocal busParliament HouseCathedral of our Lady of VictoriesOutdoor dinner with a view of the dock, watching the sea eagles soar around usDusk dip

    Dakar, as west as West Africa gets

    June 19, 2025 in Senegal ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Most of the day was at sea, with our scheduled 11am arrival into Dakar pushed back to 3.30pm. This also meant that 3 of the 5 tours around Dakar were cancelled, including our trip to Goree Island.

    This was a real shame - it was the excursion we were most looking forward to, as Goree was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast.

    The only tours remaining were a city highlights tour, or a cooking class... and the cooking class was booked out. The city highlights tours spend more time on the bus than visiting sites, so us and another couple opted to catch a taxi for our own city tour.

    There were a number of taxis on the dock, so we negotiated a price for 2 hours to see the major sites, and it was brilliant. We visited all the sites the bus tour was doing plus more, and were finished in half the time 😁

    Progress was swift because the roads around the city were the best we've seen, and the city is one of the cleanest we've visited.

    Dakar is situated on the Cape Verde Peninsula, the westernmost point of Africa, so our tour began on the coast at the African Renaissance Monument, Africa's tallest statue. At 52 metres, it is taller than both Christ the Redeemer in Rio and the Statue of Liberty. It depicts a man, woman and child emerging from a volcano, symbolising Africa's emergence from centuries of oppression, and was the subject of much controversy because of its cost and design.

    Our others stops were the President's Palace and Parliament House, Mosque of the Divinity, Cathedral of our Lady of Victories, and Independence Square, before returning to the ship and some market shopping on the dock.

    We still had time for a swim and dinner before the other buses arrived back, then a leisurely cocktail in the lounge bar before the nightly show in the main theatre.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    1Bocce action on the top deck
    Oliver in bocce modeBocce and meBeer of the day, Nigerian Star LagerSusanna in the main theatre

    Running late for Senegal 🏃🏼‍➡️🏃🏼‍➡️

    June 18, 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Hot but relaxing day on board with another full day at sea. The announcement came through mid morning that we had strong currents overnight and were now 3.5 hours behind schedule for our arrival in Dakar, Senegal tomorrow.

    Bocce was the activity of the morning, followed by burgers around the pool for lunch. The afternoon was book reading and trivia, then we were entertained by violinist Susanna in the theatre tonight, playing everything from classical to Metallica.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Tim Abel, Piano Showman
    Rocky Road Bread Pudding, with marshmallow, pecans and salted butterscotch sauce 🤤

    Transiting the Pepper Coast

    June 17, 2025, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We have a full day at sea, with most of it along the coast of Liberia, historically known as The Pepper Coast.

    Liberia is a unique case in Africa, as it was founded by the American Colonization Society with the intention of resettling freed American slaves and their descendants, and is Africa's oldest republic (1847). It is one of only two counties in Africa never subjected to colonial rule (Ethiopia is the other).

    The day for us was a late breakfast, craft session in the morning and trivia in the afternoon. Most of the day was overcast with occasional showers, but warm enough to sit around the pool deck reading. Dinner was in the specialty steak restaurant on board, followed by a spectacular performance by Tim Abel, Piano Showman, in the main theatre.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    1Stained glass window, St Paul's Cathedral
    1Swathes of floating rubbish greeted us in the harbour2Tour F and St Paul's CathedralSt Paul's Cathedral, interiorCharles Comb Art MuseumDirt roads abutt the main road, AbidjanThis supermarket has plenty of competition in their carparkOrphanage and dance troupeBamboo Forest, Bingerville Botanic GardensBotanic Gardens2Birthday celebration set up in Botanic GardensOur police escorts weren't mucking around stopping the traffic today!Cava craft market1Abidjan skyline2Bus convoy returns to the ship, with our ambulance escort

    Abidjan

    June 16, 2025 in Ivory Coast ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We sailed into the Abidjan lagoon through a canal constructed in 1960 to connect the city to the Atlantic Ocean. Abidjan is the economic capital and largest city in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), a city of 4 million people, supposedly famed for its mix of colonial buildings and new construction... but it's also the dirtiest and least developed city we have visited, with rubbish everywhere and dirt roads with shanty housing butting onto the main highway.

    We toured the city as well as the former capital of Bingerville, traveling from the port in a convoy of buses, surrounded by about a dozen policemen on motorcycles whose job it was to stop traffic at every intersection and roundabout, lights and sirens blaring all day (we also had 2 ambulances follow the convoy all day).

    First stop was St. Paul's Cathedral, with a capacity of 3,500 seated and another 1,500 standing (still nowhere near the largest church in Africa... not even the largest church in Côte d'Ivoire - the cathedral in the capital, Yamoussoukro, holds 18,000)

    Next door, still under construction, is Tour F (Tower F), which will be the tallest building in Africa when it's completed in 2026.

    We visited an art museum, an orphanage, the Botanic Gardens, and finished the day at a large art and craft market.

    Another late lunch after 3pm, then a light tea in the Italian restaurant before a Michael Bublé tribute act in the main theatre.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    1
    City centre, closed Market Circle in the background2Open drains are commonplace in the citySellers cartsMost street stalks not open todaySupermarket - if you don't have much stock, just spread it outTakoradi-Secondi suburbsTakoradi-Secondi suburbsQuiet day on the streetsOrange seller and her assistant2Fishing boats at the harbourFishing harbourOnion seller2Rubbish piled in the streets, Takoradi-Secondi city centreMost taxis are Mazda 2 or Toyota YarisQuiet streets near the Market CircleDrumming and dance demonstration

    Today's Sunday, this must be Ghana

    June 15, 2025 in Ghana ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    Our first back-to-back shore days brings us to the twin city of Takoradi-Secondi in Ghana.

    Takoradi is the major export port for agricultural and oil exports for Ghana and its land locked neighbours. Unfortunately, it is also a good example of continued foreign exploitation of resources - our guide noted that less than 10% of the natural resources stay in the country. Across the city, very little work has been done on the roads, and unfinished and abandoned structures are everywhere.

    Being Sunday, most of the shops were closed and, as the main market is undergoing a rebuild, there was very little to see in the city. Luckily a number of sellers had set up stalls on the dock, so we could get our fix of souvenir and fabric shopping.

    Our afternoon tour took us to the fishing port and a local hotel for a dance demonstration.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    Ganvie Village
    1Dahomey Amazon monumentCotonou street scene, on the way to Ganvie VillageInto the throng...Cotonou Street scene, between rain showersLocals on the way to Ganvie VillageTourist boats leaving the dock to Ganvie VillageFloating vendor, bread and mashed avocado was her specialtyFisherman demonstrates their technique1Our welcoming party, Ganvie VillageApproaching Ganvie Village1Side street, Ganvie Village2The Bunnings of Ganvie VillageA funeral procession, Ganvie VillageTwo story stilted house, Ganvie VillageFloating market, Ganvie Village2Plenty of rain as we arrived back at the dock

    Let's Begin in Benin

    June 14, 2025 in Benin ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    At 8am we docked in Cotonou, the main port, administrative capital, and largest city in Benin (the actual capital, Porto Novo, is 40km east)

    Our tour today took us to Ganvie, a village built on Lake Nokoué, an hour north of Cotonou.

    The entire village is built on stilts over the lake. With a population of 40,000 people, it is the largest lake village in the world, and sometimes called The Venice of Africa.
    The Tofinu people settled here in the sixteenth century and built their lake village to escape slavers who came from the Fon tribe and were not allowed to enter water for religious reasons. This made the lagoon a safe territory for other tribes. All of Ganvie's houses, shops and restaurants are built on wooden stilts, and it also has a floating market. The town has one complete patch of land, which is the site of the village school, and many houses have a small patch of land beside them, where villagers can rear a few domesticated animals . All the soil was imported by the people of Ganvie in their boats, including enough to create a proper cemetery.

    It rained most of the day, so our scheduled photo opportunity on the way was limited to peering through torrential rain at the Monument Amazone, a 30m bronze statue honoring the Dahomey Amazons, an all-female military group from the Kingdom of Dahomey.

    We arrived back at ship after 3 pm, so didn't have the opportunity to catch the shuttle to town to do any shopping, so, after changing out of our wet clothes, we headed to the pool grill for a late lunch... as did many others.

    We set sail at 4pm, heading west towards Ghana.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    1Calm waters on sea day
    Bracelet making1The finished productAfternoon tea, cheesecake and pianoCooking demonstration by the Executive ChefChoices... Choices. 8 cheesecakes to choose between for afternoon tea.

    Sea day to Benin

    June 13, 2025, Gulf of Guinea ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Another full day at sea as we head north to Benin, and a busy part of the cruise with 3 shore days in a row.

    Today's activities were a bracelet making craft morning, a cooking demonstration by the Executive Chef, the usual trivia session, and my first swim in the pool.

    Evening entertainment is a piano virtuoso.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    2Sao Tome city centre
    Sao Tome island was under cloud most of the daySao Tome city waterfrontMoney changers on stools waiting for businessMy coconut being preparedEnjoying my coconut3Beer van parked in the street... mid morningSan Sebastião Fort and lighthouseSuburban street vendorsFresh produce market2Sao Tome street scenePresidential PalaceOur Lady of Grace Cathedral, 1576Our Lady of Grace Cathedral, 1576Pantufo fishing village, dancers and churchPantufo Village waterfrontPantufo Village, rubbish dumped on the foreshore... a common problem across the island.Fort forecourt , our ship in the distanceSuburban street vendors

    São Tomé and Príncipe

    June 12, 2025 in São Tomé and Príncipe ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We woke early to witness the actual crossing of the equator... and unsurprisingly, nothing happened! But we did witness the ship's tenders being unloaded and the first sights of São Tomé and Príncipe.

    São Tomé and Príncipe is a small nation composed of two islands - São Tomé and Príncipe - located in the Gulf of Guinea. Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range, and it is the second-smallest African country (after The Seychelles). São Tomé Island, where we are landing, is the larger of the two at 50 km long and 30 km wide.

    This is our only anchor port of the cruise, which means we anchor offshore and are transferred to shore by tender (approximately 60 at a time).

    We have an afternoon excursion booked, so we caught an early tender in and walked around town for a while. This time we were dropped in the centre of town (there are no shopping malls in ST), so we had easy access to the local shops and could really experience the beat of the city. The downside is that there were a lot of street children begging for money (although some resident adults admonished them, obviously aware of the reputation this gives the country). But all in all, a fabulous day.

    I was feeling peckish mid-morning and noticed the street coconut seller doing a roaring trade, so I changed some money with a money changer and made a purchase. For 10 dobra (70 cents) he lopped the top off and gave me a straw to drink the coconut water. Then you hand it back to the vendor, and he chops it in half and chops a piece of the shell off to use as a scoop to eat the flesh.

    Lunch consisted of a couple of bananas as we walked around town, before our afternoon city tour of the fort, a chocolate outlet, the cathedral, local produce market, and a nearby fishing village for a display of local dance.

    Early dinner tonight in the Italian restaurant, then a theatre show of Broadway musical songs by the onboard singers... before we lose an hour as we change time zone again.    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    With King Neptune
    Neptune and his assistantsKissing the fish2Getting the ice bathGetting the ice bathGalley tour with the Head ChefTonight's bread rolls going into the ovenCocktail time

    Crossing the equator

    June 11, 2025, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Full day sailing today as we head north from Angola to São Tomé & Príncipe, crossing the equator on the way.

    When crossing the equator by sea, nautical tradition dating back to the 1500's involves conducting a ceremony to pay homage to Neptune, God of the Sea, which transforms a sailor who has never crossed the equator, known as a Pollywog, into a Shellback.

    The ceremony is lighthearted and was originally done to break the monotony of long sea voyages and boost crew morale, so today involves paying respect to King Neptune, kissing a fish and getting a miniature ice bath.

    After an exhausting day eating, reading and enjoying ice cream on the pool deck, we also did a galley tour this afternoon with the head chef. It's quite an exercise in logistics to feed over 1,000 people every day (guests and crew). The fun fact I took from it is that they loaded 58,000 eggs at the start of our cruise, and will be topping up with another 15,000 in Ghana!    Read more

  • Darren and JanetMauritius and West AfricaDarren and Janet
    View of Luanda Bay from the fort
    Welcome to LuandaOur first view of LuandaGreeted on the dock by dancersLuanda skylineSenhora de Nazare ChurchOld and new side by sideOur police escort blocking side roads to clear our route1The old and the new side by side2View of the suburbs from the fortEntrance to San Miguel FortFirst President's car and boat, on display at the Museum of the Armed Forces2Agostinho Neto Mausoleum, Angolan parliament in the left background

    Luanda with an escort

    June 11, 2025 in Angola ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    We awoke to the sight of Luanda Bay as we arrived in Angola.

    Angola was a Portugese colony until gaining independence in 1975. Upon independence, Portugal left Angola without establishing a new government, so Angola suffered 27 years of civil war, which left much of the country in ruins. Beginning in 2002 with a new constitution, Angola is still slowly recovering, with new high rises towering above shanty towns, and a beautiful beach front promenade running around the bay. It is, however, not yet regarded as a tourist destination (10 ships stopped here this year, and we are the last ship of the season).

    The capital Luanda is the largest city in Angola (population 9.5 million), but is rated as the most expensive city in the world for expatriates and foreign workers to live, mainly due to the lack of quality housing.

    We were on the first tour out today, in a convoy of 6 buses, with a police escort. First stop was Senhora de Nazare Church, built in 1664. After we were escorted back to the buses by police stopping the traffic for us to walk across the road, we headed to the San Miguel Fort, with commanding views across the city.

    Built in 1576 by the Portugese to protect their colony, it was the major site for slave traffic that was exported to Brazil. For many years the fort was a self-contained town, protected by thick walls and cannons. Today it houses the Museum of the Armed Forces.

    We drove along Ihla de Luanda, a narrow spit of land housing many beach bars and restaurants, before heading to Agostinho Neto Mausoleum, a rocket shaped structure and resting place of the first president of Angola. Unfortunately we couldn't enter, as repairs are currently being undertaken.

    Again with our police escort, we returned to the ship in time for lunch, then headed straight back out on the shuttle bus to town. We are docked at an industrial pier, so were unable to walk direct from the ship, but had to catch a shuttle... which only took us to a shopping mall. The mall had very limited opportunities to buy any souvenir items, and even when I was approached outside the mall by a street vendor, they were moved along quickly by the mall security staff. The authorities are so keen to create a good impression, we were barely allowed to mingle with the locals, so unfortunately only saw a sanitised version of the city.    Read more

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