COSTA CLASSICA 14th April 2013 MALTA

Sunday 14th April 2013
Another early start today, as we approached the George Cross island of Malta, the island situated between the North African coast and Sicily. I really want to visit the commemorative Bell and Memorial high on the cliffs of the Grand Harbour so that is one plan for today.

Malta

I particularly liked the last two lines

The Pilot arrived and we went in, turned and berthed alongside the Cruise Terminal quays. This area has turned into 'restaurant row' and I'm glad for the locals as it must bring in a lot of business, especially when cruise ships are in. KRISTINA KATERINA is also here, and looks like a ferry although she is a cruise ship of Kristina Cruises.

She arrived before us

A view

The Bell I want to see

Bell and belfry

Kristina Katerina

Dry dock and crane

We set off after breakfast and walked first along the quay to the KRISTINA KATARINA. I walked up the gangway and again asked if it was possible to have a couple of postcards please, as we had heard of the ship and admired it. I came off the ship with two postcards in my hand.

Next we went to catch a Hop on Hop off red double-decker bus, on the blue route, stopping first at the Malta Aviation Museum.

Malta Aviation Museum

There were very few of us there, but the big hangars were filled with all sorts of fascinating aircraft and remains. The first aeroplane I ever travelled on was a DC3, and there was the shell of one there, plus all sorts of other crashed bits that someone somewhere had saved. There was a 'Flying Flea' on display, showing a picture of it at Shoreham Airport in Sussex, England.

Douglas DC3 Dakota

Aircraft Radio & Instrument Training Company

Goodness me!

More Museum pieces

This caught my eye

That looks fun

In one vast hangar the air was violently disturbed by someone sounding the extremely loud air-raid siren – it wasn’t me but I did see who did it….

We waited by the roadside and caught another bus, this time to the hilltop city of Mdina. Under a clear blue sky the hot sunlight made it look really appealing, especially from the open top bus, although the heavy traffic made progress difficult, especially with all the parked cars lining the last few miles of the route up to the city. We hopped off, and joined the crowds trying to enter the city through the main gate. All was hot, loud and fascinating.

Up to the hilltop city of Mdina

Today is a special celebration day and everyone was out enjoying it. Flags were fluttering, or being tossed high in the air, banners were hanging around the ancient walls, local people were dressed in old-style re-enactment costumes, and it took some time to get around; we met a couple with a small boy having a wonderful time with his new bike without pedals and stabilisers, his Maltese parents happy to talk and explain what was happening, and finally we could reach the ramparts and enjoy the views over so much of the island as far as the distant sea.

Cathedral Museum

Another corner

Part of the pageant

We took another bus back to the city, and walked past one of the City gates being renovated, under the architect Renzo Piano.

Valletta City Gate project

For lunch we ignored McDonald’s and cafes offering horse meat, and found a little establishment offering local food and wine.

After this we could go and see the Operation Pedestal Memorial for the 1940-43 siege of Malta and I was so pleased and moved to see this beautiful Memorial, and of course it reminded me of the Union-Castle Line ship ROCHESTER CASTLE which was the lead Merchant Navy ship for the relief of the island. (see my blog piece Horizon Part 5, July 2012 for more details)

The Memorial Bell

The Memorial Bell plaque

Memorial Bell Dedication

From the Memorial I watched KRISTINA KATERINA leave the Grand Harbour, and then it was time to return to the ship before our departure.

Victoria Gate

Once again we lined the rails to watch, and once again there was one couple who had not returned and the ship was slightly delayed in leaving.

Another evening on COSTA CLASSICA was enjoyed at sea, with Italian Prosecco and dinner with new friends.

Ships seen: Kristina Katerina, Sacro Cuor-1, something unknown in dry dock, Princess Ariel the cross harbour ferry, and various small vessels

Monday 15th April 2013
Another lovely day at sea, sailing back from Malta to Marseilles in France. I went to the early Pool exercise class and again enjoyed breakfast afterwards. Today’s choice of entertainment included Flip Flop throwing, quizzes, dance lessons, arts and crafts handicrafts, and super bingo, plus this evening’s Election of the Ideal Couple, in the aft Puccini Lounge. Gala Dinner was held at night, with the usual two sittings.

Tuesday 16th April 2013

Napoleon Bonaparte

Princess Danae in Marseille

Ships seen in Marseille: Napoleon Bonaparte, Princess Danae, Sadan Bayraktar

We are due back in Marseille at 8 a.m. after an interesting and enjoyable ten days on the COSTA CLASSICA. I like and admire the Costa product and itineraries, sailing with friends and in good company and this has again been an interesting trip.

View of Costa Classica

Funnels and flags and fun

COSTA CLASSICA 12th April 2013 Izmir, Turkey

Friday 12th April 2013

We arrived in bright hot sunlight in the vast bay that is Izmir, Turkey. We berthed alongside, saw local ferries all around, anchored container ships, a vessel in the far dry dock, and tugs in the nearby cut. The mountainsides are densely covered in tall flats and other buildings, all around, as far as the eye can see.

More ferries

Tug Poyraz

Dry-dock

Round part of the bay

After disembarkation I went for a walk along the pavement near the sea side,

Sculpture on the water front

Expo 2020 in Izmir

Yellows

and then turned into the town area, which was interesting. At one point I heard shouting and saw flags being waved amongst a crowd of people, so made a sharp turn away from whatever might be happening there. A man was pulling a large chest freezer along the pedestrian roadway at the time, and he just carried on with his task, passing easily through the crowd as it parted to let him through.

Street disturbance

A local ferry

Up above

My friend had been invited to visit a ship-breaker at Aliaga, further north up the coast, but I declined that invitation for myself. As a maritime journalist he found it fascinating; (he saw ANTIC ex ATLANTIC STAR, FAIRSKY etc., and VENUS ex PERLA, SOUTHWARD etc. as well as others) and we have all read about the ship breaking yards there and seen internet pictures of favourite ships. Indeed, COSTA ALLEGRA had recently been broken up there, and souvenir items were made from some of her metal. One of these small items was brought back to me, on the ship, as a gift from the ship breaker, as I had sailed on her with friends in November 2011. (See my blog pieces for Costa Allegra January 2012) Life certainly takes unexpected turns.

We sailed from Izmir mid-afternoon, this time with hundreds more passengers who had embarked here, in place of those who had disembarked.

Part of the built-up area of the bay

Yalova 1

Another ferry

Dense building

Costa is unusual in that they offer several ports of embarkation on their cruises, but they back this up with coaches to and from local airports if required, at a reasonable extra cost to their passengers.

Ships seen: Poyraz the tug, Nl 125, MSC Sabrina cargo ship, container ship Green Fast, Orkun Kalkavan container ship of Turkon Line, ferry Venus 1, Yalova 1, Efendi Baba

Saturday 13th April 2013
This is a day at sea, so calm and lovely. I started the day by joining the Cruise Director Daniela beside the Central Pool on Deck 11, just below the Disco, to do a Healthy Walk which included stretching exercises for arms and legs. It was fun to do, and I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast afterwards.

A comfy corner

Various things available to do on board today included seeing the ubiquitous Inch of Gold on sale, making costumes for the evening’s Carnival Party, a Talent Show, a Fashion Show, a Costa Cruises quiz, Salsa dance lessons and a Free Footprint Clinic. That clinic sounded intriguing so I went along to the Caracalla Spa up on Deck 11, and was taken into a small consulting room. I removed my sandals and then had to walk over sheets of paper on top of inked boxes below the paper. The imprint of each foot was shown on the paper, and I was able to keep these. The young consultant of course wanted to try and sell me some products but I was happy with the footprints, and my feet were still as clean as when I started.


To be continued....

COSTA CLASSICA 8th April 2013 Civitavecchia

Monday 8th April 2013
Today's port is Civitavecchia, Italy, and I woke up to see a Regent ship through my porthole. Up on deck there was bright sunshine under a blue sky, and to me it felt warm. Today is to be a leisurely one, enjoying the shipping and local area.

Cruise Roma

Forward viewing on deck

Costa Classica's Officers

Florencia arriving

A5340, with the box on top, and the funnels which looked unusual

bithia

Port of Civitavecchia

Costa Classica

Costa Classica

After breakfast it was pleasant walking to the town and into the nearby park/promenade where the statue of "Unconditional Surrender" was to be seen.

Unconditional Surrender

Lunch was enjoyed at the Restaurante Bafoone, surrounded by photographs of Mr Bafoone himself with apparently famous people, taken over the years. No sooner had we said how much we enjoyed the food and surroundings, than the man himself appeared, thanked us for our kind words and kissed my hand. Hmmm, what a charmer, and what fun.

We walked around enjoying the sunshine, then went back to the ship and walked along the quayside to photograph SEVEN SEAS MARINER.

Seven Seas Mariner

We were back on board for tea, and then it was time to be on deck for departure. This was late as apparently one French couple had not come back on time, and so the ship had to wait. Many of us lined the rails and watched as the couple got out of a taxi and walked on board. We sailed immediately, in the strengthening breeze, and were momentarily glad of thick warm blankets which were available on the top deck.

Fishing boat Fermina number CV22

Seven Seas Mariner

Last view of the port

Then it was time for Prosecco and dinner.

Ships seen: John-Paul K. registered in Delfzijl, Solent, tug Vastaso, Seven Seas Mariner, and let's make a tiny fishing boat famous - Fermina, no. CV22, Cruise Roma, Ocean Princess, Bithia, A5340 with its unusual design, Florencia of GNV