AEGEAN ODYSSEY 17th June 2018 Part 3

At last we could board the ship up the gangway, hooray, and get to our respective cabins. On the coach we had each been handed a ship's plan and our cabin cards so I was soon in my twin-bedded inside cabin 4019. My suitcase was outside the door and I was able to head up on deck for lunch. On the stairs I had to pass Reception and the staff on duty all gave me a smile.

There was no opportunity to take a picture of AEGEAN ODYSSEY at present, and I could only enjoy the memory of being in Portoferraio, on the island of Elba, on 22nd June 2015 when I was on a ferry coming into port and AEGEAN ODYSSEY was also manoeuvring into port. It was dusk and the light was fading fast but she looked such an interesting little ship. Little did I know back then that I would be on board that same little ship in June 2018.

Aegean Odyssey arriving in Portoferraio, Elba, 22nd June 2015 (see blog piece)

On board at last

Deck Plan

Welcome on the mat


It is such a relief to be on board at last, although I've really enjoyed all the happenings over the last forty-eight hours. The sun is now out and my travelling companion and I decided not to go down to the Marco Polo Restaurant for lunch but to head for the Terrace Cafe and Grill up on Promenade Deck. It was full of cheerful passengers and equally welcoming Catering Staff, and also a good selection of hot and cold food. It had been a long time since breakfast and this was all very welcome.

I found I was thinking about this morning's visit to the underground caves cut into the limestone, often under the vines, and how cold they felt. I remembered also that the 2016 harvest was said to be excellent, which was soon to be on the market. The village of Saint Emilion was amazing to visit with its monolithic church and medieval heart, as well as the vineyards. Bordeaux had been a fascinating city to visit and start to discover, and it is certainly somewhere I would be happy to visit again.

Ambassador Lounge on Promenade Deck

Another view


Lunch was enjoyed and then I retired to my cabin for a rest until Boat Drill at 5.30, with its compulsory attendance. My station was in the Ambassador Lounge on Promenade Deck and I noticed that all the instructions and information were given very clearly. A little later we heard from other passengers that a few nights ago at sea there had indeed been an emergency, when there was an engine room fire and everyone had to go to their Boat Drill Muster stations and wait there for what turned out to be a couple of hours. Frequent announcements had been made to reassure everyone, but it had been worrying for a time, understandably. Everyone had been most relieved when they were told that the fire had eventually been extinguished and staff had been stood down from Emergency Drill well after midnight.

After Boat Drill I returned my life jacket to my cabin and headed back up the stairs again to the Ambassador Lounge for a Welcome on Board talk for new passengers. We are to have a day at sea tomorrow (Tuesday) and then visit Falmouth on Wednesday and Dartmouth on Thursday. On Friday we are to visit Honfleur. The talk was accompanied by slide pictures, and these also included a few phrases about the destinations; it was immediately obvious that the spellings of some words had not been checked or edited - what a shame.

The next event was a drink in the lovely Charleston Lounge from attentive Bar staff with the sun shining down outside;

Charleston Lounge

Entrance to the Charleston Lounge, on the way to the Terrace Cafe and Grill


this was followed by dinner down in the Marco Polo Restaurant on Marco Polo Deck. The dead-lights were down over the portholes, with lightweight curtains covering all, but the lighting and silverware offset this gracefully. There was open seating for dining between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and a happy atmosphere throughout by the sound of it. The food choice was very good, as was the service, with included wine and drinks.

Ship's Journal for the day

Essential Travel Information ship picture

Another ship view


Back on deck there was still some light at 10 p.m. and we watched the gangway removed by 10.25 p.m. as orders were given to sail. We left the quayside with the Pilot on board and were soon heading out to the sea for our journey to the UK initially through part of the Bay of Biscay and then towards the Western Approaches of the English Channel.

Sailing from Bordeaux


I went to bed.

Ships seen: Aegean Odyssey, Russian Tall Ship whose name I couldn't see or write, Belem the French Tall Ship barque


To be continued...

AEGEAN ODYSSEY 17th June 2018 Part 2

Bordeaux and St. Emilion

Monday 18th June 2018
Early breakfast at 7 a.m. was served on the 7th floor of the hotel, and the terrace around two of the sides of the large room ensured wonderful views over part of the city. When I went outside though I discovered it was drizzling with rain so my photographs were rather hazier than I would have liked, but at least I could see the lifting bridge in the distance. The central roadway of that was already up to allow a Tall Ship to leave the quay here in the Bordeaux city, with the tide as low as it could be.

Plan of Bordeaux

Breakfast plate with coffee mug

Rooftops

Falling tide and towers

Bridge up and ready


We have to meet our guide in the hotel foyer at 8 a.m. ready to leave on our included excursion to the Saint Emilion vineyards by coach.

We crossed the road to the waiting coach when suddenly the familiar sound of three loud ship whistles was heard! The Russian Tall Ship had cast off her mooring ropes and was edging out into the River Garonne and soon after I think every craft within earshot answered her whistles with more greetings of farewell - it was a unexpectedly wonderful moment.

Russian ship ready to leave


We also left the quayside and the coach had to join the traffic hold ups around this part of the city, caused by the closure of the lifting bridge.

The Tall Ship going under the Bridge (our Guide Caroline's picture)

The Bridge starting to be lowered, seen from the coach in the drizzle

Saint Emilion

From a brochure


We were eventually on our way to the village of Saint Emilion, and parked at the top of the steep village road; this was not immediately obvious because the land and vineyards dropped away down the side of the hill. Our guide took us into the main village street, where the cobbles were wet with the still falling rain. We visited a church and the cloisters, and then decided it was time for coffee in a small bar with a view.

Nice looking shop

Nearby

I liked this window box

Cloisters

Map in the cloisters

The Church

The coffee table in the Bar


We all met up again at the entrance to the vineyard office of Chateau Villemaurine and were taken straight up some steps and into the entrance of a vineyard. It was still raining slightly so this was a hurried visit but we could see rows and rows of young grapes ripening on the plants. Some rows had a red rose bush planted at one end, and this was because if the rose bush showed any signs of mildew starting, then the vines could be sprayed to deter the mildew spreading to them.

Roses and grapes



We were then taken down into the area where huge vats of grapes were starting to ferment, ready to be crushed at a later stage, and stored in barrels. Down two flights of stone steps we then entered the lower tunnels to see where the bare rock had been hewn out by men with pickaxes in previous times, for more storage. One floor up again and we could see the 2017 vintage in barrels waiting to mature, and were told that the 2016 wine was now being bottled and for sale.

Vats

Barrels

Wine barrels

Tunnels under the vines

Hand-hewn tunnels


The next pleasure was the wine tasting in a comfortable room with views out over the vineyards - purchases could also be made.

Wine tasting

One of the souvenir postcards I bought in the shop


We had to leave this fascinating place at last and rejoin our coach in its parking space at the top of the medieval village of Saint Emilion. At last we knew were about to be on our way to the ship!

Because of all the activities in the city of Bordeaux for the last few days, the AEGEAN ODYSSEY had to be berthed at the Bordeaux-Bassens Cruise Terminal which was about 5 miles downriver, nearer the sea. We drove through the rain and finally reached an industrial area and we could see part of the ship. The coach drew up very near the gangway, a member of staff came on to greet us, he took our passports away, and we all had to sign the official health form. Finally we were allowed off the coach and could walk up the gangway to board the ship - I'm nearly there.

To be continued...