The Crossing--Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz turns out to be another wonderful surprise among the places we have not previously visited. A major port city of Spain, it was home to the Spanish fleet when ol' Christopho Colombo was exploring the New World out of here. Founded in 1100BC they claim it is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western world! One would not know it today, it doesn't look a day over 400!


During the 18th Century, (the 1700's to those of us who are century challenged) it was the center for European trade with the New World and therefor became the wealthiest port in Western Europe. Cadiz has a plethora of Cathedrals built from that era and is exceptionally Catholic. We arrived on Saturday in Holy Week and it has had incredible all saints "parades" daily through the small passage ways of the old city to individual cathedrals...all lined with viewing stands which carry a steep price for a seat. How Catholic is it?

We were on a walking tour of the old city and stopped in front of the City Hall and a lady asked why all the flags were at half mast? The guide replied quite matter of fact "Jesus Christ died Friday". No separation of city and church in Cadiz.

The old city is quite vibrant with modern boutiques side by side with old style fish mongers. The streets are very clean and exceptionally well maintained by city workers. It is still a residential city with apartments above all the merchants and parks sprinkled in among all the commerce.

It has an amazing central market with small individuals stalls combining to create a huge market featuring fresh (even live) fish, beautiful vegetable displays, meats, cheeses and flowers. On our Saturday morning it was teeming with shoppers. Other individual free lancing vendors crowded the perimeter of the official city market. Quite a scene.











The Seven Seas Mariner docked in the city center so we simply disembarked and immediately walked throughout the old city following one of four lines painted on the streets to mark tours with individual themes for "cathedrals", "forts and bastions", "panoramic sea front" or "historic monuments". Just follow the blue, purple, yellow or red line. Now that is a chamber of commerce at work...and the lines we followed were great! Cadiz has it all: history, charm, good food and clean streets! Click on the photos for a closer look.



Lee

The Crossing-Funchal, Madeira Islands

Funchal is a definite WOW rising dramatically out of the Atlantic to an elevation of over 6000 feet. Natural ampitheaters, deep ravines, seaside cliffs and lush vegetation are Funchal features. It is a botanical marvel. Or maybe I was awestruck by any sight of land after 5 days at sea! Funchal is the capital city of the Madeiras a chain of six islands of which only two are inhabited. The other four are protected UNESCO nature preserves visited by permit only.

Funchal was "discovered" by Capt Zarco in 1421 when he shipwrecked on what is now Porto Santo, the other inhabited island in the Madeiras. He christened it Porto Santo (the Saints Port ) because it saved his bananas. He declared the Madeiras territory of the Portugese King. Today it is an autonomous region of Portugal. (Would there be any Atlantic resort islands today if there had not been shipwrecks?)


Christopho Columob resided in Funchal while exploring the New World. He and the Santa Maria are still using the Funchal harbor as their home port alongside the assorted cruise ships. The Madeira wine has extended his longevity. "Care for some Madeira, my dear a?"




Funchal is now the capital city (since 1508) with a robust economy and 110,000 of the total 180,000 residents in the Madeiras. The economy is based on tourism and agricultural exports for the most part. It has a high level of development all along the southern coast which stretches roughly 25 miles.


The development is sprinkled precariously up the mountains from the coastal harbors and provides some of the most dramatic vistas of the city and the Atlantic one can find anywhere. The hillsides are covered with a mix of modern condominiums, private homes, small hotels and ancient homes dating back centuries. The city is a beautiful mix of historic and modern and features many wonderful botanical gardens about the city center.



The Portugese defended the original walled city with four forts with the waterfront fort shown here:









Only 5 weeks ago there was a catastrophic storm which created massive flooding and mud and rock slides down the mountain sides into downtown Funchal. There were over 500 homes destroyed and more than 50 deaths. The island has done a heroic and herculean clean up in this short time. While we saw plenty of evidence of the flood (the shops in the old town had mud and water marks at the 6 feet level) the streets were all cleared the sidewalks all cleaned the the island roads all restored to service. There is now a new land fill on the waterfront of about 5 acres where all the rocks and silt that came down into the city was deposited. There was great urgency to do so since the cruise season is now underway. In our 36 hours in Funchal we had 5 other cruise ships enter and depart the harbor.

Our time there was short but it is an enchanting island and a favorite for mountain hiking with many trails traversing the mountain sides. It is one Sally and I want to visit again on our own, much more interesting than Bermuda.

The Crossing-At Sea

Ok so how does one spend 5 consecutive days on the Atlantic traversing from Bermuda to Funchal, Madiera Islands on a dead 90 degree heading averaging 20.4 mph, 24 hours per day,2800 miles in all? Fortunately we have had moderate weather averaging 62 degrees, some overcast days, some broken cloud days; seas have been moderate averaging 6 to 10 foot swells. Even at that the ship has a slight rocking motion which produces an occasional stagger; a great cover for too much time spent in the cocktail lounges.

The cruise staff maintains excellent communications via a closed circuit telecast in the cabins previewing all the entertainment events, informative lectures, lounge acts, dancing lessons, computer lessons,shore excursions plus video tours of the bridge and engine rooms by the captain for the wrench heads. In addition there is a bulletin on ones' door each morning with an hour by hour description of all the options. No excuse for cabin fever.

Entertainment is provided via several methods. The main acts are provided by a PGT a theatrical production company who recruit and assign all talent to the cruises. We have a company of four singers and four dancers. They provide full musical review acts as well as solo productions by solo singers. I attended a "meet the cast" session and there are three from the US, three from England, and two from the Ukraine. They are all graduates of dance or music conservatories in New York or London.The two Ukrainians had attended dance academy since age 3. They work on a contract to remain aboard for 6-9 months. One fabulous artist has done this for seven year! They take 2-3 months between contracts. Injuries, sea sickness and general boredom result in a high turnover.

In addition to the production company there are performers who are direct hires of the Regent who do lounge acts or solo acts in the main theatre. We have "singing puppeteer", an assistant cruise director who does a singing act, a Polish lounge act and five Napa Valley wine producers on board for this cruise who give wine pairing lectures but also have a cover band called Private Reserve.



They have been a great hit on board for their wine pairings as well as their playing in various informal venues. One is the grandson of Louis Martini, the others are smaller vinters. There wines have also been served on board occasionally.


There are seven public decks on the Mariner reached via two stair cases or two elevator banks...one placed in the open atrium forward in the ship the other aft. Here is the atrium elevator bank:












There are four cocktail lounges, shown below are the Observation Lounge up on the bow on Deck 12 with a panorama view forward and the Horizion Lounge on Deck 6 with a panorama view off the stern. Both feature lounge music and singers at various times of the day.










There are five dining areas on board ranging from the poolside grill to elegant dining in the Compass Rose room or two intimate dining rooms by reservation only. Here is a photo of the Compass Rose for open dining and the Prime 7 steak house by reservation.









Add the fitness center, the Swedish sauna, the pool and the hot tubs to all the above and that is how you spend five days on the Atlantic ocean.