Actually in a lock as I type so not expecting to be able to post for a while. From memory the gorges will feature as the predominant landscape soon and that too will preclude posting so again it may be typing time for a while and possibly posting time quickly when I can.
Its just after breakfast, its always just after some meal or just before another meal when on board. Its coolish but not cold, Im getting dripped on from the lock wall but weve just started to move so the drips will be ancient history, now are ancient history. Temperature today is expected to get to 30 degrees and theres not a cloud in the sky. Me and all my friends (well one of them) are on the top deck for the lock process. I fully expect 4 English women to assume their positions soonish as and lay in the sun each and every day. Often they do not go on excursions, they are always seen as a foursome, always sit in the same place for all meals and are obviously as thick as thieves together. The oldest of them, could even be the mum of
2 others, has that brown leather skin that has seen too much sun and a figure that looks a bit like a match with the wood scrapped off.
Cruising again and its delightful. Big day yesterday took a toll on a few. There were noticeably fewer at evening meal and the tone in the lounge well it wasnt exactly ‘funerial but if it werent for my paisley pants and Lees colourful pants and the fact we were the only ones on the dance floor it could have been the ‘old folks home. Not really true as some have plenty of get up and go. Richard and Gayle, a delightful couple are well into their 80s and they give some half their age a good run.
Losing the sun behind the steep hills so I may need my coat. Lee is still asleep so Im loath to go and get it but even I draw the line at wrapping myself in a towel up here.
No Burcher muesli this morning and no sparkling either so Ive not started in my usual manner. So it may be a grumpy blog!
went to bed last night although the last hour was blog time, sudoku and the news and todays itinerary is very low key with just a short afternoon excursion. Obviously we are travelling back downstream, although it does take some reorientation to believe we are. Well see the same sights in reverse (well not in reverse! But in reverse order.) but because Im a creature of some habit I tend to gravitate towards the port side and as such Ill at least see a different bank. Its almost 9 oclock and hence time to check if Lee wants breakfast in bed and still Im the only one on deck apart from an idle crewmen or two. The pace is very leisurely and even the sun has reappeared. So temporary break time.
Jobs done so Im back in position. Tony and Sue have taken my spot but Only 5 people on deck, probably 100 seats and they take mine. Told you I may be grumpy!
Back into terraced vineyards as the dominant landscape. There is a train line cut into the hills but Im pretty sure it longer runs. Despite the picturesque nature of the line and the fact
that there were blue tile murals of trains at the last port and that our guide waxes lyrical about them I think the line closed in the late 90s. It would make an excellent tourist line although the tourist infrastructure here is directed almost solely towards cruise boats. Even in the smallest of ports where there are possibly only one or two small cafes there can be 3 or 4 boats moored. I think the only thing they sell to tourists would be and thats because they are scarce on board. We had some yesterday at the hotel base in Salamanca but it was just OK. In a country that has some excellent desserts and very good gelato the desserts on board have been a little disappointing. Thats possibly a good thing as it may restrict me to the size of a small barn rather than blow out to warehouse size!
A few more souls have emerged from their cabins and ventured on deck.
