Thursday, October 15 - Las Palmas, Gran Canaria and Restaurante Sorondongo

 There are only 3 ports on this cruise, which is fine with me.  I've done five (or six?) TransAtlantic trips and I do it because I love the sea days.  I used to do more exciting stuff in port but I don't really care to shop for more crap and my days of hiking around are over.  Instead I focus on what I love - food!

In Barcelona, it was the outstanding tasting menu at Caelis.  Today, I have a 1:30 reservation for the tasting menu at another Michelin restaurant, Sorondongo.  I did them both last year and they were so good I wanted to do them again.  That's unusual for me, since I typically prefer to try something new.  I'm very excited about lunch today.

It also helps that there is no bus required.  I can walk a block and get a taxi to the restaurant.

Photos!  I apologize again that the photos are in random order.  Thanks for the whimsy, blogger!

The pilot captain heading toward the ship.

The Galley was packed with everyone grabbing coffee and breakfast before going ashore.  I passed.

I do not like crowds.  I skipped my morning decaf.

A few of the people waiting for the "fancy" coffee.

People lined up, waiting to go ashore.

Our location map.  Tomorrow we'll be in Tenerife, then won't see land again until we dock in Miami.  

Holy crap - I found a whole new room!  On deck 6, near the Red Room, tucked into a corner.  The Den?  Looks like the casino.  For high rollers?  Rock Stars?  I met a couple yesterday who only paid $300 for this cruise.  Because they love to gamble. 

What does one wear to a fancy lunch in the Canary Islands?

I got cards?  A birthday card and a card for being a solo cruiser.

I didn't get these cards last year. Each card is a $50 discount on a face/body service in the spa.  The least expensive massage is $199 for 50 minutes, before the discount.

Sailing in to Las Palmas.

I don't believe I've ever seen a triangular cloud before.  The edges were even sharper before I found my phone.  I'm assuming this is from the very distinct con trail that I saw earlier.

Las Palmas is popular in the winter with visitors from colder climates in Europe.  

One of my dreams was to do a freighter cruise.  I actually had one booked, years ago, from Oakland CA, two months to Japan, S. Korea and China and back.  But, a client wanted me on-site so I had the choice - earn money or spend money.  Since Covid, freighters stopped having passengers onboard.  If you know of any available, let me know, I'd LOVE to do it.

That's a freighter, sitting in front of...?  I need someone knowledgeable in Sea/port stuff to explain this to me.  Ok, I googled it.  That giant Glovis thing sails!  It is a HUGE car carrier, owned by Hyundai.  It appeared to be square, from my vantage point.  It does not look seaworthy but shows how little I know.

Sunrise over the commercial port in Las Palmas.

I'll post my lunch photos later.  It's only 10:30 a.m. and I'm anxiously awaiting time to head to the restaurant.

Wednesday, October 14 - At Sea

 Yesterday was relaxing.  I enjoyed watching boats come in and out from my balcony and did my nails.  Dinner was a shared table at Gunbae, the Korean restaurant on board, with Rayann and Jack and Nancy and Tom (?) where we had great food and interesting conversation.  They invited me to join them for some live music after dinner and I went but once there decided it was too loud and crowded for me so I headed back...to my balcony. At 8:30 p.m.  Many of the evening events on Virgin don't start until 10 p.m.

Today was my favorite - a sea day.  I'm glad I sprang for the premium WIFI which let me have a video call to wish a friend happy birthday.  If you need to work from the ship, you'll need to upgrade to the top level, though.  

My biggest accomplishment of the day was mid-afternoon when I was starving but didn't want to spoil my dinner.  I wandered through the Galley and ignored the delicious looking deserts and got a plate of fruit.  Now I'm finding my halo annoying so will have to go back for an extra dessert after dinner.  On the bright side, it's mid-afternoon and I've already gotten my steps in.

Photos!

My hotel in Bogota had a cool feature I've never seen before - a small tab on the toilet lid so you didn't have to stick your fingers between the lid and the seat.  Why don't all toilets have that?  Toilets on ships are similar to plane toilets - you must close the lid to flush.

The folks next door are celebrating!

Virgin has a cool lighting system - notice the red lights by these doors?  You can set like this, for privacy, or set to ask to have your cabin cleaned.  Handy.

See the wall sticking out?  That's where the larger cabins start.  I have the "regular" size, which is great for one.  Fine for two.  I do miss the love seat by the window on HAL.

THIS IS NOT A BUFFET!  Well, that's what Virgin says.  Lots of breakfast options.

Notice the French Toast Burger on the right.

HUGE!

And, if I was 20 years younger and had a hangover, it would be the perfect choice.

Breakfast view.  

The weather has been mostly sunny and mid-70's.

I splurged and went for muesli this morning.

Before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. seem to be quiet times on the deck behind the Galley.

My happy spot.

Mr. Kindle seems happy to be back out on the hammock.  BTW, I'm reading a great book called "Cutting For Stone".  Highly recommend.  And the good part - it's REALLY long, so I've been enjoying it since my first flight last week.

There is almost always a line at each of the two coffee places.

I met a young couple, M&M (Happy Anniversary!) and we were discussing food and travels.  They highly recommended this small restaurant in London.  Coincidentally, I'll be in London next April so hope to try it.

And, once again, I hit the karoke room.  Such fun!

The magic show ran late yesterday so I missed Bingo with the Diva but this is the main theater, where that and some other shows are held.  It is not huge, which creates the lines to get in to every show.

I love coming back to a clean cabin.  With atmosphere!

The Galley was packed so I got the roasted veg salad for the balcony for lunch.

The magic show was terrific.

Not my thing, but these folks seemed very happy sitting in something akin to a kiddie pool, enjoying beverages.

I'd more likely be at the bar, enjoying the shade.

Care to check out the horizon?  And more "interesting" seating.

"I've always dreamed of a metal daybed" said no one.  Ever.  Seriously, if lounging on a metal daybed appeals to you, why?

The chess and metal daybeds are on deck 16.

Along with "the net" where you can look down at the decks below.

There are several hot tubs near the small pools.

I do want to swing on one of these.  But I'm trying to decide - would it be better when there's no one around to see me when I fall off or wait until there are witnesses to help me up after I break a hip?  I promise photos from a sea day of me swinging.  Aletha, I'm carrying on our tradition!

One guy was so pumped up while waiting his turn for pickleball, he was doing cardio.  I appreciate the enthusiasm.

Does Branson have stock in a daybed business?  Anybody besides me prefer loungers so you can sit up to enjoy the view?  

It is highly unlikely you'll see photos of me working out on these.  BTW, they get hot in the sun, which I guess would make you want to do the sit-ups really fast.

Uhm, could someone help me interpret the first line of this sign.  "You CAN'T!  Unless you can."

My mid-afternoon snack.  The fruit was perfectly ripe and sweet.

One of the dinner options - a variety of pinchos.

I was hoping to get a helicopter ride but it looks like I'm saving a bunch of money.  I do love helicopters.

Dinner with a view.  A very average room temp burger and fries.  The view made up for the food.

When you're dining at sea, while watching the sunset, the food is the least important thing.

Especially when you know you're going to splurge on dessert.  The red one is the Scarlet Lady - chocolate mousse on a thin chocolate cookie, topped with a red berry gel.  Tasty.  Even tastier was this hazelnut macaron.  Absolutely perfect.

Just me and a couple others enjoying the nice weather and beautiful sunset.  BTW, sunset was after 7 pm.

I know a couple who sailed their 40' boat around the world.  Nope.  I've been at sea when waves were hitting the windows on the 15th floor.  The idea of being in a small boat during that kind of huge storm terrifies me.