Tuesday / Wednesday, October 9,10, 2018 - Ajaccio, Corsica
October 9 and 10, 2018 - Ajaccio, Corsica
This is the view from my veranda. Picture perfect!
It's a pretty nice day today. Weather mild. Slept in - first really good night's sleep. Spent the morning at Seabourn Square, sipping my latte and catching up yesterday's journal. Almost time for lunch and then maybe a nap (albeit, a short one!).
Tomorrow morning, will venture ashore and do a bit of poking around in Ajaccio which looks like a pretty place for a walk. More later . . . . .
Eric hosted a cocktail party for his Ensemble group up on Deck 12, in an area known as The Retreat. Seabourn has designed separate cabanas for maximum privacy. It's very quiet there, but the way the cabanas are arranged, there is no access to the beautiful sea. One's vision is totally blocked by the cabanas. Strange. And, you have to pay extra to spend the day there. Not for me 'cause I'd rather sit out on my private veranda and watch the sea go by.
Eric has arranged another special day for us when we get to Monte Carlo that includes more wine tasting, a car tour of Nice (where Mama was born), ride on the middle Corniche, and some other goodies. He's taking really good care to assure that we have a wonderful trip.
At the party was invited to dinner tomorrow nite by another two couples, and again the following evening that will include Eric. They all know I have that really good wine from Chateauneuf du Pape!!!
After the party, joined Fabrizio Cerruti, who is the Hotel Manager aboard ship. He's got personality jumping out of all his pores! His hands are in constant motion while he speaks. Yes, he's Italian from Turin, so he's Piemontese just like Mama. Speaking of Mama's, his Mama was at table with us. She's a lovely woman, doesn't speak any English, and is spending the week with her son on the cruise. She has been widowed about one year. Liked her so much - she's gracious and pretty and I wish my Italian language was a lot better!! Also at table were people from Australia and Switzerland. We had lots of fun. The evening just flew by.
After dinner attended the show of Davie Howes, with whom I had dinner last evening. He's wonderful! Talk about energy?!?!? He played piano, pocket trumpet (really tiny), a regular trumpet and a larger trumpet (great description - yes? . . . duh . . .). He also played drums, sang and had an ongoing patter with the audience. Most entertaining. He was good at everything even though slightly crazed in a good sort of way. The finish brought down the house as he turned an ordinary walker upside down, and proceeded to blow into one of the legs and had it sounding like a horn. Am certain that all of us retirees in the salon are going to try that when we return home - and some might not wait to get home as they probably have a walker aboard the ship.
Returned to my suite and found I had a visitor left by the stewardess!
Next day - still in Ajaccio.
Just went for a long and fast walk into the town of Ajaccio. Forgot my telephone in my suite, so was unable to take photos of the local outdoor market which is filled with local salumi, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables. They were beautiful!
On the way back to the ship ran into Davie Howes who straightened out the different size of trumpets for me - from smallest to largest - pocket trumpet, regular trumpet and fluegelhorn. So now you have it!
It is warm and very muggy outside so it's good to be back in the air conditioned ship. Just tried for the second time to make an appointment for manicure and pedicure. They have only one person to do those services aboard - not nearly enough for this passenger list. First complaint for me! So, will do what I do at home and when the shop opens early this evening, will purchase necessary items and do my own fingers and toes.
This next description of Ajaccio comes from the daily ship's bulletin:
Ajaccio is all class and seduction. Commanding a lovely sweep of bay, the city breathes confidence and has more than a whiff of the Cote d' Azur. Everyone from solo travelers to romance-seeking couples and families will love moseying around the center, replete with mellow-toned buildings and buzzing cafes - not to mention its large marina and the trendy des Sanguinaires area, a few kilometers to the west.
The specter of Corsica's general looms over Ajaccio. Napoleon Bonaparte was born here in 1769, and the city is dotted with sites relating to him, from his childhood home to seafront statues, museums and street names.
On my walk, like in so many cities of Europe, I noticed the pervasive smell of tobacco. Don't know how people here could function without coffee and cigarettes!
The evening proved an exercise in patience. Was invited to dine with two couple from the culinary group, and was certain they said to gather in the Thomas Keller lounge for drinks at 6:00 p.m. However, no one showed up. Had a wonderful conversation with the piano player, and then Eric appeared and kept me company for a while. Then decided to forego a formal dinner, and went back to the suite for a cub sandwich, French fries, and a bottle of white Bordeaux. All delicious! Watched the movie "Oceans 8" and then went to sleep! Movie just okay . . . .
Tomorrow we have a tour of Monte Carlo area, including Cap Ferrat, Nice, Middle Corniche and another wine tasting. Will get a chance to hear what went wrong with last night's plans. We have more plans tonight. Must make certain to get it right this time!!!
This is the view from my veranda. Picture perfect!
It's a pretty nice day today. Weather mild. Slept in - first really good night's sleep. Spent the morning at Seabourn Square, sipping my latte and catching up yesterday's journal. Almost time for lunch and then maybe a nap (albeit, a short one!).
Tomorrow morning, will venture ashore and do a bit of poking around in Ajaccio which looks like a pretty place for a walk. More later . . . . .
Eric hosted a cocktail party for his Ensemble group up on Deck 12, in an area known as The Retreat. Seabourn has designed separate cabanas for maximum privacy. It's very quiet there, but the way the cabanas are arranged, there is no access to the beautiful sea. One's vision is totally blocked by the cabanas. Strange. And, you have to pay extra to spend the day there. Not for me 'cause I'd rather sit out on my private veranda and watch the sea go by.
Eric has arranged another special day for us when we get to Monte Carlo that includes more wine tasting, a car tour of Nice (where Mama was born), ride on the middle Corniche, and some other goodies. He's taking really good care to assure that we have a wonderful trip.
At the party was invited to dinner tomorrow nite by another two couples, and again the following evening that will include Eric. They all know I have that really good wine from Chateauneuf du Pape!!!
After the party, joined Fabrizio Cerruti, who is the Hotel Manager aboard ship. He's got personality jumping out of all his pores! His hands are in constant motion while he speaks. Yes, he's Italian from Turin, so he's Piemontese just like Mama. Speaking of Mama's, his Mama was at table with us. She's a lovely woman, doesn't speak any English, and is spending the week with her son on the cruise. She has been widowed about one year. Liked her so much - she's gracious and pretty and I wish my Italian language was a lot better!! Also at table were people from Australia and Switzerland. We had lots of fun. The evening just flew by.
After dinner attended the show of Davie Howes, with whom I had dinner last evening. He's wonderful! Talk about energy?!?!? He played piano, pocket trumpet (really tiny), a regular trumpet and a larger trumpet (great description - yes? . . . duh . . .). He also played drums, sang and had an ongoing patter with the audience. Most entertaining. He was good at everything even though slightly crazed in a good sort of way. The finish brought down the house as he turned an ordinary walker upside down, and proceeded to blow into one of the legs and had it sounding like a horn. Am certain that all of us retirees in the salon are going to try that when we return home - and some might not wait to get home as they probably have a walker aboard the ship.
Returned to my suite and found I had a visitor left by the stewardess!
Next day - still in Ajaccio.
Just went for a long and fast walk into the town of Ajaccio. Forgot my telephone in my suite, so was unable to take photos of the local outdoor market which is filled with local salumi, cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables. They were beautiful!
On the way back to the ship ran into Davie Howes who straightened out the different size of trumpets for me - from smallest to largest - pocket trumpet, regular trumpet and fluegelhorn. So now you have it!
It is warm and very muggy outside so it's good to be back in the air conditioned ship. Just tried for the second time to make an appointment for manicure and pedicure. They have only one person to do those services aboard - not nearly enough for this passenger list. First complaint for me! So, will do what I do at home and when the shop opens early this evening, will purchase necessary items and do my own fingers and toes.
This next description of Ajaccio comes from the daily ship's bulletin:
Ajaccio is all class and seduction. Commanding a lovely sweep of bay, the city breathes confidence and has more than a whiff of the Cote d' Azur. Everyone from solo travelers to romance-seeking couples and families will love moseying around the center, replete with mellow-toned buildings and buzzing cafes - not to mention its large marina and the trendy des Sanguinaires area, a few kilometers to the west.
The specter of Corsica's general looms over Ajaccio. Napoleon Bonaparte was born here in 1769, and the city is dotted with sites relating to him, from his childhood home to seafront statues, museums and street names.
On my walk, like in so many cities of Europe, I noticed the pervasive smell of tobacco. Don't know how people here could function without coffee and cigarettes!
The evening proved an exercise in patience. Was invited to dine with two couple from the culinary group, and was certain they said to gather in the Thomas Keller lounge for drinks at 6:00 p.m. However, no one showed up. Had a wonderful conversation with the piano player, and then Eric appeared and kept me company for a while. Then decided to forego a formal dinner, and went back to the suite for a cub sandwich, French fries, and a bottle of white Bordeaux. All delicious! Watched the movie "Oceans 8" and then went to sleep! Movie just okay . . . .
Tomorrow we have a tour of Monte Carlo area, including Cap Ferrat, Nice, Middle Corniche and another wine tasting. Will get a chance to hear what went wrong with last night's plans. We have more plans tonight. Must make certain to get it right this time!!!
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