November 2002

Friday 1st November Naples

Another beautiful sunny day for our trip to Sorrento and Pompeii. It's another long day and another early start to get our big cooked breakfast before we disembark for the coach.

The morning is a gentle stroll around Sorrento taking in the gift shops and narrow streets. Our lunch today was much much better than the one in Rome. A lovely restaurant with lovely food - (the restaurante Tasso if you visit) - just right before our visit to Pompeii. I think this was the most memorable part of my holiday. I had no idea how big the excavated town is and how well preserved some of the buildings are. Considering it was covered by volcanic ash nearly 2000 years ago it is a remarkable look back in time. I found it amazing that it was still possible to clearly see the wall paintings that had decorated some of the houses - including the "menu of services" on offer in the brothel - the pictures there were an education!! Although we spent about three hours here we didn't have time to see all of it and I would definitely like to go back.

The show on board tonight was "Grease" - always one of my favourites... so we saw that after dinner (another 5 courses) and then off to bed. Why are the mirrors in the cabin bathrooms low enough to show your belly (from 3 angles!) - I need to get to the gym when I get back!!

Saturday 2nd November Sicily

The day we have been waiting for - our chance to see Mt Etna erupting. Apparently we sailed past Stromboli at 3am - if I had known I would probably have got up for a look as, apparently the sky glows red over the volcano. Because Etna is erupting, our sister ship, Oriana, docked next to us today rather than further south on the coast - quite a sight to see the two ships together.

Our tour took as to Taormina, a medieval town set on a terrace 700 feet above sea level overlooking a beautiful coastline and with Etna looming in the background. Unfortunately, there was some cloud in front of the volcano and, as we had already heard, it had stopped it's most violent eruptions the day before. The cloud did clear though and there was still a heavy black cloud of ash pouring from the crater - luckily with the wind blowing in the opposite direction. Many of the cars in the town were covered in a thick black layer of ash as were all the railings and paths.

Back to the ship for a lunchtime sailing... the weather is beautiful so its a quick change and up on deck for some sun... except as soon as we left the port, it was blowing a gale - still sunny, but blowing a gale!!

I do love this ship... and now we are starting to get to know some of the entertainments team which is good. We have been going to the quiz each evening when we can... haven't won yet tho!!

Sunday 3rd November

All through the cruise I had been hoping that Mum and Paul would have arranged something to celebrate dad and my birthdays (which were just before we left Southampton)... well today was the day! We have been at sea all day - on our way back across the Med to Gibraltar.

When we arrived at dinner, we found the table absolutely covered with balloons and streamers. Dad and I had the works... champagne, wonderful food (of course!) and then in true P&O style, a group of waiters sang Happy Birthday. We were honoured though as we also had the restaurant manager singing to us!

Wednesday 6th November On the way home

Well, that's it nearly over :-( We were in Gibraltar yesterday - our last port of call - just there for a half day, enough to hit the shops for some Duty Free. The Bay of Biscay is a little rough but nothing like it was coming down... no sea sickness this time! I really am sad to be going home. Firstly because I really do not want to go back to work and, second, because as usual I have fallen in love with life on the ship. Oh well, it's got to be done. We arrive in Southampton early tomorrow morning.

Sunday 10th November Back on board

Have been home for a few days now and all the washing has been done! But today I'm back on Aurora again! Unfortunately, not going anywhere but Paul has managed to get me a shipboard pass to help him show some new customers around the ship. I am in my element, showing them all around the ship - I think I should work for P&O I am loving this!

Monday 11th November Back to Work! Arggghhhhh!

Well, it's that normal back to work feeling... piles of paperwork waiting for me but this time the added thrill of lots of resignations while I was away - 14 vacancies to fill - I am kinda hitting the ground running!