6 November, Thursday We arrived at Auckland Airport just before mid-day. Then it was an Uber to Glenfield, stopping by to pick up our repaired coffee machine, then another 1½ hours’ drive back to Mangawhai. Over 48 hours since we got out of bed in Barcelona – a very long trip.

4 November, Tuesday We rode the Hop on Hop Off bus today.  Mainly on.  We rode both the green and orange lines on the same ticket, just scoping out the city.  Then it was back to the hotel for our 5pm coach pick-up for the airport.  Our flight left at 8:20pm for Dubai where we had 5½ hours layover, before boarding the plane for Auckland.  The flight was supposed to leave at 11:30am, but we were delayed over an hour by fog.

3 November, Monday After breakfast we caught the V23 bus from across the street.  We got off at Sant Pau and walked to Sagrada Familia, admiring all the new additions to the exterior since we were here 12 years ago.  Now you have to book on-line for guided tours for €65 each!  So we decided to skip that and return to Sant Pau which is a UNESCO site and absolutely amazing.  Only €30 for the two of us and we were free to wander as long as we liked. We then walked to the bus sta

2 November, Sunday Left the ship at 9am and boarded the coach to take us to Hotel Icaria.  Dropped off our bags as check-in is not till 3pm.  Then we walked, with Susan and David, along the waterfront and headed to explore La Rambla.  The street is currently a construction site – Nova Rambla will be completed in 2027 – but we enjoyed exploring the side streets, stopping for refreshments in the square.  There must have been a Halloween costume competition as there were lots of

1 November, Saturday It's my birthday (Sue) Middle of the Med.  I spent a lot of the day in the Crows Nest reading “The Thursday Murder Club” so I could return it to the ship’s book exchange before the end of our cruise.  Then I had a lovely birthday dinner with our new cruise friends, Susan and David, June and Lauri, Angela and Gary.  Perfect day.

31 October, Friday We went ashore by tender shortly after 8am.  We bought train tickets for €10 pp that allowed us to travel between Monaco and Nice for the day.  We first went to Monte Carlo to see how the rich people live.  No litter and no graffiti.  We walked up the hill to the Tourist Information Bureau, then down through the Jardin Exotique to the Casino (we weren’t suitably attired to enter).  We walked back along the waterfront but didn’t climb up to the Grimaldi Pala

30 October, Thursday It rained all day.  David ventured ashore, to find beer.  Others who braved the weather, came back drenched.  I spent the day sitting in the Crows Nest, reading.

29 October, Wednesday  We intended this to be a re-charge day after the preceding three big days.  We took the port shuttle into the town and spent a couple of hours wandering the streets.  Stopped for coffee down near the waterfront then returned to the ship.  Spent the rest of the afternoon, relaxing, reading and playing 500 before dinner.

28 October, Tuesday Last night we had a rocky, rolling night through the Strait of Messina.  We went to watch the fabulous Mart Hillen again, before heading out on the top deck around 10pm where we were lucky enough to see Stromboli put on several lava shows.  This volcano has been erupting continuously for over 2000 years.  Stromboli putting on a show This morning we met Susan and David at 9am to go ashore (they had been to the port talk so had an idea of what to see).  We f

27th October, Monday We docked in Messina at 10am and went shoreside shortly after.  We first walked to the Cathedral and the adjacent Campanile with its famous astronomical clock.  At noon we watched the “show” where the lion roars, the cock crows and then statues and carousels move to the accompaniment of Ave Maria.  We then made our way up the hill via sets of stairs to the Tempio di Cristi, discovering half-way up that the church was closed today, being Monday, so we turn

26 th October, Sunday We were in the Lido café having breakfast as the ship entered Grand Harbour. Valletta.  We met Susan and David, Gary and Angela before we disembarked and found our way to the bus-stop opposite the Cruise Terminal, and were met by our driver Tony, from Malta Local Drivers.  He had an air-conditioned tourer to seat 8-people and as the temperature was 27° outside it was nice to ride in comfort.  We beat the crowds to Mdina and as we wandered around this 40

25 th October, Saturday  We slept late – too late for breakfast, so I organised our driver for tomorrow in Malta, went to the port talk (on Malta and Messina) then joined David for lunch on Lido deck.  We played 500 in the Crows Nest for a bit, then David went down to the Billboard lounge to join Susan for the trivia quiz.  We went back to the Crows Nest and played more 500 before the music quiz at 6:30, then dinner with Susan and David, Angela and Gary, Lauri and June.  Ano

24 th October, Friday  We went ashore mid morning, and walked the length of the promenade.  It was a beautiful day.  We returned to the port via the back streets.  A very enjoyable wander.  We had a late lunch aboard, then went to a trivia quiz before dinner, and went to watch Mart Hillen acoustic guitarist on the World Stage.  Amazing talent!

23 rd October, Thursday We had breakfast at 8:30 and met David and Sue to go ashore at 9:30.  Walked the short distance to Katakolo, and got tickets for the bus to Olympia - €15 pp return.  Unfortunately this early start meant we were required to catch the 12:30 bus back, which shortened the time we intended to spend at Olympia.  Tickets for the ruins and the museum are now €20 per person (they were €9 pp the last time we were here in July 2013).  Then it was hot, and not so

22 nd October, Wednesday  We slept late and found both dining rooms closed.  A lot of people are leaving the cruise this morning, with many more joining this afternoon.  We walked ashore to find breakfast – but not much on offer.  We walked 45 minutes into town, had pastries and I had another freshly squeezed orange juice.  Vit C is good for colds, which we have both managed to catch (blame the air conditioning). There wasn’t much to see in Piraeus – it was very dirty, lots

21 st October, Tuesday.   We left the ship at 9:30am, and caught the bus, a short ride from the port to Chania old town. We walked to the waterfront and out to the fortress.  The sun came out and it became quite hot.  Great views across to the city and the lighthouse.  We walked back around the old harbour, past lots of souvenir shops and cafés, then around to walk along the wall out to the lighthouse.  Then we spent an hour or two walking the city and found a pretty bar on

20th October, Monday We woke to a grey drizzly day, but after a quick breakfast we found the weather had brightened as we walked off the ship.  We walked the main street to the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, which was fascinating but could do with moving into twice the space.  It was too cramped to really take it all in properly.  We then walked further south to the next village, Paralia? t o find a supermarket for beer for David, then stopped at a small café o

19 th October, Sunday Sue joined us as David still wasn’t feeling well. We went ashore in the ship’s lifeboat, and joined another couple, Angela and Gary from Newcastle, and negotiated with a taxi driver to take us to Butrint National Park, a UNESCO heritage park and spent a few hours here walking around the park. Our next stop was Ksalim Beach for a quick look. Then to the ‎⁨Lëkurësi Castle  with amazing views over the harbour and town.  We had another lovely three-course

18th October, Saturday We had a leisurely breakfast, played a game of Yahtzee, sat in the Crow’s Nest and read, joined a trivia group, watched a movie “Walk in the Woods” then ended with a lovely three-course dinner.  What a life!

17 th  October, Friday We slept in till after 9am and had quick breakfast at the Lido before going ashore.  Again we were able to walk ashore, find our way to the bus station and buy tickets at the nearby train station, for the No. 6 bus to Castella Miramare.  We got off at the wrong stop but another bus came along 15 minutes later to take us to the end of the line at Grignano.  We then had a short uphill climb to the 19 th century castle, built by Austrian Archduke Maximill