At sea off the coast of Portugal … Today is one of two so-called “sea days” in this cruise. A sea day is a day when we are not in port but cruising between two ports. We left Malaga, Spain, and are headed for Oporto, Portugal. Oporto is the home of Port wine, beloved by Brits.
Earlier this morning we passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and are now cruising north along the coast of Portugal. We will reach Oporto tomorrow morning, in time for shore excursions to visit wineries, and otherwise tour.
As soon as we left the Mediterranean Sea the weather became overcast. After a series of blue sky days it is now looking dreary when I look out the window. I hope we don’t have gray days for the rest of the cruise. You remember how iffy the weather was when Ike was deciding if the conditions were right for the D-day landings in Normandy? That was in early June, this is mid April so we could well have wall-to-wall storminess.
This ship has a small planetarium and a resident astronomer, it is something I’ve not seen on the many cruise ships I’ve been on. Viking has its own way of doing things.
Later … dinner tonight was lobster, and not the tiny little tails either. These were so large I had trouble finishing one, each bite dipped in melted butter of course.
After dinner our singers and dancers gave us a series of Broadway and West End melodies from the musical theater. They aren’t great talents but they do their best and are 4 energetic Brit kids. I will go hear them whenever they’re on.
