I am on the Carnival Luminosa which has a stop at Mystery Island. I have been to Mystery Island many times and it is one of my favourites in the South Pacific. An island belonging to Vanuatu and it has no inhabitants. The locals come over from nearby islands to sell their wares, braid locks and provide massages. You can have some “kava” a local hallucinagen which tastes like dirt. You can hire snorkeling gear and check out the lovely fish, rays and turtles. Get a photo in the cannibal pot, walk around the island which takes 45 minutes. There is an air strip which was used during WWII.
Today I bought the Magazine That’s Life Mega Monthly, an Australian publication. I had a personal reason, I have an article in this month’s issue!
I was approached by the Editor, who has been following my blog, to do a story on my travels. It was decided to start with information for solo travellers. So, as my niece stated “you are a published blogger!”. How exciting is this! “Travelling Solo”
In my travels I meet so many solo travellers who inspire me and then I find I inspire them in various ways also. I never thought that my travels would inspire others. I love how Peter Nicklin, a fellow solo traveller I met on the Norwegian Jewel in 2019, on a B2B (that is back to back in cruise talk), 26 days Transpacific cruise, would include me in his first book he wrote during Covid.
I hope you get to enjoy my article, Peter’s books and my blog. Perhaps I will see you on one of my future cruises. I’m already booked on another for November.
Four sea days turned into 7 days at sea due to 6 metre swell cancelling our Ponta Delgado, Azores stop. So first stop after Bermuda was Funchal. This is my second time here and it is a very pretty island. It is a very popular tourist island. Friendly people, delicious food, lots to explore. I love the old town with its alleys of restaurants and bars.
I love the door art.
And the sculptures, with the most important one being of the great soccer player, Ronaldo and you can see what part of his body is favoured.
The most fun and crazy thing to do is the basket toboggan ride. Think billycart for 2 down a steep mountain road shared by pedestrians and cars, with 2 men using their feet for brakes and control. It is a must do.
4 April 2022 Arrived in Bermuda but I will not get off the ship as I need some recovery time next to the pool. Yay!! Sun bathing weather!! I will take it easy as we have an overnight stay here. We are the first cruise ship to arrive here since the pandemic. The locals are very happy for the return of tourists. There are pretty beaches and lots of fancy golf clubs which I went to last time here in 2018. The jacuzzi is calling.
I boarded the Epic around 1130am on 2 April. Bliss!!! It has been 2 years and 5 months since my last cruise which was on the Norwegian Jewel Transpacific from Honolulu to Sydney from 2 November to 3 December 2019.
Due to Covid and as this trip is what is known as a relocation cruise, it normally has fewer passengers. This cruise has 1300 passengers 1400 crew. So a luxury of 1 crew per passenger. Normally this ship takes 4000 passengers and 2700 crew.
This sailaway party is the first time I have danced with people since November 2021. Really danced. As we sailed out of New York said goodbye to the grand lady Statue of Liberty.
On to warmer weather please. I would like to enjoy my balcony
Australia Day is the celebration of the founding of our nation in 1788. We have similar celebrations to the USA 4th of July. Last year I celebrated on a ferry competing in the Sydney Ferry Race on the blue Shark team ferry. At $250 for 4 hours a paper box lunch and 2 glasses of wine it was expensive but a fun experience.
This year 5 days after a 13 night cruise to the South Pacific, I as back on another cruise, this time the P & O Escape to enjoy 3 nights of celebrating Australia Day. It was an amazing experience, especially at $550 for the 3 nights. The ship sailed out to sea on the first night, then the next morning we were moored in the middle of Sydney Harbour for the Australia Day celebrations. The ship was decked out with Australiana, including the cruise director dressed as Dame Edna. They played the best Aussie music from every era while I sunbaked on the top deck, watching the boat and ferry races, the sailboat ballet, and the pie eating contest. The highlight for me is when the F18s did the flypast. A QANTAS jet flys low over Sydney Harbour, although they fly lower above my home close to the airport, but it is pretty spectacular with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House as a backdrop.
Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond 