April 11, 2018
The title of tonight’s blog is from a song about Madeira’s wine. It is on YouTube.
She woke me up this morning at 7:15 saying, “We are at the dock,” when we really weren’t, and it didn’t matter anyway because we had purchased shuttle tickets and the first shuttle wasn’t until 9:15. But when we got to the dining room, everyone was there. The breakfast crowd has been slim during the sea days – you don’t have to get up to do an excursion, so you sleep in. It was difficult finding a table, but at last we sat with two singles, two guys sitting a chair apart at a table for 6. They weren’t together and didn’t want anyone to think they were.
I had done some Googling before we left to find some new things to do because this is our 5th visit to Madeira. I located an Optical Museum which featured cameras and projectors (did I just hear someone yawn) and a Sacred Art Museum – which I particularly wanted to see. I had printed out a map from Google and the ship gave us a map as well, and using the two of them we went right to it, paid our 5 euros each and went in. Beautiful things, all from one Cathedral in Madeira. Beautiful things. There is a lot of silver – staffs to carry in processions (I guess they are called processional staffs) and chests to keep communion elements in (I guess they are called Eucharist chests) and incense swingers (I guess they are called incense swingers, or maybe they are called something that starts with a “C” and I forget what it is). I picked up one of the processional staffs, solid silver, and very heavy. Wow! A rich cathedral, and these are the things that are no longer used in the services and are now only on display.
The Museum is across the street from a church we haven’t visited before and we went in. Another incredibly beautiful house of worship. There are stairs that lead up 3 floors where you can to go the top of the church tower and look over the city. The roofs are mainly red tiles – they look like 12 inch drain pipes cut in half lengthwise. Years of rain and sun have faded them different shades. And from the tower we could see back to the harbor. We were the only ship in port today.
Speaking of the only ship in port today, we are still the only cruise ship in port and it is after 9:30 our time as I write this. We were scheduled to sail at 5:30. The captain came on while we were at supper and said that there were divers in the water inspecting the ship before we sailed. Something about valves that were worked on during the recent dry dock. I didn’t catch all of it. He predicted that we would sail between 8 and 9. Take all the time you need, O Captain my Captain because my wife’s husband is on this ship.
The Captain also said that we would experience heavy seas and high winds tonight and in the morning as we sail toward Gibraltar (Interruption: we are now underway). 5-6 meter high waves – that’s approaching 20 feet – and 45 mile an hour winds. Batten down the hatches, me hearties!
Well, I will let She Who Must Be Obeyed tell you about the gelato, the bookstore, the school supply store, and the Presidential Gardens. And what she had for dinner. And anything else her little ole’ heart desires.
TTFN
Well, last night was an interesting sleeping time. I spent from 11:30 to 3 with a pillow over my ears to try and deafen the horrible sound that was outside and under our room. Woke up at 3 and set in the bathroom for a while and then on the chair. I debated about going up to deck 7 and sleeping on one of the couches. The sound probably wasn’t up there. But finally about 4 I went back to the bed, put my mask back on and willed my self to sleep. I did pretty good until about 7. I woke him at 7:30 and yes were already in dock. We just hadn’t cleared the customs.
Breakfast was consumed and we got out euros, jackets, hats and my backpack and headed to the exit. It was on our deck so we didn’t have to go far. A short walk to the shuttles and we were off to a city we have explored often. A beautiful city and the weather was perfect. He got warm and removed his jacket before we hardly got started. After leaving the shuttle, we followed his map and soon found a church that was a college of the Jesuits. The church was beautiful. Still full of the flowers from their Easter celebration. The wooden ceiling was painted and just unbelievable. It was at least 30 feet high. There was a sign saying you could visit the tower and see the city. So we paid a euro each and headed up 4 flights of beautiful old wooden stairs. On each floor as you went up they had exhibits and pictures and stories about the church. On the first floor before we went up they had a model of the church made of legos. How cool. On the very top floor you could go out and see all around the city. A nice couple took our picture for us with the city in the background.
As we left the church we asked about the museum and the young lady said it was the white building across the street. We soon found it and paid our 5 euros each to tour the museum. I never saw so much silver, floor after floor of it. And the art work, pictures, wooden statues dating back to 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The silver was that old also. One of the priests from early on had researched and catalogued everything as to where it came from. David saw a video about the altar piece in the other church we had seen on previous visits and he wanted to know the history of it. So he asked at the desk if they had a book on it. They did not but said the bookstore might. Well, before we went looking for the bookstore, there was a school supply store across the way that I just had to look into. It had a massive amount of stuff. Pens, pencils, notebooks, stamps, just to much to say. We bought a feel small notebooks, and I got some cool wrapping paper for Tate’s birthday present.
Well, then we went looking for the bookstore. The first one we found did not have what we wanted, but the lady told us where to find one. It was turn left at the church we had visited earlier and go UP the street. I mean almost straight up. The lady said it was on the right side of the street. So off we went. We saw a sign in a window telling where it was and we had passed it so we went back down the to the building. It actually was in a 16th century old house. And it was unbelievable. There were 3 floors of books all displayed individually hanging from the walls and shelves. I went up to the second floor while your Dad was on the first looking at some books the lady had found for him. There were so many shelves and stacks I got lost and couldn’t find the steps to go back down. I thought I might be up there forever but finally figured out the word for exit, salat, and followed the signs. Scarey. The lady said that this is the biggest bookstore in Europe that displays all the books with the cover facing you. And they still have at least two floors they haven’t yet used. There must have been a million books.
Well, we spent 30 euros there. Needless to say he found some books. After the bookstore he wanted to go to the Governors flower garden which is just pass the shuttle stop and UP the hill. About 4 blocks UP. We stopped in a store on our way and got some gelato. He had a scoop of chocolate and a scoop of peanut and I had mango and chocolate. It was quite good. After consuming our gelato we were on our way to the garden. We paid our one euro each and wandered around. Mainly he wandered and I sat after I got to the back of the garden and could sit and see the ocean. I was pooped. We then headed back and rode the shuttle to the ship. We got back on board about 2. After dropping our stuff in the room, we headed to the Lido and each had a bowl of soup and a sugar free dessert. Then, off for some cards, he is winning, then to the room for a nap.
At supper tonight we were by ourselves. I had a shrimp cocktail, beef stroganoff with noodles and cheese cake. Then, we headed to the theater. On the way we went out on deck and stood and watched the divers who were working on the bottom of the ship. Whatever they were doing certainly didn’t help the noise we had last night. Because it is even louder than it was last night. I am taking sleeping pills tonight. It can’t hurt!
The show tonight was a ventriloquist. I am sure we have seen him before. He was good and we had a fun time.
When we got back to the room we were still in the dock. But now have started on our way. It is very LOUD!!
I walked 13,000 steps and over 5 miles!
Well, that is all for now.
Love you all, Mom, Granny and Bonnie
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