2014 - AEGEAN ODYSSEY - BATUMI, Georgia

I AM NOW AT THE FARTHEST POINT DOWN THE BLACK SEA THAT I WILL GET & WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE IT IS.

BATUMI - A DELIGHTFUL PLACE.

THESE COUPLE OF PHOTOS ARE FROM THE SHIP - WE ARE DOCKED RIGHT IN TOWN.

GETTING OFF THE SHIP, PASSING THE EARLY MORNING MORNING FISHERMEN

WE GO ALONG THE COAST & THEN WIND OUR WAY UP INTO THE HILLS TO THE BATUMI BOTANICAL GARDEN ..

SPENDING THE NEXT THREE HOURS STROLLING DOWN GENTLE PATHS WITH OUR GUIDE CHATTING ABOUT ALL THE FLOWERS & TREES WE PASS ...

MY GEORGIAN IS A TAD RUSTY -

THAT WAS A LOVELY WALK. ALL DOWNHILL & NO STEPS

WE NOW GO FOR A STROLL AROUND BATUMI ....

WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HEAR THESE BELLS PEALING.

CHECK THE WORK ON THIS DOWNSPOUT ..

SOME WONDERFUL BUILDINGS HERE & JUST LOOK AT THE SKY ..

THE HILLS ARE NOT TOO FAR AWAY ...

LOTS OF SCHOOL KIDS CHECKING OUT THEIR TOWN ,, THEY ALL SAID HELLO AS THEY WENT PAST ..

SAINT GEORGE IS BIG HERE ...

IN THE PARK, THERE ARE MANY STATUES OF KIDS PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ..

MORE KIDS BEING TOWED AROUND

LOOKING DOWN ON THESE KIDS FROM DECK NINE, THEY HAVE JUST FINISHED PERFORMING A SHOW ON OUR SHIP. I MISSED IT UNFORTUNATELY BUT WAS TOLD THEY WERE VERY GOOD .

THAT IS THE AFTERMATH OF A SMALL CAR ACCIDENT - REAR ENDED. NO CASUALTIES.

THEN WE ARE OFF HEADING WESTWARD TO THE OTHER END OF THE BLACK SEA AGAIN

WE HAVE A STOWAWAY ..

BATUMI IS WELL WORTH ANOTHER VISIT. A PITY WE DO NOT OVERNIGHT HERE.

ANOTHER RELAXING DAY AT SEA TO COME BEFORE ROMANIA.

ON ONE OF MY FIRST CRUISES I WENT TO A 'BRIDGE LECTURE' EXPECTING TO LEARN A BIT ABOUT NAVIGATION & STEERING A SHIP ETC. BUT NO - IT WAS THE CARD GAME

I HAVE SINCE COME ACROSS A FEW BRIDGE PLAYERS BUT THIS CRUISE HAS ABOUT FIFTY TRAVELLING TOGETHER WITH MR & MRS BRIDGE.

THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE OBSERVATION LOUNGE WHICH ALWAYS HAS THE TABLES SET UP FOR A GAME.

NO LOSS TO ME AS IT LOOKS LIKE A NICE QUIET PLACE TO SIT AND WATCH THE OCEAN BUT IF I SIT ALONG THE EDGE, I CANNOT ACTUALLY SEE OUTDOORS. AND THE ROOM TREMBLES SO MUCH THE WORDS ON MY BOOK BLURRED.

A BONUS IS THAT HAVING FIFTY OUT OF ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY PEOPLE IN ONE ROOM MAKES FOR A LOT OF SPACE FOR THE REST OF US.

THEY PLAY, GET INSTRUCTIONS & HAVE LECTURES & A LOT OF TIME AT THE TABLES

I DID TALK TO QUITE A FEW OF THE PLAYERS WHO REALLY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE OF TWO WEEKS BRIDGE. LISTENING TO THEM CHAT IS LIKE GREEK TO ME & WHO KNEW PEOPLE COULD TALK SO MUCH ABOUT PAST BRIDGE GAMES.

THE OBSERVATION LOUNGE IS ADJACENT TO LORRAINE'S BAR SO THEY WOULD OFTEN BE THERE BUT THEY QUICKLY DEPARTED FOR THEIR BRIDGE, LEAVING ME TO FINISH MY FIVE DOLLAR COCKTAIL OF THE DAY BEFORE DINNER.