2014 - AEGEAN ODYSSEY - LEMNOS, Greece

Last night would have been a perfect evening to go ashore but I had been invited for dinner with the Hotel Manager. La de Da.

Three couples who I have never spoken to before plus me and the officer.

All very convivial except one couple did not say a word until the officer had departed, when they suddenly became animated.

Today is the only day we do not have an excursion from the ship. So, a lie in & a late breakfast waiting for the rush to the tender to die down ...

They drop me off at the quay where Layla points me to some table laden with free local goodies. Too bad I had just eaten.

There is a castle overlooking the town so I head towards it ...

It looks way too steep a climb so I wave Carol on her way & continue down the other side of the hill ...

Past a pretty little church ..

Looking up from the beach I am glad I wimped out on the climb up there ...

I just follow my nose along the beach & through town ...

Back around about istanbul I was in the shop on board asking the lady there if she sold those little puffs you squeeze soap on in the shower. Mine had unravelled. I cannot get any lather without those puffs.

She does not sell them but she gave me one of her own.

How about that for service.?

Just by these cats I went into a pharmacy to get her a replacement. The girls english was very good. Not a surprise really as she is from Brooklyn.

Arrived at another beach with the Aegean Odyssey at anchor offshore .. Ours is the last cruise ship of the season at this port.

and round to the harbour looking for a bite to eat.

There are restaurants all around the harbour, looking open, tables set - but no customers & no staff.

Eventually I find one where some passengers are waiting for the tender back. I have a bite & a beer with them & head into a little alleyway of shops.

Souvenirs mainly.

A beautiful sunny day & no people. Certainly no one on the beaches. A perfect time of year to visit.

I while away a bit more time in a little cafe, trying a Metaxa Brandy. Cheap & lots of it.

Those cats were opposite.

And here is Grace - out of uniform ...

as is Layla ..

You can see why I might have been a bit distracted at trivia the other day.

Back on board & time to say goodbye to Lorraine ...

Lovely lady. She smiles like that all day long. A princess who named her daughter Queen, but in Spanish.

Into Istanbul - goodbye to Kadeck setting up in the lounge

V 2 A get me off the ship, onto the shuttle & to the airport with a minimum of fuss & in plenty of time for my flight as it is delayed for 2 hours.

And that's it for the cruise & these posts although I might add just one more to give a summary of my impressions of life with Voyage to Antiquity.

And if you are reading this in Morrisburg or Decatur or St. Austel or Loughborough or anywhere really-- say hello