Completing this third and final leg of this voyage is a visit to Porto, Portugal, at the mouth of the Douro river. A very large commercial port where various commodities enter and or exported worldwide. Because of this harbor, Porto, settled many centuries ago, has numerous fortifications and churches, while in the medieval Ribeira (riverside) district, narrow cobbled streets wind past merchants’ houses and cafes.
After cruising northward via the Bay of Biscay, our next port of call is Saint Peter Port, on the Isle of Guernsey, part of the Channel Islands, ironically closer to France than England. A bus tour along the coast visited a dimunitive masterpiece, the Little Chapel and provided breathtaking views where sea meets land.
Next, we arrived in the port of Cherbourg France. A drive through tiny fishing villages and a stop at a crêperie to enjoy the local cuisine and cider as well as the coastal panorama views where thousands perished during the Normandy landings of WII.
Just one slice of the crêpe on my diet!
Honfleur, France is a jewel of South Normandy (the river Seine separates North from South) and The Vieux-Bassin (old harbor), lined with 16th- to 18th-century townhouses, has been a subject for artists including Claude Monet. Nearby is the 15th-century St. Catherine's Church, a vaulted timber structure erected by shipbuilders. Further inland are the horse breeding venues of Pays d'auge, and small villages where we enjoyed lunch in a local restaurant filling our day. This area is truly a treat to be revisited at a future time.
Oostende is a city on the Belgian coast. It's known for its long beach and promenade. A famous landmark,the neo-Gothic–style Church of St. Peter and St. Paul has soaring spires and distinctive stained-glass windows.
Wandering the beachfront, art in many forms is turning the city into a street-art lover's destination.
Wandering the beachfront, art in many forms is turning the city into a street-art lover's destination.
The building facades of Oostende form the backdrop for the annual popular art festival. The Crystal Ship.
Our final port before disembarkation in London, is Amsterdam. Having visited here several times previously, it afforded us a leisurely walk in the centre of town as well as another Azamazing Evening at the Maritime Museum where we were entertained with seafaring songs by a seaman's choir.
A fine ending to another cruise.
Watch for more as future travels on our calendar include Singapore-Australia-New Zealand; Buenos Aires-Rio-Lisbon; the Black Sea and Greek Isles, and the West coast of Africa to South Africa including a safari in Botswana.