Farewell to Seville Silent as an air ballon in the early morning, we glide down the great-river from Seville to the ocean, through the massive locks and In the perfect breeze. The only sound is the waking bird life as we pass the irrigated farmlands and whitewashed haciendas. Nothing as pleasant as a chilled Rosé …
The obliging Ukrainian Captain Doroshenko, Master of ‘Silver Cloud’, dropped by our ‘Get-together’ this evening to say hello and raise a glass. This should truly be the last of my 80th birthday celebrations! He won’t get any sleep this evening as he navigates up the Guadalquivir River from the Atlantic Ocean and through a lock …
In Porto – I ‘resolve’, only to ‘relent’ Rocking and rolling after being whacked by a big wave as we make our way towards the dock through fog in Porto, I see a blaze of lights through the doors of my suite – one of those huge cruise vessels that carry thousands of passengers. Enough …
Belle-Île-en-Mer, 14 kms off the coast of mainland Brittany, our last port of call in France.
As sunlight slowly breaks through the clouds, the morning brightens revealing a sea so still, like a mirror. I can’t wait to get aboard the zodiac to shore. There’s not a breath of wind as we head off hardly breaking the surface of the sea and round the bow of the ‘Silver Cloud’.
It’s impossible to get to Belle-Île except by ship. Sailing through the entrance to the little harbour, boats rock gently in their moorings and pretty white fishermen’s cottages dot the shore. Le Palais is the island’s main town with a 16th century fort standing guard near the harbour.
Out for a morning walk in the sun on the cobbled streets of Saint Malo’s old Breton town.
Later to meet-up with Hilary and Rupert who come across from Île de Batz to join us for a seafood lunch.