Everything has been perfect.

3.10.18

Dinner in the a la carte last night was superb. We were served by the lovely smily Mohamed who we met last year and joined by a nice couple from New Zealand.

Then it was time for entertainment. A cute Greek wedding love story, and some people who obviously had more energy than us joined in Greek dancing afterwards. We were shattered, and possibly hung over. The thought of more alcohol was too much to cope with although Tony tried his best.

Woke this morning to a beautiful sunny Rhodes. No wake up bing bongs and instructions in every language for those going on trips like there was last year.

Had a fabulous breakfast although Tony has just read that bacon and sausage can give you breast cancer, so might as well eat my own body weight in sugar later as not giving up everything.

Rhodes is as gorgeous as we remember and lovely just ambling and looking in the shops.

Having coffee and debating whether to get a bus to Lidl, just because its there.

After more ambling we decided to get the bus, Tina & Tony were going back to look at dresses and then go back and chill. We waited a while then got the Falaraki bus and got off at Lidl around 12.30 pm

It’s a disappointingly small store and after a few minutes an announcement said not to put anything else on the till belts and that they would be closing at 3 pm.

Decided we didn’t want to rush down the next couple of aisles and that we didn’t really need the spices and dog treats we had picked up and left. They had opened another till by then so have no idea what it was all about.

Because the lira exchange is so high at the moment everything was expensive so it was an epic fail really.

Across the road was another supermarket called My Market and we began the epic fail again. Don’t ask why as it was more expensive than Lidl. We did however buy a packet of ground cloves. Always handy.

As we could see the sea we decided to walk back to the ship along the coast. It’s a far cry from the facade the tourists see, very run down and shabby, with derelict buildings and rusty frameworks, big piles of dumped stuff and shacks covered in polythene with washing hanging outside. Very sad.

There is a bit of beach along the way but generally it’s not a nice coastline. Turkey has its economic problems at the moment but we cannot understand economically how these islands keep going. The attitudes and work ethics seems to have got lost along the way, all feels a bit sad and lost and plenty of angry graffiti.

Back at the ship I over indulged in Baileys and we caught up with Tina and Tony and put the worlds to rights before getting changed for tonight’s events. Dress code elegant. Tina bought a lovely white dress today and we all scrubbed up quite well.

Next, drinks in the Argo bar, Tony still very doing well, John on girly Malibu now. I tried an ouzo Martini which was strong but pleasant. Tina can’t tear herself away from the Mykonos Gold cocktails, first one on the long list that she was planning to complete.

We went to the a la carte again and sat with a great couple from Wisconsin, US. John and I opted for snail, it was lush, embedded in a half size baked potato, smothered in garlic. Langoustine bisque was next but we couldn’t eat it. Fishy flavoured orange gloop is one description. Vile is another.

Unfortunately it was also as a sauce for the seafood vol au vent which 3 of us then left but those of us with the beef were more than happy. The staff are wonderful and encouraged replacements for the bisque. Dinner became very amusing, lots of laughs and the American lady Sue wiping her eyes a lot from laughing. She is a psychotherapist, also does tv & radio appearances and has written books. Shall be googling her when we get back. Politics of course came up, some great chat about certain US leaders, body doubles and pizzagate – more googling required.

Then there was a very long queue to meet the Captain and have our photos taken. Unfortunately we were stuck behind 2 very smelly ladies so it felt like forever. Photos, cocktails, introductions of the head staff then showtime.

First was music and singing, some great talent but Tina cannot bear the sound of the violin.

The main show was Greek mythology, fabulous costumes, dancing and acrobatics. Similar to last year when they did this theme although I have to say they aren’t as good as last years team generally, but still fab.

Time for bed, that lovely comfy bed and the snuggly duvet was calling loudly.