Continued from last Week (Monday 21) - (and 7, 14 Nov)

Sunday we are still docked in Istanbul and it is still raining heavily. Had a leisurely breakfast and joined in some of the activities on the ship during the morning. I made some enquiries about how to get to a local spice market and was told that due to a Marathon being held that day the bridge didn’t open until 2.00.p.m and one had to cross this to get to the market. I went to the upper deck and had a snack meal before donning my rain jacket to venture out on my quest. The ships security staff checked my rain jacket and hood were secure and told me to turn right at the port gates and it would be a fifteen minute journey in my electric chair. One hour later drenched and down to my last green light I decided I had better turn round and return to the ship as there was no sign of a bridge let alone the Spice Market?

The pavements were a nightmare to negotiate and I can’t remember how many nice Turkish men came to my rescue to help during my unsuccessful jaunt! On the way back the rain absolutely fell down and the main road was under water but I suddenly had a young man escorting me along the road protecting me from some of the traffic back wash. He was wonderful and took me right back to the ship, if that the way Turkish men treat their woman I will look for a Turkish Husband!!!

When I got back to the ship the security men wrapped me in towels and escorted me back to my suite without even getting me through the security gate! All I could do was peel off my clothes  have another hot shower and get into bed to warm up I later learned that I was given the wrong instructions to the spice market I should have been told to turn left!!!! I woke up in time to go to dinner at 6.00.pm and get my table companions entertained with my day’s experience. I chose every course that had garlic that evening to ensure I didn’t get a cold but it didn’t work and next day I had a really bad chill.  

I did go to the theatre after my meal where there was a whacky American Comedian who told stories and did tricks that went wrong on purpose. When the show was over he was outside selling CDs by the disabled toilet and gallantly opened the door for me! The end to a perfect day in Turkey!

Continued from last Week (Monday 14) - (and 7 Nov)

Friday October 14 was another day at sea. I had breakfast with a large group of all nationalities but the service was exceptionally bad and the meal lasted over two hours. I didn’t complain but the other guests on my table did and things definitely improved over the remaining days. During breakfast I happened to mention to an American lady that my mobile phone was not working. She found that somehow BA had put a block on it during the flight so she found how to correct it and from then onwards I was able to receive and send texts.  I think some of my friends were a little concerned that they could not contact me and I was soon able to re-assure them everything was ok. Vodaphone charges in Turkey were exorbitant so I only sent a few texts.

I went to a talk during the morning on Istanbul and found it very interesting and educational. There was also a food fare on board 12.00 – 2.00 with lots of tasty food to try I had my first Tortilla crammed with hot chilli beef, sour cream and cheese it was truly wonderful and I followed this up with chicken Taco and then fruit kebabs for sweet. I certainly needed a rest after this feast then went to bingo but didn’t win. It was another formal night so we all dressed up again in our best outfits for dinner. The menu was all Italian I had cream of garlic soup for my starter so it was a good job I was sleeping alone, I followed this with lamb shank and had a dreamy raspberry desert which left me absolutely stuffed! I hardly had the energy to have a short spell on the slot machines before retiring to bed as I had an early start the next day.

Saturday morning I woke early to see the lights of Istanbul and take some pictures the scenery was breathtaking. I had arranged to have my breakfast in my cabin for 6.30 as I had to join a pre-booked tour at 8.00.am. After the past good weather we had experienced I was not ready for the deluge of rain in Turkey which to coin a phrase did put a dampener on my visit! A wheel-chair adapted vehicle was waiting at the dock gates and there were just me and an Irish man in wheelchairs with his wife. We had a nice driver and our own guide who gave us a lot of information. I learned that there are thirteen and a half million people in Istanbul. There are 86 Provinces in Turkey Istanbul being one, 40% living in the Asian side and 60% in Istanbul. I learned that Raki is the local alcoholic tipple and the big bridge over to the Asian side is called the Bosporus.  Our guide took us to a 2000 year old Mosque which was so interesting and the mosaic work inside was incredible I took a whole lot of photographs and even found a ginger cat sitting by a large ceramic pot!. We crossed over the Golden Horn Bridge before being taken to a large department store which had about ten steps up to the entrance door. I was soon surrounded by about six strong Turkish gentlemen who proceeded to carry me in my electric chair up the steps. We went into the carpet showroom and were entertained with hot lemon tea which was lovely and learned all about the art of carpet making. Most of the carpets are made by people in their own homes and the quality of their work was perfection. I did buy a very small one to hang on one of my walls to remind me of my Turkish visit when I get home. I also treated myself to an opal ring which has been constantly admired. When I got back to the ship I was so wet and cold I had a hot shower and went to bed till Supper time. Dinner was good as usual and afterwards I

SHIRLEY’S ADVENTURE CRUISE 2011- Part 2

Continued from last Week (Monday 7 Nov)

Everyone had to attend the compulsory Ships drill and hear about the procedures arranged in the event of the ship having to be evacuated.

My evening dining time had been pre-arranged for 6.00.pm and I was supposed to be sharing a table of six. My first dining session was spent on my own as the other diners for my table did not appear. The second night I was moved to another table for six and yet again no-one appeared to join me. By this time I was wondering if I had something catching but was re-assured by the Maître-De that the other diners had opted for a later time. On the third evening I was escorted by the Maitre-De to another dining room and spent the rest of my dining evenings sharing a table with a lovely couple called Kevin and Sarah, they were celebrating Kevin’s 50^th Birthday.

I had a very early night on my embarkation day as what with all the stresses of the day I was well and truly shattered. Our second day at sea was really spent by everyone finding their way around it was also a formal night whereby everyone got dressed up in their finery for dinner.

Wednesday morning saw us anchored in Messina Sicily port which was very near the town and we only had to come out of the port and cross the road. However it was a case of taking your life in your hands to cross the roads there was a dropped kerb of a sort one side of the road but nothing the other side and the traffic would not give way to pedestrians let alone wheelchairs. I did manage to reach the Cathedral at the top of a cobbled street which had one door for access without steps so was able to take some photographs of the interior as the building was vast and had loads of interesting features. The weather was warm and sunny and I returned to our Ship for a snack lunch and a rest before the evening entertainment.

Thursday morning saw us docked at Corfu in Greece so after having breakfast I decided to ask one of the ship’s officers what was available for me to explore. He escorted me to the Dock Gates where the shuttle buses were but unfortunately none were accessible for wheelchairs. A taxi man came up and asked if I would like a tour of the Island but I explained that no way could he get my power chair in the boot of a car to which he replied “my name is George and I can do the impossible.” After some haggling I agreed a price and he put me in the front seat of his large Mercedes car got his friend to help him and they both lifted my power chair into the boot and off we went round the Island with the boot lid waving in the wind. It was another warm sunny day and I had a good two and a half hour trip round the beautiful Island of Corfu with George stopping for a drink half way before returning back to the ship. I went straight on to the top deck for a snack lunch it was help yourself but I never had a chance to look around to see what delicacies were available before a waiter descended to help me. I had a rest before going to the Captains cocktail party and meeting up with a lot of very interesting fellow cruisers.

SHIRLEY’S ADVENTURE CRUISE 2011

This holiday was a very much last minute decision and all arranged within two weeks. Looking back I suppose I should have been a bit cautious about venturing off on my own but I could not see any reason why I should not be able to manage a cruise and had to give it a try for my own self esteem.

With the help of my friend Nigel of Thomas Cook Eastbourne we found a cruise which was supposed to visit Egypt but I later found that due to problems there earlier in the year it had been changed to include Turkey. Royal Caribbean were very helpful and although they only had a disabled mini suite available sold it to me for single occupancy.

The only problem I was a little uncertain about was that I had to take a flight to Barcelona from Heathrow as Gatwick was not an option and my flight on October 10th left at 7.10.am.

Needing to take both my power chair and manual chairs and to check in at 5.00.am meant that I would have to leave home between 2.00 & 3.00 and would require wheelchair transport and this was very difficult to find.

My friend Wayne came to the rescue and with the aid of his trailer attached to my car drove me, my wheelchairs and luggage to the airport reaching the check-in desk of British Airways with time to spare. I was very grateful for his assistance especially as he was leaving Eastbourne at 11.00.am the same day for a spell in Turkey.

I received great assistance at Heathrow and my flight which left on time was uneventful. My arrival at Barcelona however was not without hassle and although I was re-united quite quickly with my manual chair and luggage my power chair was missing and could not be located for almost three hours after my landing.

I heaved a great sigh of relief when I was seated in my electric chair but this did not last for long because when I found the Royal Caribbean Representative she had no record that I needed wheelchair transport to the Ship and said I had to use the coach that had five steps. Luckily I had written confirmation to produce that wheelchair transport had been requested but I had another two hours to wait for this to appear in the form of an accessible taxi.

When I eventually boarded Brilliance of The Seas and checked into my mini suite I could then relax and realise that I had a twelve night cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean to look forward to and enjoy. My accommodation was wonderful, a six foot bed all to myself and enough space for four wheelchairs with a large balcony to view the passing scenery from. The down side was that I didn’t get my luggage until 9.00.pm four hours after sailing so I was unable to change into some fresh clothes for dinner. My stewardess was an angel her name was Shella and there was nothing she wouldn’t do to assist me and we are hoping to keep in touch. Although she was born in America she is married and lives in Croatia when she isn’t working on board cruise liners to support her family as her husband is disabled with a back injury and unable to continue his work as a ships steward.