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.