Cruise across the Mediterranean - Athens to Malaga, via Valletta

[RooFlyer]

Flying out tomorrow to Adelaide for the AFF gathering and then onto Istanbul for a few days (jet lag recovery in one of my favourite cities) and then to Athens, where I will begin two back-to-back Ponant cruises across the Med.

Flights - long hauls on QR.



The cruises - first Athens to Valletta, then Valletta to Malaga.

https://au.ponant.com/the-mediterranean-ancient-cities-of-the-mediterranean-ec081126-10

https://au.ponant.com/the-mediterranean-ancient-shores-of-the-mediterranean-ec161126-10

Included excursions in every port. Myceneans; Ancient Greece (Athenians, Sparta etc); Corfu; Norman Sicily, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Algeria (new country), Islamic and Roman Spain.



Le Champlain; 184 maximum passengers. https://au.ponant.com/cruise-ships/le-champlain




Then there's a high speen rail journey in Spain form Malaga to Barcelona, where I fly home.

See many of you in Adelaide!

 

[SYD]

We did Renfe Málaga - Madrid a few weeks ago.

Did you know that a Renfe ticket includes getting to/from the train stations by local train? “Combinado Cercanías”. So in Málaga you should be able to just scan your ticket QR code at the turnstile. I forgot, until I noticed others scanning Renfe tickets…

But the Malaga trains are relatively cheap and now take contactless card payment (no need to go to a ticket machine).

Renfe ▷ The best prices for AVE (high-speed) and Larga Distancia (long distance high-speed) trains

We have a range of AVE (high-speed) and Larga Distancia (long distance high-speed) tickets on offer (Básico (Basic), Elige (Pick & Mix) and Prémium (Prémium)) Discover the advantages now! ▷

www.renfe.com

 

[RooFlyer]

Did you know that a Renfe ticket includes getting to/from the train stations by local train? “Combinado Cercanías”.

Thanks, yes, but only going from the port to the train station this time.

 

[SYD]

Thanks, yes, but only going from the port to the train station this time.

Yes, Uber is your friend then. The trains don’t go much beyond the canal nor the old town/port area.

 

[ellen10]

Sounds like a great trip!
I will enjoy following along, safe travels.

 

[RooFlyer]

HBA-MEL-ADL had the added frisson of my first visit to the QF 'grab 'n go' at Hobart Airport, still under redevelopment. Caught up with @Dantas who, like me, was off the the AFF do in Adelaide.

Hauling out of Hobart on a nice Spring morning on QF1292, A220, 2B.



Led astray early by dantas, I had my first ever Lois for breakfast.



Caught up with @Lowjhg in the MEL QBP, then on QF683 to Adelaide. Lunch was a salmon soba noodle creation, and quite decent.

 

[RooFlyer]

Staying at the Sofitel in Adelaide for 2 nights, using 2 SNUs to a Junior suite and as a Diamond. Very slow check-in, but eventually rewarded with an upgrade to a Prestige suite because my earlier request for a quiet room, away from elevators etc was (again) not initially honoured.

A pretty good room - a true suite, well laid out with good furnishings. Aircon worked well.









Welcome amenity - initially forgotten to be transferred from the noisy room they originally allocated to me, but a gently prompt saw it delivered



View



The lounge was moderately busy both nights and drinks service a bit slow, but the food offerings I thought was pretty good. Overall knocks the socks of the Sofitel Brisbane (Central). A motley crew of about 6 AFFers occupied the easy chair area.

 

[Major]

Looking forward to a lot of European history

 

[RooFlyer]

Looking forward to a lot of European history

Yeah, I think you can count on that .

 

[kileskus]

And hopefully a lot of Carthage!

 

[RooFlyer]

Just a quick recount of the AFF meeting.

There was the icebreaker drinks and dinner at the Seven Stars hotel, then next morning a visit to 2 wineries at McLaren Vale.

D'Arenberg 'The Cube' was a disappointment for me. There was a tasting, which was one of those usual group tastings with lots of words like 'fruity' and 'citrus' from the host, but little real engagement. I didn't like most of the wines, including the 2024 Dead Arm Shiraz - too young. We were split into 2 groups and after the tasting, our group was led to the Dali exhibition of official prints and sculpture reproductions, with ludicrous prices. Then around the rest of the cube, where they proudly showed off the arty weirdness.



Views from the Cube were good.



Then onto Wirra Wirra, which was great. Met by a very enthusiastic host, who gave us the story of the winery, a short tour of some of the grounds, then the winery and a well led tasting, and then a massive lunch.



Every winery needs a trebuchet (one of the former winery owners also had a bit of an eccentric/eclectic taste). It works.



Tasting - I've always loved the Churchblock and liked most of the wines we tasted.





Lunch menu







I think everyone enjoyed Wirra Wirra and I'd like to go back.

 

[RooFlyer]

The dinner was very good - although my, and a number of others' steaks were left unfinished due to the big lunch!

Next morning, I did the Adelaide Oval tour with 5 others





Preparing for a Robbie Williams concert. The pitch weighs about 25 tonnes and gets removed.



The historic scoreboard

 

[RooFlyer]

My flight to DOH had a 10pm departure, hence the 4pm check-out. I asked if I could use the lounge for a couple of hours and surprised that it was granted as a big favour. These places don't usually mind - but maybe they thought I was pushing a friendship!

Check-in easy, and then to the Qantas J lounge (QR directed me to the VA lounge).

Went to security, to be amazed that it was LAGS needing to be in bags, nothing >100ml (or >100g - is that new??) and laptops out of bags. What?

QR915 gate pushback ADL 21:39 (20 mins early), arr DOH 04:15, (15 mins late). 13H30m; 3A. .A350-900 with QSuites and StarLink

Usual QSuite - facing backwards, to have the seat away from the aisle and by the window,



Amenity kit contents. There's an eyemask within the socks.



Internet speeds



People like to see the winelist and menu, so here they are









Pretty damn good, if you ask me. I lurrved the Vallee de Uco malbec!!

 

[RooFlyer]

Dine on demand, but anyone who had the meal had it after seat belts came off, I think. J cabin maybe 2/3 full.

Amuse bouche



Pumpkin soup



beef cheeks. Were pretty good. Presentation lacked a bit.





First breakfast (on board, prior to landing)



War? What war?



Gate was very close to the Al Mourjan garden lounge where I showered (no waiting) and made some calls etc.

 

[RooFlyer]

This time we pushed back DOH 10mins late and arrived IST the same amount late

QR239 dep DOH 8:10 arr IST 12:30; 4H22m. B777-300ER. J, 3K. QSuites and StarLink.

There was a plane sub at the last minute requiring J pax at least to be re-seated as we went through the gate. This caused an issue, as I'll recount in a bit.

Big queue to get out (about 5 more down to the left)



Dates and Arabic coffee to start (odd that they weren't offered ADL-DOH; usual on most flights)





Interestingly, the wine list was different. Unfortunately with an 8am start, I didn't indulge.







And the breakfast menu



Just a light one for me - this was second breakfast also a bit in the lounge.



I mentioned how the change of plane and re-seating caused an issue. Just got settled in 3K (window RH side) when the bloke behind me started complaining to his partner across the aisle. When FA came round, he really started complaining - was told they'd be together, but they aren't (are across the aisle). Guy got mildly aggressive; QR (female FA) said can't change unilaterally, perhaps someone can change seats. Guy basically said to effect - 'go off and do your job'. Amazingly, the FA gently pushed back. He just got more rude. FA went off and the guy started calling the FA a 'bi**h' etc to his partner. A few other choice words, clearly audible.

I went and found the the CSM and reported the guy. CSM came and spoke to the guy, who continued his complaint. A bit of time elapsed and I was pretty disappointed to discover that they found someone to move so he could move beside partner, fortunately on the other row from me. I got hold of the CSAM and said I'd support the FA if any complaint was raised, and I thought it was a pity that they guy won. In Australia it would be borderline for him to be offloaded. The guy opposite me, other side of the aisle then backed me up and said he'd also support the FA if a complaint.

Of course, whenever I was standing and looked into their conjoined 'suite', they weren't conversing, just with their own headphones on etc.

Just a Richard Cranium. I'm going to send feedback to QR about him and praising the crew.