Some island cruising - The Canaries and Sicily, then Milan

[RooFlyer]

We drove to the south, stopping at a small sea side town for lunch.



Stopped to view the fish market. Conga ells?





Lunch was forgettable and the wines terrible.



Beach wasn't appealing either.



We choofed off and just 30 mins later, stopped at a park for a 'bathroom break'. At least half the bus went.

 

[RooFlyer]

Then to some high lookouts. Unfortunately the front which was bringing tonight's rough seas had hit, and it was a white-out.



Somewhere way below us is the ocean.



The lookout was a building designed by Caesar Manrique, who I may have mentioned before, a Spanish artist and architect. His buildings are revered and he designed on spectacular lookout building on each island.







Amazing drangon blood tree



Then, back to the boat. Past the little airport ... I imagine landing would be a bit interesting.





And our little boat, ready to cross to Las Palmas in the bad seas

 

[RooFlyer]

Here's an interesting fact:



That evening I was invited to the Captain's table for dinner; him, another staff member, a single lady from Oz and a couple from France/USA. A small group and a very nice dinner. Main course was presented theatrically by 6 waiters bringing plates under clotches, setting them before each person and lifting simultaneously. Something like:





After the dinner finished, the seas began to rise as the long-awaited front reached up. This is Windy waves - we are going from the LH island to Gran Canaria. In the event, the high seas weren't as bad as thought (although it was def rough) and the forecast calmer area in the lee of the islands was still pretty rough. I took a pill and survived pretty well. Most people seemed to.



We arrived back at Las Palmas about 11am. After lunch, an excursion had been scheduled in lie of missing La Gomera and arriving back at Las Palmas 2/3 a day early.

Out of town on the usual v good road. We are headed for the church at Arucas.

 

[RooFlyer]

Going to resume when I get home. To much going on to keep up this time!

 

[Pushka]

Going to resume when I get home. To much going on to keep up this time!

Hope all is ok.

 

[love_the_life]

Going to resume when I get home. To much going on to keep up this time!

Hope nothing serious.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hope all is ok.

Hope nothing serious.

Thanks .

Actually, something serious had cropped up at home but doesn’t need me to fly back, thank goodness.

Mainly full on activities on the second cruise, plus I’m going for more long sightseeing walks in the pm, some nice dinners with new friends, leaving me pretty knackered in the evening.

Currently in Milan, keeping up the pace. Leaving for Singapore this evening where I have 2 nights, with nothing planned

 

[stu961]

An efficient shuttle to the airport at 9am, found the IB Business check in, and Fast Track took me through security, quick-smart.

The IB lounge was ok - not quite what I expect at a base lounge.

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I left the lounge early, as usual and did a couple of laps around T4 before they announced the gate.

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Bus gate, then something I haven’t experienced before. I was in 1A so could see but not understand what was being said. Boarding finished, then 2 girls, maybe 8 and 14 ‘held’ at the front and a lot of messaging between ground crew, cabin crew and flight deck going back and forth.

I gathered that they were travelling, but parental consent was not evident. After 25 mins, the older girl was led off the plane. No tears or grief - the girls appeared to understand the situation. Later, the pilot came on and explained much the same. ?? Should have been detected at the gate?

Satellite lounge is much better, T4 lounge can be a zoo at times

 

[kookaburra75]

Thanks .

Actually, something serious had cropped up at home but doesn’t need me to fly back, thank goodness.

Mainly full on activities on the second cruise, plus I’m going for more long sightseeing walks in the pm, some nice dinners with new friends, leaving me pretty knackered in the evening.

Currently in Milan, keeping up the pace. Leaving for Singapore this evening where I have 2 nights, with nothing planned

I'm glad to see you enjoying yourself and not thinking of us back home

 

[RooFlyer]

Where was I ...

Oh yes, this gothic cathedral at Arucas, Gran Canarias.



Its not a cathedral and its not that old. The church of San Juan Bautista was begun in 1909 and finished in 1977, although services began in 1917. Basically a vanity project of several of the local noble families who thought their old church was a bit small and dowdy. Built in the local basalt rock.



The town hall Casa Consistorial - Ayuntamiento de Arucas , from about 1875.



Then back on the coach to Teror, in the central north of the island.



Shepherds witnessed an apparition of Mary, mother of Jesus in 1481 and the site became an important pilgrimage destination. The town hall.



Calle Real de la Plaza, lined with tourist shops but nice to walk down, with the many balconies overhanging.





Town square in front of the Basilika "Nuestra Señora del Pino" ('Our Lady of the Pine') with this massive fig tree in front.



The church, now a papal basilica was named for the Virgen del Pino, Virgin of the Pine, the patron saint of Gran Canaria.

The current church was built in the 1760s, but incorporates, on the left, reddish stone from the earlier version



Nice gargoyle.

 

[RooFlyer]

Back to Las Palmas. A few views from the bus - lush countryside, prone to land slides.



As I've said before the road infrastructure here is excellent.



Second last destination was a lookout over La Cicer beach. Open straight out to the Atlantic, and quite rough today. They do get some 'white' beach sands on the Canaries.


The city auditorium, which our guide seemed very proud of.

 

[RooFlyer]

Finally, a lookout over the port and some of the town. You can see Le Bouganville just to the left of the tower.



The pink building to the right is the Santa Catalena hotel and the posh part of town in the foreground - with the trees.



Spent the night in port, then as per usual, they kicked us off by 9am. I had a 1pm flight and was intending to catch a taxi to the airport, but waiting outside the cruise terminal, none arrived. Then I remembered what a fellow pax told me about the bus - the station was close by, with a good airport service. I checked Google and it was actually 10 mins level walk. Off I went.

Excellent facility; underground, a main bus terminal. Waiting faculties a bit rustic.



Got to the airport about 10am for check-in for my BA flight to LGW. Don't cha hate it when the people at the front of the queue have 'issues'? ANd you know there is also a family of 6 between you and the counter, with a mountain of bags & stuff?



LPA is a good, modern airport. The lounge was Sala Galdós VIP and it was a bloody good lounge (also Priority Pass)

This is the larger of two 'halves' - both in use today.







Heaps of nice drinks and nibbles/snacks



Jamon Iberico .. of a sort



Great outside terrace with sweeping views of the apron and runway.

 

[RooFlyer]

The flight was called; I had registered for EES on entering Spain so here I just had to scan my passport to exit, but there were machines to register too.



More DF within the gate pen!



BA2709 dep LPA 13:00 arr LGW 17:00, 1 C, Eurobusiness. Probably being a bit precious, but I wasn't wild about the crew up in the cabin having a chat - this immediately before doors closing.



Lunch menus



The truffled pasta - it was quite nice, but I only picked at it.



Our flight path.



The flight had wi-fi which was useless for most of it. I discovered why - European coverage. 'Basic' = messaging.



Approaching LGW and a go-around; my second only ever. It must have been <100 feet above the deck.

 

[Warks]

Milan - I was a bit underwhelmed by the last supper. It was also very amusing watching people come in an immediately start photographing it and video and selfies without actually looking at it.

Duomo is well worth paying extra to walk around the top - there is a lift to the top and I think you have to walk down - I couldn't find my way back to the lift but that may be deliberate.

Public transport easy to navigate and I love the old trams

The BA lounge at LIN is OK but doesn't have toilets (or didn't last year) but you can easily catch the metro from the city out to the airport.

The railway station is pretty impressive and @TheRealTMA recommended Pecks for food - pretty spectacular.

Enjoy

We were in Milan last April and I knew the Last Supper booked out fast and tickets were only released three months beforehand. Knowing all that I still missed out as it sold out instantly. We did happen to be there when one day was closed due to a holiday which made it that much harder. We loved the walk around the roof of the Duomo. Be aware there are all sorts of online scammers selling tickets for it though.
We actually quite enjoyed the modern downtown area of Milan CBD with the futuristic buildings but also the lovely open grasslands near the apartment block with the plants growing all over it (like the one near UTS in Sydney). They'd let the grass grow long for the spring flowers. Was quite the lovely space.

 

[TheRealTMA]

We were in Milan last April and I knew the Last Supper booked out fast and tickets were only released three months beforehand. Knowing all that I still missed out as it sold out instantly. We did happen to be there when one day was closed due to a holiday which made it that much harder. We loved the walk around the roof of the Duomo. Be aware there are all sorts of online scammers selling tickets for it though.
We actually quite enjoyed the modern downtown area of Milan CBD with the futuristic buildings but also the lovely open grasslands near the apartment block with the plants growing all over it (like the one near UTS in Sydney). They'd let the grass grow long for the spring flowers. Was quite the lovely space.

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Milan (Piazza Cordusio 1) is a fabulous reuse of an old historic building Palazzo delle Poste building and definately worth a visit. The food and even the coffee are quite good.

 

[RooFlyer]

My first time at LGW and its an old, rambling thing. Through immigration easy (did my ETA ages ago). I was at the south terminal, and needed to North terminal to get to the Sofitel. Very easy on the connector train/tram and the Sofitel is right at the north terminal tram point.

Sofitel has an atrium in the middle, and I get a room facing that, away from elevators on the top (exec lounge) floor, and it was good. No noise, good blackout curtains and nice bed.











The exec lounge was small, but had a pretty good spread of food and drinks. Open 10am to 10pm, with desserts brought out from 8pm. Greta runway views.







Breakfast was included and was a let-down.

 

[RooFlyer]

In the morning, it was back to the South Terminal to catch KM Air Malta to Valetta (MLA), where the next cruise departed from. I've flown KM a number of times before and generally like them.

I discovered that my 'business value' fare didn't include lounge access (and only 20kg luggage, but I knew that).

KM117 dep LGW late 12:09 arr MLA early 4:04pm. A320neo, 1C (I choose a lot of 'C' seats these days as I have an issue with my R leg, that needs it stretched out a lot).

Eurobusness with nothing in the middle seat.





Lunch was good, and substantial, but the Maltese wines were atrocious.



And after the meal service, the crew disappeared behind the curtain, as they usually do.



We passed Stromboli - a volcano off Sicily that we would pass on our cruise, but the filthy windows prevented any useful pictures.



But then Mt Etna loomed into view - magnificent! 3,300m high, Europe's tallest strata-volcano. We would be close to this on our cruise, too. Just a trickle of smoke today.





And then into MLA.

 

[RooFlyer]

Easy arrival at MLA, get a Bolt to the Mercure at St Julien's, north of Valetta. Hadn't been to this area before and I chose it mainly to have a look around.



I chose a Privilege Junior suite with queen size bed, lounge, large terrace and sea views., abt 250 euro. Nice!







Note the annoying wand-only shower, at low level.









Welcome amenity from Accor - Maltese biscuits - too much!



Rooftop pool was inviting, but freezing!! But could sit in the sun, as it set and have a G&T, which was nice.



Rooftop views

 

[RooFlyer]

Went for a walk. I discovered that St Julien's is in fact a bit of a party area - lots of bars along the waterfront.



Mercure is the one just left of centre, 5 square bays across.



As i was walking past one of the bar/restaurants, I noticed an empty table at the front, so I seagulled it. Ordered some calamari which was forgettable, and a local beer (Cisk) which was OK.



Continued my walk to the east, where there was a marina. Yowsers - these places must cost a packet, and then there are the boats ...



Maybe not this one. Feelings of inadequacy?