Aurora Cruise R717. October 1st 2007.
Southampton Harbour Master
Leaving a grey Southampton.
Fleeces in evidence
A brighter wake
Sunbeds now occupied
A prime seat waiting for you in the Crow's Nest
A174 looking inward
A174 looking outward
Colombus points the way in Barcelona
Port offices in Barcelona
In Parc de la Ciutadella. Barcelona.
Tropical birds loose in same park. Note neck tags.
Similar birds in the trees.
A Mammoth in the parc.
Barcelona claims that this is their "Trevi Fountain"
Details of the fountain
Zoological museum. Barcelona
Zoological museum
Arc de Triomf. Barcelona
The Cava is on ice
Langoustine grilled to perfection
La Gavina restaurant in the Palau de Mar
New cruise terminal takes shape in Barcelona
A fond farewell from Barcelona?
Cruise ship "Albatros" in Barcelona. Operated by German company "Phoenix Reisen"
"MSC Musica" in Barcelona
"Costa Fortuna" in Barcelona
"Costa Fortuna" following "Aurora" out of Barcelona
Preparing for tendering, Villefranche Sur Mer
NCL's "Marco Polo" off Villefranche
Pullmantur's "Sky Wonder" off Villefranche
Villefranche Sur Mer
The Citadel in Villefranche Sur Mer
In the Citadel
Flags above the Citadel
Street scene in Villefranche Sur Mer
Rue Obscura, Villefranche Sur Mer
Rue Obscura,Villefranche Sur Mer
The little train in Villefranche Sur Mer
Outside The Pantheon on very busy Sunday morning
Inside The Pantheon, Rome
The open domed roof of The Pantheon.
Detail of fountain outside The Pantheon
The fountain outside The Pantheon
The Trevi Fountain
Detail of The Trevi Fountain
Crowds at The Trevi Fountain
Piazza del Quirinale. Rome
Monument in Piazza del Quirinale
Guards and police outside the palace in Quirinale, Rome
The Spanish steps
Not very impressive fountain at foot of Spanish Steps
Fountain in Piazza Navona
Near Umberto Bridge, Rome
St Peter's, fronted by a rather grubby River Tiber
The castle besde the "Angel" bridge near St Peter's.
AIDAvita in Civitavecchia
MSC Sinfonia in Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia
Costa Concordia leaving Civitavecchia
Vesuvius just after dawn
The Castel Sant' Elmo above Naples
The "empty-for-now" Maritime Station in Naples. Aurora got the Fish Quay!
Scenes in and around Pompeii
Costa Romantica and Costa Fortuna, Naples
Aurora in the distance
Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples
Palazzo Reale, Naples
Balconies in Santa Lucia, Naples
"Umberto" keeps watch over Santa Lucia. Great Moustache!
The island of Ischia, seen from Santa Lucia
Vesuvius from Santa Lucia waterfront.
Fountain in Santa Lucia
Castel dell'Ovo, Santa Lucia
Vesuvius early evening.
Pilot ready.
Go Pilot!
3 Italian cruise ships and a ferry now occupy the Maritime Station. Costa Romantica (nearly hidden), Costa Fortuna, and MSC Musica, plus the ferry.
Castel dell'Ovo in Santa Lucia, Naples
"Arrivederci Napoli"
Vesuvius over a twilight Naples
Aurora alongside in Palermo
Teatro Massimo, Palermo
Lion sculpture outside Teatro Massimo
"Quattro Canti" (Four corners) crossroads in Palermo.
Fontana Pretoria, Palermo
Close-up detail of Fontana Pretoria
Church of San Cataldo, Palermo
Church of San Maria dell' Ammiraglio (La Matorana), Palermo
Interior of Church of San Cataldo, Palermo
The two churches side by side
Fading signs to the churches
Ballaro Market, Palermo
The Cathedral, Palermo
World War 2 bomb damage, still awaiting repair.
Tourist transport, Palermo
Leaving a very wet Palermo.
Storm clouds sit over Palermo
Sunset through the clouds off Palermo
MSC Musica leaving Palermo
Celebrity Cruises "Century" beats us into Valencia
The "Water Bobbies" keeping an eye on things. Valencia
Dawn breaks over Valencia
Fountain in Plaza de la Virgen representing the River Turia
A fountain with no water?
A trickle of water appears, but still no fountain.
The Apostle Doorway of Valencia Cathedral.
Valancia Cathedral
Cathedral detail
"The Holy Grail" (or claimed to be) in Valencia Cathedral
King James 1, "El Conquistador", in Plaza Alfonso el Magnanimo, Valencia, seems to be pointing the way.
The cruise terminal Valencia
Covered walkway from Valencia cruise terminal
Airport-style bridge from walkway to ship. Valencia
The Crystal Pool
Cloudy and breezy approach to Gibraltar.
The tennis courts
Random group enjoying deck quoits.
The Riviera Pool
Entrance to the Crow's Nest
The Crow's Nest
Lift lobby by the Crow's Nest.
Raffles bar
The Playhouse
Cafe Bordeaux
The dreaded watch sale.
And perfume. Their last chance to mug us before Gib'.
Anderson's.
Mayfair shops.
Piccadilly shops
Piccadilly and Mayfair
Gibraltar Port Authority come out to met Aurora.
Gibraltar pilot boat arrives.......
..........and leaves.
The Rock
Lining the starboard rail
Ocean Majesty dwarfed by Norwegian Gem
Graffiti on the bow of Norwegian Gem
Three ships in Gib = Huge queues for the shuttle buses.
Looking down, literally, on our neighbours on Ocean Majesty.
Gibraltar Gun
The 100 ton gun, Gibraltar
Thoughtful provision of a natural canopy, to shade those queueing for the cable car (45 minutes)
Giraltar cable car
Barbary Ape, Gibraltar.
They WILL steal anything.
Enjoying ill-gotten gains
"Want it back?" "Just try it!"
Top of The Rock
Mother and baby.
The Great Siege Tunnel.
La Linea from the Siege Tunnels
Norwegian Gem leaving Gib
Aurora, in Gib, now has the quay to herself
The upper station of the cable car
Goodbye to Gibraltar
Passing "Norwegian Dream" in Straits of Gibraltar
A ghostly sailing ship in the Western Approaches to the English Channel
