The ship anchored just off shore but the captain announced it was too windy and the seas were too rough to use the ship's tenders to ferry passengers to shore. All shore excursions were cancelled and the situation would be re-assessed in a couple of hours. On board it didn't feel too bad, at anchor and compared to last night.
Trapped onboard, the ship's laundry room became a very popular and congested area.
About 10.30 the captain anounced that the weather had moderated sufficiently for passengers to go ashore. Watching the first boat leave, I decided that the comparable calmness of the big ship was best and there was no way I was getting on a tender for the albeit short bouncy journey to shore.
However, Val decided she was going to adventure it and went ashore.
Over to Val ...
After rocking and rolling all night we arrived at Limnos at about 6 am. The water is much calmer but it is very windy, too windy to launch the tenders. Greg was feeling O K and managed to eat some toast and grilled tomato. The captain announces all shore excursions are cancelled. Anne and Bob had booked a really interesting one that included a visit to the archeological Museum, the British Cemetery and W W 1 Memorial, and a winery. What more could you ask for! But it's not going to happen!
Despite the earlier disapointments of the morning, the evening presented some highlights. About 7pm the ship approached the entrance to the Dardanelles. As we approached, it became a little of an emotional experience, being there, at that place, in late May when the Gallipoli campaign would still have been going on 100 years ago.
As the ship entered the straits, most of the Australians on board had gathered either on the upper front deck, or inside the front level 10 Observation Bar. Some of the other passengers (mostly Americans) were a bit bemused at all the excitement so the "event" needed a bit of explanation. It was interesting to learn that a lot of Americans now do their own "pilgrimage" thing, to the D-Day landing beaches of Normandy. There seemed to be some confusion about what we were seeing and where the landing had taken place.
Passing through the opening to the Dardanelles, then up past the narrowest point (Cannakle - Eceabat), darkness meant it was time to adjourn to the dining room to celebrate with our last dinner on board.
After rocking and rolling all night we arrived at Limnos at about 6 am. The water is much calmer but it is very windy, too windy to launch the tenders. Greg was feeling O K and managed to eat some toast and grilled tomato. The captain announces all shore excursions are cancelled. Anne and Bob had booked a really interesting one that included a visit to the archeological Museum, the British Cemetery and W W 1 Memorial, and a winery. What more could you ask for! But it's not going to happen!
After some work on repacking suitcases ready for disembarking the next day, we settled down in The Square (a lounge area on level 7) to read, chat, snack, blog etc. At about 10.30 the captain announced that conditions had improved and the tender was now available for anyone who wanted to go ashore. The others declined but I needed dry land and some exercise.
Limnos was described as an unspoilt island and from my brief visit I think it actually is, or as close as you are going to get in this day and age. I walked along what I think was the main shopping street and while there were a couple of souvenir shops they were mixed in with the baker, butcher and supermarket etc obviously used by the locals. It is too small for most cruise ships to visit and the marina was quite small so tourism would not be as overwhelming as on other islands we have visited.
I enjoyed a walk up to the ruins of a Byzantine Castle on the headland. The views across the island were picturesque. But it was very windy up there so I didn't stay long. I didn't realise it at the time but in the distance I was looking at the Gallipoli Peninsula. Limnos was one of the islands where the Australian troops waited before the launch of the Gallipoli Campaign. And to where some wounded were evacuated.
I could also see what looked like a sheltered bay and beach on the other side of the island but there wasn't time to walk there.
It was an early departure at about 2.30 from Limnos for the sea trip to Istanbul. The four of us had booked in for a Galley Tour at 4.30pm. Greg decided not to go and I only lasted about 15 minutes. It was a confined space and the ship was 'moving around' so I couldn't even manage the champagne and nibbles they were offering.
Back to the ship ...
We had also done a Navigation Bridge Tour two days before which we enjoyed.
As the ship entered the straits, most of the Australians on board had gathered either on the upper front deck, or inside the front level 10 Observation Bar. Some of the other passengers (mostly Americans) were a bit bemused at all the excitement so the "event" needed a bit of explanation. It was interesting to learn that a lot of Americans now do their own "pilgrimage" thing, to the D-Day landing beaches of Normandy. There seemed to be some confusion about what we were seeing and where the landing had taken place.
Passing through the opening to the Dardanelles, then up past the narrowest point (Cannakle - Eceabat), darkness meant it was time to adjourn to the dining room to celebrate with our last dinner on board.
The Turkish memorial Çannakale Şehitleri Aniti (Cannakale Martyrs' Memorial) on the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula at the entrance to the Dardanelle Strait
After our final dinner on board it was time to get those suitcases packed and outside the door into the corridor, ready for collection. For someone who doesn't like shopping I was surprised how many extra bits and pieces I had to squeeze in.