Far from the madding crown in Aland land!
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2011
1
8
13
Trip End
Aug 31, 2011
What I did
walked, slept, cooked and drank!
Mariehamn, Aland, Finland
Friday, August 26, 2011
Just come back from town and had lunch at pool grill – restaurant manager came to join me for company I think they are on a keep the tears away offensive! He is Turkish with dodgy English, but the thought was lovely!
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Friday – en route to Aland land – between Sweden and Finland
Didn't get any further yesterday – so excited at getting free broadband in town that spent my time getting all the lovely photos of Helsinki, and their seemingly obsessional interest in all things reindeer –( or is it that they think that is what the tourists want to see and just feed that?), uploaded for you.
So here I am on Friday morning, sitting on the pool deck’s rather luxurious sun loungers, warm, as it is 22 degrees, and the place is deserted because the sun isn’t out! Next to me I have 3 Japanese ladies on their loungers in trousers, sweaters and coats, with a blanket round them – there is a mad American woman power walking round the jogging track above – why do they walk with such a silly attitude – she is carrying a bottle of water – she passes a bar every circuit – I am sure SS would arrange a drink for every time she passed!
Also have various US citizens wandering around with blankets around their shoulders – don’t they read the travel info before they come? You cant have just sunny weather clothes in Europe even in summer!
This place is a hive of activity, bar staff running around wanting to provide drinks and snacks every few minutes, and crew painting anything that stands still long enough! The ship is pristine anyway, but obviously not enough!
Now a fully dressed Japanese lady is also walking round the jogging track – but in a raincoat and hat – don’t think the American lady is appreciating competition – Oh dear – just seen her face – the body is fit, but the face is haggard – too much power walking! Is it too soon to have a drink do you think? 9.50? Probably!
We are due to arrive in Mariehamn (think that is how you spell it) at 12, and the latest is that we will be tendering in (ie going ashore in the lifeboats) – the people on excursions have to go first, which is understandable, then will go ashore and explore what is supposed to be a nice little island community – an autonomous region under Finland, where most people speak Swedish. My Scandinavian history isn’t very good – I had no idea that Sweden were the major aggressors in days gone by –it was the Swedish that the Russians built their fortresses to keep out, and they seem to have rampaged over most of the Baltic at some time or another.
Hopefully, as it is still Finland, there will be free wifi there as well – not that I am obsessed, but satellite wifi is slow and expensive, and takes ages to upload photos – which are probably more interesting that my ramblings!
Oh oh – jogging track busy now – lots of walkers, more in full gear, and another Japanese lady – but the coat is off now – water bottle lady is now jogging to show off, and another one is doing her stretches against the railings – I am sure that is a railing that was painted earlier – hope it is quick drying paint – or she will have a stripey bottom!
Last night, tried to get a table at the Italian restaurant, but it was fully booked, so was going to main restaurant instead. On way to bar for cocktail, Rayan ( butler) said, 'let me try again for you’, he had been off duty when I asked earlier, so when I got a phonecall from the Maitre D of the restaurant later, saying he would be happy to accommodate me on a shared table that evening, I said yes – thinking I could score another star! So had some champagne for Dutch courage – I tell you, total abstinence when I get back to give my liver time to regenerate, and duly went up at 7.30. But they weren’t expecting me – no booking in my name, but the Maitre D said he would find a table, put me by a window with fab view, and asked if I would like him to make some phonecalls to get me company! I said no I was fine! I then realised that the phonecall had been from the Restaurant Maitre D, not Terrazzo, and it had been my friend from lunch! Oops! Ignorance is bliss, I had assumed that when he said restaurant manager, that it had been the Italian one – never mind, I got a table, and I certainly wasn’t the only request they had to deal with – a group of Germans didn’t like where their table was, and got them to move the whole table, literally the furniture, before they would sit down – in comparison, fitting me in was a doddle!
Anyway, have discovered that it has the same menu every night, so that is good as I can work my way through it if I like! The wine to start with is Proseco sparkling, and with that is a selection of breads with oil and balsamico di modena (not the Tesco value stuff I have!), then last night I had the selection of appetisers, a square plate, about 12" big, with 9 ‘holes’ in it – each one with a different appetiser – Delyth you would have LOVED it, Fiona, you would hate it! I tried to memorise them all, but I have a few gaps, will have to go again!
From the top – little swirl of prosciutto ham, olives in herb oil, chopped up tomatoes and peppers – bit like a cold ratatouille (I can see Fiona’s face screwing up in disgust!), mini chunk of pickled artichoke (I think!) , chopped mushrooms in oil, mini mozzarellas in oil, little oval blobs of something, could have been cheese, but it wasn’t mozzarella, (so educated I am!), another swirl of meat, looked a bit fatty to me, so didn’t try it, and something else I cant remember. If I go again, I will take my camera. All very nice.
Then different white wine – sorry Delyth, wasn’t paying attention, with the nicest food I have had to date – an absolutely divine spaghetti carbonara – it was so nice, I almost cancelled my main course, and asked for another plateful! It was YUMMY with a capital Yum! Relished every mouthful!
Then had red wine (?!) and the sliced fillet steak on mashed potatoes again – very nice with red wine jus on top. (You remember the programme we saw about grumpy food Fiona – they have it all here – tian of vegetables, froth of jus, timbale of this, etc! I smile every time I see the words on the menu!)
Anyway, couldn’t finish the beef – was so full of spaghetti, and no way could manage dessert, so left and thanked the Maitre D on way out for accommodating me, hoping I wouldn’t bump into Restaurant manager on way out! HE wont be sitting with me for lunch again!
Early to bed – not even a Baileys! Watched the news whilst eating my chocs – back to the basic ones again, they are very nice Florentine chocolates, haven’t had the posh ones again –just the once – maybe they have run out, or maybe they are rationed!
At last my products have been replenished! I am using everything in the shower – shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and soap, trying to use them up so I can start collecting some samples for my friends – I think they are wise to me as they only replace when the bottles are empty – and in the bin! Never mind, if I haven’t got any by the end of the cruise, I shall just ask!
Must go – cookery demo at 10.45 – hope this one really is one! Toodle pip!
7.20 – yes it was excellent- with tasters, and a menu/recipe sheet. The quantities are for 50 – so one dull person (no prizes for guessing what nationality!) asked how would she cook it for 4 – the chef could hardly contain himself when saying – just cut the quantities down madam! The same nationality wouldn’t try the carbonara as the egg yolks weren’t cooked – but they have been eating it in the restaurant all week!
Didn’t have to tender into town, just walked off the ship – after announcement that since we were berthed there was no need to meet in the lounge first – that they could walk off the ship – I wonder how some of them leave their homes and get back in one piece!
A pleasant holiday island, not a lot happens here, 10 minute walk into centre, and another 5 to the other side of the island. 5 minute walk around town centre, then back to the ship – no I didn’t use the bus shuttle provided!
Then a totally lazy afternoon, fell asleep watching Miami CSI, and ordered tea for 4.30, and Rayan threw in some cookies – he is a sweetie. Havent had him deliver my breakfast the last 2 mornings, so have had to make my own tea! I could get to like this butler lark!
Off to the pool grill tonight for dinner, booked it at lunch time – not sure what they serve, but needs a try!
Report back later – probably not many photos today – no wifi in town today – so saving internet credit – will upload photos when have free access – maybe Copenhagen – sorry!
Toodle pip till later!
10pm – and slightly pickled!
LOVELY evening!
Pool Grill becomes cook your own at night! You are served starters an nibbles, then they bring you a hot volcanic rock to cook your own food on! I had fillet steak and the biggest prawn I have ever seen! It took 5 mins to cook! IT was lush!
Had lots of wine as well – Australian Rolling Sauvignon Blanc (Well named the way I came down the corridor to the cabin!) and a red from Chile.
Then my friends from formal night, Jeffrey and Laura from California were at the table next to me, and don’t want me to be on my own on a formal night, do If I don’t get an invitation to the officers table, they would like me to join them – otherwise I can join them for the barbecue on Monday evening! They are in suite 727 – one of the biggest on the ship! See I can mix with anyone!
Just going to send this before falling into bed! Night night all!
Love from slightly sozzled Eryl!
