December trip and Christmas market cruise

December 20, 2018

December trip and Christmas market cruise

Minus 4, pitch black and just getting the first ferry over to Gourock. We are heading down to go on a four night Christmas market cruise to Amsterdam and Hamburg. Stopping off to visit my sister, relatives and friends, plus the odd RHS garden.

The roads were icy at first, but as soon as the sun came up it became very pleasant. The clouds over the hills were very dramatic, reflecting the sun on the underside. Reminded me of Gwen’s usual saying. Red sky in the morning sailors warning.

In fact, the day proved to be glorious, and being a Sunday, the traffic for the most part was fairly light, although as usual, around Knutsford down to Stoke was a crawl. But that was due to the never ending roadwork’s.

Found Iris, my sister, in good form, but she really looks like my mum these days. Both my nephews Ian and Paul were around, so we all had a great chat, followed by a takeaway Chinese meal, the odd glass of wine and a game on the Wii. Had a great laugh, just what the run up to Christmas needs.

Overnight at a very pleasant Premier Inn near Leicester before heading East to see another old friend who had moved from Dover to Norfolk.

We have never visited this part of the world, so decided to stop off in various locations, the first being Kings Lynn.

Our only image of the town was from an old tv programme that featured Stephen Fry, who was a solicitor in the town, that lost his brother when he walked into the sea to commit suicide. The programme was called KINGDOM and ran for two seasons before being pulled by the ITV.

The town did not disappoint. King's Lynn, known until 1537 as Bishop's Lynn, was a mixture of old and new, but there were many ancient buildings dotted around the centre, including the Guildhall, the Minster, Hanseatic Warehouses and many fishermen’s cottages.

Even though it was freezing we had a pleasant stroll down to the harbour and back through the historic streets. Very enjoyable, but the town looks fairly down at heal when it comes to the shops. I have never seen so many pawnshops, cash for gold and money for goods shops. And there were a lot of eastern European’s walking around, possibly seasonal pickers who have stayed over for the winter.

From here we pressed on to Sandringham, the Queens East Anglia residence. A wooded area that looks palatial. You could just imagine the ancient gentry out hunting the stags in times past.

Had a nice break in the cafe, and looked round the visitor centre, but we didn't have time to do any walking or enter the grounds proper.

Need to return for a full days visit. Possibly stay at the Shearings hotel in Hunstanton. Although the town is a little down market, a rather kiss me quick seaside resort, with funfair and arcades along the front. But more importantly no parking other than expensive council operated sites.

In fact, as we drove along the coastal road, we could not find anywhere to quickly stop to see the coast without paying the prerequisite £2 for and hour, even though we only wanted to stop for ten minutes to see the coast. Infuriating to say the least. Must put a lot of people off, and definitely not assist the local commerce in the winter months.

This irritating sequence continued all the way along the coast until we reached Holkham Hall.

An amazing Palladian house, the ancestral home of the Earl of Leicester, with great walks through the deer paddocks, and numerous monuments. Great shop and restaurant. Another location to add to our return list once we have more time.

Amazingly, the villages from here seemed to have the right financial idea, as there was free parking in all the commercial areas.

Galton Blackiston, reputedly, one of the finest chefs in UK has his restaurant and hotel at Morston Hall located further along the coastal route. So we just had to stop off the see what it was like and find out the prices. After all, if we were going to revisit the area, it sounded good to try out the food.

Morston Hall was located two miles from Blakeney, but unfortunately they don’t do lunch other than Sunday lunch. I prefer lunch, but not necessarily Sunday lunch. Being an old fart, l like to eat earlier than later. So it will have to be dinner.

Then just up the road from Morton Hall is Wiveton, home of the new TV star the eccentric Desmond MacCarthy who owns Wiveton Hall, called Normal for Norfolk. A BBC documentary following the exploits of the eccentric owner as he bumbles through the daily operation of running the estate. He operates self-catering cottages and runs a very popular restaurant cafe. So it may even be worth staying there, just to experience the star in person.

Anyway, it was then off once again to Cromer before heading south to the broads and our friends house in Stalham.

By the time we reached Jane’s bungalow it was pitch black, so it took some time to find the exact location. It’s amazing how difficult it is to see house numbers whilst in the car. Spent a lot of time driving up onto the pavement to get out of the rush hour traffic to get closer to the house signs.
Eventually found her home and opened up the farm gate and drove in the drive.
Jane and Nelson her dog was there to greet us in the porch. Then a quick tour of the house, our bedroom and eventually her man Brian. Before very long, it was Gin o clock, followed by a top up before heading to the dining room and a wonderful dinner, washed down by the odd glass of wine.

Before retiring we did a quick circle of the town with Nelson and Jane on rather unsteady pegs. That’s us not Jane, she doesn't drink alcohol, but she is not shy of ensuring her guests are constantly topped up.

Up early for breakfast with Jane, whilst Brian languished in his bed. From all accounts he isn’t a morning person.
Jane then takes out for a walk along and old disused railway track in the broads. Once again we were fortunate to have cold but sunny weather, and the circular walk was very pleasant.

As soon as we finished Jane settled the dog down in the boot and we headed out to the high street and the six different charity shops. Judith and Jane were in their element.

back for lunch and then out again in the afternoon for a quick tour of the broads. Amazed at the number of boats at each area, but then again its winter so they are all in for their refurbishment prior to the new season.

Knackered by the time we got back. But we hadn’t stopped. It was a quick wash and change and out again for dinner at the local pub, before retiring to bed worn out.

The following morning said our goodbyes and headed south to see Judith’s cousin in Little Oakley, near Dovercourt, Hawrich. She had recently lost her stepdaughter, but seemed to be coping under the circumstances.

Paula fancied some fish and chips so we popped into Dovercourt and bought three medium haddock with chips. When we got them opened up, they were enormous.

Took all my time to eat mine, so you could imagine Judith and Paula, they ate the fish and the chips were left for another day.
Was good to catch up with Paula, although its quite sad how she is left alone after the death of her stepdaughter. but she is fortunate to have plenty of family and friends who keep in touch.

Then its another Premier inn before driving to Tilbury to catch a Cruise Maritime ship for a four day cruise to Amsterdam and Hamburg for the Christmas markets.

The ship, Columbus, their newest and largest cruise ship with 775 cabins including 150 singles with a maximum of 1400 passengers and 600 crew. It had been recently renovated according to the literature. It used to be part of the Princess group, then it was taken over by P&O and renamed the Arcadia before joining CMV.

First impressions:
Cabins are very spacious and well set out. Staff seems exceedingly pleasant, but that could change. We have only been on an hour, but first impressions are good.

Food was very good in the buffet, but the choices were rather sparse. Nevertheless, you can’t have everything. The ship was very pleasant and far superior to the Marco Polo. Staffs are a true mixture of European, Indonesian, Indian and Thai. In fact would imagine it’s a full cross section from the world community, without any real bias to one country, other than the usual Greek captain and mates.

Service in the restaurant was exceedingly efficient, and the restaurant had a really nice feel, relaxed atmosphere, quite calming. The food portions were small, but that seems the trend these days on cruise ship’s, but the food presentation and taste were very acceptable.

Drink prices were similar to those in a UK pub, not over the top as you often find on some cruise lines. Yet l get the feeling that most people opted for the drink package at £150 for the four night cruise. The bars were overflowing; especially the tavern, and people were not holding back, a real party ship.

Breakfast in the buffet was good, but then again, we got in early as we wanted to get off to walk round Amsterdam. As we waited for the signal to disembark whilst having a coffee, the buffet turned into a bun fight, a real free for all. Not enough tables, and people suffering from hangovers getting grumpy and annoyed.
We left them to it and ventured out into the sunny dry, but very cold city.

Had an amazing time, walking through the shopping district, diverting on occasions to see the architecture around the canals. The narrow lanes held some very interesting shops, decorated in a true European fashion with the subtle addition of seasonal glitz, along with the odd half naked women selling her wares.
It was bloody freezing, so we had to keep popping into different shops, just to warm up. But it also enabled us to pick up some interesting bits to take back home. Spent all morning out and returned just in time to catch a late lunch in the restaurant. Devils on horseback and Singapore noodles to follow. Very tasty, although the noodles could have been warmer.
Then it was time for a lecture, all about Engleburt Humperdinck. Not the UK singer but the German composer, along with music and history on Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. An ex policeman Brendan Lally was the guest speaker, and he was very agreeable.

Before we new it, we were having dinner. Once again the food was very acceptable, Judith had two salads, Squid followed by Quails egg and blue cheese. I had a salad to start followed by roast leg of lamb that was very tasty. Only downside was the short measure of wine Judith received. Its a real hit and miss whether or not you get the correct measure. Often they just pour into unmarked glasses. Sometimes you gain, but more often you get a short measure. In the UK you have to use a measure if pouring into un marked glasses, but they never seem to do that on the cruises we go on. In fact, the last time we went to the ballet at Covent Garden they just poured into an unmarked glass.
The barmen told us that it was quicker and customers got more!

Evening show was based on Broadway, and the dancers and singers were very accomplished, really talented and very entertaining.

The following day we awoke to be on the river Elbe heading for Hamburg, expected to be free to go ashore by 12.30. In fact we had docked by 11.30, although the clearing of the ship took us through till 12.30 after all.
Decided to have breakfast in the restaurant. Due mainly because they only have haddock and kippers available in there, not in the buffet. Started with a bagel filled with cream cheese, avocado and smoked salmon. Delicious, but for some reason they hadn't toasted the bagel. Strange. Then we waited for the kippers to arrive whilst chatting to two other couples and consuming masses of coffee. The smallest portion of kippers arrived. Two one inch pieces of the type you used to get in a boil in a bag. Tasty but literally only two mouthfuls.

Then off we went to catch the bus into the centre of Hamburg. What a magnificent city it is.