We slept till about 0830 which is amazing for us. The benefit of the inside cabin’s total blackout. We generally pick an inside cabin, unless the voyage really benefits a balcony. These transatlantic ones are a bit of a waste of a balcony in my opinion. It’s just sea out there 95% of the time and a lot of sea days when the ship is underway and therefore the balconies are windy and rattly. As I say, we don’t spend a lot of time in it really. Next year when we go to Alaska, we will have a balcony and use it! Anyway…. we slept like logs and woke up late and already moored up in Vigo.

It’s Sunday so we knew all the shops would be closed but many restaurants will be open so we’d planned for that. Had a nice leisurely breakfast and then headed out about 11am. It was noticeably warmer than it has been so far – 18C and low wind. Vigo is right up the head of a long fjord, surrounded by high green undulating hills covered in pine. The water is brackish and perfect for shellfish farming, particularly oysters and there’s a massive number of platforms growing them in the fjord.

We’ve been here quite a few times over the 26 years we’ve been cruising. A lot of cruises heading south out of the UK, especially in the winter, plan a stop in Vigo, just south of the Bay of Biscay. I guess if there is a rough crossing, it gives a chance for the boat and the passengers to recover a bit on dry land. It’s a very Spanish town, creeping from the seashore up into the hills, quite interesting to walk around on any day other than Sunday. Also handy for day trips to Santiago de Compostela, a place of pilgrimage for 1500 years. The ship moored up right adjacent to the old town.

After breakfast Bob had a quick gym session to loosen his knee and then we headed out.

Anyway, we walked ashore and had a short walk around the old town and then plonked down in one of the seafood cafes that line the narrow streets of the Riu Pescatori. There are so many, clustered around the fresh seafood market. We just wanted something light but couldn’t pass up the chance to eat some of the produce of the area.

Of course we started with 2 glasses of fresh white Galician wine and then had a platter of 12 local oysters, just served plain with cut lemons. They tasted of the sea.. delicious. I could have eaten dozens. Then we had a plate of grilled octopus or pulpo which is very much the local favourite. The octopus was so soft, no hint of rubber band at all. Just soft and delicious. It was drizzled with a tomato/chilli olive oil which was delicious mopped up at the end with some crusty bread. It was really nice. The best way to spend time in Vigo. I wish we’d been hungrier.

An old couple from the ship came and sat by us, gosh they were a miserable pair. She didn’t like anything on the menu and wouldn’t eat. He ordered one oyster…. just to try it…. the waiter looked astonished. In the end she had a plate of chips. We tried making yumyum noises and exclamations to encourage them but to no avail… lol…. such a shame they missed out.

In the afternoon, Bob went up to the pool deck and had a long soak in a hot tub. I knitted for a while and then went and got two soft serve ice creams and went and joined him. The sun was really nice, very warm. Unfortunately it will change overnight to the big storm coming in from the Azores. The Captain has told us to expect 5 metre waves and gusting Force 9. Should be ok by the end of the day as we approach Madeira.

We sailed at 5pm and Bob and I took some wine up on deck to enjoy the sail down the fjord and the last of the afternoon sun. A large pod of dolphins accompanied us and a few yachts. Lovely.

Tonight we had a nice dinner in the main restaurant and got chatting to a couple on the next table who came from Leeds and also liked holidaying on cruises and in India. Small world. We were too tired for the late show and turned in. Found we had a friend waiting on the bed!

The sea is definitely lumpier tonight. The ship is barely swaying but occasionally there is a jolt. It’s not going to keep me awake!