Iberia 2014

By Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams

A 12 day cruise onboard P&O Azura visiting Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Cartagena, Barcelona and Ibiza. Come with us as we enjoy the cruise life and the hot Mediterranean.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326169572

Ian Parkinson

Ian Parkinson is the New Wine North & East Regional Leader. Ian leads All Saints' Church Marple, Stockport, a multi-congregational church meeting in three very different communities, one urban, one suburban and one a village. His passion is to support and resource leaders and churches as they seek to reach their communities with the gospel.

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Iberia 2014

Iberia 2014

By Richard Williams and Ian Parkinson

© 2015 by Richard Williams and Ian Parkinson. All rights reserved

Table of Contents

Day 1, Saturday 2nd August – Southampton

Day 2, Sunday 3rd August – At Sea

Day 3, Monday 4th August – At Sea

Day 4, Tuesday 5th August – Lisbon, Portugal

Day 5, Wednesday 6th August – Cadiz

Day 6, Thursday 7th August – Gibraltar

Day 7, Friday 8th August – Cartagena

Day 8, Saturday 9th August – Barcelona

Day 9, Sunday 10th August – Ibiza

Day 10, Monday 11th August – At Sea

Day 11, Tuesday 12th August – At Sea

Day 12, Wednesday 13th August – At Sea

Day 13, Thursday 14th August – Southampton

Day 1, Saturday 2nd August – Southampton

Weather:Partly cloudy, occasional showers, good visibility

Temperature:20°C

Wind:South Westerly, force 4

Having travelled to Southampton the day before, we were ready to begin our voyage to Spain and Portugal aboard P&O’s Azura…

Liz had arrived in Birchwood on Friday morning aboard a slightly delayed train.  Whilst Richard finished washing and drying some towels, we had some lunch (McDonald’s finest bought by Ian), and then packed all of our cases into the car.  The weather was not very encouraging and it had been raining for most of the morning. 

We left Birchwood at about 1 o’clock only to run straight into heavy traffic on the M6.  This persisted for most of the way to the toll road and it took us over an hour just to get out of Cheshire.  There was further heavy traffic on the M42 and then the A34, as well as on the final stretch of the M3.  A journey that normally takes us about 3½ hours took well over five hours and we finally arrived in Southampton just after 6pm, just in time to meet Rachel at the railway station.  Her train journey from Crewkerne had been much easier although she was also a little delayed.

Having amassed our luggage (three cases for Ian and Richard, two for Liz and two for Rachel, as well as a small hold-all), we checked-in to the Premier Inn at West Quay and then walked the short distance into the city centre for dinner.  We decided to go for an Italian at Lupa where we have eaten before: Richard had Bresaola followed by chicken cacciatore and then Tia Maria cheesecake; Ian had deep fried mozzarella, chicken Neapolitan and then shared his tiramisu with Rachel; Liz had deep fried mozzarella, veal with mushrooms and finished with cherry tart; Rachel had bruschetta and then lasagna.  After dinner, we strolled back to the hotel and then went to bed.

We left the hotel at 9am to go into the city to do some last minute shopping.  The weather was not very good and we all needed our raincoats.  We had breakfast in Starbucks.  Liz had forgotten one of her many medications, so had to phone for an emergency prescription which was then collected from Boots.  Rachel needed to buy a notebook and Ian bought some new t-shirts from Hollister.  We checked