Queen Mary 2 to Xmas markets - day 4

Day 4 – Le Havre

We spent the night alongside and by morning the weather had improved and it turned into a lovely but cold day. We had to meet for our tour to Rouen  at 7.45 so we were up by 6.30 and had a light breakfast in Kings Court. It took just over an hour driving through the Normandy countryside to the pretty medieval town of Rouen. After a very short walk from the coach drop to the Joan of Arc church, we were left for two hours to explore on our own.

We set off around the church initially, past a small food and bric a brac market before heading up the Rue de Horologe towards the cathedral.

This has the tallest spire in France. Outside was a small Christmas Market with white-painted chalets and xmas trees decorated with white bows. The stalls were just opening so we entered the Cathedral. I was very surprised to find a tomb to Richard the Lionheart - although it transpired that only his heart is buried there.

 

 

On coming out we worked our way round the Xmas Market after some Caribou to drink (mulled wine fortified with brandy and sweetened with maple syrup, last tasted by me in Quebec!). W both bought some small cakes as gifts and I purchased a slice of a spiced orange cakebread. Then I started slowly working my way back while my friend set off for more exploration. I loved the old timbered buildings and little alleys off the main street. Reaching the small market with Christmas trees on sale I went into the Joan Of Arc church. It had not been open when we first arrived. This is a modern church with a sweeping tiled roof resembling an upturned boat. Inside there are ancient stained glass windows rescued from a bombed church but otherwise it is very simple and very moving. Rather incongruously there was a small fair outside with ferris wheel and stalls.

Our time was soon up and we boarded the coach for the drive back along the same road, past high cliffs on one side and the river on the other. Many buzzards were circling high overhead the cliffs and there were chateaux and castles periodically spaced. Past Harfleur, once on the coast but now inland due to silting of the river mouth, and we were back in Le Havre.

 

I had really enjoyed this short break and it was good to be back with Cunard again after a break of three years, although I did feel the standard of food had declined and was very disappointed by the choices on offer in the evening.  The ship looked lovely decked out in her Christmas Decorations. The highlight for me of that last evening was a carol concert in the atrium.  As we all sang well-known carols and Christmas songs, we got to White Christmas and ...it began to snow!...from a snow machine concealed high up in the Grand Lobby. Cheesy? - perhaps, but I loved it and we all clapped and cheered before it was time to head into dinner and prepare for our journey home. That night, the weather forecast proved correct and we had a bumpy crossing back to Southampton - the first time I could remember ever feeling any movement on QM2 - in fact something fell over in the cabin that night and woke us up, but for the main part of the cruise the weather had been perfect - so what more could we ask.

 

Queen Mary 2 to Xmas markets - day 3

Unusually for such a short cruise - today we have a sea day so first - a lovely lie-in – till 8.30am anyway, as my friend wanted to queue for planetarium tickets while I went on the internet with my free 4 hours.  I was happy to go with the flow today. I watched a demonstration of making chocolate Santas and was able to pass my card to the Executive Chef in hope of some information for our next book. 

At 11am it was the solo travellers meet in King’s Court. Initially it was just me, Jessica the social hostess, and the six dance hosts. They all seemed very nice and - miracle of miracles as I discovered that night - could dance English style ballroom and latin dances! Hooray! My friend and I met up there and went up late to the Cruise Critic meet – four were still there so we had a short chat. Then to lunch. In the afternoon I even managed a short nap on the balcony – well wrapped up. It's not often we have the luxury of a balcony so I was determined to make the most of it! At 3pm we both joined the long queue for the White Glove Afternoon Tea. I guess the queue was because we only really had the one opportunity to sample this. A string quartet played as we were served delicate sandwiches, cakes and lastly scones and jam!

Due to poor weather reports, we were arriving in Le Havre at 6pm, so after tea we went up to the observation deck to watch us berth. It was pouring with rain but fortunately this deck is right under the bridge and very sheltered. Le Havre looked lovely as dusk fell and the lights of the shops and Xmas markets shone through the rain. There was a floodlit big wheel as well.

 

 

By the time we had berthed it was time to go change for dinner. It was our only formal night and we wanted to get to dinner early so we could choose our seats by the window. After a cocktail in Sir Samuels we wandered down to the Britannia Restaurant.

Queen Mary 2 to Xmas markets - day 2

Zeebrugge

As my friend and I had both been here many times before, and I have visited Bruges, Ghent, Ypres and Blankenburg as well, we had opted for a tour to Brussels - my first time there. We met in the Theatre at 9.10 before boarding a coach for the hour and a half drive to the capital. I was surprised at the heavy frost coating the fields and polders beside the road.

 

We passed Bruges, spotting the bell tower on the left hand side of the road. As we arrived at the outskirts of the city we drove through a big park and past the royal palace to the Atomium. This is a remnant of the 1958 World’s Fair that was held in Brussels. It has since been cased with polished stainless steel and looked spectacular! 

 

We also passed three buildings that King Leopold II had bought for his garden – a Chinese house, Buddhist temple and Japanese Pagoda from a previous exposition, as well as a replica in miniature of the Crystal Palace. We drove through the modern financial district before disembarking the coach and setting off on a short guided walk. This took us firstly to the famous Mannekin Pis, and then through small Christmas Markets and colourful carousels to the main square.

This was surrounded with stunning architecture and a large nativity scene in a thatched stable. A short detour showed us the first covered shopping arcade in the world, now lined with expensive restaurants and designer boutiques. A little more walking, mostly past food stalls selling champagne and oysters, and we arrived at the main Christmas Market.

 

We were given three hours here to do as we wished. My first stop was for gluwein! Whilst we drank it we watched a man selling multi-finger puppets. He was demonstrating how to use them and was excellent indeed!

There was a beautiful stall selling Russian painted decorations, but the prices had clearly risen since I last bought similar items in Ghent in 2010! We walked the full length down and up again, pausing to watch the ice skaters on the central outdoor rink!

My friend wanted to retrace our steps to the centre so we parted and I bought a glass of Chimay beer, made at a Belgian Trappist monastery! For 4 euros and with a small pot of cheese cubes, I thought is good value and the best thing is that profits from such products go towards social causes.

 

The one problem with the market was the lack of anyway to sit down. My foot was beginning to complain about the granite cobbles and it was almost a relief when 3pm arrived and we had to meet the guide by the big wheel ready for our walk back to the coach pick up beside the docks.

It was a pleasant drive back, following the same route as the morning. At the security point on the ship, we all had to remove our coats, which was a pain, but we were soon back home in our cabin and ready for afternoon tea in Kings Court.

Queen Mary 2 to Xmas markets - day 1

We had booked this short four-night cruise to Zeebrugge and Le Havre as a pre-Christmas break on a Getaway Fare. Best of all the way the days fell meant I only needed to take half a day's leave. I left home about 7.45 and reached my friend well in time to make the 11.10 ferry over to Southampton and walk to the Ocean Terminal where Queen Mary 2 was waiting for us. The terminal was nicely decorated with Christmas trees as we dropped off our large cases and walked over to the terminal escalator.

 

At the top, the reception ladies directed us to the priority check-in. After the formalities we had a short break before boarding started at 12 noon. Stupidly I had forgotten about the ultra-sensitive security machines and had to take my boots off! After that we walked straight on board where our cabins were ready for us. Our stewardess Jeanette was waiting by the lift and walked us to our cabin. She was excellent and very attentive. We had an in-hull balcony cabin on Deck four – 4219. This was a nice quiet cabin despite being over G32! We had the usual complimentary toiletries of shower gel, soaps, shampoo and conditioner, cotton balls and buds.

Within about half an hour of entering the cabin our cases arrived so we did a cursory unpack before setting off to explore and photograph the ship. It was my third tine on board so most was familiar but it was good to refresh my memory.  The Christmas decorations looked lovely and there was a spectacular gingerbread village in the central walkway.

 

Muster drill was at 4pm – our station was the Queen’s Grill – after which we dumped our lifejackets and finished unpacking.

Despite a late booking, we had our requested dining allocation. We had been allocated table 524, second sitting, Britannia Restaurant. It turned out to be a table for six in the uppermost level, beside the window. Our companions were two ladies travelling without their husbands and another couple. We gelled quickly and dinner became an entertaining interlude. After dinner we headed for the Royal Court Theatre for the introductory show with the song and dance company and comedian Adrian Walsh. Unfortunately few laughed and it was clear he was struggling, although the first night is never good for any entertainer! After dinner we headed for bed as we had to be up early for our tour to Brussels the next day.