Subscribe to Blog via Email
Join 598 other subscribers-
Recent Posts
Categories
- A Thousand Thanks (811)
- Apartment living (1,053)
- Audio (7)
- Banting (62)
- Being a Tourist in Cape Town (81)
- Braces (46)
- Building a house on a mountainside (420)
- Cape Town Drought (45)
- Cruising (100)
- Day to Day Blogs (4,626)
- Echo Photos (226)
- Games Helga plays! (10)
- Helga's random thoughts (82)
- Hiking in Kalk Bay (7)
- Home renovations (7)
- Italy (22)
- Living on Fish Hoek mountainside (820)
- Marriage (86)
- Mountain Hikes in Cape Town (29)
- Prose (12)
- Recipes (48)
- Uncategorized (83)
Tag Archives: Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica
Sicily Surprised Us
Saturday Dear Elsie Today was the day we went to Sicily! And it surprised us. Fuerteventura at the Canary Islands was expected to be lush and tropical. Today, we expected Sicily to be barren and featureless – it was far … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Cefalu, Italy's Largest Opera House, MSC Magnifica, Palermo, Sicily
Comments Off on Sicily Surprised Us
Last Sea Day for the Moment
Friday Dear Elsie Today was the last sea day for the moment. Last night we had a lovely dinner and then afterwards came back to the cabin and had quite a long chat with David. We had a video call … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Cruising, Galite islands, MSC Magnifica, Tunisia
Comments Off on Last Sea Day for the Moment
Straights of Gibraltar
Thursday Dear Elsie Today was the day, in the early hours of the morning, we went through the Straights of Gibraltar. We went through here just after midnight. The land was very close and there were lots of lights. This … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Gibraltar, MSC Magnifica, Straits of Gibraltar
Comments Off on Straights of Gibraltar
Creeping Past Casablanca
Wednesday Dear Elsie Today it was 2 weeks since we got on the ship. It’s hard to believe it’s gone so fast. Our map location shows us off the coast of Morocco. The Ship’s captain in his 12 noon message … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Cruising, MSC Magnifica
Comments Off on Creeping Past Casablanca
Canary Islands – Fuerteventura – Ajuy Caves
Tuesday Dear Elsie Today was the day we arrived in the Canary Islands. Our port of call was Fuerteventura, one of the largest islands making up the archipelago. One of the sweetest things on arrival was being met by 2 … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Ajuy Caves, Canary Islands, Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Fuerteventura, MSC Magnifica, Teddy Travels
Comments Off on Canary Islands – Fuerteventura – Ajuy Caves
Boats and Birds
Monday Dear Elsie Today was the day we saw boats and birds. Not a lot of both, mind you, but it does indicate we are closer to the coast than previously. In the Captain’s message at 12 noon today, he … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, MSC Magnifica
Comments Off on Boats and Birds
Wind, Wind, Wind and Sunshine at Sea
Sunday Dear Elsie Today was the day I chatted to your Mom for an hour. It was good to catch up and to hear all about you and all the things you all have been doing. This is our location..we … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Mountain fires, MSC Magnifica
Comments Off on Wind, Wind, Wind and Sunshine at Sea
Dakar, Senegal
Saturday Dear Elsie Today was the day we arrived in Dakar, Senegal. We did get off the ship and had a 6km walk around town. It is very much in keeping with north-west Africa, but it was worth the walk … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged bioluminescence, Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Dakar, MSC Magnifica, Senegal, Walking around Dakar, Walking off a cruise ship at Dakar
Comments Off on Dakar, Senegal
A Very Decadent Day at Sea
Friday 25/4/25 – 8 months til Christmas! Dear Elsie Today was a deliciously quiet day at sea. When I woke up this morning and looked outside, the moon and Venus were one above the other. This was 7.22am. Not quite … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Lazy day at sea, MSC buffet, MSC food, MSC Magnifica
Comments Off on A Very Decadent Day at Sea
Thunder and Lightening at Sea
Thursday Dear Elsie This month (and especially Easter) has been a pivotal time for you. After almost 7 years of dairy allergies, today you had scrambled eggs for the first time. And over Easter, you had marshmallow Easter Eggs. Both … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, Cruising, MSC Magnifica
Comments Off on Thunder and Lightening at Sea
In the Doldrums
Wednesday Dear Elsie Today was the day we entered the doldrums. First when we woke this morning, I went up to pick up coffee and as my cell phone connected to maps, I saw we were on the equator. It … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, In the doldrums, MSC Magnifica
Comments Off on In the Doldrums
Easter Sunday on the Ship
Sunday Dear Elsie Today was Easter Sunday 2025 and we spent it on the ship. There are a lot of Italians, so there was the entire crossing to the Vatican being played on the TVs in the public areas. Christ … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, MSC Magnifica, Starlink, Tennis
Comments Off on Easter Sunday on the Ship
Discovering the Pods
Saturday Dear Elsie Today was the day we discovered the pods. Because this cruise is part of the Round the World one & this balcony cabin was the only one left for the 18 nights from Cape Town to Rome, … Continue reading
Posted in Cruising, Day to Day Blogs
Tagged Cape Town to Rome MSC Magnifica, MSC Euribia, MSC Magnifica, Pods
Comments Off on Discovering the Pods