The phone started ringing at around 08.00 from the Medical Centre to say that they had booked a Dentist appointment for in town and that I should be available to leave at 0930.
There was a slight communication with regard where to find the Taxi but we did and he took into town which was already showing lots of white entertainment tents etc., but more of that later. We arrived at the Dentist and after a wait of around 30 minutes, we did arrive early, the lady dentist took a peek and then quoted me a price to fix it of around £90.00 which I thought was quite reasonable. Half an hour later all was complete and we left the building and started to walk around the old port area.
We were aware from the news that there was going to be cycle races in and around Bergen over this weekend but its a much bigger event that we thought and even Chris Froome was due to make an appearance in the time trials for Team Sky. However the negatives about the racing is that they were putting up pedestrian safety barriers everywhere and of course the white marquees everywhere and beginning to close off some roads to cards and and pedestrians, this is not the Bergen we know, even some of the famous waterside fish restaurant had to be moved to make way for this big event. We stopped and had a tea and a cake, an early morning and quick breakfast makes you feel a little hungry late morning.
We continued walking about the area for about another hour and then decided we would go to the fish market for lunch and chose one of the outdoor restaurants in a large gazebo with heating and enjoyed a large bowl of fresh shrimp with salad and bread roll and a glass of Chardonnay. Noel was still having trouble from the split pea soup and the effects it can have on the system and realised he was safer back on board the ship than walking around streets hoping for no problems but with all the tourists from the boat and others for the cycling finding ‘the gents’ might be a challenge whilst Jennifer opted to go on the hop–on hop-off bus tour . So we phoned the taxi company that brought us to the Dentist and fifteen minutes later he arrived but not in a taxi but a 15 seat minibus as they had run out of Taxi’s. I chatted to the driver on the way back to the port and he said that due to the cycle race some cruise ships had to be diverted away, which was not good for business whilst there were still Hotel bedrooms still to be had so perhaps having this event may not bring the money expected. When we arrived at the Ship I undid my seat belt and was reaching for my wallet and he said ‘NO CHARGE’ as according the laws re taxi fares there must be a meter in the Taxi and as this was one of their minibuses used without meters he could not charge me, well that saved me £15.00.Jennifer returned about 90 minutes later and we sat on the balcony overlooking the town in the sun until it was getting a little cooler and time to dress up for the evenings formal event. On the P & O Arcadia which we used two and half years ago their ‘formal night dress code’ was very organised, if you wore fomal wear than the ship was yours but if you did not then only the café and associated bar was available. On this ship there seemed to be no such rule, so in the bars you have people in the finest sitting next to a couple in holey jeans and tea shirts and trainers, not good. So you wonder why that have this formal night at all?
We had a nightcap in the observatory and then headed down to bed whilst noticing that the swell was increasing due to that fact we were now on the high seas heading for Newcastle. Tomorrow is a day at sea and then off the ship, no doubt early
