Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship

The Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship was a great cruise ship to cruise through the Norwegian fjords.
This cruise ship has 9 decks and 627 cabins and can take 1254 passengers. There are 5 bars, 2 pools and 3 restaurants to keep you fed and watered throughout the journey.

The accommodation on offer on the Thomson celebration includes:

• Suites
• Deluxe Suites
• Standard Outside Cabin
• Standard Inside Cabin

We had a standard inside cabin with two single beds, two full-length wardrobes, a bathrooms with shower, a color TV and a hairdryer. The cabin was comfortable, clean and spacious.

The Celebration has many options when it comes to dining. The main dining room is the Meridian Restaurant and you can dine when you please, as there are no formal sittings. breakfast, lunch and a 6 course dinner can all be enjoyed in the Meridian Restaurant and both the food and the service is excellent. The ship also has Mistral's Restaurant if you are celebrating a special occasion. You will need to make a reservation for this restaurant and there will be extra charges involved when dining in this restaurant. For less formal dining there is the Lido Restaurant, which is a 24 hour self-service buffet with an alfresco dining area. Here they have international theme nights.

One of the dining highlights of the cruise is the Captains Cocktail Party and Gala Dinner, where you can dress up for this traditional dinner.

The entertainments crew provide an excellent selection of activities and entertainment. The Broadway Show Lounge provides West End-style productions and comedy acts to keep you entertained. The Horizons bar entertains with jazz and classical music. The Liberties bar offers a collection of entertainment such as live bands, popular game shows, karaoke (I even sang on the karaoke night!) and a late-night disco. Or pop along to the Hemingway's Casino and bar to place a few bets at the popular gaming tables or try your luck at the slot machines. The Explorers Lounge is a great place to relax and enjoy an after dinner drink.

The cruise ship has a full itinery of activities throughout the day so that if you decide not to leave the ship you can still enjoy your holiday. The cruise ship has:

• a cinema with recently released films.
• the spa offers massages and body treatments.
  
• a beauty salon.
• two swimming pools provided and there is also a wading pool for children.
  
• children can enjoy the teen area and a kid's zone.
  
• the sports deck offers badminton, basketball, carpet bowls (my husband won the carpet bowls!) and table tennis.
  
• a card reading room.
  
• a library.
  
• an Internet lounge.
  
• shops and boutiques.
  

All areas are non-smoking except for those that are designated otherwise.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Norwegian cruise on Thomson Celebration and I would definately recommend this cruise and cruise ship.

Troodos Mountains Cyprus

The Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus and I believe is the biggest mountain range in Cyprus.

I was lucky enough to take a jeep safari into the Troodos Mountains on a family holiday in the Summer of 2000.



During the Summer, tourists can visit the Troodos mountains and enjoy idyllic walks through the pine forests, on the look out for the local wildlife, the mouflon, as well as photographing the beautiful scenery and views.


A visit to one of the churches or the monastery that nestles in the Troodos mountains is a good way to spend a few hours and the architecture and mosaics to be found in the churches are truly stunning.
During the Winter months, the Troodos mountains is a good place to ski.

I would highly recommend a visit to the beautiful Troodos Mountains in Cyprus and a jeep safari is a good way to see alot of the mountain region taking in the scenery, a visit to a church and the mouflon enclosure.

Holiday Regions In Spain

Spain is a popular holiday destination and has many wonderful holiday regions to visit.

• Costa Blanca
• Costa Del Sol
• Costa Dorada
• Costa Brava
• Costa De Almeria
• Costa De La Luz

I have been lucky enough to visit the regions of Costa Blanca, Costa Del Sol and Costa Brava in the last few years.

Useful Spanish Phrases

It is always handy to be able to speak a few phrases in the local language. Here are a few useful Spanish phrases:

• Hello - Hola
• Goodbye - Adios
• Yes - Si
• No - No
• Please - Por Favor
• Thank you - Grasias
• The bill please - La cuenta por favor
• How much is it? - Cuanto es

I always think it is nice to try to speak a few phrases in the countries language, so when next in Spain, try using a few of these useful Spanish phrase, the locals will like to see you try!

Tips For Driving In Spain

Here are a few facts about driving in Spain.

• A right hand side road system operates in Spain.
• Drivers must wear a seat belt at all times.
• Passengers must wear a seat belt at all times.
• Mobile phone use is strictly prohibited whilst driving.
• Speed limit on toll motorways is 120km/h.
• Speed limit on non-toll motorways is 100km/h.
• Speed limit on main roads is 80km/h.
• Speed limit on urban roads is 50km/h.

Be safe on the roads.

The Crocky Trail - Chester

Friends told us about the Crocky Trail which is an outdoor adventure trail near Chester.

It's a fun day out for all the family. My husband and I visited the Crocky Trail back in 2006 and had a great day.

The trail is about a mile long and there are a whole host of activities such as mazes, swings, slides, bridges and tunnels to navigate over, along, round or through!

Here we are navigating some of the activities:

A wobbly bridge.


Not conventional swings!

A bridge.

A spinning wheel.
A slide.

A wobbly bridge.

Whose king of the castle?!

Crocodile surprise!

I would definately recommend the Crocky Trail for a day out for a group or for a family. The challenges are not too difficult and there is always an alternative route around an obstacle. The adventure trail will provide you with a fun filled experience with lots of laughter.

You need to be wearing casual, sporty type clothing and either trainers, walking boots or possibly wellie boots if it has or is raining! A change of clothing may be a good idea!

There is ample parking and a play area and picnic area. You can also buy a selection of chocolates and sweets as well as hot and cold drinks at the tuck shop.

Dogs are welcome.

The Crocky Trail costs £10.00 per person but under 5's enter for free and a group discount rates of £8.00 per person is available for parties of 10 or more. You can pay cash or by cheque for the entrance fee. The trail is open 10am to 5pm all year.

The Crocky Trail, Cotton Abbotts, Waverton, Chester, CH3 7PH

Puerta De Tierra - Cadiz, Spain

Las Puerta De Tierra is an important monument of Cadiz. It marks the boundary between the old city and the outskirts.The bastions of Santa Elena and San Roque were built in the eighteenth century and were connected by a stretch of wall with the door of the city and the heavy defensive tower that can be seen in the photographs.

Puerta de tierra is a landmark that can be seen if you take a tour bus trip around the city of Cadiz. I would certainly recommend the city sightseeing tour bus as a great way of seeing many of the magnificent buildings and landmarks of the beautiful city of Cadiz.