Hi,
We are blogging from Tenerife, the main island here in the Canary Islands
. We have just finished a tour of this magnificent volcanic island, including a trip 12,000 ft up to the top of Mt Teide, the tallest mountain in Spain. A few pictures are attached. After 7 days on the Atlantic, where we've had calm seas and days that were mostly sunny and warm, this was our first landfall.
While crossing the Atlantic, we’ve been learning about some people who have crossed using methods way more adventurous than the luxury ship we are enjoying:
- + This trip took Columbus 10 months.
· + Benoit Lecomte was the first to swim the Atlantic without a kickboard in 1998, taking 73 days to cover the 3700+ miles, and he managed to dodge the sharks along the way. (no buffets)
· + Katie Spotz was 22 when she crossed the Atlantic in a rowboat, the youngest to do it. It took 70 days. (no cruise director)
· + The first helium balloon crossed the Atlantic in 1978, carried 3 passengers and took 137 hours to do so
. Topping this, Richard Branson and Per Lindstand used a hot air balloon to cross the ocean in 1987 and took only 33 hours (no problem paying for it).
· + And of course, Charles Lindbergh was the first man to do it in an airplane in under 2 days in 1927.
While all of these intrepid folks were driven by their mission, our experience has been vastly different. To begin, our sole mission has been fun, fun, fun. Our days have been frittered away in trivia contests, lying around the pool, going to lectures, movies and shows. And of course, eating on the ship is elevated to the status of competitive sport. Indulgences abound, and we are continually subjected to temptations of every sort. Like a trip to Las Vegas, cruising is an exercise in self-control and moderation. For many, the dining, shopping, drinking, gambling, and partying is non-stop, and a study in human excess.
These trans-Atlantic cruises do differ in some significant ways from your typical Caribbean cruise
. The crowd is older, more multi-national, with few children to be found. With 7 straight sea days, there’s lot of time and the pace is slower and more relaxed. It’s a really interesting crowd, and one that is well-travelled. We’ve heard tales of trips to all parts of the globe and some amazing adventures along the way. For instance, one man described his experience on safari, as their group watched a lioness stalk and take down a wildebeast. She simply sunk her teeth into the neck of the unfortunate animal and didn’t move a muscle, waiting for its prey to bleed out. She then took her time as she feasted upon the dead animal. Usually, I turn off these scenes when on TV, but he swore that the scene was not gruesome, but rather ballet-like. Besides this, we’ve talked to people whose cruises number 50 and more. I guess it’s like an addiction, and I think we’ve got the fever! The simple truth, and our daughter Amy chides us over it, is that cruising is our favourite way of travelling! If you’ve done it, you probably can imagine why
. If you haven’t, hopefully, one day you will.
We’ve also experienced something new on this cruise, namely, a captain who is just 34 but having a lot of maritime experience under his belt for his tender age. He presents a firm command of all aspects of the ship and is extremely personable to boot. It’s clear that there will be no mutiny on this Bounty.
Our next port is Mallorca, and I hope to have another blog entry ready by then. Well, since Tammy, our other daughter, complains that my blog entries are too long-winded, I’ll end here for now.
Love to hear from you, although our Internet access will be limited for the next week of port visits before we arrive in Rome.
All our best.
Crossing the Big Pond
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain and Canary Islands
Other Entries
-
1Our Bags are Packed, We're Ready to Go!
Apr 2815 days priorToronto, Canadaphoto_camera1videocam 0comment 5 -
2Crossing the Big Pond
May 13Tenerife, Spain and Canary Islandsphoto_camera4videocam 0comment 7 -
3.....MMMMMEDITERRANEAN
May 196 days laterAjaccio, Francephoto_camera4videocam 0comment 4 -
4ROAMING ROME
May 229 days laterRome, Italyphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 2 -
5ITALY TASTED AND WE GOT WASTED
May 2613 days laterFlorence, Italyphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 7 -
6APPROACHING ANTIQUITY
May 3017 days laterRhodes, Greecephoto_camera4videocam 0comment 4 -
7THE WIDE WORLD OF PORTS
Jun 0624 days laterCrete, Greecephoto_camera6videocam 0comment 4 -
8ATHENS: DAVE’S TOP 10 LIST
Jun 1230 days laterAthens, Greecephoto_camera5videocam 0comment 3 -
9IT'S ALL GREEK TO US!
Jun 1634 days laterDelphi, Greecephoto_camera5videocam 0comment 1 -
10WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE
Jun 2240 days laterIos, Greecephoto_camera5videocam 0comment 7 -
11PRISONER ON SANTORINI
Jun 2543 days laterSantorini, Greecephoto_camera4videocam 0comment 4 -
12BREAKING NEWS- - - IT NEVER WAS BROKEN!
Jul 0351 days laterRotterdam, Netherlandsphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 7 -
13FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY-FREE
Jul 0553 days laterRotterdam, Netherlandsphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 7 -
14BRINGING MY BABY BACK HOME
Aug 0584 days laterToronto, Canadaphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 1
Comments

2025-02-15
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Valerie
2011-05-13
Wow - you guys sound like you're having an amazing time. and becoming history buffs while you're at it. Bonnie, you look happier and healthier in the pic on the ship than I've seen in awhile - the traveling obviously suits you better than hanging around old TO.
Keep having fun!!
Love, V aka SIL
The Sunnies
2011-05-13
Well, it sounds as if you are having the time of your lives......typical for the Liliens when traveling to new and exciting places! What wonderful adventures you've already experienced - and it's just the beginning of your trip! Can't wait to read more as your travels continue!
One day your cousins from Dresher will join you on an adventure - and that, in and of itself, will BE the adventure!!!!
Continue to have safe travels, fun with each other, and many more blogs to share!
Love,
The Sunnies :-)
Allan
2011-05-14
wasn't your ship supposed to go to the Azores, 34 year old capt. eh. sounds like a pretty laid back adventure so far. Hope you have some challenges soon you know like, towel animals that are difficult to figure out, trivia contests where they need your skills as a peace loving transplant to resolve disputes between the various nationalities. You know the Brits complain the questions are American centric and the yanks complain there are too many about soccer and cricket. Ho-hum just another day on the ocean.
All the best and keep those blogs coming.
Nancy
2011-05-14
Loved the blog and the pictures. Thanks for alerting us that you had reached land and were back to writing. We love traveling vicariously through your wonderful adventures. Sounds like you are having a great time. Enjoy, Love, Nancy
cissie.retired
2011-05-15
Hi Liliens!
So happy to read of your wonderful crossing on the "pond" and how much you are enjoying the cruise. Bonnie, what a terrific photo of you having R&R on the ship. Next we have to have one of David!
Our new baby came home on Thursday, and they named him Nathan Angus. Maybe he'll be "Crime Minister" when he grows up!!
I hope you are enjoying good weather where you are, finding new and exciting adventures and will blog all about it for us back home.
Safe journeys..
Cecile
melissagquest
2011-05-19
Sounds like a wonderful cruise! I got to do this some day soon! Have a great trip and I'll keep following your adventures.
elza
2012-02-15
Your descriptive comments are a joy to read. Would you consider publishing a book on travel. Bet it would sell. Thanks for the read