WORDS BY PHT HOSTS JULIE AND KEVIN WILLIAMS.
On the 28th May, we set off for our holiday full of excitement to join Phil Hoffmann and a number of other PHT clients to board our floating luxury hotel, the Azamara Quest sailing into 8 ports of Spain, Lisbon in Portugal plus Ceuta, Spanish Morocco finishing in Bordeaux, France. The ship experience was very comfortable being a mid-size, luxury ship and offered a friendly and casual atmosphere to enjoy life on board. The staff, from Captain Johannes through to every staff member on board, were there to ensure our experience was the best possible, and that they did.
Our goal when we travel is to fully immerse ourselves into the history and culture of each destination. We do this by getting amongst the people of each region that we visit so we experience the real heart and soul of each destination. This holiday ticked all our boxes! We selected on-shore excursions available through Azamara that fulfilled our requirement in every port that we visited. This way, we met real people and were taken to the best sights in their respective cities. The Intensive Programs offered by Azamara ensured that we became fully involved in the history, cultural beliefs and enjoyment of the cuisine in each port visited. The unique food and wine specialties of each region available both on and off the ship were a highlight.
We enjoyed Portuguese Tarts in Lisbon (pictured left), Canales in Bordeaux plus Tapas in eastern & southern Spain, Petiscos in Portugal and Pintxos in northern Spain. Naturally all these treats were washed down with local wines or beer. The food experience continued at night on board our beautiful ship where the chefs would create the most amazing displays of locally sourced delights for us to savor.
We immersed ourselves in Lisbon, Portugal, taking part in the AzAmazing Evening, where all our fellow passengers, some 600+ people, were bussed at night through the main city to Estufa Fria. This is a greenhouse and garden located in what once was a 19th century basalt quarry in Eduardo VII Park and as we walked through this botanical haven we sensed that this evening was definitely going to be most memorable. Under the starlit sky and the waft of fragrances from the botanical plants we were treated to a stirring performance of Fado (pictured right), a style of music traced back to the 1820’s in Lisbon.
We and our fellow travel companions from PHT grouped together and along with most of the other passengers participated in the officers and crew ‘White Night Party’ on board the Quest. The event was located on the Pool Deck and we dined al fresco style on an incredible smorgasbord of local foods and were entertained by a host of musicians and singers. We danced the night away and it was so great to have fun with the group under the stars on a warm Mediterranean evening. With everyone dressed in white together with fabulous food and wine, music and dancing, it truly was a spectacular evening!
We had many destination highlights along the way. Immersing ourselves in the vibrancy of the streets of Barcelona plus shopping in the Old Town and Gothic Quarter was first-rate. Taking in the history and the Old World charm of Valencia and experiencing the buzzy dining scene in the heart of the city, we were captivated.
Valencia, birthplace of Paella, was an impressive city of Arts & Sciences monuments and a labyrinth of cobbled streets between medieval buildings of both Christian and Muslim origin. Parks and plazas were in abundance with many shops, bars and restaurants tempting the enquiring traveller.
We will never forget standing in the remains of the Roman Theatre in Cartagena with the arena’s capacity to hold some 6,000 spectators, with history going back between years 5 and 1 BC.
Malaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and one of the oldest cities in the world, had a fascinating cultural side. Together with its museum depicting many works of its famous forefather, the Alcazaba and Roman Theatre depict centuries of history waiting to be explored.
We were captivated by the fortress on the North Coast of Africa, the town of Ceuta, which is bordered by Morocco and lies between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
The city of Seville blew us away. Beautiful architecture and monuments oozed a rich history throughout its quaint neighborhoods. Lively streets lined with Tapas bars, restaurants and cafes packed with locals and holiday makers, courtyards of orange trees and large open spaces make Seville a very walkable city.
We explored the waterfront castles of Ferrol and then joined an intensive tour of the bustling streets and dined in a local restaurant. Ferrol is known for their major shipbuilding industry and the Spanish Navy’s Maritime Department has its home in this city.
Bilbao is a city filled with art, history and abundant flavours of northern Spain (pictured right). Famously known for the Guggenheim Museum, opened in 1997, Bilbao offered a variety of Basque cuisines set amongst a lattice work of streets in the Old Quarter, lined with many shops & stores.
The last port of call for us was Bordeaux, France and this was definitely our best highlight. The city is stunning, packed to the brim with old world charm as well as being the renowned wine capital of France. What better place to celebrate Kevin’s birthday set in Jardin Public Botanical Gardens with a delicious meal and a glass of champagne. We also undertook a fully immersive wine tour visiting Chateau Boutinet, a privately owned organic vineyard set in the rolling hills outside the main town. Stunning countryside!
We have returned to Adelaide with so many wonderful memories of the time spent in these vibrant and lively cities. It truly was an AzAmazing holiday, and we can't wait to get back on board one day.
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