02.06
Comments | Herald, The; Glasgow (UK), Feb 1, 2010
Apeek out of the porthole reveals that someone has shifted the scenery. We went to bed at sea and now we are in the Riviera port of Villefranche. My six-year-old and I are on board Thomson Spirit on a trip round the western Mediterranean and so far it’s good fun.
This French port presents a perfect facade of pastel-coloured houses perched precariously on cliff sides. There is a lovely sandy beach and we could just flop there for a while, but we venture towards the train station and make our way to Nice, a destination imbued with the glamour of visiting jet-setters.
Because it is Sunday, the high-end boutiques are shut and there is not a supermodel or actor in sight. Instead we are enthralled by a woman beggar sitting on a silver mat with her pet rabbit beside her. They are sharing a salad. We buy a generous baguette and head to the beach. A little splashing and pebble throwing ensues, but after the security of the ship it is a little odd to be in strange territory on our own.
We have become part of a floating community of around 1200 passengers and 490 staff and crew. There is a rhythm to life on board which becomes as comforting as a proximity to beaching surf.
We have a choice between sit-down meals with table service or two self-service outlets. Ruairidh loves the freedom of piling his plate with whatever takes his fancy so we invariably go for the buffet option and there is something to suit everyone with lots of healthy, fresh choices.
Besides eating, there is almost round-the-clock entertainment. True to stereotype, most of our fellow guests are older, but there is a very good kids’ club which runs three two-hour sessions a day. This gives Ruairidh a chance to socialise while I relax and read. When I venture out to a show it is a slick and professional song- and-dance routine based around the hit shows of Cameron Mackintosh.
The ship leaves port early evening and by the next morning we are in La Spezia in Italy. We get up early so we can join a coach tour to Florence
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