BACK ON THE BALTIC AMBER

After my business week in Spain I was on my way back to the UK, so the BALTIC AMBER was once again at Gijon waiting for me, photos of the ship being loaded at the Asturian Port and arriving at Saint-Nazaire the following day, sailing under the impressive local bridge and another glimpse of the laid up NORMAN BRIDGE, before BA´s berth, 19 and 20th of May

THE NEW CRUISE TERMINAL IS UNDER WAY IN OPORTO

the new cruise terminal at Leixões just outside Oporto is well under way, in the meantime the number of passenger ships visiting the city is growing fast, growing in numbers as well as tonnage which is good for local economy and of course gives opportunity for the tourists wonder with the city of Oporto, surrounding areas and the fabulous Douro Valley, images included were taken in May

TUG BROCKLEBANK IS A UNIQUE VESSEL

the tug BROCKLEBANK was built in 1964 and retired from commercial service 25 years later, since then she is still in working order and is the only seagoing vessel owned by a UK Maritime Museum, she sails around the british coast as an ambassador for the Liverpool Maritime Museum and is often opened to the public visiting Liverpool maritime events or the actual museum, she is an exciting vessel, a joy to watch, photos here included shows the tug during the recent SPRING ON THE WATERFRONT event, the date, 8th May 2011

DIFFERENT SIZES OF SHIPS USING THE CRUISE TERMINAL AT LIVERPOOL

Interesting pictures showing the same terminal at Liverpool being used by two complete different ships, top picture the tall ship STAVROS S NIARCHOS during the SPRING ON THE WATERFRONT event in May and the QUEEN MARY2 when she first visited Liverpool in 2009

THE MV MERSEY SEAWAYS LEAVING LIVERPOOL

The MV MERSEY SEAWAYS was built in Italy in 2005, she as 26.500 GT and a capacity for 980 passengers, she is operated today by STENA LINE on the Birkinhead/Belfast service, photo taken in Liverpool on the 8th May 2011

IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES ON THE ARANDORA STAR

Photo taken in Liverpool on the 8th May 2011

VASCO DA GAMA AND NAZARE

A bit of history now, apparentely the portuguese navigator VASCO DA GAMA came to Sitio at Nazare to pray before and after his first voyage, promontory to commemorate the occasion and the Church at Sitio, magical place overlooking Nazare can be seen here, May 2011

MUST SEE PLACES ON THE OESTE REGION OF PORTUGAL

three images of places not to be missed once you get to the OESTE region of Portugal, Alcobaça Monastery, mediaeval Obidos and Nazare, photos May 2011

VISIT THE OESTE REGION OF PORTUGAL

Access to the Oeste region of Portugal is today very straight-forward, via the A8 Motorway (Lisboa/Leiria), (A17/A29 connecting to Porto), the A15 motorway (Obidos/Santarem) and the IP6/A1 and A23, (the latter connecting to Spain). the Oeste is a territory  bathed in intense sunlight, has delightful preserved landscapes and also steeped in culture and history. Not to be missed are the Monastery of ALCOBAÇA (12th century) a World Heritage site, OBIDOS, NAZARE and the BERLENGA island just off the coast of PENICHE, for all information about this beautiful region of Portugal please visit
http://www.turismodooeste.pt/

http://www.visitoeste.com/

BRITTANY FERRIES MONT SAINT MICHEL AT OUISTREHAM

the beautiful cruise ferry MONT ST MICHEL is seen here on the 11th of May 2011 manoeuvering to her berth without passengers on board in order that some maintenance takes place before the night sailing.