Hello Europe ! – Tenarife, Canary Islands – [11/11/2014]

Freya did it ever feel good to look out the window this morning and see blessed, blessed land.

At long last, the crossing is behind us (at least in this direction) and now Europe lies in front of us like a vast patch-work culture quilt.

For the passengers, the 6 day crossing is a relaxing experience, 6 days of nothing to do except relax, swim, read, watch movies, basically do whatever. For those of us who reside below the waterline the Crossing has been one long hard slog full of 11 hour days and confusing time jumps, and nights of falling into bed face first and being asleep before your nose hits the pillow. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that when we tied off at the dock today, anyone who could get off, did get off, and stayed away for as long as we possibly could. Just relishing the feel of ground that didn’t shift under our feet.

Not that I was able to rush off right away, I do after all, always have to work my morning shift, and I had to make sure to say a final goodbye to Gabrielle, who has been sailing with us as a Guest Ent for the duration of the Crossing, who of course departed with the usual hugs and kisses and promises to right. Thankfully I know that in our case those promises to write will actually be followed through on – which is something of a claim to fame for out here.

At any rate…

Tenarife isn’t the greatest port in the world perhaps ,but after 6 days at sea even a tiny city feels like an oasis! A little bit of exploring found us a funky little pizza place next to giant fountain that is really more of a manmade lake; the pizza may not have been the best (not to worry, we have Italy yet to come) but the view and the pina coladoas made up for that. When nightfall came and we went to the same place for dinner, the view took on the appearance of a near fairyland; the water perfectly still and reflecting the multitude of lanterns strung across the streets and the church across the way. Looking across that view, KitKat and I just sort of sipped our drinks and stared

Y’know, there are days when this job is really sucky and then…

Yeah, then there are days when it’s just really good to be alive.

Well we are coming off a Crossing

This is true…but still.

In another layer of “things that make Shaughnessy’s life better”; this is a later port, one of many that are coming up on the itinerary, all aboard isn’t even until 10:30pm, which is after I close. The result of this? My evening shift has once again gone back to being blissfully quiet (though the fact that we have no internet at the moment might also contribute to that) with nothing but the sound of the classical duet next door and the occasional burst of the barista’s laughter to decorate the quiet.

Hello Europe, oh how I have missed you…