Because of the five-hour time difference between Lima and home, we were awake pretty early, around 6.30am. Our plan had been to go up to the rooftop pool and enjoy a refreshing, early morning swim in the sultry air, but we couldn’t find any hotel literature that gave the opening times of the pool.
I therefore called the front desk to ask what time it opened, to be told that the pool was closed and wasn’t due to re-open until 23rd January! So much for that.
Instead, I took a long, hot shower and washed and blow-dried my hair, before applying some makeup and getting dressed in a t-shirt, black leggings and flip-flops. We still hadn’t been given any instructions regarding our transfer to the port of Callao this afternoon, so while I was getting ready, Trevor went down to the front desk to see if the Azamara rep was about. Indeed she was, and he soon returned to our room with our luggage labels and cruise cards for cabin 6030. We were good to go! 🙂
We then made our way down to the hotel restaurant for about eight o’clock for breakfast. The selection of foods was excellent, from cereals to different breads, fresh fruit, bacon, egg, charcuteries and pastries. I enjoyed some cold meats and cheese with fresh melon and pineapple, washed down with orange juice and good strong Peruvian coffee. A great start to the day. 🙂
As the coach wasn’t coming until 12.00 noon to take us to the port, we had the morning at leisure in Miraflores, so we set off out to explore our immediate vicinity – we couldn’t really go far in the time we had. As we left the hotel and walked along to the main drag, we were approached by several taxi drivers offering Lima city tours. If we had arrived in Lima yesterday morning the way we should have done, we might have taken them up on their offer!
Miraflores is built on the top of a cliff, as well as on several levels down the cliffs all the way to the beach. From our high vantage point we could see the rolling waves of the Pacific ocean that attracted a number of surfers. Traffic passed in a never-ending stream far below us on the road adjacent to a wide, sandy beach.
We decided, first of all, to go and look for a Geocache. A quick look at the app told us that there was one 370 metres away, so we set off in the direction given by the app, which counted down the number of metres we still had to go. The route took us across an interesting modern bridge which spanned the busy dual carriageway below.
It was a lovely walk to the geocache. There were neat manicured gardens containing colourful geranium flowers and cacti, and little paths that just made you want to explore. The location of the geocache was at a sculpture called “El Ciclista” (The Cyclist) and it was very interesting. At first glance it looked like a Lycra-clad cyclist in a cycle helmet, but on second glance it could have been a running greyhound.
The sculpture was roped off as it looked as if some maintenance work was going on in that area. So we were unable to get right up to it and retrieved the geocache, but at least our quest had led us on a pretty route to an interesting sculpture.
As we strolled along in the hot sunshine, we came to the large “MIRAFLORES” sign, so Trevor stood in front of it while I took his photo. It seems a lot of towns now have huge signs proclaiming their name; we’ve taken photos of them in Riga, Santorini and Split among other places. 🙂
We decided to have a look around the shops and see if we could pick up some good souvenirs. On our last visit to Lima in May 2014, Trevor and I were with a couple of friends, Stephen and Alison. Alison and I had each bought a woolly knitted hat with earflaps and alpacas knitted into the pattern. I still have (and wear) mine, but Alison had lost hers several years ago. We thought it might have been nice to buy her a new one, but as this area is the fashionable touristy part of Lima, everything was incredibly expensive. We did see such a hat in one shop, but it was nearly 40 quid!
Once we’d browsed the shops we decided to start making our way back to the hotel and have a quick beer before packing up our cases and getting ready for the coach coming at 12.00. It was around 10.45 am when we arrived back at the hotel, so we went into the bar and ordered a cold Cusqueña each, which went down an absolute treat. 🙂
Afterwards we decided to go up the rooftop pool area to see what the view was like. When we stepped out of the lift on the 14th floor, the first thing we saw was the cool blue water of the pool and a couple of blokes in swimming trunks lying sunbathing on the loungers that flanked the sides of the pool. It looked as if the pool had been open after all!
We then returned to our room and packed up our cases and rucksacks. We had time for a coffee in our room before leaving, then we lugged the cases and rucksacks down to the hotel foyer, where the Azamara rep was waiting as well as some other people who were also going on the same ship. The excitement and anticipation in the air was palpable. 🙂
Soon the coach pulled up and we loaded our cases into the hold before boarding the air-conditioned vehicle. The Azamara rep came round with cold bottles of water for us, and once everyone was aboard we set off through the busy streets.
As we left the Miraflores area and started towards the docks, the streets and buildings became more scruffy and run-down. The journey took about half an hour, and soon we spotted the familiar black hulled, white funnelled Azamara Onward. “There she is!” we both exclaimed happily, in unison.
We all alighted from the coach and identified our cases once they were unloaded, checking that the labels bearing our cabin number were secure. Then we shouldered our rucksacks and made our way towards the gangplank of the ship.
On the way, we saw a small stall selling souvenirs and Peruvian handicrafts. “I wonder if they have hats?” I said to Trevor. We were happy to find exactly what we were looking for, and this time the hat only cost $5.00 (which is about £3.72), so definitely a bargain. Alison will be tickled pink when we bring her back a replacement hat from Peru! 🙂
We made our way up the gangplank and into the plush interior of the Onward. Our cabin was not ready yet, but that didn’t matter as we had to check-in on board and register a credit card. Then we were shown to The Den, a pleasant bar and lounge where a tray-bearing waiter came straight away and proffered a glass of fizz each. This is more like it! 🙂
As we sat there sipping the cold prosecco, all the stress and worry of the last couple of days melted away. We were here, we were on board, and soon the Onward would be setting sail, en route to Easter Island. How exciting was this? 🙂
After our drinks we decided to have a light lunch, so we went up to the Windows Café, which is Azamara’s self-service buffet, and I enjoyed some fresh salad with cold meats. We washed it down with a pint of freezing cold Heineken each. While we were in the buffet the announcement came over the PA that our cabins were ready, which elicited a cheer from the passengers nearby.
We picked up our rucksacks and made our way to Deck 6 and cabin 6030. As we approached, we saw a sign on the door saying “Show Cabin”. We couldn’t understand it as this was the cabin we had been allocated. Spotting a member of the housekeeping staff nearby, we showed her our boarding passes and explained that cabin 6030 was our cabin. She made a phone call to another member of staff, explaining the 6030, the “show cabin” was now going to have passengers in it. We hoped that this meant we were going to be given a free upgrade, but it was not to be. She just took down the “Show Cabin” sign and we made our way inside.
The cabin was not particularly large, and it was an unusual layout in that instead of being at right angles to the edge of the ship, with the window at one end, it ran parallel to the side of the ship with the window in one of the sides. This is because our cabin was recessed slightly to allow for a small lifeboat. It was classed as “partially obstructed view” but we still had a good view of the ocean; in fact, looking out of the window at the cabin to our left, they had one of the large lifeboats right in front of their window, so they would have had no view at all.
The cabin contained a massive bed (which was two singles pushed together) as well as bedside cabinets, a dressing table with a large mirror and a chair, a small round table and a TV affixed to the wall. At one end there were wardrobes and lots of shelves and drawer space. The bathroom was miniscule, with a WC, sink and tiny shower cubicle. It would do the job, however. 6030 would be our ‘home’ for the next 16 nights. 🙂
As we were looking around, a thump from outside our door had us looking outside for our suitcases. One of them had arrived, so we started emptying everything out and putting it away, hanging up our clothes or folding them neatly into drawers. We had just decided to go up to the pool deck and indulge in a cocktail or two, when the other case arrived, so we emptied that one and placed the two empty cases under the bed. Our time was now our own! 🙂
We made our way up to the pool deck and sat at a nearby table whilst perusing the drinks menu. Azamara does do a complimentary basic drinks package, which includes beer, wine and selected spirits and mixers. You can ‘upgrade’ your package to include premium brands, and we’ve done this is the past, but to be honest the basic package serves our needs perfectly, as we’re beer and wine drinkers anyway. 🙂
We started off with a cold pint of beer, then followed it with one of the complimentary cocktails; Trevor had a piña colada while I opted for a margarita. As we had expected, they were neither particularly large or particularly strong.
We sat out by the pool for a while, enjoying the warm weather and the drinks. We were due to sail at 5.00pm so we wanted to be sure not to miss the sailaway party, so we decided to go back to 6030 and have a half-hour power nap after our early start this morning.
When we arrived back, a guy in the corridor came over and introduced himself as Oscar, our cabin steward. He said that anything we needed, we just had to let him know. As it was quite cold in our cabin and we hadn’t been able to find the temperature control, we asked him how we could change it. It turned out that the control was behind the TV screen, but luckily you could pull it out from the wall and reach the dial from there. We turned it to a more comfortable temperature, then set the timer for 30 minutes before enjoying our nap. 🙂
We then decided to go back up to the pool deck in time for the sailaway party. Up on deck, the resident band were in full tune, and waiting staff flitted about with trays loaded with glasses of rum punch. We each took one before settling ourselves on sunloungers, looking around with interest at our fellow passengers and enjoying the lively music.
Presently an announcement came over the PA to say that our departure time would be delayed as one of the tour parties had not returned yet. When you go on an organised excursion via the cruise line, the vessel will always wait until you return. However, if you decided to explore independently and you are late back, you may well be in time to see the stern of the ship as she sails off into the sunset without you! 🙂
The deck party continued, and we went and sat on bar stools to make the most of the freebie fizz. The pleasant Indian barman kept topping up my prosecco glass, and I certainly wasn’t complaining. Trevor enjoyed a margarita and we sat and chatted to the bar staff as well as any fellow passengers.
While we were there, a couple of ladies from the beauty salon and spa were coming around, touting for business. I made an appointment to have my hair washed and blow dried and my fringe trimmed.
When it got to around 7.00pm, we decided we were hungry and went up to the Windows Café again for dinner. I enjoyed a mixed salad once again; I do enjoy the salads on the ships; there is always a wide selection of fresh vegetables.
At nine o’clock there was the introductory show in the Cabaret Lounge, introduced by cruise director Emily Love. Some of the singers and dancers came on and performed briefly for us, and we enjoyed another drink each while we were in there!
We had seen on the programme that dancing was on in the Living Room at 10 o’clock, so we made our way up there, where a live band was playing anything from a quickstep to a cha cha cha or even just disco music. Soon we felt the increase in vibrations coming up through the decks, which told us that the Onward was casting off and getting ready to sail – five hours late. We hoped that this would not delay our arrival into Easter Island which, for us, is one of the highlights of this cruise.
The singer with the band came around and took requests, so we asked them to play Señorita by Shawn Mendes, so we could get up and do the ria bachata, which we have learned from our dance classes at home. Soon we heard it start, so we had to get up and do our steps, or at least the best I could do them while wearing flip-flops. 🙂
We stayed in the Living Room for a while longer, enjoying the music and the gratis glasses of fizz as well as chatting to our fellow passengers. Despite our early start and the remains of the jet lag, it was around 12.00 midnight when we returned to 6030.
We were asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow, and we looked forward to a relaxing sea day tomorrow.