Hello Messina, good to be here, but your no Mykonos!

We were still suffering the effects of this engine problem that the Corel Princess has been experiencing since we left Sydney.  Our stop in Mykonos was canceled due to our 24-hour late arrival in Aqaba and as a form of appeasement, Princess took us to Messina for a short stop docking at 3pm and sailing away at 9 pm to get us to Salerno on time.

A long time to spend in Messina, but not long enough to venture up to Taormina.  It would have been doable but rushed, and there is always the fear of traffic in Messina.

always a lovely sail into Messina

It has been around 6 months since we were last here and as we had a couple in our group nursing sporting injuries ( who ever thought that pickleball could be so dangerous), we decided to do a loop of the sights on the choo choo train.

The benefit was that it got us up to one of the nicest panorama lookouts of the city.

Note to self...... no more choo choo's ... too hard to take photos ...

Sacrario di Christo, the dome that can be seen from the ship as you sail in

magnificent view from the Terrace infront of the Church

Once back at the bottom we walked over to the cathedral and found a café where we enjoyed a yummy cannoli, a specialty of Sicily.

There was a wedding inside Cathedral today

The amazing Astromological clock at the Messina Cathedral

hmm Canoli

washed down with a spritz

After a little more walking we found a cute little restaurant and enjoyed a delicious dinner before walking back to the ship…..  short but sweet.

Delicious Mussel Pasta

our motley crew

More than happy to recommend this restaurant

Beautiful evening sailaway

Transiting the Suez Canal

At a rough calculation, this would be our 6^th time through the Suez Canal, once travelling north-south, but the rest of the time from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. It seems no matter how many times I have transited, I still managed to take nearly 800 photos. On the first cull, I am down to approximately 300 😊

It started at around 5pm when we anchored at Suez for an overnight bunkering.  We were surrounded by many cargo ships waiting for instructions as to when they could enter.

The Captain announced that we would lead the pack in the morning, only to be demoted if a warship had to join the Convoy.

Relaxing whilst in Anchor

Our Bunkerer getting into position to refuel us

Sunset at Suez

Leaving our anchor at around 4.30am the next morning, we were up on deck to ensure that we were able to capture the lights of the city of Suez as entered the mouth of the Canal. 

Palms must have been greased as we ended up No 3 in a convoy of 38 ships. 

Here is the Pilot and Tug getting us ready for our transit

The town of Suez, always looks lovely in the morning glow... 

The first of many dredgers we will see along our transit.

Those glass blue panels may try to keep the wind out, but really make it difficult to get a good shot out of the front of the ship.... Many risk damage to life and limb to get that right shot.

The Egyptian Flag is flown while we sail through the canal

 

Military can be seen all along the shores of the Canal

These conical structures can be seen all along the canal.  They house pigeons.

There are many ways to cross the Canal.  This is just one of the types of Punts that carry passengers and cars accross from one side to the other.

This is the first time I have see this type of swinging bridges... long enough to reach the otherside, I wonder if there is a set time they swing into position because there is not enough time to swing them out between ships.

Incase of emergency these pontoons can be dragged out into place to create a bridge between one side and the other.

Did I mention the Military

Constant dredging going on....

No better way to celebrate the transit than with a Balcony Breakfast.

Many different types of fishing boats and faluccas can be spotted up and down the Canal.

In the Great Bitter lake many ships just sit and wait for a job to come through and then just head out in the direction as needed. 

 

taking a nap

Half of the railway swing bridge

lots of monuments along the way

Monuments comemorating those who created the Canal... 

Pilot headquarters

Convoy in the Mist

still lots of fishing boats

Lots of waves and smiling faces as we pass boats of every size and shape...

lots of military manoeuvres going on

you know you are getting close when you pass the frienship bridge.

we spotted a train

one of the last punts just before we reached the Med.....