26 September 2025

Beautiful sunny crisp morning to sit outside on deck of ship at Terrace Cafe on Oceania Sirena. Sky is blue with light clouds. The sunrise this morning was spectacular. We are enjoying the quiet as most guests have gone ashore after we met with immigration. A new stamp in my passport. 

We just talked with last nights entertainer, Irish Celtic fiddler dressed in Rosa Bloom sequinned spandex. She was very good musician and entertaining. 

Breakfast is over, warm drinks on the patio. Windmill twirling in the distance and sea gulls fluttering around. The wait staff setting up tables for lunch crowd. Nothing feels crowded here, lots of space and lots of great service. 

Our ship is docked at Cobh. Cute little place with colourful row homes and little shops. Cunard once had office here, I took picture of the sign over the door. 

We are interested in the Titanic experience tour. Starting in Cobh known now as “Cove”. There is no letter v in Irish language. Previously was Queenstown in 1912. Still it is visible- the pier used for titanic guests to disembark. Second largest natural port in world. We are given identification as we enter the presentation. 

I have third class identification for this experience and dear Hanna N does not survive the catastrophe. A view of the third class bedroom which included electricity and running water. Most third class did not have these luxuries at home at that time. 

Loved the tourist shops and whole titanic themed experience. We decide to take half hour rail ride to larger city of Cork. 

Our good weather is holding. Along sea coast sparkling blue surface reflecting the deep clarity of the sky. Coloured row houses on the shore. Shorebirds and low tide. Mucky shores like Nova Scotia with tide out, except the soil and clay are not red here, more grey. A few stops and thirty minutes and we arrive. 

In Cork. We walk and find a tourist information centre as maps are few and far between here. Recommended an English Market, started in 1700’s. We find it, stalls of fish, chocolate, tea, olives and cheeses. I am sure there were other things. Haha. We get some goodies and continue our walkabout. About two hours at this destination and now returning to Cobh. 

Gentle rocking of the train is tempting me to dose and sleep. 

Reading this weeks article referencing the background hum of some doom and worry and the advice is to sit, notice and focus on a miracle such as the beauty of a butterfly or hummingbird fluttering by in search of its goal, a scent, a sparkle of satisfaction. 

We set sail at 6 pm for Dublin. We are ready for specialty dining and the ship is wild and free. Deep discussions over dinner so we miss the show. Now we are spending some quiet moments in the library. Good night. Tomorrow is Dublin