Walking at the side of the creek
The other souks did not look very inviting as we walked back to the creek. Instead we crossed over the busy road and walked along side the dhows.
There was a very busy ferry service picking up just passed the first of dhows.
Alongside the quay were large piles of tyres.
After we had passed the tyres we could see the road stretching in front of us with an empty quay on our side and offices and closed shops on the other.
We turned and walked back to where our taxi had dropped us off.
Back on Oceana
This taxi driver was even less talkative then the one earlier and magically the fare back to the ship was more expensive too. Once we could see the QE2 we knew we were near the ship. The one-way system had had us driving around a (mysteriously) circuitous to get back to the dock gates.
Despite all our adventures around the souks we were still in time for lunch in the Ligurian restaurant. I ordered a side salad which was not on the menu but was kindly provided, then artichoke hearts and finally a delicious vegetable curry.
Back in the cabin I picked up my book and was soon asleep!
Security arrangements
I woke to the Captain giving us an announcement about the security arrangements on the ship as we passed through the Gulf of Aden. There we would have Yemen on our starboard side and Somalia on our port side. On this part of the cruise after sundown we would be asked to keep our curtains closed, balcony lights off and not to go onto the Promenade deck. The ship now had three ex-Royal Marines who would be responsible for ensuring that no pirates came on-board. In the next few days the ship would slow down and pick up a box of arms for their use. As well as the ex-marine is the ship now had an officer from the Royal Navy reserve who will coordinate with the UK authorities as the ship passed through the pirate area.
The ship had now deployed security devices around Deck 7 that would be manned by ship’s security officers. These devices project sounds to deter anyone from approaching the ship. Also around the deck fire hoses had been placed to give a curtain of sea water down the ship’s sides.
The Captain assured us that these measures were all in accordance with both UN and UK government anti-piracy measures.
Definitely not your common or garden Captain’s update.
Later in the afternoon we attended the safety briefing before the ship sailed. Our assembly point was in the corridor on Deck 7 past the photographer’s booths. No surprises as the P&O safety briefing except there was no specific mention of electronic cigarettes.