Day 14 – Sunshine in Miyako, a Completed Puzzle and a Spectacular Show!

Today we arrived in Miyako, Japan, greeted by glorious sunshine! Although the air was still quite cool, it was lovely to see the sun shining as we approached another new destination on our Japanese adventure.



Unfortunately, the morning didn't get off to quite the start we had hoped for, as Mr C was once again saying that he wasn't feeling well.

So, before anything else, we made our now rather familiar early morning visit to the ship's medical centre!

I honestly think Joe must be one of their most regular visitors. By now, the team know him so well that I wouldn't be surprised if they were considering giving him his own reserved chair!

Thankfully, after checking him over, the advice was fairly straightforward: get plenty of rest, eat healthily and try to walk around the ship to keep moving.

All very sensible advice, although persuading Joe to follow it is sometimes another matter entirely!

Afterwards, the three of us headed to The Restaurant for breakfast together, which was a lovely way to start the day.

Once we had finished, Gaby and I got ourselves ready to head ashore and explore Miyako.

As we stepped off the ship, we were greeted by a lovely warm welcome from the locals. There was a small market set up along the dockside, together with food stalls and various things for visitors to browse.



I always appreciate the effort that these smaller ports make to welcome cruise passengers. It is such a lovely gesture and makes you feel that the community is genuinely pleased to have you visiting.

We then boarded the shuttle bus into the town centre to see what Miyako had to offer.

Miyako was quite different from some of the other Japanese cities we had visited. It certainly didn't appear as affluent or bustling as places such as Kanazawa or Hakodate, and being a Sunday, much of the town was closed.

In fact, it reminded me a little of Gibraltar on a Sunday, when the streets are quieter, many of the shops are shut and there isn't quite as much happening.

We enjoyed a walk around, but there wasn't a huge variety of shops or attractions to explore in the town centre, so after a little while, we decided to catch the shuttle bus back to the ship.

Sometimes you arrive somewhere and spend hours exploring, and other times a short walk is enough to get a feel for the place. That's all part of travelling, and I enjoy seeing the contrasts between the different destinations.

Once back aboard, we checked on Joe to make sure he was comfortable and following at least some of the doctor's instructions!

Gaby and I then headed to the buffet for lunch before deciding to spend a little time in Seabourn Square.

And, of course, there was a very important mission awaiting us.

The communal jigsaw puzzle! 🧩

Anyone who has been following our adventures will know that Gaby has been steadily working away at this puzzle throughout the cruise.

Every time we visited Seabourn Square, she would find herself drawn back to it, determined to fit in a few more pieces.

Well, today was the day!

After a long afternoon of concentration, determination and patience, Gaby finally completed the entire jigsaw!



What a sense of achievement!

It was lovely to see how satisfied she was with herself, and rightly so. There is something incredibly rewarding about sticking with something, even when progress is slow, and finally seeing it through to completion.

I couldn't help thinking that there was a little life lesson in there somewhere.

Sometimes things don't come together immediately. We have to keep trying, be patient and trust that eventually all the pieces will fall into place.

And today, quite literally, they did!

After her triumphant afternoon, Gaby headed off to get ready for her evening dinner plans.

Meanwhile, Joe was feeling well enough to venture out and enjoy Caviar and Classique Melodies, which sounded like a lovely way for him to spend part of the evening.

I was pleased to see him making the effort to get out of the suite and enjoy some of the ship's activities, even if he was still not feeling completely himself.

Later, Joe and I headed to The Restaurant for dinner.

And I have to say, I had the most wonderful meal!

I ordered spaghetti aglio, and it was quite honestly the best I have ever tasted.

Sometimes the simplest dishes are the most delicious, and this was certainly one of those occasions. Beautifully prepared, full of flavour and absolutely perfect.

As a vegetarian, I always appreciate finding a really good pasta dish, and this one was definitely memorable!

After dinner, it was time for the evening entertainment, and what a treat we had in store.

Tonight's show featured Michael Lynche and Sam Bailey performing together.

And wow, what a show!

Both are incredibly talented performers in their own right, but seeing them share the stage was something really special.

Their voices, energy and stage presence made for a fantastic evening of entertainment. It was one of those performances where you find yourself completely absorbed in the music and wishing it would go on a little longer.

What a wonderful way to finish our day!

As I reflected on everything we had done, I realised that today had been a lovely mixture of simple pleasures.

A little sunshine, a warm welcome in a new Japanese town, lunch together, a completed jigsaw, a delicious dinner and a spectacular musical performance.

And although Joe is still not quite back to full health, it was encouraging to see him getting out and enjoying some of the activities aboard the ship.

With our cruise now drawing towards its conclusion, I am becoming increasingly conscious of how quickly these days have passed.

It feels as though we have only just arrived in Japan, and yet we have already experienced so many wonderful places, traditions and moments together.

Another day of memories made, and a reminder that sometimes the simplest pleasures bring the greatest satisfaction. ❤️

🌿 Daily Reflection

Life is a little like a jigsaw puzzle. With patience, persistence and trust, the pieces eventually begin to fall into place.

✨ Highlight of the Day

Gaby finally completing the communal jigsaw puzzle, followed by an absolutely spectacular performance from Michael Lynche and Sam Bailey! 

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