‘What you reckon? Must be around one hundred and twenty metres, maybe more,’ she says.
‘Don’t know. I’ve never been very good with measurements. It just looks enormous to me. It must be one of those superyacht things. I wonder who owns it?’ I say.
‘Some of them are chartered out, Andrew told me. Like those boats onBelow Deckon TV.’
‘Oh, Poppy and Jasmine love that. I watch it for the food. Those chefs are amazing. I liked Chef Ben. Imagine having someone like that cooking for you.’
‘That reminds me. Where shall we eat tonight?’ says Soraya.
‘I’ve no clue what’s around here.’
‘What’s that now?’ says Carol, returning with our drinks.
‘We’re just talking about where to go tonight.’
‘Don’t ask me, babes. Did Andrew recommend anywhere?’
‘Well, there’s a yacht club. We could see if we can get in there. That’d be nice, wouldn’t it? It might be members only, though.’
Carol and I look at each other as we both wonder how much the food there might set us back.
‘I doubt they’d let non-members in. Why don’t we go for a walk and scope out some places?’ says Carol.
‘Sounds like a plan,’ I agree.
By the time we come to ourselves after more mugs of tea, I make sure I am better equipped for leaving the apartment for a wander. I put on my sunglasses and a panama hat I borrowed from Carol.
The three of us set off like we are something out ofThelma & Louisewith an extra hanger-on.
No sooner have we turned the corner from the apartment when a woman on a Vespa with a small dog in the basket at the front passes us.
‘Did you see that little fluff ball?’ says Soraya.
‘What a life,’ says Carol.
It reminds me of the dog clothing store I passed, and I excitedly tell them how I’ll have to show it to them. We seem to be on a different road down to the centre this time, and instead, we pass expensive boutiques for humans. Sorayaoohsandaahsover every shop window.
‘It’s a good job I’m starving, or I’d have the credit card out,’ she says.
We chat and laugh as we walk down to the marina, where we finally see the yachts from a closer angle.
‘These boats are huge, aren’t they?’ says Carol.
‘That’s what I was saying to Soraya earlier.’
When we pass a souvenir shop, Carol can’t resist stopping. She insists she wants to buy a magnet saying ‘Monaco’, claiming it will look posh on her fridge at home. However, Soraya has other ideas.
‘There’s no rush. We can come back here anytime. Isn’t anyone else hungry? We missed dinner last night after that delay. I can’t believe you’re not both complaining you’re starving. Do you realise it’s almost lunchtime?’
‘Yeah, I’m ravenous, but it’s the excitement of looking around that’s keeping me going,’ says Carol.
As we leave the souvenir shop, the smell of seafood grilled over charcoal wafts over to us and my mouth starts watering. The three of us look at the welcoming bistro by the marina, where the aroma is coming from. I suppose I can afford one nice meal here, but from tomorrow, I shall be on an economy drive. Although I realise we haven’t even had Soraya’s birthday meal yet!
Before I can think of the hefty price tag, a waiter ushers us to a table that overlooks the boats. I honestly thought they might shove us at the back if we weren’t glamorous enough, but it must be Soraya who swung it.
The young waiter passes us the menus, and I am grateful that Jasmine isn’t here. She would be swooning all over him.
‘This looks nice, doesn’t it? I might have half a lobster. Oh, they’ve got champagne too. Shall we get some to share?’ asks Soraya.
