Well, this is it. Just a few thoughts to share about the overall experience.
It was an amazing trip. It wasn't just about the sights and the history. It was also about the relationships developed on board. We met the most amazing people. Travellers included Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, Canadians, British. The Viking Crew consisted mainly of Polynesians and Europeans. How can so many crew members always be pleasant, happy, smiley? Occasionally there was an issue. Each was dealt with professionally, immediately, no argument. The Viking crew bends over backwards to make sure we are happy. No one seems to mind going the extra mile. Anything you want, they make it happen.
We are especially grateful to have had the opportunity to visit Istanbul, Troy and Ephesus Turkey. Cruise lines no longer go to Turkey and it may be a while before they return. This is so unfortunate for the country, it's people, and the tourist industry.
As crazy as the traffic was everywhere in Europe, we did not see a single accident. Just a quick drive to Cora's this morning...we saw one at the corner of Mayor Magrath Drive and Scenic Drive. Go figure!
Bob found 156 geocaches in 20 countries including one each in The Vatican and Gibraltar, 25 in France, 25 in Norway, 20 in Italy, 15 in Turkey, 12 in Greece, 10 in Denmark.
50 days is definitely long enough for a trip of this nature. We are very happy to be home. Now we plan the next adventure....Paris?...London?...Downunder?...
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Monday, May 16, 2016
Frankfurt Airport
I would be remiss if I did not share the nightmare which is Frankfurt Airport.
Upon landing, the plane taxied for a while until we reached the Lufthansa section. Here, we hopped on a bus which took us somewhere in Terminal 1. From there we had to find Gate C6. This was a challenge. We followed the signs leading to Gate C. We reached a door which puzzled us. It looked like it was having us leave the secure area. We asked to be sure this was right. The woman replied "Yes, that is the time portal". Little did we know how accurate her description was. We followed more signs, went down a weird elevator, up and down escalators until we found a monorail. It felt like no-mans land. One side that said "Gate C" was out of order. Luckily a German and other travelers arrived. The German had obviously been here before and was very confident we were doing it right. It was a quick monorail ride to wherever we went. We walked some more through shops to get to the security lines. Waiting is the name of the game. When we finally got through that process, we hiked some more to get to the immigration line. By the time we arrived at the gate, pre boarding was done and general boarding was starting. We had only 1 1/2 hour between flights and we had all this rigmarole to go through. We did manage to make a quick comfort stop in the middle of all this. However, there was absolutely no time for a bite to eat. We were famished. It was 1:30 and the only thing there was to eat at 5:30 on the ship was a Danish or a croissant. Lufthansa served the worst sandwich. One bite of that was enough. It was right up there with the really bad hot pockets Air Canada served as a snack.
For some reason, going from Air Canada to Lufthansa at the beginning of the trip was not quite as nightmarish in that we did not go through the time portal. Avoid Frankfurt airport!
Upon landing, the plane taxied for a while until we reached the Lufthansa section. Here, we hopped on a bus which took us somewhere in Terminal 1. From there we had to find Gate C6. This was a challenge. We followed the signs leading to Gate C. We reached a door which puzzled us. It looked like it was having us leave the secure area. We asked to be sure this was right. The woman replied "Yes, that is the time portal". Little did we know how accurate her description was. We followed more signs, went down a weird elevator, up and down escalators until we found a monorail. It felt like no-mans land. One side that said "Gate C" was out of order. Luckily a German and other travelers arrived. The German had obviously been here before and was very confident we were doing it right. It was a quick monorail ride to wherever we went. We walked some more through shops to get to the security lines. Waiting is the name of the game. When we finally got through that process, we hiked some more to get to the immigration line. By the time we arrived at the gate, pre boarding was done and general boarding was starting. We had only 1 1/2 hour between flights and we had all this rigmarole to go through. We did manage to make a quick comfort stop in the middle of all this. However, there was absolutely no time for a bite to eat. We were famished. It was 1:30 and the only thing there was to eat at 5:30 on the ship was a Danish or a croissant. Lufthansa served the worst sandwich. One bite of that was enough. It was right up there with the really bad hot pockets Air Canada served as a snack.
For some reason, going from Air Canada to Lufthansa at the beginning of the trip was not quite as nightmarish in that we did not go through the time portal. Avoid Frankfurt airport!
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Stockholm, Sweden
Saturday, May 14
Day #49! We were up early this morning. The best part of the day to enjoy the best sail-in to Stockholm. We sailed past hundreds of islands, some of which were inhabited. It was very scenic and very Scandinavian. We watched for 3 hours while packing and eating breakfast.
We decided we just could not handle another city tour. Muscles aching everywhere, sore butt, sore back. It makes it difficult to get on and off buses at all the different spots. Besides, do we really need to visit another church? At 10 am we hopped on the shuttle bus. You guessed it. Geocaching led the way. It is a very cold and windy day. We walked over some bridges and found ourselves in Old Town. By now y'all know what that means....
yep....cobbled streets! Bob was happy he found some caches. We were headed to the shopping streets when our eyes came upon a café with interesting food. We went in to take a look. Bob asked if they had coffee and hot chocolate. The answer was yes. Then we spotted a pretty good looking apple strudel to go with that. It came with vanilla cream. It was melt in your mouth good! The hot chocolate was served in a huge bowl with a couple of small meringues and a huge piece of whipped cream. They sure know how to make hot chocolate in Scandinavia!
Bob succeeded in his mission of finding at least one cache in each country, including the Vatican, Monte Carlo and Russia. He is very happy.
Tomorrow we are homeward bound.
Day #49! We were up early this morning. The best part of the day to enjoy the best sail-in to Stockholm. We sailed past hundreds of islands, some of which were inhabited. It was very scenic and very Scandinavian. We watched for 3 hours while packing and eating breakfast.
We decided we just could not handle another city tour. Muscles aching everywhere, sore butt, sore back. It makes it difficult to get on and off buses at all the different spots. Besides, do we really need to visit another church? At 10 am we hopped on the shuttle bus. You guessed it. Geocaching led the way. It is a very cold and windy day. We walked over some bridges and found ourselves in Old Town. By now y'all know what that means....
yep....cobbled streets! Bob was happy he found some caches. We were headed to the shopping streets when our eyes came upon a café with interesting food. We went in to take a look. Bob asked if they had coffee and hot chocolate. The answer was yes. Then we spotted a pretty good looking apple strudel to go with that. It came with vanilla cream. It was melt in your mouth good! The hot chocolate was served in a huge bowl with a couple of small meringues and a huge piece of whipped cream. They sure know how to make hot chocolate in Scandinavia!
Bob succeeded in his mission of finding at least one cache in each country, including the Vatican, Monte Carlo and Russia. He is very happy.
Tomorrow we are homeward bound.
Fiskars, Finland
Friday, May 13
After a scenic drive in the Finnish countryside, we had the most delightful day at the Fiskars Arts Village. We were only about 20 people. We were the only bus, the only tour. It was a most relaxing pace. Fiskars was known for its ironworks for centuries. Now it has become an artist haven with a population of 600. We watched artisans at work in the glass studio and the blacksmith shop. At the café we were greeted with a cup of coffee (water for me) and a wonderful hot cinnamon bun. We did browse the shops. There was a variety of handmade arts and crafts. Of course, one shop specialised in Fiskars tools and scissors. These are no longer made in Fiskars, but in a town about 10 kilometres away.
Of course we had to find the one and only geocache in town. It was an opportunity to walk in the forest and enjoy the area. The town itself has canals and pedestrian bridges. It was a wonderful place to spend the morning. Bonus...there was not a cobblestone to be found!
When we returned to the ship we had a quick lunch before hopping on the shuttle to Helsinki. We only had an hour, so we quickly walked around the area, found geocaches, then hopped back on the bus.
After a scenic drive in the Finnish countryside, we had the most delightful day at the Fiskars Arts Village. We were only about 20 people. We were the only bus, the only tour. It was a most relaxing pace. Fiskars was known for its ironworks for centuries. Now it has become an artist haven with a population of 600. We watched artisans at work in the glass studio and the blacksmith shop. At the café we were greeted with a cup of coffee (water for me) and a wonderful hot cinnamon bun. We did browse the shops. There was a variety of handmade arts and crafts. Of course, one shop specialised in Fiskars tools and scissors. These are no longer made in Fiskars, but in a town about 10 kilometres away.
Of course we had to find the one and only geocache in town. It was an opportunity to walk in the forest and enjoy the area. The town itself has canals and pedestrian bridges. It was a wonderful place to spend the morning. Bonus...there was not a cobblestone to be found!
When we returned to the ship we had a quick lunch before hopping on the shuttle to Helsinki. We only had an hour, so we quickly walked around the area, found geocaches, then hopped back on the bus.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
St. Petersburg Russia - Day 1
Wednesday May 11
Today we visited the Hermitage Winter Palace and Gold Room. The Hermitage showcases Catherine the Great's massive art collection. Very awe inspiring. Talk about a whirlwind tour! We covered the Winter Palace, the old Hermitage, the new Hermitage and the small Hermitage within an hour. We then rushed through several more rooms, hallways and stairways before finally reaching the Gold Room where we had an appointment for 10:10 am. The Gold Room houses the world-famous collection of intricate Scythian ornaments from the 7th to the 4th centuries BC. These were excavated from ancient burial sites in the Cossack and Black Sea regions and are part of the oldest gold collection of its size ever uncovered. There were also Greek pieces made from delicate gold threads. Gorgeous! Others were gifts from the Shah of Iran.
What is wonderful, is that we were able to get into the museum and through the exhibits when it was quiet. When we came out of the gold room, the museum was packed with school children. It would have been a nightmare to have gone through the exhibits any later than we did.
Tonight we attended an excellent performance of Russian folk music and dance performed by the National Cultural Society at the House of Officers. The costumes were intricate, the voices were powerful and the dances lively and acrobatic.
Today we visited the Hermitage Winter Palace and Gold Room. The Hermitage showcases Catherine the Great's massive art collection. Very awe inspiring. Talk about a whirlwind tour! We covered the Winter Palace, the old Hermitage, the new Hermitage and the small Hermitage within an hour. We then rushed through several more rooms, hallways and stairways before finally reaching the Gold Room where we had an appointment for 10:10 am. The Gold Room houses the world-famous collection of intricate Scythian ornaments from the 7th to the 4th centuries BC. These were excavated from ancient burial sites in the Cossack and Black Sea regions and are part of the oldest gold collection of its size ever uncovered. There were also Greek pieces made from delicate gold threads. Gorgeous! Others were gifts from the Shah of Iran.
What is wonderful, is that we were able to get into the museum and through the exhibits when it was quiet. When we came out of the gold room, the museum was packed with school children. It would have been a nightmare to have gone through the exhibits any later than we did.
Tonight we attended an excellent performance of Russian folk music and dance performed by the National Cultural Society at the House of Officers. The costumes were intricate, the voices were powerful and the dances lively and acrobatic.
Tallinn, Estonia
Tuesday May 10
It was such a calm peaceful day on the Baltic yesterday. The sea was like glass with the ship making large, soft, undulating waves. It was like that all day!
Last night we were entertained by 26 year old Mary-Jess from UK. She is the voice behind the theme of Downton Abbey. Her style of music is classical crossover. She has a beautiful operatic voice.
Today we are in medieval Tallinn. We decided to have another day on our own. Geocaching took us to interesting spots in old town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vendors were setting up shop at the street market to sell their woollen and linen crafts. We strolled along MORE cobbled lanes past many historical buildings and churches. At the top of the hill, we found a number of vantage points from which to view the city below and the sea. As you leave old town, you have an excellent perspective of the wall and its Tourette's. It is very impressive.
Outside the wall, we visited a number of parks. One has a memorial called The Broken Line commemorating the loss of 852 lives in the 1994 ferry tragedy. We do remember that disaster very well.
We really enjoy these days on our own.
It was such a calm peaceful day on the Baltic yesterday. The sea was like glass with the ship making large, soft, undulating waves. It was like that all day!
Last night we were entertained by 26 year old Mary-Jess from UK. She is the voice behind the theme of Downton Abbey. Her style of music is classical crossover. She has a beautiful operatic voice.
Today we are in medieval Tallinn. We decided to have another day on our own. Geocaching took us to interesting spots in old town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vendors were setting up shop at the street market to sell their woollen and linen crafts. We strolled along MORE cobbled lanes past many historical buildings and churches. At the top of the hill, we found a number of vantage points from which to view the city below and the sea. As you leave old town, you have an excellent perspective of the wall and its Tourette's. It is very impressive.
Outside the wall, we visited a number of parks. One has a memorial called The Broken Line commemorating the loss of 852 lives in the 1994 ferry tragedy. We do remember that disaster very well.
We really enjoy these days on our own.
Friday, May 13, 2016
St. Petersburg, Russia - Day 2
Thursday May 12
After our bus tour today, we concluded that the onion domed Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood is the prettiest thing in St Petersburg. It really is not a pretty city. The church is a memorial to the assassinated emperor Alexander II. Our guide let us walk around on our own for a few minutes. This was a surprise because we thought we would need to be glued to her. In Russia you must have a visa if you are on your own. As long as you are with a tour, you are ok. We spent a good deal of time at the Peter and Paul Fortress. Inside, we saw numerous coffins of Alexander the Great's family and the gold covered statues and altar. Our last stop was at St. Isaac’s Square for 30 minutes. Having this time on our own was great because Bob managed to find some caches. We didn't think we would find any. He's quite happy.
Mary-Jess treated us to another wonderful performance tonight. She is so delightful.
After our bus tour today, we concluded that the onion domed Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood is the prettiest thing in St Petersburg. It really is not a pretty city. The church is a memorial to the assassinated emperor Alexander II. Our guide let us walk around on our own for a few minutes. This was a surprise because we thought we would need to be glued to her. In Russia you must have a visa if you are on your own. As long as you are with a tour, you are ok. We spent a good deal of time at the Peter and Paul Fortress. Inside, we saw numerous coffins of Alexander the Great's family and the gold covered statues and altar. Our last stop was at St. Isaac’s Square for 30 minutes. Having this time on our own was great because Bob managed to find some caches. We didn't think we would find any. He's quite happy.
Mary-Jess treated us to another wonderful performance tonight. She is so delightful.
Monday, May 09, 2016
Gdynia (Gdansk), Poland
Sunday May 8
Gdynia has to be the ugliest port! We are parked right in front of green cranes and piles of coal. Yuk! However..... We were greeted by a high school band and majorettes bearing red and white pom-poms. How fun was that! Red and white are the colours of the polish flag.
It's a beautiful sunny and warm day here! At least 22C.
We again chose to go off on our own rather than take the Gdansk walking tour. It really was a nice R & R day. We took the shuttle to Gdynia's main square. We walked along a beautiful park with a wide promenade with shops and pubs on both sides, tall ships, pleasure boats and more. We walked all the way to the huge beach. Lots of people everywhere. Geocaching took us to a nicely treed area with a lovely view of the beach activity below and a residential area.
When we returned to the park, we stopped at one of the pubs for a beer. Would you believe....it cost only $2.10 Canadian for a 500 ml bottle! What a contrast to what we have been paying in other ports!
Tomorrow is our last full "at sea" day. There are only 4 ports left. On one hand, feeling sad for leaving the ship and the amazing crew members. On the other hand, feeling happy for them because they are soon moving on to new positions and the new Viking ships.
Gdynia has to be the ugliest port! We are parked right in front of green cranes and piles of coal. Yuk! However..... We were greeted by a high school band and majorettes bearing red and white pom-poms. How fun was that! Red and white are the colours of the polish flag.
It's a beautiful sunny and warm day here! At least 22C.
We again chose to go off on our own rather than take the Gdansk walking tour. It really was a nice R & R day. We took the shuttle to Gdynia's main square. We walked along a beautiful park with a wide promenade with shops and pubs on both sides, tall ships, pleasure boats and more. We walked all the way to the huge beach. Lots of people everywhere. Geocaching took us to a nicely treed area with a lovely view of the beach activity below and a residential area.
When we returned to the park, we stopped at one of the pubs for a beer. Would you believe....it cost only $2.10 Canadian for a 500 ml bottle! What a contrast to what we have been paying in other ports!
Tomorrow is our last full "at sea" day. There are only 4 ports left. On one hand, feeling sad for leaving the ship and the amazing crew members. On the other hand, feeling happy for them because they are soon moving on to new positions and the new Viking ships.
Sunday, May 08, 2016
Rostock, Germany
Saturday May 7.
We are docked at Warnemunde Germany. This is a very busy port with many cruise ships, ferries, sailboats, pleasure boats and freighters. Rostock is another Baltic coast city which built its wealth on the medieval Hanseatic League.
Rather than take a 12 hour tour to Berlin, we decided to stay in the area to visit Rostock and Warnemunde. Our tour bus took us to a microbrewery in Rostock. The brew master explained how the hops are roasted and showed us samples. Afterwards, we had a tasting of one light and one dark beer. Bob liked the dark beer, I didn't care for either. To go with the beer, we were given warm freshly baked pretzels. On our walking tour, we visited St. Mary's church with its enormous astronomical clock, historic City Hall, University of Rostock, the Abbey of the Holy Cross, the gothic Kröpeliner tower which marks the old city walls, squares and fountains. Being Saturday, the market was a very busy spot.
We then took a boat ride down the Warnow river back to the ship. Most of what we saw along the river was shipping related, nothing scenic. The most interesting structure was a platform which will be placed with wind turbines in the ocean to collect energy.
Later in the afternoon we went for a walk around Wandermunde. Little did we know what a gem this little harbour town is. No wonder our crew likes coming here. It was particularly fun because it was a Saturday and a holiday weekend.
Grego, our pianist gave a concert tonight. He included his interpretation of the magic flute as well as some of his own compositions. Very talented. Normally Grego plays his music in the atrium or the Explorers lounge. It was wonderful to see him on stage.
We are docked at Warnemunde Germany. This is a very busy port with many cruise ships, ferries, sailboats, pleasure boats and freighters. Rostock is another Baltic coast city which built its wealth on the medieval Hanseatic League.
Rather than take a 12 hour tour to Berlin, we decided to stay in the area to visit Rostock and Warnemunde. Our tour bus took us to a microbrewery in Rostock. The brew master explained how the hops are roasted and showed us samples. Afterwards, we had a tasting of one light and one dark beer. Bob liked the dark beer, I didn't care for either. To go with the beer, we were given warm freshly baked pretzels. On our walking tour, we visited St. Mary's church with its enormous astronomical clock, historic City Hall, University of Rostock, the Abbey of the Holy Cross, the gothic Kröpeliner tower which marks the old city walls, squares and fountains. Being Saturday, the market was a very busy spot.
We then took a boat ride down the Warnow river back to the ship. Most of what we saw along the river was shipping related, nothing scenic. The most interesting structure was a platform which will be placed with wind turbines in the ocean to collect energy.
Later in the afternoon we went for a walk around Wandermunde. Little did we know what a gem this little harbour town is. No wonder our crew likes coming here. It was particularly fun because it was a Saturday and a holiday weekend.
Grego, our pianist gave a concert tonight. He included his interpretation of the magic flute as well as some of his own compositions. Very talented. Normally Grego plays his music in the atrium or the Explorers lounge. It was wonderful to see him on stage.
Friday, May 06, 2016
Copenhagen, Denmark
Friday May 6
We are docked across from the Langelinie outlet mall. Convenient!
Our first stop on our city tour was the serene Little Mermaid. There were so many tour buses there, it was ridiculous! Next we stopped at Castle Island for a history lesson regarding Denmark's royal family. Our stop was perfectly timed with the changing of the guard. Bob missed it because he was geocaching. We had some time on our own before returning to the bus for our panoramic tour. From the bus we saw the 1843 Tivoli Gardens, the world’s second oldest amusement park; the new Mearsk opera house; the Carlsberg Museum, home to the city’s sculpture and art collection; Christiansborg Palace, home to the Danish Parliament and the Supreme Court; Børsen, the former stock exchange; Amalienborg Palace, the royal winter residence; the statue of Hans Christian Andersen; Rosenborg Castle, home to the Danish Crown Jewels. Lastly, we were dropped off at the pedestrian shopping street for just over an hour. It was crazy busy, yet there was scarcely anyone in the stores. We let geocaching lead us to some quiet streets.
After lunch we walked more cobbled streets. After 6 weeks of cobbled streets, my feet have had enough! We returned to the Little Mermaid, walked through more parks, and Kastellet. Of course, we found more caches.
More Song and Dance with the Viking Singers and Dancers tonight.
We are docked across from the Langelinie outlet mall. Convenient!
Our first stop on our city tour was the serene Little Mermaid. There were so many tour buses there, it was ridiculous! Next we stopped at Castle Island for a history lesson regarding Denmark's royal family. Our stop was perfectly timed with the changing of the guard. Bob missed it because he was geocaching. We had some time on our own before returning to the bus for our panoramic tour. From the bus we saw the 1843 Tivoli Gardens, the world’s second oldest amusement park; the new Mearsk opera house; the Carlsberg Museum, home to the city’s sculpture and art collection; Christiansborg Palace, home to the Danish Parliament and the Supreme Court; Børsen, the former stock exchange; Amalienborg Palace, the royal winter residence; the statue of Hans Christian Andersen; Rosenborg Castle, home to the Danish Crown Jewels. Lastly, we were dropped off at the pedestrian shopping street for just over an hour. It was crazy busy, yet there was scarcely anyone in the stores. We let geocaching lead us to some quiet streets.
After lunch we walked more cobbled streets. After 6 weeks of cobbled streets, my feet have had enough! We returned to the Little Mermaid, walked through more parks, and Kastellet. Of course, we found more caches.
More Song and Dance with the Viking Singers and Dancers tonight.
Aalborg, Denmark
Thursday May 5
We traveled about 2 hours down the river to get to Aalborg. Another nice cool sunny day. It is Ascension day, a national holiday in Denmark. Shops are closed. Pubs and restaurants are open. We are docked right in town again, so we decided to go off on our own. We strolled along the harbor front past the Utzon Center, designed by the architect behind the Sydney Opera House. Nearby are the university and the new House of Music, home to the Åalborg Symphony Orchestra.
In the older, quaint part of town, we walked cobbled streets (what else?) amongst 17th-century houses. In New Square we saw the Renaissance style Jens Bang’s House which was built for a wealthy merchant in 1624. Impressive architecture indeed. Geocaching brought us to Budolfi church which was built in the late 17th century.
Had we been with the tour, we would have visited 16th century Aalborg Castle, its courtyard and dungeons. Today, the castle is the seat of the king’s governors.
We stopped for a beer at a pub just across from the ship and visited with other 50 dayers.
We had fun reading the interesting ads on the buses. We also visited with 4 of the Viking singers. It was a good afternoon.
Mike Sterling is still on board. He performed the Phantom over 1,000 times in his career. We are very privileged to have him here.
We traveled about 2 hours down the river to get to Aalborg. Another nice cool sunny day. It is Ascension day, a national holiday in Denmark. Shops are closed. Pubs and restaurants are open. We are docked right in town again, so we decided to go off on our own. We strolled along the harbor front past the Utzon Center, designed by the architect behind the Sydney Opera House. Nearby are the university and the new House of Music, home to the Åalborg Symphony Orchestra.
In the older, quaint part of town, we walked cobbled streets (what else?) amongst 17th-century houses. In New Square we saw the Renaissance style Jens Bang’s House which was built for a wealthy merchant in 1624. Impressive architecture indeed. Geocaching brought us to Budolfi church which was built in the late 17th century.
Had we been with the tour, we would have visited 16th century Aalborg Castle, its courtyard and dungeons. Today, the castle is the seat of the king’s governors.
We stopped for a beer at a pub just across from the ship and visited with other 50 dayers.
We had fun reading the interesting ads on the buses. We also visited with 4 of the Viking singers. It was a good afternoon.
Mike Sterling is still on board. He performed the Phantom over 1,000 times in his career. We are very privileged to have him here.
Thursday, May 05, 2016
Stavanger, Norway
Wednesday May 4
Our ship is docked right in the heart of town. It is so nice when this happens.
We had a lovely sunny morning walking around Stavanger. We had less than 5 hours here so we decided not to take the tour. Besides it was much too nice a day to spend inside an oil museum. We found some parks, the canning museum, shops. Of particular interest was Old Stavanger. We strolled cobblestone streets amongst 250 UNESCO protected wooden buildings dating from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They are considered the best kept wooden houses in Northern Europe. It was interesting walking through there. One house was a glass artist atelier. We had a great conversation with the 2 artists.
While walking around town we found a number of picketers. Being curious, Bob asked why they were striking. They said it was for the right to negotiate. So, they gave him one of their vests which he wore for a short while. He had me take picture of him with one of the girls. They had a good laugh.
We left Stavanger ar 2 pm. We sat in the pool area and watched the scenery go by while listening to live music. Imagine this scenic setting. Homes situated on green rolling hills with snow capped mountains in the background. Lovely!
Tonight we were entertained by the excellent Viking Singers and Dancers.
Our ship is docked right in the heart of town. It is so nice when this happens.
We had a lovely sunny morning walking around Stavanger. We had less than 5 hours here so we decided not to take the tour. Besides it was much too nice a day to spend inside an oil museum. We found some parks, the canning museum, shops. Of particular interest was Old Stavanger. We strolled cobblestone streets amongst 250 UNESCO protected wooden buildings dating from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. They are considered the best kept wooden houses in Northern Europe. It was interesting walking through there. One house was a glass artist atelier. We had a great conversation with the 2 artists.
While walking around town we found a number of picketers. Being curious, Bob asked why they were striking. They said it was for the right to negotiate. So, they gave him one of their vests which he wore for a short while. He had me take picture of him with one of the girls. They had a good laugh.
We left Stavanger ar 2 pm. We sat in the pool area and watched the scenery go by while listening to live music. Imagine this scenic setting. Homes situated on green rolling hills with snow capped mountains in the background. Lovely!
Tonight we were entertained by the excellent Viking Singers and Dancers.
Wednesday, May 04, 2016
Flam, Norway
Tuesday, May 3
We anchored in Flam (floam) this morning. Yes, it was a beautifully calm, slightly rainy day. The bus took us through the Naerøydalen Valley, surrounded by snowcapped mountains, plummeting waterfalls and tranquil Opheimsvatnet Lake. We stopped in Myrkdalen at the new Myrkdalen Hotel where we were served Tea, coffee and a waffle with wonderful freshly made strawberry jam and whipped cream.
Our next stop was the limestone White Cave with its deep, illuminated caverns. It was fascinating, walking quietly and listening to the various sounds. We were served hot tea, coffee and spice cake. We also lit votives, placed them in the water and made a wish. We returned to the ship via the Stalheimskleiva, one of the steepest roads in Northern Europe. With 13 hairpin turns, this magnificent route passes two of the country’s most spectacular waterfalls: Stalheim at 413 feet high and Sivle Waterfall at 465 feet. Beautiful! This lovely journey would have been stunning had the sun been shining. Unfortunately, it was merely awesome!
Tonight we had our last party for the 50 dayers. All the supervisors were there. The new captain was missing because he was taking us out of port. All types of wine were served. The hors d'oeuvres were exceptional and included caviar and white chocolate covered strawberries dressed up in buttons and bow ties. So cute! After the party we went outside to enjoy the ride through Aurlandsfjord and into Sognefjord the largest fjord in Norway.
We anchored in Flam (floam) this morning. Yes, it was a beautifully calm, slightly rainy day. The bus took us through the Naerøydalen Valley, surrounded by snowcapped mountains, plummeting waterfalls and tranquil Opheimsvatnet Lake. We stopped in Myrkdalen at the new Myrkdalen Hotel where we were served Tea, coffee and a waffle with wonderful freshly made strawberry jam and whipped cream.
Our next stop was the limestone White Cave with its deep, illuminated caverns. It was fascinating, walking quietly and listening to the various sounds. We were served hot tea, coffee and spice cake. We also lit votives, placed them in the water and made a wish. We returned to the ship via the Stalheimskleiva, one of the steepest roads in Northern Europe. With 13 hairpin turns, this magnificent route passes two of the country’s most spectacular waterfalls: Stalheim at 413 feet high and Sivle Waterfall at 465 feet. Beautiful! This lovely journey would have been stunning had the sun been shining. Unfortunately, it was merely awesome!
Tonight we had our last party for the 50 dayers. All the supervisors were there. The new captain was missing because he was taking us out of port. All types of wine were served. The hors d'oeuvres were exceptional and included caviar and white chocolate covered strawberries dressed up in buttons and bow ties. So cute! After the party we went outside to enjoy the ride through Aurlandsfjord and into Sognefjord the largest fjord in Norway.
Monday, May 02, 2016
Bergen, Norway - Part 3
Monday May 2
Another wet, cold blustery day. It was a very unpleasant day for a tour.
The bus took us south of Bergen to Edvard Grieg's house, Troldhaugen, his home for 22 years. Grieg is Norway's famed composer. Here we enjoyed a 30 minute exclusive recital of his music in a beautiful setting. We had free time we could have used to visit the gardens, but the weather was not cooperating.
We visited the Fantoft Stave Church. It was built entirely of wood in 1150 in the tradition of Norwegian stave churches. It was moved to its present site in 1883 to save it from demolition and preserve it as part of the nation’s heritage. After a 1992 fire, artisans restored it to its former beauty. Unfortunately we could not go inside to see the construction and the elaborate carvings because it is the off season. This is also a pretty setting, but not so enjoyable on such a day as this.
Of course, ol' diehard geocaching Bob had to go out in the storm after lunch to place a new travelling bug in a geocache. He was on his own for that walk!
Another wet, cold blustery day. It was a very unpleasant day for a tour.
The bus took us south of Bergen to Edvard Grieg's house, Troldhaugen, his home for 22 years. Grieg is Norway's famed composer. Here we enjoyed a 30 minute exclusive recital of his music in a beautiful setting. We had free time we could have used to visit the gardens, but the weather was not cooperating.
We visited the Fantoft Stave Church. It was built entirely of wood in 1150 in the tradition of Norwegian stave churches. It was moved to its present site in 1883 to save it from demolition and preserve it as part of the nation’s heritage. After a 1992 fire, artisans restored it to its former beauty. Unfortunately we could not go inside to see the construction and the elaborate carvings because it is the off season. This is also a pretty setting, but not so enjoyable on such a day as this.
Of course, ol' diehard geocaching Bob had to go out in the storm after lunch to place a new travelling bug in a geocache. He was on his own for that walk!
Sunday, May 01, 2016
Bergen, Norway - Part 2
Sunday May 1
We started out around 8:30 this morning. It was cold, blustery and wet! We came right back home! We waited about an hour until the sun came out. It was still pretty cold, but it sure helps when the sun is shining.
We started by going to the top of MT Floyen by funicular. We had a great view of the entire city. You can see homes in all the nooks and crannies within Bergen's 7 mountains. There is quite a trail system up there. Some lead right back down to town. On a nice day, that would have been a beautiful walk. There are trolls and lots of play areas for kids, even a climbing wall. We were up there a couple of hours before returning to town. We visited a number of shops. I decided to buy a pair of mittens. My hands were soooo happy!
Bob considers himself an honorary Viking. Last summer we visited L'Anse-Aux-Meadows Newfoundland where there is evidence of Viking settlements. On this trip we visited Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Upstairs there is evidence, in runic writing dating from the 9th century, that the Vikings were there. Now we are in Norway, their home territory. Lastly, we are aboard the Viking Star ship since Istanbul and have taken her to Bergen, her home port, in Vikingland.
Tonight's Viking destination performance was by violinist Tor Apold. The music was very nice and complex. However, it was also all the same tempo. It would have been nice to have something a bit more lively.
We started out around 8:30 this morning. It was cold, blustery and wet! We came right back home! We waited about an hour until the sun came out. It was still pretty cold, but it sure helps when the sun is shining.
We started by going to the top of MT Floyen by funicular. We had a great view of the entire city. You can see homes in all the nooks and crannies within Bergen's 7 mountains. There is quite a trail system up there. Some lead right back down to town. On a nice day, that would have been a beautiful walk. There are trolls and lots of play areas for kids, even a climbing wall. We were up there a couple of hours before returning to town. We visited a number of shops. I decided to buy a pair of mittens. My hands were soooo happy!
Bob considers himself an honorary Viking. Last summer we visited L'Anse-Aux-Meadows Newfoundland where there is evidence of Viking settlements. On this trip we visited Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Upstairs there is evidence, in runic writing dating from the 9th century, that the Vikings were there. Now we are in Norway, their home territory. Lastly, we are aboard the Viking Star ship since Istanbul and have taken her to Bergen, her home port, in Vikingland.
Tonight's Viking destination performance was by violinist Tor Apold. The music was very nice and complex. However, it was also all the same tempo. It would have been nice to have something a bit more lively.
Bergen, Norway - Part 1
Saturday April 30
Yesterday our entertainment was Mike Sterling. His repertoire includes opera, rock and roll, and crooner songs. He has an amazing voice. Also, it was farewell to the captain night. We have a new captain for the last leg. Hopefully the new one is as personable and fun as captain Rune Lockling is. We sailed the turbulent North Sea. There are dozens of oil platforms in this sea!
Today marks the beginning of the fourth leg of our journey. We started with the Bergen Walkling Tour. We walked through the fortress and along the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bryggen, the scenic wharf that developed with the growing power of the Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages. We went into the Bryggen museum where we saw fascinating exhibits and the foundations of the original buildings. There was a display of Viking rune writing which reminded us of the writing we saw in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and the ruins we saw in l'Anse-aux-Meadows, NL.
We decided our guide was too slow, so we went off on our own. We walked through the labyrinth of cobbled streets. Old Town’s beautifully preserved houses now house a variety of shops, restaurants, outdoor cafés and pubs. It is a most interesting area. We were pretty excited to find the fish market. We have never seen such a variety of fish and seafood. You can choose something and they will make a meal for you. You can eat it right there in the outdoor cafe. So different! So great!
Yesterday our entertainment was Mike Sterling. His repertoire includes opera, rock and roll, and crooner songs. He has an amazing voice. Also, it was farewell to the captain night. We have a new captain for the last leg. Hopefully the new one is as personable and fun as captain Rune Lockling is. We sailed the turbulent North Sea. There are dozens of oil platforms in this sea!
Today marks the beginning of the fourth leg of our journey. We started with the Bergen Walkling Tour. We walked through the fortress and along the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bryggen, the scenic wharf that developed with the growing power of the Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages. We went into the Bryggen museum where we saw fascinating exhibits and the foundations of the original buildings. There was a display of Viking rune writing which reminded us of the writing we saw in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and the ruins we saw in l'Anse-aux-Meadows, NL.
We decided our guide was too slow, so we went off on our own. We walked through the labyrinth of cobbled streets. Old Town’s beautifully preserved houses now house a variety of shops, restaurants, outdoor cafés and pubs. It is a most interesting area. We were pretty excited to find the fish market. We have never seen such a variety of fish and seafood. You can choose something and they will make a meal for you. You can eat it right there in the outdoor cafe. So different! So great!
Friday, April 29, 2016
Greenwich, England
Thursday, April 28
We were disappointed we docked in Tilbury rather than Greenwich. However, we still took the Royal Greenwich walking tour. Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A bus took us to the Greenwich Observatory. Here we straddled the Prime Meridian placing us in 2 hemispheres at the same time. Of course, we took photos to satisfy the requirements of a virtual cache. We learned how the instruments were created by the Astronomers Royal to keep track of time accurately; saw the equatorial telescope whose 27 inch lens took 8 years to polish; and saw the camera obscura (originally used to observe the sun safely) which is now focused on the Queen's house. Pretty cool stuff. Then we walked to the National Maritime Museum with its naval memorabilia dating several centuries.
We visited the famous clipper ship Cutter Sark used in the tea trade. Impressive! Finally,we walked to Dickens' Trafalgar Tavern to take photos inside and outside. While waiting for the bus, we visited the flea market and Bob found a cache. It was a bit of a whirlwind tour, but very interesting just the same. It is a must for everyone interested in astronomy and geocaching, especially Bob.
We were lucky with the weather. It was cool yet partly sunny. Any day without rain for our visits is wonderful! We must return to visit London properly. Greenwich is a mere tip of the iceberg. Tomorrow is the last sea day for this leg. See you in Bergen.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Le Havre, France
Wednesday April 27
The Atlantic was quite turbulent yesterday. Things calmed down considerably once we reached the English Channel. We are docked in Le Havre next to RCIs brand new quantum class ship Ovation of the Seas. It is HUGE! . At the top there is a ball attached to an arm which rises 300 feet above see level to give 360 degree views of the ports of call. The Ovation officially begins its 50 day inaugural sail on May 3 from Southhampton to China.
We decided not to go to Paris today. 3 3/4 hours on the bus each way did not excite us too much. Besides, what can you visit in Paris in 3 1/2 hours. We visited Le Havre, a UNESCO site, instead. It was completely decimated by WWII bombings in 1944 and has since been completely rebuilt. We visited some of the many gardens and the waterfront. Le Havre is known as France's greenest city because of its many gardens.
The shuttle bus dropped us off at City Hall and it's gorgeous garden. Surprisingly the flowers were blooming and the fountains were working. Then we walked/zigzagged all the way up to the fort and its hanging gardens. Such a beautiful spot. It will be amazing when the flowers are in full bloom. Unfortunately the greenhouses, raising plants from around the world, were closed. Afterwards we wound our way back to town where we visited St Joseph church. We were interested in its 107 meter tall tower which can be seen all over town.
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The Atlantic was quite turbulent yesterday. Things calmed down considerably once we reached the English Channel. We are docked in Le Havre next to RCIs brand new quantum class ship Ovation of the Seas. It is HUGE! . At the top there is a ball attached to an arm which rises 300 feet above see level to give 360 degree views of the ports of call. The Ovation officially begins its 50 day inaugural sail on May 3 from Southhampton to China.
We decided not to go to Paris today. 3 3/4 hours on the bus each way did not excite us too much. Besides, what can you visit in Paris in 3 1/2 hours. We visited Le Havre, a UNESCO site, instead. It was completely decimated by WWII bombings in 1944 and has since been completely rebuilt. We visited some of the many gardens and the waterfront. Le Havre is known as France's greenest city because of its many gardens.
The shuttle bus dropped us off at City Hall and it's gorgeous garden. Surprisingly the flowers were blooming and the fountains were working. Then we walked/zigzagged all the way up to the fort and its hanging gardens. Such a beautiful spot. It will be amazing when the flowers are in full bloom. Unfortunately the greenhouses, raising plants from around the world, were closed. Afterwards we wound our way back to town where we visited St Joseph church. We were interested in its 107 meter tall tower which can be seen all over town.
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Monday, April 25, 2016
Bordeaux, France - Part 2
Monday, April 25
It's a free day to walk around Bordeaux. We've come to call it "little Paris" because of a few similarities. It was a mostly beautiful sunny day. Cool, yes, but the sun made it very comfortable. We walked to Cathedrale St Andre, the beautiful Bordeaux gardens, a number of gates and monuments, and rue Ste Catherine. This is a very wide and several blocks long pedestrian only shopping street. It was most enjoyable. As usual, geocaching took us to a number of places we would not have otherwise seen.
We went for another walkabout after lunch. We returned to the antique market across the street. Then we looked for more geocaches and took one last walk along the waterfront.
Because we were delayed in Bordeaux for 24 hours, the rest of the leg will continue as planned, only 24 hours later. Tomorrow is a sea day, so we will see you again in LeHavre.
It's a free day to walk around Bordeaux. We've come to call it "little Paris" because of a few similarities. It was a mostly beautiful sunny day. Cool, yes, but the sun made it very comfortable. We walked to Cathedrale St Andre, the beautiful Bordeaux gardens, a number of gates and monuments, and rue Ste Catherine. This is a very wide and several blocks long pedestrian only shopping street. It was most enjoyable. As usual, geocaching took us to a number of places we would not have otherwise seen.
We went for another walkabout after lunch. We returned to the antique market across the street. Then we looked for more geocaches and took one last walk along the waterfront.
Because we were delayed in Bordeaux for 24 hours, the rest of the leg will continue as planned, only 24 hours later. Tomorrow is a sea day, so we will see you again in LeHavre.
Bordeaux, France - Part 1
Sunday April 24
We left the Atlantic and floated down the highly turbid Garonne River. We were taken aback because we are used to the crystal azure waters of the Mediterranean.
We arrived in Bordeaux last night at 9:00 pm at high tide. After passing 2 bridges, (Pont Chaban-Delmas and Pont d'Aquitaine) we turned at the widest spot of the river. Then we drove over 1 km backwards to our docking area where we got off the ship. We walked along the waterfront for about an hour. It was cool, but lovely with everything lit up. We needed this after 2 days at sea.
Downtown Bordeaux is a UNESCO site. In addition to the numerous protected buildings, there are many exotic fountains and statues. Place de la Comédie is a pedestrian-friendly square that is home to the magnificent Grand Theatre de Bordeaux. Beautiful Place de la Bourse, where the world’s largest reflecting pool spreads out like glass amid stately buildings, is located very near our ship. Fun place for children of all ages. Bordeaux rarely sees a mid size ship so there are lots of gawkers.
There are many shops and restaurants along the waterfront. You can walk forever! Bordeaux is a beautiful place to visit thanks to their wonderful forward thinking Mayor Alain Juppé. He is the force behind the clean up of the downtown and waterfront area. It is now very attractive for residents and tourists alike.
We left the Atlantic and floated down the highly turbid Garonne River. We were taken aback because we are used to the crystal azure waters of the Mediterranean.
We arrived in Bordeaux last night at 9:00 pm at high tide. After passing 2 bridges, (Pont Chaban-Delmas and Pont d'Aquitaine) we turned at the widest spot of the river. Then we drove over 1 km backwards to our docking area where we got off the ship. We walked along the waterfront for about an hour. It was cool, but lovely with everything lit up. We needed this after 2 days at sea.
Downtown Bordeaux is a UNESCO site. In addition to the numerous protected buildings, there are many exotic fountains and statues. Place de la Comédie is a pedestrian-friendly square that is home to the magnificent Grand Theatre de Bordeaux. Beautiful Place de la Bourse, where the world’s largest reflecting pool spreads out like glass amid stately buildings, is located very near our ship. Fun place for children of all ages. Bordeaux rarely sees a mid size ship so there are lots of gawkers.
There are many shops and restaurants along the waterfront. You can walk forever! Bordeaux is a beautiful place to visit thanks to their wonderful forward thinking Mayor Alain Juppé. He is the force behind the clean up of the downtown and waterfront area. It is now very attractive for residents and tourists alike.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Lisbon, Portugal
Thursday April 21
We knew when we reached the Atlantic Ocean, we would be getting rougher waters. The ocean was so rough overnight that our arrival in Lisbon was delayed by 1 1/2 hour. So, we decided to skip the included tour and chose to walk around Lisbon on our own. The shuttle took us to a downtown square where we began to walk around the quaint streets and eventually hiked all the way up to the S Jorge Castle. It was fun walking around up there with hundreds of others. The views of Lisbon were wonderful. We also saw the Santa Justa elevator which takes people up to a cafe and a view of the city. It was built by Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard, an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel.
On the banks of the Tagus River, at the entrance to the harbour, we sailed past the Monument to the Discoveries dedicated to all the Portuguese explorers (Magellan, deGama, Cortez, etc...); Belem Tower, a UNESCO site; 25th of April bridge; and the statue of Christ the King.
http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/discoveries.html
http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/belem-tower.html
http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/christ.html
2 days at sea coming up. We will see you in Bordeaux.
We knew when we reached the Atlantic Ocean, we would be getting rougher waters. The ocean was so rough overnight that our arrival in Lisbon was delayed by 1 1/2 hour. So, we decided to skip the included tour and chose to walk around Lisbon on our own. The shuttle took us to a downtown square where we began to walk around the quaint streets and eventually hiked all the way up to the S Jorge Castle. It was fun walking around up there with hundreds of others. The views of Lisbon were wonderful. We also saw the Santa Justa elevator which takes people up to a cafe and a view of the city. It was built by Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard, an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel.
On the banks of the Tagus River, at the entrance to the harbour, we sailed past the Monument to the Discoveries dedicated to all the Portuguese explorers (Magellan, deGama, Cortez, etc...); Belem Tower, a UNESCO site; 25th of April bridge; and the statue of Christ the King.
http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/discoveries.html
http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/belem-tower.html
http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/christ.html
2 days at sea coming up. We will see you in Bordeaux.
Gibraltar, UK
Wednesday April 20
Our first rainy day since Istanbul. So disappointing. We were looking forward to hiking up the Rock's Famous Mediterranean Steps, the ultimate Gibraltar challenge; visiting the Upper Rock Nature Reserve; getting a glimpse of Morocco; and seeing the macaques (apes who like to steal cameras). Instead we walked around town. We ducked into a cafe for coffee and hot chocolate when it decided to come down in buckets! We also walked to the marina where we saw Spain across the runway. In order to get to Spain, you need to cross the runway! There is a gate that closes when planes land or take off.
Would you believe......the weather cleared at noon! Too late to go up the Rock.
After lunch we sat in lounge chairs by the pool listening to music provided by a group of young Hispanics. We went through the Strait of Gibraltar with Morocco starboard and Spain port side. This is a very busy strait with dozens of ships sailing through. We are seeing quite a bit of Africa's mountainous north shore as we head to the Atlantic.
Afternoon tea with scones, finger sandwiches and tartlets. Entertainment was provided by the Viking Trio. Lovely!
Excellent Cabaret: Les artistes de Paris with Viking singers Lisa, Hanna Jo, and Heather.
Lots of great talent on this ship.
Our first rainy day since Istanbul. So disappointing. We were looking forward to hiking up the Rock's Famous Mediterranean Steps, the ultimate Gibraltar challenge; visiting the Upper Rock Nature Reserve; getting a glimpse of Morocco; and seeing the macaques (apes who like to steal cameras). Instead we walked around town. We ducked into a cafe for coffee and hot chocolate when it decided to come down in buckets! We also walked to the marina where we saw Spain across the runway. In order to get to Spain, you need to cross the runway! There is a gate that closes when planes land or take off.
Would you believe......the weather cleared at noon! Too late to go up the Rock.
After lunch we sat in lounge chairs by the pool listening to music provided by a group of young Hispanics. We went through the Strait of Gibraltar with Morocco starboard and Spain port side. This is a very busy strait with dozens of ships sailing through. We are seeing quite a bit of Africa's mountainous north shore as we head to the Atlantic.
Afternoon tea with scones, finger sandwiches and tartlets. Entertainment was provided by the Viking Trio. Lovely!
Excellent Cabaret: Les artistes de Paris with Viking singers Lisa, Hanna Jo, and Heather.
Lots of great talent on this ship.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Barcelona, Spain - Part 3
Monday April 18
Gaudi Architectural Tour...Wow! We started at Park Guell which covers almost 50 acres. In 1984 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hansel and Gretel was filmed here in 2 fairytale style houses. It is very difficult to describe his work. You will find some photos here. You can google to find more.
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/park-guell.htm
The interior of La Sagrada Família Basilica left us beyond speechless. It is more beautiful than you would expect judging from the gaudy exterior. The ceiling is absolutely beautiful. It is very difficult to describe and photos do not do it justice. There are numerous pillars representing trees in a forest. Each pillar is decorated with something similar to cameos. They are just gorgeous. The stained glass windows add brightness to the majestic space.
Driving along the Gràcia passage we saw Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, two impressive Gaudí buildings featuring his characteristic curved façade and “scooped out” windows.
We then drove up Montjuic Hill, past Olympic Village, where we had a panoramic view of Barcelona with La Sagrada Familia being prominent in the distance. When done, the Basilica will be 1 metre shorter than Montjuic as per Gaudi's plan. It was a very worthwhile day. Tomorrow is At Sea Day. It is our last day on the beautiful crystalline waters of the Mediterranean. Nothing exciting is on the agenda, so we will go to a movie and I am taking a day off from blogging. See you in 2 days from the "rock"!
Gaudi Architectural Tour...Wow! We started at Park Guell which covers almost 50 acres. In 1984 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hansel and Gretel was filmed here in 2 fairytale style houses. It is very difficult to describe his work. You will find some photos here. You can google to find more.
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/park-guell.htm
The interior of La Sagrada Família Basilica left us beyond speechless. It is more beautiful than you would expect judging from the gaudy exterior. The ceiling is absolutely beautiful. It is very difficult to describe and photos do not do it justice. There are numerous pillars representing trees in a forest. Each pillar is decorated with something similar to cameos. They are just gorgeous. The stained glass windows add brightness to the majestic space.
Driving along the Gràcia passage we saw Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, two impressive Gaudí buildings featuring his characteristic curved façade and “scooped out” windows.
We then drove up Montjuic Hill, past Olympic Village, where we had a panoramic view of Barcelona with La Sagrada Familia being prominent in the distance. When done, the Basilica will be 1 metre shorter than Montjuic as per Gaudi's plan. It was a very worthwhile day. Tomorrow is At Sea Day. It is our last day on the beautiful crystalline waters of the Mediterranean. Nothing exciting is on the agenda, so we will go to a movie and I am taking a day off from blogging. See you in 2 days from the "rock"!
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Barcelona, Spain - Part 2
Sunday April 17
Today we enjoyed Barcelona entirely on our own. We hopped on the City Tour Bus which consists of a green line and an orange line. We hopped off whenever we wanted and hopped back on when we were done seeing the sights. We saw many of Barcelona's sights, none as famous as La Sagrada Familia. This basilica is beyond description. It has been under construction since 1882. It is hoped it will be finished by the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death in 2026. We will be returning tomorrow to view the interior during our Gaudi Architectural tour.
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/sagrada-familia.html
This is where Bob helped a French family find a geocache.
We walked along the main promenade again and along the beautiful beaches. There are several cruise ships in the harbour, making the area very busy.
Dinner tonight: jumbo tiger prawns, beef tenderloin, pasta and mussels, and a light dessert.
Today we enjoyed Barcelona entirely on our own. We hopped on the City Tour Bus which consists of a green line and an orange line. We hopped off whenever we wanted and hopped back on when we were done seeing the sights. We saw many of Barcelona's sights, none as famous as La Sagrada Familia. This basilica is beyond description. It has been under construction since 1882. It is hoped it will be finished by the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death in 2026. We will be returning tomorrow to view the interior during our Gaudi Architectural tour.
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/sagrada-familia.html
This is where Bob helped a French family find a geocache.
We walked along the main promenade again and along the beautiful beaches. There are several cruise ships in the harbour, making the area very busy.
Dinner tonight: jumbo tiger prawns, beef tenderloin, pasta and mussels, and a light dessert.
Barcelona, Spain - Part 1
Saturday, April 16
This marks the end of our second leg, and the beginning of our third leg. Our planned panoramic tour was not so panoramic. There was a lot of wasted time. The best part was the Barcelona neo-gothic cathedral with it's gold adorned altars, detailed woodwork and carvings.
We returned to the ship for lunch and a break before going out on our own. We walked to the Cristobal Colon square, the mile long pedestrian walkway with its artists and buskers, along the dock to the ocean front mall. and perused the gorgeous yachts.
The Rumba Catalan Show consists of a troupe of 6 people from Barcelona who came on board to entertain us tonight. This was a very interactive, toe tapping, hand clapping and olé-ing show. Catalan Rumba is a native born musical style created in Barcelona in the 20th century by Catalan gypsies. It is a combination of Flamenco, Cuban music and Rock and Roll; contagious guitar and bongo beats make it difficult to stay still. The "ventilador", the Rumba's most distinctive characteristic requires a unique way of playing the Spanish guitar. The guitarist claps his hand against the box of the guitar while playing the chords at the same time. It was a great night of entertainment.
Supper tonight: salad, gazpacho, Cornish hens and chocolate volcano.
This marks the end of our second leg, and the beginning of our third leg. Our planned panoramic tour was not so panoramic. There was a lot of wasted time. The best part was the Barcelona neo-gothic cathedral with it's gold adorned altars, detailed woodwork and carvings.
We returned to the ship for lunch and a break before going out on our own. We walked to the Cristobal Colon square, the mile long pedestrian walkway with its artists and buskers, along the dock to the ocean front mall. and perused the gorgeous yachts.
The Rumba Catalan Show consists of a troupe of 6 people from Barcelona who came on board to entertain us tonight. This was a very interactive, toe tapping, hand clapping and olé-ing show. Catalan Rumba is a native born musical style created in Barcelona in the 20th century by Catalan gypsies. It is a combination of Flamenco, Cuban music and Rock and Roll; contagious guitar and bongo beats make it difficult to stay still. The "ventilador", the Rumba's most distinctive characteristic requires a unique way of playing the Spanish guitar. The guitarist claps his hand against the box of the guitar while playing the chords at the same time. It was a great night of entertainment.
Supper tonight: salad, gazpacho, Cornish hens and chocolate volcano.
Toulon, France
Friday April 15
We left Toulon this morning traveling through the lovely Provence countryside to a fishing village called Cassis. While most of you were sleeping, we were tasting wine....at 10:30 am. We have decided we quite like wine in the morning. We did purchase a very nice dry rosée. After the tasting, we had 30 minutes on our own to visit the village. Here was another wonderful market selling all different types of food...meat, baked goods, candies, and more. We noticed that the bakers were selling bread by the slice. For instance, if you wanted a slice 4 inches thick, that is what they would cut from a loaf of bread. That is so unique. Next we embarked on a small tour boat which took us on a bumpy ride to visit Calanques National Park. Calanques are magnificent canyon-like inlets, geological marvels of southern France. Beneath the towering rock formations lie caves once inhabited by Neolithic man. These caves are now only accessible to divers. This is a wonderful area for hikers, climbers and boaters. After enjoying our ride back through the countryside, we walked around Toulon for a while. We found a huge mall which seemed quite unobtrusive from the outside. We walked around the dock area with its many shops and restaurants where, lo and behold, we found a geocache!
When we returned to the ship, we had a tour of the ship's galley. Interesting to say the least. All food is prepared fresh daily. Everything comes out of the same galley for all restaurants.
Lobster Thermidore was on the menu tonight and grand mariner soufflé for dessert.
We left Toulon this morning traveling through the lovely Provence countryside to a fishing village called Cassis. While most of you were sleeping, we were tasting wine....at 10:30 am. We have decided we quite like wine in the morning. We did purchase a very nice dry rosée. After the tasting, we had 30 minutes on our own to visit the village. Here was another wonderful market selling all different types of food...meat, baked goods, candies, and more. We noticed that the bakers were selling bread by the slice. For instance, if you wanted a slice 4 inches thick, that is what they would cut from a loaf of bread. That is so unique. Next we embarked on a small tour boat which took us on a bumpy ride to visit Calanques National Park. Calanques are magnificent canyon-like inlets, geological marvels of southern France. Beneath the towering rock formations lie caves once inhabited by Neolithic man. These caves are now only accessible to divers. This is a wonderful area for hikers, climbers and boaters. After enjoying our ride back through the countryside, we walked around Toulon for a while. We found a huge mall which seemed quite unobtrusive from the outside. We walked around the dock area with its many shops and restaurants where, lo and behold, we found a geocache!
When we returned to the ship, we had a tour of the ship's galley. Interesting to say the least. All food is prepared fresh daily. Everything comes out of the same galley for all restaurants.
Lobster Thermidore was on the menu tonight and grand mariner soufflé for dessert.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Nice, France and Monte Carlo, Monaco
Thursday April 14
Today we anchored in Monaco. Tenders took us to our bus for our 45 minute ride to Nice. Our guide gave us a history of the area and noted the homes of Bono and Sean Connery. We were dropped off at the Promenade des Anglais on the Baie des Anges. We explored Nice on our own for just over 2 hours! Wonderful! The Mediterranean is absolutely gorgeous. On a perfect day, the sky and sea are the same colour. This is why this area is known as the Côte d'Azure. Our walk took us to La Promenade du Paillon with Its dancing waters, and la Cours Saleya, the Riviera's largest flower market featured in Matisse's Festival of Flowers. Such a lovely market. Flowers of all kinds as well as fruits and vegetables. In the afternoon, we walked around Monte Carlo, the palace, gardens and old town. So many lovely views along the way. Like most other European old towns, the streets are narrow and picturesque.
When we returned to the ship, we attended a backstage tour of the Theatre, met the performers, stood on stage with them, toured their dressing room and wardrobe closet. We also saw the stage pass behind the giant LED screen. Of course Bob had to scrutinise the panel installations and controllers. He was suitably impressed.
We were entertained by Sally Jones performing a tribute to Edith Piaf. For her bio, see her website at http://www.sally-jones.com/sally_jones_home.html.
Monaco sent us off with an amazing pyrotechnics display. Fantastic!
Today we anchored in Monaco. Tenders took us to our bus for our 45 minute ride to Nice. Our guide gave us a history of the area and noted the homes of Bono and Sean Connery. We were dropped off at the Promenade des Anglais on the Baie des Anges. We explored Nice on our own for just over 2 hours! Wonderful! The Mediterranean is absolutely gorgeous. On a perfect day, the sky and sea are the same colour. This is why this area is known as the Côte d'Azure. Our walk took us to La Promenade du Paillon with Its dancing waters, and la Cours Saleya, the Riviera's largest flower market featured in Matisse's Festival of Flowers. Such a lovely market. Flowers of all kinds as well as fruits and vegetables. In the afternoon, we walked around Monte Carlo, the palace, gardens and old town. So many lovely views along the way. Like most other European old towns, the streets are narrow and picturesque.
When we returned to the ship, we attended a backstage tour of the Theatre, met the performers, stood on stage with them, toured their dressing room and wardrobe closet. We also saw the stage pass behind the giant LED screen. Of course Bob had to scrutinise the panel installations and controllers. He was suitably impressed.
We were entertained by Sally Jones performing a tribute to Edith Piaf. For her bio, see her website at http://www.sally-jones.com/sally_jones_home.html.
Monaco sent us off with an amazing pyrotechnics display. Fantastic!
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Naples and Pompeii, Italy
Monday April 11
We visited another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pompeii is defined as a Picture of Ancient Life Frozen in time. This is so true. In 79 AD when Mt. Vesuvius erupted, Pompeii was buried under 20 feet of ash. Excavation has revealed with astounding precision exactly what life was like on that day. Our guide gave us a detailed account of one of the homes of the wealthy, as well as the homes of the working class and the many shops which would be similar to today's outdoor mall. We took time to explore on our own and found a geocache and an earth cache. Vesuvius is a very well studied volcano because 400,000 people live at its base. It can go at anytime.
We returned to the ship for a light lunch, then went out to explore Naples. We found a really neat cache at the Galleria Umberto. That was a hoot! It was a bit of a puzzle and really had us thinking. Bob's giving it a favourite. The Galleria is similar to the Eaton Centre in Toronto in that the buildings are now covered creating an indoor shopping area. Every city seems to have its own castle. Naples is no exception. We walked around there for a while. Then took our lives in our hands crossing the streets! Very scary! Finally we found streets for pedestrians only. Those are really nice. Mind you that doesn't stop motorcycles, the preferred mode of transportation in Naples. It's unbelievable how many there are.
Suppertime entertainment in the TorsHavn lounge was Rat Pack Revisited with the Viking Singers and Band. Later, Sally Jones (from UK) sang a number of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs accompanied by the Viking Band. Excellent entertainment.
We visited another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pompeii is defined as a Picture of Ancient Life Frozen in time. This is so true. In 79 AD when Mt. Vesuvius erupted, Pompeii was buried under 20 feet of ash. Excavation has revealed with astounding precision exactly what life was like on that day. Our guide gave us a detailed account of one of the homes of the wealthy, as well as the homes of the working class and the many shops which would be similar to today's outdoor mall. We took time to explore on our own and found a geocache and an earth cache. Vesuvius is a very well studied volcano because 400,000 people live at its base. It can go at anytime.
We returned to the ship for a light lunch, then went out to explore Naples. We found a really neat cache at the Galleria Umberto. That was a hoot! It was a bit of a puzzle and really had us thinking. Bob's giving it a favourite. The Galleria is similar to the Eaton Centre in Toronto in that the buildings are now covered creating an indoor shopping area. Every city seems to have its own castle. Naples is no exception. We walked around there for a while. Then took our lives in our hands crossing the streets! Very scary! Finally we found streets for pedestrians only. Those are really nice. Mind you that doesn't stop motorcycles, the preferred mode of transportation in Naples. It's unbelievable how many there are.
Suppertime entertainment in the TorsHavn lounge was Rat Pack Revisited with the Viking Singers and Band. Later, Sally Jones (from UK) sang a number of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs accompanied by the Viking Band. Excellent entertainment.
Pisa, Italy
Wednesday April 13
We joined our guide for a scenic drive through Tuscany to Pisa. Piazza dei Miracoli, or the Square of Miracles, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We missed visiting the interior of the marble-clad Romanesque Pisa Cathedral whose interior is adorned with Byzantine-influenced mosaics because Bob HAD to find a geocache!!! Also in the square, we saw the grand circular Baptistery, the famous Leaning Tower, and the walled Camposanto Monumentale, said to be the most beautiful cemetery in the world. At 11:30, In the Baptistery, someone sang 3 notes 4 times in succession followed by one last note. Haunting! The acoustics are amazing. Bob was very astute and recorded it.
In the afternoon we visited Livorno, the port city. The shuttle bus dropped us off at a nice square near shops. There is really nothing to report regarding this city. However, we did find a cache at the fortress.
Dinner was spectacular this evening. I am so impressed with Bob. He is being adventurous in his food choices. We both had Bergen Fish Soup which is made with 14 different types of fish. It was somewhat like a chowder, except much better. Then the waiter surprised us with Shrimp ravioli. It was so delicate and flavourful. For the main course, I had a perfect beef filet and Bob had lovely roasted cod. It was quite weird because normally I go for the fish and he goes for the filet. Dessert was Vienese apple strudel for Bob, and Sweden Choux with chocolate praline filling for me. All we can say is WOW! Our waiters Bosko and Nicola were amazing. They both love to cook. Bosko seems to have lots of experience with wine pairings, and his recommendations were excellent.
We joined our guide for a scenic drive through Tuscany to Pisa. Piazza dei Miracoli, or the Square of Miracles, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We missed visiting the interior of the marble-clad Romanesque Pisa Cathedral whose interior is adorned with Byzantine-influenced mosaics because Bob HAD to find a geocache!!! Also in the square, we saw the grand circular Baptistery, the famous Leaning Tower, and the walled Camposanto Monumentale, said to be the most beautiful cemetery in the world. At 11:30, In the Baptistery, someone sang 3 notes 4 times in succession followed by one last note. Haunting! The acoustics are amazing. Bob was very astute and recorded it.
In the afternoon we visited Livorno, the port city. The shuttle bus dropped us off at a nice square near shops. There is really nothing to report regarding this city. However, we did find a cache at the fortress.
Dinner was spectacular this evening. I am so impressed with Bob. He is being adventurous in his food choices. We both had Bergen Fish Soup which is made with 14 different types of fish. It was somewhat like a chowder, except much better. Then the waiter surprised us with Shrimp ravioli. It was so delicate and flavourful. For the main course, I had a perfect beef filet and Bob had lovely roasted cod. It was quite weird because normally I go for the fish and he goes for the filet. Dessert was Vienese apple strudel for Bob, and Sweden Choux with chocolate praline filling for me. All we can say is WOW! Our waiters Bosko and Nicola were amazing. They both love to cook. Bosko seems to have lots of experience with wine pairings, and his recommendations were excellent.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Rome and Vatican City, Italy
Tuesday April 12
We had a very full day touring Rome and Vatican City (10 1/2 hours). We started with a panoramic drive past Rome's important ancient sites: the Aurelian Walls, the Pyramid of Cestius, Circus Maximus and the very impressive Capitoline Hill. We also drove past remarkable Roman baths which put all others we have seen so far to shame. We thoroughly enjoyed our photo stop outside the massive Colosseum where we met our Italian guide, Maria. With her, we visited the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. The Trevi Fountain is huge and very impressive. The inside of the Pantheon was breathtaking. The concrete dome was fascinating. She also showed us where to find the expensive designer shops. At the Piazza Navona we enjoyed free time.
During our free time at Vatican City we stood in line to get through security to visit St Peter's Basilica and again to get into the Basilica. The place is massive with lots of art, carvings, gorgeous marble floors, decorated ceilings and domes. It's very difficult to describe. This too was very breathtaking. Unfortunately, there was no time to visit the Cistine chapel.
Almost everyone on the ship was out on a full day tour. The staff must have missed us because when we returned, they were out on the pier greeting us with music, champagne, cheering and clapping. What fun that was! They did it for each of the returning buses.
Tonight, an operatic troupe from Rome entertained us....Accademia Nazionale de Santa Cecilia. Such powerful voices they have! They made it fun and even had us singing along a bit.
We had a very full day touring Rome and Vatican City (10 1/2 hours). We started with a panoramic drive past Rome's important ancient sites: the Aurelian Walls, the Pyramid of Cestius, Circus Maximus and the very impressive Capitoline Hill. We also drove past remarkable Roman baths which put all others we have seen so far to shame. We thoroughly enjoyed our photo stop outside the massive Colosseum where we met our Italian guide, Maria. With her, we visited the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. The Trevi Fountain is huge and very impressive. The inside of the Pantheon was breathtaking. The concrete dome was fascinating. She also showed us where to find the expensive designer shops. At the Piazza Navona we enjoyed free time.
During our free time at Vatican City we stood in line to get through security to visit St Peter's Basilica and again to get into the Basilica. The place is massive with lots of art, carvings, gorgeous marble floors, decorated ceilings and domes. It's very difficult to describe. This too was very breathtaking. Unfortunately, there was no time to visit the Cistine chapel.
Almost everyone on the ship was out on a full day tour. The staff must have missed us because when we returned, they were out on the pier greeting us with music, champagne, cheering and clapping. What fun that was! They did it for each of the returning buses.
Tonight, an operatic troupe from Rome entertained us....Accademia Nazionale de Santa Cecilia. Such powerful voices they have! They made it fun and even had us singing along a bit.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
At Sea Day #2. Sailing the Seas
We sailed the Adriatic, Mediteranean and Ionean Seas to Messina Strait, through the narrowest point (<400 metres) and on to the active Stromboli Volcano. Unfortunately, we didn't see any volcanic activity.
This morning we went to a lecture about Pompeii and Herculanium. Quite timely since we are visiting Pompeii tomorrow.
We received a personal invitation to join the captain for a tour of the bridge. It was a very impressive tour. He even took us into the navigation room. We had a wonderful visit.
We dined at the Chef's Table restaurant for the first time. It is one of only 2 restaurants requiring a reservation. There were 5 courses presented to us. We simply eat what is served. No need to order. We started with cucumber and romaine, with goat cheese mousse; oxtail consommé with julienned vegetables; granita made with vodka, mint and mixed berries; super tender lamb filet; chocolate nut brownie, chocolate mirror glaze and pistachio ice cream for dessert. Each course had a different wine. We did not overindulge this time. We just had a couple of sips of each.
We finished the day with the very talented Viking Singers and Dancers. Somehow, we managed to climb 27 flights of stairs...on a sea day....impressive!
This morning we went to a lecture about Pompeii and Herculanium. Quite timely since we are visiting Pompeii tomorrow.
We received a personal invitation to join the captain for a tour of the bridge. It was a very impressive tour. He even took us into the navigation room. We had a wonderful visit.
We dined at the Chef's Table restaurant for the first time. It is one of only 2 restaurants requiring a reservation. There were 5 courses presented to us. We simply eat what is served. No need to order. We started with cucumber and romaine, with goat cheese mousse; oxtail consommé with julienned vegetables; granita made with vodka, mint and mixed berries; super tender lamb filet; chocolate nut brownie, chocolate mirror glaze and pistachio ice cream for dessert. Each course had a different wine. We did not overindulge this time. We just had a couple of sips of each.
We finished the day with the very talented Viking Singers and Dancers. Somehow, we managed to climb 27 flights of stairs...on a sea day....impressive!
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Corfu, Greece
Saturday, April 9
Another beautiful day. Corfu is the birthplace of Prince Philip.
Today's tour took us to Kanoni (Canon) a wonderful vantage point to view tiny Mouse Island and its Monastery. This is a ridiculously popular spot for tour buses. Upon leaving, we saw Paleopolis, an archaeological site of Roman baths. When we reached the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Corfu Town, we left our tour and went off on our own. Sometimes it's just too much to listen to a guide drone on about Greek mythology.
Another beautiful day. Corfu is the birthplace of Prince Philip.
Today's tour took us to Kanoni (Canon) a wonderful vantage point to view tiny Mouse Island and its Monastery. This is a ridiculously popular spot for tour buses. Upon leaving, we saw Paleopolis, an archaeological site of Roman baths. When we reached the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Corfu Town, we left our tour and went off on our own. Sometimes it's just too much to listen to a guide drone on about Greek mythology.
We spent over an hour walking around the Old Corfu Fortress. We climbed all the way up to the lighthouse. Lovely view of the city and the Star docked in the harbour. We walked around Durrell Gardens, l'Esplanade, and Liston promenade. Here we had gyros at one of the many cafes lining the street. From here we could see the palace of St Michael and St George, former residence of the British High Commissioner. Then we continued our walk around Old Town. More narrow streets lined with lovely shops as well as tacky souvenir shops. We just kept on walking until we reached the street along the shore and kept going until we reached the ship. Another beautiful, enjoyable day.
It was Greek night in the World cafe tonight....moussaka, spanakopita, gyros, kebabs, stuffed mushrooms, roast lamb, Greek wine, baklava, and more.
Of course, we found more geocaches!
It was Greek night in the World cafe tonight....moussaka, spanakopita, gyros, kebabs, stuffed mushrooms, roast lamb, Greek wine, baklava, and more.
Of course, we found more geocaches!
Saturday, April 09, 2016
Dubrovnik, Croatia Part 2
Friday, April 8.
We have returned to Dubrovnik on the second leg of our journey.
Today, our coach took us through the charming countryside and villages of the Konavle Valley.
Near the village of Komaji, we stopped at the Crvik family winery which has produced wine since the 16th century. One of the sons who is taking over the business shared some of Croatia's wine history. We sat at long tables, conversed with our fellow travellers while tasting 3 wines along with cheese and bread.
We also stopped at the Novakovic family winery which also has produced their own wine and olive oil for generations. They had an interesting little museum. Our guide explained how the ancient tools of the trade were used. Again we sat at tables, visited with our fellow travellers while sampling wines, potent liqueurs, prosciutto and cheese. They also gave us apple strudel for dessert. Our gracious hosts performed traditional Croatian music, as well as a medley of American songs and an Australian song for our Aussie friends. They knew their audience. It was quite fun. We sang along with them.
We have returned to Dubrovnik on the second leg of our journey.
Today, our coach took us through the charming countryside and villages of the Konavle Valley.
Near the village of Komaji, we stopped at the Crvik family winery which has produced wine since the 16th century. One of the sons who is taking over the business shared some of Croatia's wine history. We sat at long tables, conversed with our fellow travellers while tasting 3 wines along with cheese and bread.
We also stopped at the Novakovic family winery which also has produced their own wine and olive oil for generations. They had an interesting little museum. Our guide explained how the ancient tools of the trade were used. Again we sat at tables, visited with our fellow travellers while sampling wines, potent liqueurs, prosciutto and cheese. They also gave us apple strudel for dessert. Our gracious hosts performed traditional Croatian music, as well as a medley of American songs and an Australian song for our Aussie friends. They knew their audience. It was quite fun. We sang along with them.
Friday, April 08, 2016
Split, Croatia
Thursday, April 7
Split is in the Dalmation Region of Croatia. This is where Dalmation dogs originate.
We journeyed through Croatia's beautiful countryside to Krka National Park where we visited the astonishing Travertine Skradinski Buk cascading waterfalls. Breathtaking! These 17 cataracts are considered to be among the most beautiful calcium carbonate waterfalls in Europe, tumbling a total of 150 feet along a 1,312 foot stretch of the river. At their widest point, they span 328 feet across. We enjoyed spectacular views of the foamy cascades and their crystal clear aquamarine pools all along our one hour walk in the park. We also visited a small ethnological exhibit and a restored water mill. We had ample free time to take many photos.
We then hopped on a boat, rode down the Krka River to the town of Skradin (skra-deen) for a four course lunch. We didn't need supper. Later, we hopped on the bus and returned to the ship. On our own, we quickly visited Split, Croatia's second largest city. Zagreb is by far the largest.
Regarding geocaching, Bob is meeting his goal of of at least one cache per country.
It's really difficult to resist the gelato in the World Cafe. Each night there are 10 different flavours. The only one that's there each night is strawberry, Bob's favourite. Wow!
Split is in the Dalmation Region of Croatia. This is where Dalmation dogs originate.
We journeyed through Croatia's beautiful countryside to Krka National Park where we visited the astonishing Travertine Skradinski Buk cascading waterfalls. Breathtaking! These 17 cataracts are considered to be among the most beautiful calcium carbonate waterfalls in Europe, tumbling a total of 150 feet along a 1,312 foot stretch of the river. At their widest point, they span 328 feet across. We enjoyed spectacular views of the foamy cascades and their crystal clear aquamarine pools all along our one hour walk in the park. We also visited a small ethnological exhibit and a restored water mill. We had ample free time to take many photos.
We then hopped on a boat, rode down the Krka River to the town of Skradin (skra-deen) for a four course lunch. We didn't need supper. Later, we hopped on the bus and returned to the ship. On our own, we quickly visited Split, Croatia's second largest city. Zagreb is by far the largest.
Regarding geocaching, Bob is meeting his goal of of at least one cache per country.
It's really difficult to resist the gelato in the World Cafe. Each night there are 10 different flavours. The only one that's there each night is strawberry, Bob's favourite. Wow!
Thursday, April 07, 2016
Venice, Italy. Part 1
Tuesday, April 5
Today was the last day of the first leg. Some people disembarked, others embarked. The ship is full this time around.
Now we begin the second leg of our journey. We had a wonderful day visiting Venice on our own. We took the Viking shuttle to near St Marc's square. We walked over 4 bridges to get there. One bridge gave us a view of the Bridge of Sighs. We walked for hours looking at a multitude of shops, restaurants, churches and museums.
Geocaching brought us to the Scalla Contarini del Bovolo. It is a famous hidden jewel of Venice. We climbed the stairs to the top where we had a view of Venice's churches. This spiral staircase is what is known as the "snail". More than likely, we would not have found it without geocaching.
We ate at a local restaurant with WiFi hoping to send photos. It did not work. We keep trying!
Today was the last day of the first leg. Some people disembarked, others embarked. The ship is full this time around.
Now we begin the second leg of our journey. We had a wonderful day visiting Venice on our own. We took the Viking shuttle to near St Marc's square. We walked over 4 bridges to get there. One bridge gave us a view of the Bridge of Sighs. We walked for hours looking at a multitude of shops, restaurants, churches and museums.
Geocaching brought us to the Scalla Contarini del Bovolo. It is a famous hidden jewel of Venice. We climbed the stairs to the top where we had a view of Venice's churches. This spiral staircase is what is known as the "snail". More than likely, we would not have found it without geocaching.
We ate at a local restaurant with WiFi hoping to send photos. It did not work. We keep trying!
Venice Italy. Part 2
Wednesday April 6
No sun today, but still a beautiful day to visit Murano Island, home of the famous Murano Glass. We hopped on the People Mover (monorail) to the Water Bus which took us to the island. It took about an hour to get there, so we made sure to allow enough time to return to the ship. The moment you are on the island, you see shop after shop of beautiful glass art. It is unbelievable. We had no idea there were so many glass artists on this island. We saw jewellery made with tiny millefiori. We found a shop that sells mosaic pieces as well as various sizes of millefiori. Of course Bob had to purchase some. He is motivated! Each shop was loaded with inspiration. Unfortunately, it was not permitted to photograph the art. It's all stored in our memory banks. We thoroughly enjoyed our day on our own.
At 4 pm we left Venice peacefully sailing the Venetian Lagoon past the famous St Mark's Square and the Doge's palace. Lovely setting. Such a wonderful farewell to a wonderful city.
Dinner at The Restaurant consisted of caviar, lobster and creme brûlée for me, and crab cake, lobster and chocolate soufflé with baileys coffee sauce for Bob. Exquisite!
No sun today, but still a beautiful day to visit Murano Island, home of the famous Murano Glass. We hopped on the People Mover (monorail) to the Water Bus which took us to the island. It took about an hour to get there, so we made sure to allow enough time to return to the ship. The moment you are on the island, you see shop after shop of beautiful glass art. It is unbelievable. We had no idea there were so many glass artists on this island. We saw jewellery made with tiny millefiori. We found a shop that sells mosaic pieces as well as various sizes of millefiori. Of course Bob had to purchase some. He is motivated! Each shop was loaded with inspiration. Unfortunately, it was not permitted to photograph the art. It's all stored in our memory banks. We thoroughly enjoyed our day on our own.
At 4 pm we left Venice peacefully sailing the Venetian Lagoon past the famous St Mark's Square and the Doge's palace. Lovely setting. Such a wonderful farewell to a wonderful city.
Dinner at The Restaurant consisted of caviar, lobster and creme brûlée for me, and crab cake, lobster and chocolate soufflé with baileys coffee sauce for Bob. Exquisite!
Tuesday, April 05, 2016
Pula, Croatia
Monday April 4
Pula enjoys a lovely setting on a sheltered bay of the Adriatic. With its location on the southern end of Croatia's Istrian Peninsula, it proved a strategic place for ancient Rome to build an outpost. There is evidence of Roman influence everywhere in Pula.
Here we dropped anchor and were tendered to town. This time we used Viking tenders. Our tour took us to the amphitheater. This was most interesting. This is one of few you can visit underneath. Today, musicians, such as Sir Elton John, provide concerts. Once done here, we left the tour and went on our own. We walked the quaint, narrow streets and worked our way up to the castle. Pula is a very interesting city. Ruins are everywhere. The main industry here is ship building. Our guide told us the 20th century was pretty strange. Her personal story is that 4 generations were born in a different country, yet all were born in the same city! Cool story! Your challenge is to figure out how this is possible.
Tonight, the Viking Singers performed their favourite ABBA songs. Another job very well done! They are a very talented group of young singers.
Pula enjoys a lovely setting on a sheltered bay of the Adriatic. With its location on the southern end of Croatia's Istrian Peninsula, it proved a strategic place for ancient Rome to build an outpost. There is evidence of Roman influence everywhere in Pula.
Here we dropped anchor and were tendered to town. This time we used Viking tenders. Our tour took us to the amphitheater. This was most interesting. This is one of few you can visit underneath. Today, musicians, such as Sir Elton John, provide concerts. Once done here, we left the tour and went on our own. We walked the quaint, narrow streets and worked our way up to the castle. Pula is a very interesting city. Ruins are everywhere. The main industry here is ship building. Our guide told us the 20th century was pretty strange. Her personal story is that 4 generations were born in a different country, yet all were born in the same city! Cool story! Your challenge is to figure out how this is possible.
Tonight, the Viking Singers performed their favourite ABBA songs. Another job very well done! They are a very talented group of young singers.
Dubrovnik, Croatia. Part 1
Sunday April 3
Dubrovnik is one of the world's most beautifully preserved medieval cities in a gorgeous Adriatic Setting.... George Bernard Shaw's "Paradise on earth".
It's a foggy Sunday in Dubrovnik. We weren't feeling very well this morning, probably due to too many rich foods and the various wines last night. We decided to visit on our own, rather than take a tour. The old fort-like structures are most impressive. This is where 2 seasons of The Game of Thrones were filmed. The shops like to play on that. Bob went to the top of one structure and had a great view of the city. The quaint cobbled sidewalks are very narrow, yet each one seems to have a number of restaurants. Just put out an awning and a few chairs, and you have a restaurant. So fun!
Tonight our surprise was dinner with the Captain! We had a great visit with Captain Rune Lockling, and 6 other 50 dayers from Texas and Australia. Looks like Captain will be meeting with all 50 dayers. We had prime rib and chicken, others had lobster Thermidor. Sorbet was our dessert of choice. Another lovely evening with new friends.
We return to Dubrovnik in a few days.
Dubrovnik is one of the world's most beautifully preserved medieval cities in a gorgeous Adriatic Setting.... George Bernard Shaw's "Paradise on earth".
It's a foggy Sunday in Dubrovnik. We weren't feeling very well this morning, probably due to too many rich foods and the various wines last night. We decided to visit on our own, rather than take a tour. The old fort-like structures are most impressive. This is where 2 seasons of The Game of Thrones were filmed. The shops like to play on that. Bob went to the top of one structure and had a great view of the city. The quaint cobbled sidewalks are very narrow, yet each one seems to have a number of restaurants. Just put out an awning and a few chairs, and you have a restaurant. So fun!
Tonight our surprise was dinner with the Captain! We had a great visit with Captain Rune Lockling, and 6 other 50 dayers from Texas and Australia. Looks like Captain will be meeting with all 50 dayers. We had prime rib and chicken, others had lobster Thermidor. Sorbet was our dessert of choice. Another lovely evening with new friends.
We return to Dubrovnik in a few days.
Kotor, Montenegro
Saturday April 2
What a fun day! We arose early enough for our arrival into very picturesque Kotor at sunrise. It is located in a fjord. This medieval city is a secluded seaside resort and UNESCO site.
Much to our surprise and excitement, We were invited to dinner at the Kitchen Table with Executive Chef Frederic. In the morning, we walked to the local market with Chef, to purchase fresh fish and produce. Afterwards, we visited at a nearby cafe.
We missed our included tour, but we did not care. We went to Old Town on our own. It is such a quaint area with its cobbled streets, narrow winding walkways, squares, shops, restaurants and cafes. We climbed the steep steps to the little chapel half way up the mountain. We did not go all the way up to the fortress. The footing was too treacherous. We returned to old town to walk around some more.
The Kitchen Table is a private dining area which takes a maximum of 12 guests. Chef Frederic and his Sous Chef Marco, prepare dinner in front of their guests. The menu consisted of tapas: a selection of cold cuts, cheese, nuts, dates, figs, olives. We were each given a platter which could easily have served 4 people. This was followed by shrimps and scallops, perfectly cooked. The main course was seared Sea Bream. A very nice tender fish served atop veggies, and wild morel mushrooms. Dessert was flambéed poached pears and lemon mint sorbet. Each course was accompanied by a very nice wine presented by Edgar the Sommeilier. It was a lovely evening with new friends.
OMG!!! Another surprise for tomorrow!
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