Dover & Canterbury
Posted on July 30, 2013
July 28
Dover this morning began pleasant and gradually changed to marvellous. We enjoyed a good breakfast in the hotel dining room than took a long morning walk eastward along the Dover waterfront where there was a great view of the cliffs as we approached the ferry terminals. I had been warned that the cliffs might not be white and they weren’t really “bleached-shirt” white but they were none-the-less very impressive. Parts of Dover Castle and entrances to the tunnels were easily seen.
We had noticed several people dressed in swimming costumes as we began our morning walk. By the time we were making the return trip we could see at least four people in the water, well out in the bay, swimming strongly parallel to the beach. As we neared the hotel we saw more entering the water and finally a large group preparing to enter the water. Curious, we stopped for Gail to ask what they were up to. We were told that they were all practicing to swim the English Channel. How interesting! At this time we simply assumed it was a group of locals training for long distance swims. It was not until the next day we learned more.
We returned to the hotel and prepared for the drive to Dover Castle. As we were about to leave the hotel we met Shelley and Lance, Cruise Critic friends, who spotted me as I passed through the lobby. Greetings were quickly exchanged, a date was made for the next morning’s breakfast and Shelley agreed to order a cab for next mornings trip to the cruise terminal. Then Gary, Sue, Gail and I were off the hill top. The Castle was hosting a special event this weekend so rather than parking near the castle we were directed to a sheep pasture above the castle from which we were shuttled to the parking area near Dover Castle’s ticket office. So for our first trick we tip-toed through the sheep droppings to the waiting shuttle bus.
As we approached the castle its high towers and turrets is very impressive. After paying our admission we were directed to the Secret Underground Tunnels for our first tour. We were told the story of these tunnels and the role they played in the Second World War. Of course, WW 2 was only one chapter in the history of this castle which dates back to before the time of Napoleon.
Gail and I revisited the tunnels after walking through several sections of the castle proper. This time it was the hospital section, a layer of tunnels 10 metres above the ones visited earlier. There is yet a third layer of tunnels below the first set which was once used as part of a nuclear defence strategy but these have not been opened to the public. The hospital area was most interesting to Gail and I have a few photos which I will eventually post. We continued up the hill to rejoin Gary and Sue, help Gary drive to Canterbury and continue our day of exploration.
It was barely a 20 minute drive to Canterbury but it took another 20 minutes to locate parking. Considering the amount of traffic we were quite surprised to find parking rather close to the Cathedral. We wandered through the town for quite some time, eventually getting a lunchtime snack. After which we were joined by Amy, Gary and Sue’s daughter who is studying here in England. We continued by visiting the Cathedral. The carillon was peeling while we walked through the main area of Canterbury Cathedral. I find this church somehow more appealing than any I saw in the Baltic States or Scandinavia.
We continued through the cathedral grounds then back into town then to a garden along the river. As we crossed a bridge over the river, Sue noticed two human statues lying in the river bed partially covered with gravel. We have no idea of the reason. Exploration continued until dinner time. We had a nice meal in Canterbury then returned to the car, delivered Amy to her accommodation then we were off back to Dover and our hotel.
Gail and I made a stop in the room and started getting things in order for tomorrow and embarkation on the Ocean Princess. It was still early so we took another walk along the waterfront and out on the Prince of Wales pier. It took us almost out to the western entry through the breakwater. There was a cafe and lighthouse at the end of the pier but the cafe had closed for the day. Gradually, as the sun set and the light began to fade we returned to the hotel for the night.
July 29
We both awoke before the alarm, 6-ish. I went down for coffee and met Lance in the lobby so I took Gail’s coffee to the room and returned to the lobby where Lance & I filled the next hour exchanging our histories. Gary and Sue appeared in the lobby to begin their luggage transfers to the car so I returned to get Gail and within a few minutes we were all enjoying breakfast together.
Breakfast finished we helped Gary and Sue to their rental car, said our goodbyes and returned to our room. We collected our baggage, moved it to the lobby, checked out and waited for taxi time. It was during this period we learned more about the swimmers. There were some from England of course but I came across a group from Tasmania and another from Turkey. This was much bigger than a local swim club. Indeed there were groups from the USA, Canada and many other locations. Apparently there are tidal “windows” when the English Channel is “most swimmable” and these were teams of swimmers hoping to get an opportunity to swim across as a relay team. Gail suddenly noticed a jacket cross the lobby with “Okanagan” emblazoned on the back. I pursued them and sure enough, they were a swim team from Kelowna, BC. We chatted briefly then I wished them well.
Less than an hour later we were at the Cruise Terminal. The taxi was a full sized van with lots of room for luggage and we four. Checkin was instantaneous and we sat to await an invitation to board. By noon we were boarding the Ocean Princess. My she looked small. She is a pretty ship. With fewer than 350 staterooms finding ours was easy. Ours was a balcony room on deck 7, midship. A bit larger than the Crown’s balcony cabins but about the same size as the Queen Mary’s. The shower, however, is worthy of the standard cruise ship comedy. You could soap the walls and rotate with the water on.
Lunch happened on deck 10, near the top of the ship. None of this deck 17 nonsense. Shortly afterward, the luggage arrived but my suitcase had been brutalized. The case fabric had been torn on one corner and a zipper closure on another corner was torn with part to the zipper damaged beyond usefulness. So that is now in the hands of the ship’s purser. We shall see if it can be repaired.
Muster drill went well with only two stations for our fewer than 700 passengers. We returned to our room to change for dinner while the dining room staff turned a muster station back into a restaurant. We were joined at table 60 by three very nice folk from southern California. Things should go well with them I think.
With little happening this evening we attended the Cabaret Lounge, the theatre for the Ocean Princess, for the welcome aboard show. The singers and dancers gave their usual preview and it was obvious that some of them were doing double duty as dancers and cruise staff. One of the funniest comedians I have had the pleasure of hearing gave a preview of his planned performance. The Cruise Director, Frank, from San Diego, seems to have things well under control.
We did check out the Tahitian Lounge but the music tonight was a pretty steady diet of hustles some of which worked as slow swings. We returned to the cabin again. Looking out the window I suddenly realize how close we are to the sea on deck seven of this lovely little ship.
Some Dover Photos.
Dover
There should also be some Canterbury photos but I have yet to create a permalink to them so you will have to sort through the index to find them.
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Guernsey – NOT
Posted on July 30, 2013
July 30
As the ship approached St Peter Port around 7 o’clock this morning the railing on our balcony dripped with precipitation although the 24 hour weather forecast indicated “no rain.” This little ship handled the moderate winds last night quite well. There was a little rocking motion and only an occasional flutter. The seas out of Dover were a bit angry but became lighter as we progressed along the south coast of England.
At 7:25 this morning our Captain made a broadcast directly into the staterooms announcing the cancellation of our stop at St Peter Port. The local weather might have permitted our successful anchorage this morning but local authorities indicated that strengthening winds were likely to make tender operation unsafe later in the day. Although history indicated this was a possibility it was disappointing.
Now we find out what the Cruise Staff invent for the day’s entertainment.
And the day went well except for the fact of the weather. The Ocean Princess handled the weather quite well but it was clear we were mother nature’s bathtub toy. We sailed generally westward in the English Channel and pitched with the swells most of the day. By mid-afternoon we could see a little blue sky to the north and by dinner time the wind had diminished to around 15 kts. We noticed the ship getting more and more stable throughout the evening and by 10 PM things were quite comfortable again. The 5 PM Captain’s welcome party was poorly attended, probably because of the effects of the ship’s motion.
Throughout the day the cruise staff tried to entertain with trivia, other games, line dance class, zumba and the like but it seemed as if many passengers were staying in their staterooms for much of the day. Only the hardy were out and about.
The singers and dancers put on a good performance this evening and seemed unaffected by the motion of the floor. However, I had spoken to one of the dancers earlier and learned that they were moderating their routines a little to cope with the conditions. Unless you had seen the show before and had an excellent memory you would never be aware of any changes.
So, tomorrow we are in Milford Haven, Wales if all goes well. It is another tender port although I had thought for some reason we might be at a berth. Here’s hoping for fine weather and calm seas.
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Milford Haven, Wales
Posted on July 31, 2013
July 31
As the clock shows 3 PM, Milford Haven remains overcast with a misty rain that has persisted for the entire day. While it did not prevent us from going ashore we were unable to take full advantage of our plans to walk the paths as we had intended. Never-the-less, Milford Haven will be remembered as one of the friendliest ports visited. Long before our brief visit I had been in contact with Sue Blanchard-Williams from the Pembrokeshire Tourism Office who had provided me with more information about this small community than I could ever have hoped for. I know that others on the ship today had benefit from Sue’s kindness. So when we met her ashore this morning her bubbly personality and enthusiasm for the region was hardly surprising.
As we disembarked the tender and climbed the ramp from the boat we were met by a group of local children singing and dancing and a literal host of tourism workers. A tent had been erected as protection from the unkind elements. Those who had booked tours were moved quickly to their conveyances. Others, like us, who had planned to simply visit the town were greeted and made aware of a free shuttle service that had been organized. The busses followed a prescribed route through the small town and we found our driver congenial and informative. Many of us completed the full route with the driver before disembarking at the town Museum.
After paying our £1.50 per person admission a gentleman about our own age gave us a 15 minute description of how the museum depicted the town’s history from its accidental beginning. Over time it has been important for whaling, fishing, commerce and most recently the petroleum industry. Like so many small towns it continues to exist but one could hardly say it is thriving although not for lack of enthusiasm of the local tourism office.
Our bus driver delivered us to a shop from which I purchased another hat pin and fridge magnet emboss with a text in Welsh. As we left the shop the rain had subsided somewhat and we were able to walk and take a few photographs before the rain returned. The shuttle was hailed and picked us up although we were nowhere near an indicated stopping location.
We returned to the tent to wait for the shuttle to discover Welsh cakes were being provided as refreshment. Also, while the dancing children had departed they had been replaced by a group interested in conserving owls. To the pleasure of almost everyone, three of the birds were tame enough to accept stroking of their incredibly soft feathers and would climb up and perch on the had of anyone willing to wear a protective glove. I suppose they didn’t require the glove but one look at their talons persuaded me to wear the glove and I saw nobody decline it.
Predictably, I suppose, in the time it has taken me to write this review the Milford Haven weather has improved considerably. The rain has stopped and the mist has become much lighter. There is even a hint of blue in the sky as the clouds begin to recede. Alas, no time remains to take advantage of the situation as the sun tries to shine through the thinning cover.
Thank you Milford Haven for your hospitality. I know you would have given us fine weather were it in your power to do so.
There will be a few photos arriving soon so look for them at the link provided below.
Milford Haven
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Dublin, Ireland
Posted on August 1, 2013
August 1
Dublin was about 17°C when we arrived this morning at about 6 AM and quite bright with the exception of some dark clouds on the western horizon. Could we be getting a fine day? There was time for coffee and breakfast, the important things, before we met our tour group in the lounge. We were nearly the first group off the ship and definitely the first to reach St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Our coach took us through the streets of Dublin while our guide rattled on with a continuous stream of history both recent and ancient. We saw a few raindrops on the windows but that was the end of it. On the surface Dublin appeared busy and prosperous but there were clear signs of past problems. There were many empty buildings and a few partially constructed buildings now abandoned, hoping no doubt for better times ahead. In an attempt to preserve its Georgian heritage there is an enforced regulation limiting building height, although over time a few developers seem to have been able to get around the rule.
The architecture of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was in many ways as impressive as that of Canterbury. The interior walls are filled with memorabilia of Irish history and famous persons. Apparently, Dublin has spawned no fewer than four Nobel Winners in literature some of whom were also graduates of Dublin’s Trinity College.
Trinity College is container entirely on a single campus of about 50 acres (more or less). Originally only for Protestant men over time it was opened to Catholic men and eventually to women. There is considerable green space within Trinity which undoubtedly means there is a very small enrolment of extremely talented students.
The River Liffe flows through the heart of Dublin and it is spanned by many bridges, old and new. One unique modern suspension bridge is in the shape of a harp, a symbol of Ireland. We spent a little time on the ground after visiting Trinity then found our coach, not an easy task since there were so many, and traveled back to the port.
The weather fully cooperated here in Dublin. Now hoping for smooth sailing to Edinburgh and fine weather on arrival.
There are a few photos available.
Dublin
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Two Days at Sea
Posted on August 3, 2013
August 1 – At Sea bound for Edinburgh
The Ocean Princess sailed from Dublin right on schedule with no missing passenger calls. Actually it is extremely rare that there are passengers missing at sail away but for some reason there are often calls for passengers to checkin before sail away. I guess the electronic checking systems are not perfect.
The seas were very pleasant for the entire evening and we managed to find several opportunities to dance even if the floors are a bit small and irregularly shaped. Earlier in the cruise there was the usual meet the Captain cocktail party but on this evening we were invited to yet another. The event was for the “most travelled” passengers currently on the ship. This was a first for us but it was enjoyable. There were almost as many of the ship’s senior officers and staff at the event as there were passengers. Everyone had a photo taken with the Captain and chatted with the officers and staff. Heady stuff, designed of course, to promote loyalty.
The evening entertainment show was provided by a gentleman named Jonathan Neal, an illusionist and a very good one at that. For nearly an hour he amused and amazed us all. The following morning he did an equally entertaining show where he described to us some of the psychology of magical deception and proved rather conclusively that even when an audience knows some of the elements they can still be deceived rather easily.
August 2 – Still at sea
This Friday was a gorgeous day. Either an apology in advance for weather to be expected in Edinburgh or a harbinger, hopefully the latter. Gail took the opportunity, as did others, to catch up on laundry. The day passed as we enjoyed the company of travellers we had met throughout the cruise.
My damaged suitcase reappeared. The ship’s upholsterer had worked his magic and I was quite amazed that the damaged zipper seemed almost as good as new. Somehow he restored what remained of the fabric and secured all the teeth in the zipper to their original positions. Taking no chances, I purchased an extra security belt to wrap around the bag near the damaged region.
The photo taken the previous night was available to us at no charge and it was probably our best photo of us that we have seen for a while. We did have photos taken on the previous formal evening but none of them pleased us. Our evening passed watching another good performance from the young singers and dancers, a little bit of dancing and yet another cocktail party. I think they are now finished for this cruise.
As the ship turned southward along the east coast of Scotland the North Sea felt a bit rougher than earlier. This gradually lessened as the evening progressed. Tomorrow, Edinburgh, its famous Castle and Tattoo. Come on good weather.
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Edinburgh Day 1
Posted on August 5, 2013
Saturday, August 3 – Edinburgh Day 1
This morning I was up before 6 AM enjoying a beautiful sunrise then the ship turned west into the Firth of Forth. The farther we went into the Firth the more overcast it became. Checked the weather forecast–40% chance of rain and 16 °C rising to a balmy 17 °C for a high. Well, that’s 60% chance of no rain, I suppose that’s something to look forward to.
We berthed in Rosyth nose to nose with a Holland ship. I did see the name but didn’t commit it to memory. As the first passengers went ashore there was a lady piper by the gangway. We plan to take a cab into Edinburgh early this afternoon, walk part of the Royal Mile, visit the castle and then the Tattoo. As we were collecting our tickets I discovered I had neglected to print our Edinburgh Castle tickets. That necessitated a quick trip to the Internet Cafe. When I arrived the Internet Cafe host was there and printed my file for me so I didn’t even need to login.
Rosyth was a working port so we can’t just get off the ship and walk but there is a free shuttle to the terminal until 6 PM after which we were told we would have a 10 minute walk from the terminal to the berth. Our return from the Tattoo will be around 10 PM so it seemed we would be walking.
Just before 1 PM we met Shelley and Lance in the ship’s Atrium to begin our journey from the port to the city. As the wind was howling we waited for a Terminal Shuttle to arrive before venturing down the gangway and a few minutes later we were taxi hunting at the Rosyth Terminal. There were cabs a plenty. There were several others waiting to share cabs with us and when it was obvious that the rule was going to be four to a cab each foursome took the next available vehicle.
Our driver was a friendly Scot with a deep voice who spoke with a distinctive Scottish accent and used phrases that, at first, took a little processing before understanding. He described the Firth Bridge as a “weak bridge.” Apparently the suspension cables have been over stressed and a replacement bridge is under construction.
We stepped out of the cab and within 10 steps there was no doubt about the location of Edinburgh Castle. I doubt there is other any iconic building that is more imposing on a city skyline. Our first steps on an Edinburgh city street were to cross illegally in what we later determined was not a crosswalk but a cycling lane. We set our sights on the castle and marched uphill. As it was not their first experience in Edinburgh, Shelley and Lance guided us to a set of narrow stairs that brought us onto the Royal Mile just below the castle.
The streets were literally packed with people because of the Fringe Festival which was ongoing. Even if the 700 visitors from the Ocean Princess stood shoulder to shoulder we would have gone unnoticed. We pressed through the crowds to find the mandatory souvenirs which was relatively easy. Next, we moved in the direction of the castle gate, uphill of course.
We walked through the castle esplanade where the temporary stands had been erected for the Tattoo performance. The side of the resulting stadium was impressive to be sure. Most seating sections contained nearly 900 seats arranged in 32 rows of 28 seats that soared upward. Beneath the seats was a continuous row of toilets, hardly sufficient for demand, and two levels of performer dressing rooms. The castle gate formed the end of the stadium and through we went.
I was pleased we had pre-purchased our tickets as that was one line that could be avoided. Inside the gate everything about the castle was impressive beyond words. It felt like a purpose-built nearly unassailable fortress. The main gate with its port culls seemed to be the only accessible point. Castle walls seemed to be extensions of the nearly vertical rock faces. The buildings contained displays chronicling nearly every military campaign since the castle was first constructed. The Scottish Crown Jewels display was the only place where photography was forbidden.
One could hardly ever see and appreciate everything the castle contained but we felt we had to leave for diner before the 6 PM curfew expelled everyone from the castle in preparation for the 7:30 PM Tattoo performance. Once outside “we” had time to do a little more “shopping” and Gail now has a jacket and blanket by which to remember Edinburgh. We also walked along a portion of the Royal Mile to see the street performers in the Fringe Festival.
After only a couple of mountain goat trails through street-side shops we found a suitable eating place. By the time we finished a very pleasant meal it was time to assemble for entry to the stadium. The queue formed first on the sidewalk bordering the castle. As security personnel gradually moved the barricades the queue was widened again and again until it occupied the entire street. Once the stands were opened the crowd of nearly 10,000 passed rather quickly through a security check point and found assigned seats.
Once the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo began the crowd’s focus was the on the stadium floor as the continuous stream of performers thrilled and entertained the crowd. It was a spectacle that would require pages to describe. Even photos and video are inadequate. You have to see it in person.
Exiting the stadium at about 9:30 PM was well ordered and controlled but it did take a while until the upper rows could be emptied. Everyone behaved well and many formed new queues at the toilets. As we left the stadium we passed the crowd waiting to enter for the 10 PM performance.
As we descended from the castle to our pre-arranged taxi pick-up location we telephoned the driver who had agreed to meet us for the return trip. As it turned out there were many taxis available but we waited for our driver anyway since we had negotiated a flat rate for both trips. The driver seemed quite pleased that we had enjoyed the Tattoo and “his” city.
We had expected a 10 minute walk from the Rosyth terminal to the ship but when we stepped out of the taxi the chap on security duty would have none of that. He promised a bus would arrive to take us back to the ship. Walking, he proclaimed, was not safe. So wait we did. When the bus dropped us by the gangway there was nobody waiting so we checked in, boarded and quickly made our way to the buffet which had been closing at 11 PM. Lucky for us, and the others returning late, it had remained open to greet us. With our appetites satisfied, we retired for the evening.
Photos of Edinburgh
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Edinburgh Day 2
Posted on August 5, 2013
Sunday, August 4 – Edinburgh and the Royal Yacht Britannia
I awoke early this morning to sunshine which quickly turned into rain which lasted for about 10 minutes. For the remainder of the day we enjoyed brilliant sunshine. How about that, we spent two days in Edinburgh and we only felt raindrops once.
Our tour guide narrated the hour long coach ride through the streets of Edinburgh en route to Leith where the Royal Yacht Britannia (Retired) sat at anchor. She is a museum today, having been retired from service for some years now. We had some advance insight into what we saw because of our Queen Mary 2 voyage where Stephen Payne, her designer in part, gave an illustrated lecture on the yacht. We were not disappointed, she is in fine shape. While she can be used for special events from time to time she no longer puts to sea.
Before we boarded the ship we were given programmable audio devices that provided considerable information in each room as we followed the signs posted throughout the vessel. While I suppose the very existence of such a yacht is a bit of an excess in itself, the decor and furnishings are rather understated and very modest compared to regal excesses seen in the Baltic. The self-guided tour took nearly two hours to complete and left us quite satisfied.
While we waited to board the coach we purchased coffee and a snack. The Britannia is situated in a berth adjacent to a good sized shopping mall. There were shops of all descriptions and plenty of food services. It was not long until we continued with our tour guide to weave through more of Edinburgh’s streets. The coach driver’s task was complicated considerably by the street closures for the inevitable summer construction projects and the Fringe Festival.
Never-the-less, we were able to see much of the city. The architecture ranged from very old to very new and the contrasts were fascinating. We returned to the ship early in the afternoon for nourishment and rest before the evening’s activities.
On the first evening of this cruise we were entertained by a comedian named Tom Briscoe. Yesterday, before the Tattoo we found ourselves at adjacent tables in the restaurant and had an opportunity to chat with him briefly. We were delighted to see another of his performances. His humour seemed to please almost everyone in the theatre. His timing was magnificent and none of his material required censorship.
After a little bit of dancing and visiting with on board friends, our final port visited, we retired once again. Only two days until we visit London.
Photos of Edinburgh
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Dover – again
Posted on August 6, 2013
Tuesday, August 6
It is 6 AM and we are just now making fast to our berth in Dover. We expect to disembark just after 8 AM and find our transportation to London. My next post should be from there.
On Thursday, August 8 we join the QM2 again for our Transatlantic return. See you all around August 16.
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London, Day 1
Posted on August 6, 2013
Tuesday, August 6 – London, Day 1
We did the usual disembarkation drill today. Early up, early breakfast, early out of stateroom then wait. We met another couple at this breakfast who are also sailing with us on the QM2 to New York and discovered they had also been on the QM2 with us for the eastbound crossing. We never met on the QM2.We had requested an 8 AM time to leave the ship and had scheduled our London transportation for 9 AM. Well, The Ocean Princesses schedule was actually early and there was no customs inspection so we were on the dock by 8 AM.
I telephoned our driver abut 8:15 to learn that he would arrive about 8:45 and that was just about the time his black Mercedes pulled up at the curb. Steve, our driver, had no trouble loading the luggage into the Mercedes station wagon style vehicle and we were off in a flash.
Almost had an “oops” when arriving at the hotel. Unknown to us, the hotel has a main entrance and two annex buildings all labeled with the hotel’s name. Fortunately, the annex at which we arrived was only a few steps away from the main reception area. It is another older property, as in Dover, and the room is much smaller than the one in Dover but the service has been good and it will serve.
After checking in we asked some questions then headed for Buckingham Palace to see if we could see the changing of the guard. Well, we arrived in time but there was almost no hope of seeing anything with the number of people crammed into the area in front of the palace gates. I may have got a photo. After struggling through the crowd we worked our way back to the hotel and found a pub for our lunch. Lunch was good if too large and the people in the pub were friendly, offering suggestions for the afternoon’s exploration.
We finally punched a transit day pass and set off on the tube for the Tower of London. We did get a look through the towers, some of them, but the Bloody Tower and the Crown Jewels had monstrous queues. We moved on the the Tower Bridge and a look into the Thames. Bock to the Undergound and eventually to Victoria Square in front of Buckingham Palace. There were many fewer people this time.
After a quick stop at the hotel we were off to find a place for dinner. A little Italian Restaurant won the prize, Lasagne and a glass of Pino went down quite well. There were two women at the adjacent table and it was obvious to me that they spoke with a Melbourne accent so that was the start of the conversation. We exchanged travel talk while the restaurant staff listened in.
We returned tired to spend the remainder of the evening in the hotel . Tomorrow will be another day in London and the forecast is for nice weather again.
A few photos of London
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London Day 2
Posted on August 7, 2013
Wednesday, August 7 – London Day 2
It is 3 PM and my feet are tired, actually, our feet are tired, so we are back at the hotel for a break before hunting for dinner. We set out before 9 AM having had a good breakfast at the hotel. In our travels today we used busses, the Underground and a lot of foot power.
First, through Victoria Station to pickup a bus schedule and map. Then along Victoria Street past Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Harrods, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Waterloo Bridge, along the Thames River to Westminster Station then back to Victoria. Lunch happened somewhere around Leicester Square and some souvenir shopping happened along Victoria Street and Buckingham Palace Road. Gradually we seemed to develop a “feel” for parts of the city.
We still have to be very careful crossing streets. Can’t decide whether to look left or right before crossing so we rely on pedestrian signals, unlike most of the locals. There is a lot of construction around Victoria Station and elsewhere. Many old building facades are being restored and we saw statues being re-bronzed.
Clearly, one could spend weeks in this city and still not visit everything. The sidewalks have been very crowded and parked tour busses line the streets along the Thames. Men and women dressed for business with cell phones in their ears hustle between meandering tourists. Hopon-Hopoff busses roam the streets and ticket sellers are on every major street corner. One can hardly find a place where at least a few buildings are more than twice as old as Canada.
A few more photos of London
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London to Southampton & onward
Posted on August 11, 2013
Thursday, August 8 – London to Southampton & onward
Although there are thousands of kilometres yet to travel I feels like it’s over. We awoke and had a leisurely breakfast then prepared to travel. The hotel room was barley large enough for our luggage in rolling mode. The elevator requires entry in the exact reverse order to the planned exit. While I was going through checkout formalities Gail and one of the hotel staff moved luggage to the curb and by the time I arrived on the sidewalk the London Taxi had arrived and suitcases were being loaded.
The driver was a pleasant chap who had sailed ice on the Queen Mary 2 so was excited for our voyage too. It was only a £6 fare which I paid in cash and, since I thought I would have no further need for British coin, I poured my remaining change into his palm. Apparently I should have saved some coin because no sooner had we settled ourselves in the coach terminal Gail decided to checkout the facilities. You guessed it, pay toilettes.
Soon our checked luggage disappeared into a truck, lorry I suppose, and shortly after the first coach was filled and departed. Ours was the second coach and by 11:15 AM we were on our way through London traffic. We passed some familiar sites and then some new territory as the coach made its way out of the city to the south-west. About 2 hours later we left the motorway and signs indicated we were approaching Southampton. Next, signs for the waterfront and finally the terminals came into view. First a P&O ship, then the Queen Mary 2.
For the next hour and a half we were herded through the terminal and ultimately to checkin. After receiving our key cards we continued to the gangway. The ship’s photographers had considerable difficulty appreciating that we were not having our photo taken. I need to repeat the word “no” at least three times and the last time rather sternly.
Up the gangway, key card registered upon entry to the ship then off to our room. We ignored the guides attempts to direct us to the elevator queue and headed for the most forward and hopefully least used elevators. When we arrived there were four others who knew the same secret. The elevator stopped at deck 5 and we were only steps away from room 5051.
Unexpectedly, we found we had the same room stewardess as on the eastbound crossing. She had anticipated leaving the ship for vacation before this cruise but her plans changed while we were wandering around Europe. She had been very nice and we were glad to see her again. We quickly unpacked our carry-on luggage and made a first trip to Kings Court for some lunch.
Our checked luggage arrived not too long after lunch. I had taken the camera out for a look around an by the time I returned Gail was nearly unpacked. After she was finished I got my turn. Believe it or not by this time we were beginning to sail out of Southampton and it was time to prepare for our first evening of our return to New York.
We did not get the same dining room table as on the first crossing, as we had requested, but we seem to have six interesting and compatible table mates. The menu was broad enough to please everyone at the table and conversation was interesting and stimulating. After dinner we made our first appearance in the Queens Room. We danced at first to the recorded music and then to the orchestra, however we left as it became more crowded with arrivals from the second dinner seating. And that was about the end of this day.
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