BORDEAUX, FRANCE (May 26, 2012)

Today we sailed 60 miles up the Garonne River toward Bordeaux.  We sailed past what are apparently some of the worlds finest vineyards and most celebrated chateaux.  We then docked in the French city of Bordeaux where we stay for two days.  On day one we took off on our own and headed into the city by foot.  Found it to be very lovely and quite unlike any we had seen before.  Despite the cobblestone streets and old buildings it was certainly a mecca for designer shops and shopping.  We strolled the streets and took in a few of the historic monuments, took a seat on a nearby park bench and tried to people-watch the locals but it was hard to tell who were the locals and who were passengers from our ship (again we are the only ship in port).

On day 2 we took an excursion to the wine country and spent the day in St. Emillion.  This is probably highlight number 2 of the trip thus far.  The only place I can think of that is at all similar would be Old Quebec.  Our motor coach took us past “the hill with a thousand chateaux”   The town is enclosed within 13th century walls and a moat carved out of solid rock.  We went into an underground church built between the 9th and 12th centuries.  As interesting and amazing as it was, it creeped me out.  It was very, very dark and there were bodies buried down there.  Just amazing though that it was scraped out of the rock with a hand tool.  It took 300 years to build this underground church.

Every street in this lovely little village is  extremely narrow and so hilly that many have stairs to help you up and down (no funiculars).  The small streets were lined with wine shops and wine tasting rooms.  I have to say it was exquisite and quite what I envisioned Old France to be all about.

We ended our visit with a cafe au lait at a sidewalk cafe.  You just can’t skip that while in France.  While we were on this tour, our ship relocated to the port of Le Verdon so our trip back was a 2 1/2 hour ride through the french wine country.  It allowed us a great opportunity to see the surrounding countryside so we didn’t mind the drive at all.  The vineyards are lovely but I can honestly say, they do not top our own Napa Valley which is very rolling as opposed to the flatness of this french wine country.  All-in-all a great two days.

I have to mention an entirely different ambience on this second part of our voyage.  In Dover we unloaded a “senior population” and picked up a mainly Asian “younger population”.  This ship has become more crowded (totally full) and I’m not loving the noise level.  We can’t hear each other at our dining table and so have a tendency to slip off to the specialty restaurants and to deck for a quieter atmosphere.  Must be a sign that we are “aging”.

DOVER, ENGLAND  (May 23, 2012)

Most everyone on the ship disembarked in Dover today.  We said goodbye to the folks we met on our transatlantic voyage.  They were all envious that we were staying onboard.  To pass the time while we waited for the new group of passengers to embark, we took a shuttle up to Dover Castle.  (London was just too far to drive to and get back before sailing.)  The castle was lovely but we have seen so many British castles we didn’t spend too much time there even though the weather was lovely.  We strolled around the square in Dover, going in and out of shops, and picking up some essentials.  I had some british sterling from a previous trip but when I tried to use it, I was told it was
“too old”.  Off to a bank we went where they were happy to “update” my pounds.  We spent the rest of the day enjoying the Crystal Symphony.  Tomorrow will be another sea day. Such a life. 

BERGEN, NORWAY (May 22, 2012)

The city of Bergen, Norway’s second largest city is our last port of call for this first part of our voyage.  It is a wonderful city for sightseeing and we hopped on a tour bus that took us to all the highlights and several viewpoints for picture taking.  This town, as with every town we have visited on this voyage, has at one time burned down and had to be rebuilt.  There are several original remaining buildings and they have been moved to a more “fire safe” part of town and converted into shops, restaurants, and galleries.  I believe the big fire hazard in this part of the world is because everything was built of wood and all very close together so if one home went on fire, it quickly spread to the entire town!  This was the first port that had lots of shopping and the tourists seemed to be taking advantage and buying items you might get thrown in jail for in the states (i.e. shoes and handbags made of seal skin).  And no, I did not buy anything like that!  The other interesting tidbit is all the underground tunnels that connect the city to the nearby Islands thus eliminating the need to ferry back and forth to town for many folks.  I think it was in Alesund that we also saw and drove through some of these tunnels.  Tomorrow will be a sea day and then most all of the passengers will be disembark the following day in Dover.  We’re planning a relaxing day of doing nothing except of course the usual eating and drinking.

Hellesylt/Geiranger - Land of the Fjords (May 21,2012)

This was most definitely the highlight of our cruise so far and we really can’t imagine any other place in the world that could match the beauty we experienced here.  As we cruised into the nine mile inlet, the blue water was as smooth as a satin sheet.  There were sheer cliffs of jagged rocks still capped in white snow and ribbon after ribbon of phenomenal waterfalls cascaded down the sides of the cliffs.  Our weather was actually balmy and we didn’t even need jackets by noon.  We had an incredible bus tour up the mountain.  The road was a single lane with no barriers on the sides and included eleven hairpin turns before we reached the top which was called Flydal Gorge.  .  However, the scenery was so spectacular, I forgot to be afraid after three or four of those turns.  We stopped for picture-taking at several lookouts.  We could have stayed for hours.  After coming back down, we started up the other side of the small village of Geiranger (population 200 but soon to be 203).  Several more fantastic lookout  points were enjoyed as well as a stop at a lovely little hotel on the side of a cliff for tea and cake.   I wish I had the words to describe the beauty.  I don’t think I have ever looked at scenery so incredible it could actually bring tears to your eyes.  Being so early in the season, we were the only cruise ship anchored and are truly thankful for that.  In summer there are as many as five ships anchored in a day.  I think that would really take away from the serenity of this incredible site.

ALESUND, NORWAY (MAY 20, 2012)

Another tiny slice of Norway that makes you wonder how folks survive here  I can’t imagine the long, dark, cold winters in these little fishing villages.  We have been incredibly fortunate to have beautiful weather with bright sunny skies well into the midnight hour.  We took a tour around Alesund which seems to be a vacation spot for some people.  We stopped at a little village on a very small beach.  The tour guide told us not to miss the woodcutters home.  Well, all of the bus got on line for the outhouse (literally).  I’d rather die so I went off on my own to find the woodcutters house.  I came upon what I thought was the house and the door was open.  I went inside but lo and behold I found myself inside a family’s vacation cottage!  The lady was cooking in the kitchen and I’m walking all around the house before I discovered her and she discovered me!  I apologized profusely.  She greeted me but escorted me to the door and promptly closed it.  I was terribly embarrassed but an experience to remember.

All-in-all, it was another picturesque fishing community and not much more to say about it so I will just post some photos.

TORSHAVN, FAEROE ISLANDS, DENMAK (MAY 19, 2012)

Spent my birthday in the Faeroe Islands which lie halfway between the Shetland Islands and Iceland.  Tlhere are 18 islands in total and has a population of about 50,000 total.  Not a whole lot to see there except for birds although I still haven’t seen any puffins.  It’s quite a windy island with very little farming.  I guess the land is just way to rocky and hilly.  A few sheep here and there.  About the only thing going on there is fishing.  There is only about 4,500 people on this particular island.  The younger generation are finding opportunities elsewhere.  Most interesting to us was the fact that most houses are either black or white and most have grass roofs.  It is very alien to our way of life but we enjoyed our visit and the people that we had a chance to talk to.

HEIMAEY, ICELAND  (May 18, 2012)

A tiny Island with a very big story to tell!  The island is very  beautiful and I love it.  Only five square miles in size (it has grown by two miles since the volcanic eruption in 1973!)  It is one of the archipelagos and is known at the Westman Islands.  It’s the only island in the chain of 15 that is inhabited.  It translates to Home Island.  The Island had to be completed evacuated in 1973 when the volcano erupted.  Within one week of the eruption the town was buried under 12 feet of ash.  We got to visit a museum site were we actually walked on what used to be the rooftops of some homes.  They showed photos of the original homes and the view that was seen from the homes.  The view is no longer there as new land popped up and was much higher than the original homes were.  1.5 million tons of ash apparently fell down on this island.  Amazingly, no one died as a result.  The town is now rebuilt and is quite beautiful.  The surrounding mountains and glaciers are breathtaking.  With a population of now only 4200 (800 people did not return after the volcano) you can imagine there was not much more to do or see.  I was quite disappointed not to see the millions of puffins I anticipated.  This is the time of year for them and I saw only one!  The cliffs were, however, covered in other beautiful white birds (don’t recall their names but no, they were not seagulls!)  Hopefully, I will see puffins in the Faeroes.  If not, I will be forced to purchase a stuffed one.  

I will post photos later when I am in a mindset to spend time uploading from my camera.  Right now, were are just having too much fun and keeping way too busy!  I’m so glad we are not leaving the ship in Dover as most passengers are.