British Isles Adventure August 2017

Red Deer, Canada

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 20:20:00 -0600

Arrive home after long flight and then bus ride from Calgary. It is great to be home. 3days and then back to work.

Calgary, Canada

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 15:10:00 -0600

Arrive in Calgary

Southampton, United Kingdom

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 07:10:00 +0100

Disembark

Région Haute-Normandie, France

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 08:00:00 +0100

Invergordon, United Kingdom

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0100

Glasgow, United Kingdom

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0100

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 06:30:00 +0100

Dublin, Ireland

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 11:20:00 +0100

August 8, 2017 Dublin Ireland Late arrival into port. So went to Main dining room for breakfast. Met pat from Wyoming and Doris from Utah and john from Wales. Tour leaves at 11:30 and gets back at 7:45. To Powercourt estates plus waterfalls.

Cork, Ireland

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0100

August 7, 2017 Cork Island A little late getting in to the dock because authorities were not ready. Breakfast from International cafe. Gave me time at 7 am to do my laundry from London. Extra four days of clothes now. Got off and walked to train station. I wanted to take the train to Fota and go to the Fota zoo . Got too explore the zoo for two hours and then back to ship in time for tour in afternoon to blarney castle. One hour drive there. The grounds are huge with many areas to explore - gardens etc. Walked up to the castle but I was not interested in going up 110 steps to kiss the Blarney Stone. Wondered around and did a little shopping. First rain shower of the trip. Pulled out umbrella. Back to ship. quickly changed and went to supper. Had chilled coconut soup and salmon. No dessert. Decided to go and read rather than go to the show.

St. Peter Port, Guernsey

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000

August 6,2017 first port Guernsey island Got up early to get a tender . 6:30 am. Went ashore. Walked out toward the castle. Then back. Saw that I could get a bus at 9:20 around the entire island for a pound. Met Eleanor and Pete a couple from outside Montreal. Part of cruise critic. What was really interesting is that some of the locals that got on the bus would tell us about some of the sights. Then went with Eleanor and Pete out to castle. We were there for the noon hour firing of the castle. Walked up to the very top of the castle for the view. Then walked back to the tender area. Long lineup. We had been told that the last tender was at 1:30 but there was a long line up. Had a ham and cheese croissant for lunch. Then meet and greet at 2:30. Did meet two of the groups that I was doing a independent tour with. Formal night so dressed up for supper. Had salad and beef tenderloin with sorbet again. New couple at table - Deanna and ?? From States. Production tonight was Piano Man. Singers and dancers performed to Billy Joel, Barry Manilow and Elton John music.

Southampton, United Kingdom

Sat, 05 Aug 2017 07:50:00 +0100

August 5, 2017 Got up early. Walked to Buckingham Palace and got some exterior shots of palace and the Mall. Back for breakfast. Brought luggage down and waited for International Friends. Bus came shortly after eight. Then two more stops to pick up more people. Then out to Stonehenge for a couple of hours. No audio guide available. Got shots. Bought a few things from gift shop. Then to Southampton. Took carry on with me off the bus. Then preferred check in and was on the ship within half an hour. Luggage did not take long. Unpacked Supper. My first table assignment was myself at a table for two. Not what I wanted. Got moved to a table for six. Two couples the first night Said and Bridget and Tony and Victoria. Have not se n them so nice. I know Tony and Vivian wanted a table for two. Had four different starters: spring rolls, melon , soup and Caesar salad. Then sorbet for dessert. Went to the show that night.

London, United Kingdom

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0100

London, United Kingdom

Thu, 03 Aug 2017 09:00:00 +0100

First day down to free breakfast buffet. Two choices for eggs hard boiled or scrambled (too runny for me), potato croquettes, bacon , sausages, grilled tomatoes, fresh fruit, cereals, toast, juices and pastries. Decided to make it a lazier day. Went for a massage. Then walked over to Buckingham palace and Big Ben. Down Victoria Street to find someplace to buy wine and soft drinks. Kept exploring and decided to get a ticket for the evening performance of Wicked for 7:30. Back to hotel to have supper at my favorite Bon Gusto. Then back to hotel to change and walk back to the apollo theatre. Another coincidence - sat beside a older couple that is also on the cruise. Then walked back to the hotel. Time to call it a day.

Paris, France

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +0200

Start of a 14 hour tour/day. Had breakfast early - picked up yogurt, fruit, juice and a chocolate croissant. Everything is ready Just need to get dressed and ready. Then off to the tube. That was the start of the surprises for the day. The underground station opened at 5:15 am. Was told that the first train I needed would be at 5:23. In actual favt it was 5:50 am. I had to get one station up the line and then transfer to another line and go up five stations. Was supposed to check-in with the guide at 6:01. Believe me , I was the last person on the list to do so. I got my package and then I had to go thru security and then French passport control. Then we all got off the train , met our guide at the front of the train and followed our guide to the bus. Some interesting facts: - at deepest point the tunnels is 75 meters below sea level. - both tunnels are 54.45 miles long - record breaking top speed is 334.7 km/hr. At one point we were doing 277 km/hr Bus driver is Henri and tour guide was Charlotte. Tour of the city with some of the highlights. Basilica of Paris. Next stop was lunch on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Another chance to go thru security check. Glass of champagne, along with mashed potatoes and chicken. Then chocolate cake for dessert. I was placed at a table with husband, wife and 18 year old daughter. Turns out they were from Canmore Alberta. Then ... they are actually on the same cruise. Then they have been at Ltchs for various tournaments. One in particular was the provincial handballs that Thurber hosted. I was one of the committee members for that. It is a small world. We walked down the stairs from the restaurant to the ground. then had to exit the grounds cross the street to meet the group and do a Seine river cruise. Back to bus and then driven to the Louve. Had a last minute opportunity to do a private guided tour of the louvre. But decided just to have some free time.Joined a family of four. We looked at some of the shops associated with Louve. We exited and then walked down the street to do some shopping. Stopped at a cafe and had a glass of wine. Then back to do last of the shopping and then to the meeting point at the inverted pyramid inside the louvre. Then to train station to catch the Eurostar back to London. Had a light supper on train - hot croque monsieur sandwich. It was good. Tube to get back to hotel. In just before ten o'clock. Long day but it was worth it. London had rain but Paris was beautiful. Depending on the weather will decide what I am doing tomorrow.

Luna's dress

Shuttle bus to studio

Pitcher on table in Great Hall

Flying game

London, United Kingdom

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 11:50:00 +0100

Arrive at Heathrow Airport. Arrange transport to hotel. Bus, train or express train - that is the question. Cheapest option is the National Express bus for $10 Canadian. Have to grab a Oyster card and put some money on it. Got information about the bus and date it was leaving. Thank goodness I went outside and then looked around because the bus was there already. I might have missed that one. One interesting thing, a girl was on the bus, she thought it would take her to a different terminal at the airport. Wrong bus. Hopefully the two hour round trip journey will get her back to get her connecting flight at five pm. Will take a hour to get to Victoria Bus Station. Will grab a taxi to the hotel. Check-in at St. James Court at 54 Buckingham Gate. Drop luggage off and then went to grab a late lunch or early supper. Found my restaurant. Good food and prices. Bon gusto is only a few minutes from the hotel. Plans have changed - will take the tube to Kensington pass. Have a entry pass. Main attraction to see some of Princess Diana's fashions which are on display. Toured some of the state rooms and the gardens on site. Back to the tube - this time I need to transfer from Circle line to Victoria line. In both cases I only need to go one station down the line. Came out of the station at Green Park and saw the buses for the London by night. Did the eight o'clock tour. Saw a lot of the attractions which I will want to come back and see on Thursday. Back to St James Park Station. So I ended up going right instead of left and did additional walking. Actually ended back at Victoria station so I redid the last part of the journey again. Did ask a tube employee and found that I should have have done everything in reverse. Had to deal in the dark. Back to hotel by 10:30 pm. Will add some pictures tomorrow when I get back from Paris. Big day tomorrow, early start. May set two alarms because I have to leave early next morning.

Some of the iconic dresses

Some twenty years ago, there was a massive display of flowers in front of these gates

London eye between the buildings

London eye second most visited attraction

Comments about Diana

Gardens at palace

Couldn't resist taking this photo

Our tour bus. Of course I sat on top

Queen Victoria statue with Kensington Palace in bacground

Telephone booths

The first flower left in this month celebrating twenty years since her death

Some of the pictures that graced the covers of magazines

Calgary

Mon, 31 Jul 2017 15:20:00 -0600

Journey has started. Red arrow bus from Red Deer to Calgary. Arrive at airport around 3:30 pm. Check-in, grab supper and then the flight is at 8:30.