From Russia With Two Weary People

We arrived home last night- July 12- at about 9:15 PM as two happy but weary travelers. 

We began the day at 7:00 AM in Moscow (which was 11:00 PM the night before in Bradenton) by having a delicious breakfast at our hotel. I continue be amazed by the wide variety of foods in international hotel breakfast buffets. At the Hotel Kempinski Baltschug there was lots of processed meat, pickled fish, fruit, juice- including a bright green apple juice-, cereals, wonderful breads and pastries, consumme, eggs cooked to order, bacon, sausage, coffee of all kinds plus hot tea of many varieties. People from all parts of the world do have different preferences for breakfast. 

We were interested the evening at Cafe Pushkin that the menu featured 25 different kinds of honey. Talk about discriminating tastes.

AND the US food you saw around was -naturally- McDonalds. 

The airport experience was just unreal. Our driver picked us up right on time and we raced through the countryside. Traffic was much less than it had been any of the other days. We were happily surprised to have been met at the airport by the young woman, Erika who met us in the first place. She got a cart for our bags and we followed her into the airport.

The airport was filled with people and not a single TV monitor did we see. She wheeled us right to the Delta line. Since we were flying Business Class our line was shorter BUT both lines fed into the same x-ray machine. Erika could go no farther. 

I took the three bags off the cart, put them though the machine along with my purse and the computer case with the computer. Next I loaded the three bags back on the cart and went to the station where all those bags had to be unloaded again, put on a counter and then were opened and searched thoroughly. Then I reloaded the three bags and we waited our turn for the Delta ticket counter where I unloaded the bags again and they got tagged. The strange thing after all this searching, the ticket agent asked that we be sure and not by any liquids from duty free shops or any other place. 

Then we began our long walk to find the Delta Lounge. The airport has no escalators or elevators to the lounge level and people were sleeping all over the floor and on the stairs. When we finally got to the lounge we were grateful for a spot to rest.

About an hour before our flight we decided to go downstairs, look for a t-shirt and get to the gate. Little did we know another long and complicated screening awaited. This line was for all people headed to gates 20 and 21, so we got in the line. This was the place where you took off shoes and sent shoes, purses, computer case with computer separate, and any other carry-ons through another x-ray. After that my purse and the computer case had to be searched by hand. So glad we didn't wait until they called the boarding time in the lounge.

We headed for the plane and found another long set of lines. There was no boarding by zones or Breezeway Boarding for  Business class folks. Everyone was in the double line which again fed together into one line for the final scanning of our boarding passes. Never was so glad to get to a plane in my life. 

Flight was great. Took off right on time- 12:55PM Moscow time and landed 4:35 Atlanta time. That represented 11 hours and 35 minutes of flying. We asked for a wheel chair-not knowing how long the walk might be nor how long the lines. Was a good thing because that enabled us to get through each spot with speed and ease. We think we may just carry Jim's sling and brace every time we travel.

Flight to Sarasota/Bradenton was out on time and got in early. Only bad thing was one of our bags didn't make it on that flight. But they called us as the luggage started coming out and told us so we knew to only wait for 2 of the bags. Got a taxi and got home quickly.

We fell into the bed- grateful to be home and also grateful to have been able to see so many wonderful things in our journey. The beautiful view outside our hotel window of St. Basil's cathedral with its colorful domes, one of the Kremlin towers, and the Cathedral of the Assumption where coronations are held will be in the "scrapbook of my mind" forever. We did learn that both London and Moscow are some of the most expensive cities in the world in which to live and visit. Inflation last year in Moscow was 15.5%.

For us from the first view of the smiling faces of Katherine, Michael, Ethan, Jack and Bill when we arrived in London; to the stunning and chilly landscape in Norway; and finally the amazingly beautiful architecture of Moscow; we once again feel so fortunate to have been, seen and returned safely home. 

Touring Moscow

We had such a wonderful day in Moscow. We were met by Ann, our guide, from Exeter. She was so careful, so good, and knew so much. Her English was excellent and she was very flexible with what we wanted to see. As always we had thought we could do more than we actually got done, but all we did and saw was terrific.

In the Kremlin there are many, many large ravens on the beautiful grounds. The Kremlin is a walled governmental complex with 20 red brick towers topped with tile roofs and a gold and ruby glass Russian Star. There are

lots of beautiful cathedrals with shiny gold domes. There was a cathedral for the coronations, a cathedral for the burial of czars and emperors....plus Catherine the Great who seemed to do things differently and HER way....and also a Cathedral built just so the wives would have a place to pray in the morning before the public service at 10:00 in the Cathedral of the Assumption.

In the Armory we saw coronation vestments and vestments for the heads of the Orthodox Church. The decorations of diamonds and pearls on the silk fabric was wonderful. We saw carriages that were fancy and some not so fancy. We could see the development of windows of mica, windows then of glass, and finally windows with beveled glass. We saw carriages that had to be picked up to change the direction, then carriages with the ability to be steered, and finally carriage that had suspension systems. Still didn't look like a great way to travel to me!

We then went to the State Diamond Fund where the treasures of the government are kept. We saw crown jewels that would rival the English Crown jewels. We saw a sapphire that is the biggest in the world with 258 carats. The diamond in the specter of Catherine the Great was 379 carats. We saw some very creative jewelry- beautiful ruby and diamond earrings that were in 5 sections and could be configured in different ways. Instead of going through a hole in someone's ear, the whole earring hung over the ear like glasses. The value of the stones in the diamond vault is not known.

In the midst of our visit to the huge outdoor complex it started to rain. We needed to buy two umbrellas but the shops credit card machine was not working right so Ann bought is umbrellas- and they got used a lot.

We connected back with our driver after about 3 1/2 hours and went to the Cafe Vogue for a delicious lunch. The cutest things to me were the tiny chairs they brought to the tables to hold purses, cameras and bags. The company that arranged our tour paid for lunch as a way to say sorry for the Copenhagen mix-up.

After lunch we went for a driving tour. It was raining again and traffic was wild. As always we didn't get it all done but we loved what we did and saw. We found a town filled with cheerful- except for the police- friendly and helpful people.

Life is better since 1991 and the fall of the USSR- especially for younger people. Older people who are living on pensions were into a system that does not provide enough money in this day and age. As we were approaching the point of entering the Armory, an older adult came up the side of the long line and told the guard she was a pensioner and the government owed her some special rights. She demanded to go in ahead of the line and they let her go!

We left much unseen here and would think this a great place for a return visit. Tomorrow we head for home and we are both hoping for smooth sailing...or that is flying.

What a Great Day

Tomorrow we are to spend the day touring the Kremlin, Red Square and more....but today was just so amazing that I couldn't go to sleep without showing and telling about it.

Got a good laugh from the American Express billboard we saw on the way from

 the airport. Recognize any words?

We relaxed in the afternoon and then took a car to Cafe Pushkin. Guess I am focusing on food but this was the most different menu I think we have ever seen. We shared a first course of sauerkraut with garlic and beets. We both had a traditional Russian soup. I had a hot soup- Borscht and Jim had a beet soup that was cold called Botvinia. His was way better than mine.

We both ate the Russian degustation menu- a tasting menu of beef stroganoff, meat dumplings with sour cream, chicken breaded and fried with fried onions, chicken giblets in a mushroom sauce and mixed mushrooms in a creamed sauce. It was served so beautifully and when accompanied by the two young ladies playing a flute and harp in this beautiful 18th century style building with stuccoed ceilings a magical atmosphere was created. 

Then we came back to the hotel to see the beautiful St. Basil's from our window with lights and colors so different than the day time. Just wonderful!

St Basil's is one of those sights that you want to see- a once in a life-time event....and today was the day for us.

Moscow Arrival

So here we are in Moscow!

Our Scandinavian Airline flight was terrific. We flew First Class which meant the 5 rows were basically the standard 3 seats across but the center seat had been labeled with a cover that said "Reserved For Comfort." Worked great for us! We used the center tray as an extra space.

We had a delicious hot lunch on the plane of salmon patties with a tasty mustard sauce, potatoes with some sort of mild sauce, carrots, warm bread, a cheese course with some fig preserves and then a small dessert that tasted to us like strawberry jam. After that they offered mini-bottles of liquor of all kinds. The time passed quickly- especially since we both napped.

I had decided to ask for a wheel chair since no one was sure how long was the walk and everything we read said the lines at Passport Control were often slow and long. I walked of the plane, they unfolded the wheel chair and it fell apart. They put the poles back together and off we went. Wasn't exactly comfortable since I feared it would fall apart again.

Our luggage came quickly, we left the customs line, and were met by a young lady who took us to our driver. The trip to the city took about an hour through terrible traffic jams. Got the our hotel and checked in quickly. These are the views from our windows. 

We also were greeted with a gift of 2 kinds of truffles, blueberries, blackberries and a bottle of champagne from the Hotel Manager.

We are off to dine tonight at what people say is the most popular and best restaurant in Moscow- Cafe Pushkin. We tour all day tomorrow. Can't wait!

Off to Moscow- July 10

Last evening was one of the most unusual and expensive meals we have ever had. Both of us were a bit weary so we decided to eat at the hotel and do our people watching from that side of the park. The restaurant was beautifully appointed with tiered gold-looking round plates. There were candles burning on all the tables. The tables were wooden with beautifully finished Teak wood and mosiac runners.

We had as a starter Norwegian lobster bisque that came with the lobster, apples, and gelatin like pieces. The rest of the soup was in a pitcher that the server poured over the bowl. I had "Classic" Cod which meant a piece of cod broiled, topped with parsley,chopped egg and bacon. The plate was adorned with beets, small onions , and a poached egg yolk in mustard foam. Very tasty dish. Jim had beef fillet and he said it was good. 

We made the mistake of taking the servers recommendation for wine Wine was wonderful but what Jim thought was a price for a bottle was for a glass. So the dinner was about $300 for the two of us.

This morning, the 10th, we got up early, dressed, called for a bell man and went to breakfast. The buffet was extensive- eggs, bacon, all sorts of fish and cold cuts, cereals, and wonderful cheeses and olives. 

Chris our driver was waiting when we came out and our luggage was already in his car. He was an interesting guy- born in the USA and is a citizen of both the US and Denmark. He ehlped us into the airport and to the gate. Great service!

Now we are in the SAS Business Lounge where there is all sorts of food available, free internet, and a comfy spot to wait. Our plane to Moscow leaves in about an hour. 

Copenhagen- July 9

Today was the day that I always find sad, hard and busy....the day they make us disembark and give up our cabin.  The disembarking was well organized and getting the luggage the easiest we have ever experienced. 

We were to be met by a car and driver to take us to Hotel D'Angleterre. BUT the car didn't ever show up-shades of Gatwick. 

Jim finally got a cruise person to call our emergency number and someone else from a different company came to pick us up. 

At least when we got to the hotel they did have a reservation for us. Later in the day after we had read the history of the D'Angleterre Hotel we asked about one of the meeting rooms. We got a great tour led by the doorman and also the consierge.

Copenhagen is as I remember it- not much of a skyline and no fantastic views. It does hum with a pace different from Oslo. Bicycles glided along beside our car. Because of road construction the traffic seemed to be moving at a pace almost human and not wildly fast.

Copenhagen is not a microcosm of Denmark, but rather Copenhagen is a cosmopolitan city with an identity of its own. Copenhagen, Denmark's capital, is the political, cultural and financial center of the country. The population of Denmark is 7.5 million and 1/5 of those people live in Copenhagen. There is also a growing migrant community.

Looking from our hotel you can see the large square- Kongens Nytorv. Gardeners were hard at work planting low green plants and then adding color accents. This area is filled with charming houses and wonderful restaurants. Last time we were here we took a little boat harbor trip from here.

The palace of the royal family is behind this hotel and we saw their beautiful grounds. The queen is very popular with the people.

From our window you can see 14 windmills busily generating electrical power. What a contrast to see this modern way of providing electricity over the tile roofs  of colorful old buildings. We wandered down the several pedestrian shopping streets. Most stores were filled with tourists.

Since we had been here before, we didn't rush to see the major tourist places. We had a wonderful lunch and did a lot of people watching. 

Going to a neat sounding restaurant for dinner-Restaurant Barock. Be sad to have to pay the tab and even put our napkins on our laps. A good cruise does spoil us for a long time.

However we had a great dinner tonight......tasty AND expensive. Don't know how ordinary citizens manage to live here.

Oslo -July 7

We sailed into Oslo this morning in the mist, rain and fog. From the wonderfully glorious day we had yesterday, we are now back to cold weather that is a bit gloomy....and this is summer.

Oslo is the largest city in Norway and is the capital. The region of the city is huge- 175 square miles. The city is filled with museums and historic buildings. 

Just across from our ship there is a significant repair job going rebuilding a very old stone wall which, when we looked a little closer, discovered it is is part of the original city wall. From the corner of our balcony you can see the arched gate into the city. 

There is a great museum (Vikingskiphuset) with three Viking ships dating from 800 AD. These ships were discovered in Viking tombs around the Oslo fjords  between 1860 and 1904 and are the best preserved Viking ships 

around. It was customary for the dead to be buried with food, drink, useful and 

decorative objects, and even their horses and dogs.  

There is an interesting

park of sculpture by Gustav Vigeland. It has 212 bronze, granite, and wrought iron sculptures that depict the stages of life- from birth to death.

He has a wonderful sculpture of a little boy having a temper tantrum. Looks like some children that I have known through the years....and some adults too.

Stavanger- July 6

Stavanger is the 4th largest city in Norway with 100,000 people. It is the petroleum capital of Norway. With the discovery of oil in the early 1960s Norway went from being almost the poorest to being the 2nd richest country in Europe. 

However gasoline that we saw was priced at about $10.50 a gallon. 

With oil money Norway has built a welfare state giving benefits to all persons, built roads, and put a fortune in the bank for the future.

Two interesting facts: farmers that raise cows are required by law to have the cows outside at least 8 weeks each year...a cow holiday!

AND the tax returns for all citizens are a matter of public record and available to anyone on the internet. She said, "With all the cards on the table injustices and corruption are not likely to happen."

Norway is so very mountainous- as we have seen- that only 3% of the land can be used for agriculture.

In this port there is no tide so the water level stay the same all the time. The harbor was filled with beautiful boats- both pleasure and commercial ferry boats. The view from our balcony really shows that.

Across from the ship was the typical old neighborhood. The white house with the lovely impatienes planted in front was very typical. A British lady on our bus said they call those flowers "busy Lizzies."

Our guide explain how the area first supported itself- through catching and preserving herring. The fishermen came in with boats loaded, the fish were unloaded right at the dock and women began the work of fileting them. One woman could filet 5000 fish every day. These herrings were then salted. Finally the sea ran out of herring and the town went bankrupt. In search of a better life, many people left and sailed to  America. The first boatload from Stavanger to America sailed with 52 people on board. The journey took 3 months and when they arrived there were 53 people because a baby had been born.

The people of Norway were first pagans, then in 1000s became Catholic and then in mid 1500s they became Lutherans. This was because the Danish king became a Lutheran and declared everyone in Denmark and Norway would become Lutheran. 

We stopped at the cathedral in the center of town. It was built in 1100 and was first Catholic and then became a Lutheran Cathedral. The Cathedral was closed this morning because today is Sunday but we walked around it and saw its beauty.

Norway rose to glory with the Vikings exploring the world and returning with riches and land claims. The plague killed about 50% of the population and NOrway was easy prey for the rest of the world. Sweden fought and won. So Sweden ruled Norway until 1905 when Norway became independent. Houses in Norway, according to our guide, are very close to the same size. There is very little difference in the houses of the rich and the houses of the poor. 

We saw lots and lots of sheep on the hillside. We learned that the three main ways lamb is eaten is dried and salted and then reconstituted in a salty stew, sliced thin and eaten as a sandwich, or lamb with cabbage. But fish is the mainstay of life in Norway.

We saw an interesting statue on a small island that was of three swords sticking out of the ground. They represented peace, unity and freedom. 

We drove through a 6 kilometer tunnel under the water to get to the commmunity where Utstein Monastery was located. The building was built as the residence of the Viking King- Harold the Fair Haired and his 14 wifes and numerous other women. Viking had many residences so as they traveled with their men they would always have a place to sleep. Harold is supposed to have had a son with a servant girl when Harold was age 74. That son beca,e the next king after Harold died. 

In the 1000s when the Viking king became a Christian, men could only have 1 wife. Had to have created a wild situation for everyone. 

In 1250 the residence was given to the Augustine monks who lived here for 300 years. They were mostly physicians, grew herbs for healing, and spent a great deal of time visiting the sick. Each day the monks spent 8 hours in prayer, 8 hours, visiting the sick and 8 hours sleeping. In the dining hall we discovered a secret place for a spy to sit during mealtime to be sure there was no talking. 

After the Reformation, the Danish king became a Lutheran and he decreed that everyone in the lands he ruled had to also become Lutherans. He was King Christian III and he busied himself expelling the Catholics from the land. There were no monks in the Lutheran faith so the monastery stopped functioning.

The king needed money to finance the battles and wars so he sold anything he could. The monastery buildings were sold to an individual who used up his entire fortune trying to keep it up. It stood empty for many years and in 1930 the government restored the facilities as a museum. 

We saw the church, the kitchen and the dining hall. The drive back to the ship was lovely.

The afternoon was spent enjoying a folkoric presentation of Norwegian dancing and music. This was a group of about 20 men and women in beautiful native dress. The music was either their singing as they danced or a man playing either a fiddle or a willow flute. The costumes were from different regions in Norway. Most of the women's costumes featured embroidery and lots of silver. You could tell how wealthy the husband was by the amount of silver his wife wore.

This has been such a wonderful cruise.

Flam and Gudvangen-July 5

The sail through the world's longest(127 miles) and deepest(4291 feet) fjord, Sognefjord, was breathtaking. The reflections in the water made for some beautiful sights.

The tiny village of Flam with its 400 people is set among steep mountains, thundering waterfalls, narrow valleys and deep canyons. The buildings are colorful and include lots of glass in their construction. There were two beautiful looking hotel right beside the water.

After we docked we walked to the small train station in town and took the 22 kilometer train ride to Myrdal. Along the way the scenery was just amazing- deep gorges, big waterfalls, and tall mountains.

 We got off the train, looked at the beautiful scenery. Then we got onto another train- the train to Bergen. We rode for about 30 minutes more and got off in the town of Voss where we had lunch at the Park Hotel.  Lunch was a hurried smorgesbord-buffet. People acted like they hadn't eaten in days. We were sitting near the section with desserts and cheese so I decided to just go there first and "eat dessert first." That was fun, good, and I didn't have to stand in line because people were at the other tables of food.

Our journey continued on by bus to stop briefly at a white wooden church and at a lovely hotel high on a mountain top. The view was wonderful. We also stopped at a huge waterfall. I think that I have never seen so many and such tall waterfalls. 

I wonder how it will look if/when all the snow is melted. We actually saw some waterfall-looking gullies that were dry. 

Our bus continued to Gudvangen, a small community at the end of the fjord. When we got there the Voyager was just sailing in. After the ship anchored tender boats were lowered from the side of the ship and came to ferry us back to the ship. 

Sailing out was once again so beautiful. We went through several incredibly narrow passages. At one point the ship's horn blew three times and I went outside to see what was happening. The Captain was on the arm of the Bridge waving to a group of about 6 people standing on the shore. Must be some other relatives. I do believe the pilot earned his money with this sail into and out of the Sognefjord. We saw this beautiful waterfall with a rainbow at the bottom. Thought that was a good sign for smooth sailing.

We are enjoying this trip so much. It is different from any we have taken because the scenery makes it spectacular and the small town makes it interesting. 

4th of July Brunch

The Atrium of the ship was turned into the most wonderful brunch. There was every kind of food you could imagine- from Caviar to Hot Dogs. There was bar-be-qued ribs and chicken, Indian 5 Spice Beef, Shrimp Curry, Pasta, boiled Shrimp, and more. The dessert table was impressive. The Caviar was even served from a stand made of ice. There were also ice sculptures of an eagle and an Indian. 

In the dining room a 3 piece Dixieland Band played and some folks danced. 

Great celebration!

Beatles and The Midnight Sun

The evening began with our second dinner at Lattitudes- the Indochine restaurant. It is like a Tapas meal because the portions are small and you just order, eat and keep doing that until you are full. Wonderful food!

The Atrium was decorated with flags from England, Ireland, Scotland symbolizing the "British Invasion" of the Beatles. At 9:30 the dance party and pub gathering started. People were on at least three floors, the music was great and we got a prime seat to sing, clap, and enjoy the party. This ship does so many creative things for passengers to enjoy. There was also a Seinfeld movie going on in the theater for those who didn't want to dance and sing....or remembered the Beatles. 

We returned to our cabin at about 11:00 and I had a great time reading and watching the sea go by. It was not exactly warm outside but it was not so cold that I couldn't sit outside. All of a sudden I realized how very bright the sun had gotten. We are used to the sun rising in the east and setting in the west but for these few months the sun just hangs around and runs in a little circle.  They say folks have trouble sleeping or sleep too much during this time. I seem to not need as much sleep as normal. Strange! But the sun was beautiful. You would think this is a sunset picture but in fact the photo was taken at 1:15 AM on July 4th. 

Tromsoe

We docked in Tromsoe ( and the "o" is really supposed to have a slash through it) at 8:00 this morning. Jim decided he just couldn't do the trip we had planned so I was off for the morning seeing the Polar Experience. We walked on simulated Arctic ice and saw many, many seals and strange fish. Our guide cautioned us that some would bite so not to put our hands in the tanks.

Tromsoe is a town of about 58,000. There is a huge university with all kinds of studies. There is a special psychological hospital studying the effects of the months without light and the month with more than "normal" light. Seems like many people cannot sleep, sleep too much and/or get depressed. The have invented a light machine where a person can sit for several hours every few days and tak away the effects of not having enough sun. Their medical facility is also famous for consultations with medical professionals for patients in the really north. All this done by TV. Amazing!!!

January 21st is the day the community celebrates the return of the sun. People gather to party and the food of choice is a fried bun with a raspberry filling. I guess any excuse for a party!

There are enough bars for 21,000 people to be drinking at the same time. One in every three people can be in the bar at the same time. We saw a roadway that proved how much people here loved their community. It was a roadway paid for by a tax on alcohol. The roadway was paid for in record time. These folks do love their town....or something.

We learned about why houses in every village we have seen are the same. The red houses belonged to the poor people who used what they had and painted their houses with fish blood. The middle class used yellow paint- real paint- because it took less paint to cover the wood of their homes.

We saw the Polar experience, the Arctic Catherdral and the Botanic Gardens. All was very interesting.  Got back to the ship just in time to sail onward to Flam.

Had a great party tonight in the Atrium of the ship.

The North Cape and The BIrd Safari

We  sailed by the northern most point of the continent of Europe, the North Cape or NORDKAPP. The weather had cleared so we could see this high plateau- complete with a monument and a gift shop/restaurant for the thousands of tourists that go to this point. Folks from the ship went there this evening after we docked. 

Our shore excursion was  a Bird Safari in a bird sanctuary about an hour from the port. We finally docked at about 6:10 and joined the big crowd waiting to get off and onto the tour buses. All the dining spots opened early and also stayed open late. 

We rode about an hour through very strange countryside. The midst hung over the cliffs and hills, there were patches of snow all around, there were little ponds and larger lakes around, there were even some small waterfalls. We came upon two small groups of reindeer. These were mostly white. I saw one with a big set of antlers. We both commented that this landscape  felt very surreal to us.

The reindeer are owned by the indigenous people of the area- the Samis. They used to be called Laplanders because this area was referred to as Lapland. That is not correct anymore. A Sami will never say how many reindeer they own because that is like telling/bragging about the amount of money you have in the bank. 

We drove by the only "beach" in Honningsvag- Copacabana. People were playing beach volleyball. Our guide said in the summer the water gets to 8 degrees Celsius...about 42 degrees for us.  In these waters a 600 pound halibut was caught....would feed a family of 4 for the winter...or close.

We headed out the one main road that went to the Cape and then we turned left down a bumpy to the fishing village of Gjesvaerstappan of 150 people. They live by the side of the bird sanctuary.  We boarded a small boat after walking beside a drying rack of cod fish being dried to sell for fish stock. Sure didn't smell good to us. Didn't want to take a bite. 

People could choose to put on warm suits, but I choose to not do that and tough it out. Jim choose to sit downstairs. The boat was off for the 20 minute chilly ride. Almost immediately we saw large groups of birds- millions and millions of puffins. Taking a picture that really that really showed them off also took millions and millions of images. 

Puffins come to this area the same day each year to lay and hatch their eggs. They come on April 14 between 5:00 and 8:00PM. The people from the area come to watch and celebrate Puffin Arrival Day...and the Puffins have even figured out Leap Year with its extra day.

We saw puffins, gannets, lots of sea gulls, white tailed eagles, and also cormorants. We also saw some seals playing in the chilly water. The Captain of the ship really could spot the birds.

We had fun, got very cold, and saw more birds than we could ever believe were in one small area. Coffee and hot chocolate were for sale down below where Jim was. We had fun chatting with a lady who was originally from Germany.

We got back to the ship at 10:30 and called Room Service for dinner. Our cheese burgers were here in less than 15 minutes.  Since the dining places were closed and we were sailing immediately, there had to be lots of folks doing the Room Service thing. Another reason that we really like this cruise line. Wonderful experience!