June 5- Newcastle

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, commonly known as Newcastle , is a city in the north east part of England. Newcastle was part of the county of Northumberland until 1400 when it became a county of its own. In 1974 it became a part of the Tyne and Wear metropolitan county. The regional nickname and dialect for people from Newcastle and the surrounding area is Geordie.

Newcastle Port

The city is developed in the location of the Roman settlement called Pons Aelius. It was named for the castle built in 1080 by Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror eldest son. The city grew as an important center for the wool trade in the 14^th century and it later became a major coal mining area. The port developed in the 16^th century and is among the world’s largest shipbuilding and ship repairing centers.

Today is very cold and rainy- temperature is about 60 degrees  with damp chilly breeze blowing.  We were to take a private car but given Jim’s still scratchy throat and my achy knee, we decided to not use the car. I got so cold just checking out the temperature outside as we docked that I couldn’t stop shaking.


Several times I went back and forth to the Business Center to try to figure out the blog posting. Frustrating! BUT this technology is still amazing to me- here we are on a ship and we can still communicate with anywhere in the world. Wouldn't those early sailors be amazed.

Hopefully tomorrow will be brighter and warmer as we visit Edinburgh in Scotland.

Meanwhile for the moment, nothing like a lazy day aboard a beautiful ship.