At Sea 25 July, 2015

Last night was optional formal so George put on a suit and bow tie and I wore a dress that fitted comfortably before I left home but was a bit tight in fact! No surprise there! We had dinner with Sue & Peter from Toronto then went to the crew show which was fabulous.  A selection of items by crew from around the world. (no 'if I were not upon the sea though) .  No partying on afterwards, despite having gone to the trouble of dressing up - not sure why all the oldies are so tired at the end of the day.  We'll all be dead a long time!!!!!! 

Today was packing day - the suitcases as usual to be in the corridor by 11 pm.  We had a great table at dinner, Judy & Stan from England and Georgia & Steve from California. Dinner was delicious - linguine with calamari, olive oil and garlic!   Judy & I played scrabble the other day and plan to play Words with Friends in the future!  Earlier we played trivia with some people from  Sydney and a lovely lady, Jan, from Hilton Head, Florida.  I also played bingo today and won $59.

We leave the ship at 9am and will get a taxi to the airport for our flight at 2.25 pm tomorrow.  Looking forward to seeing you all soon.  

Bergen, Norway - 24 July, 2015

Bergen, our last seaport before we arrive in Copenhagen on Sunday.  It is raining and quite cool - apparently it rains almost every day here.  Our tour began at 9am and included a terrific tour of the city, a funicular ride to the top of one of the seven surrounding mountains and then a drive to Edward Greig's house in Troldhaugen.  We saw where Greig lived and composed his music, the house is lovely, all wood and cosy.  There is a museum nearby and a small concert hall.  The house has a beautiful view of the water.  Back to the ship for lunch and then we walked to the fish market. There are all sorts of food stalls selling everything from reindeer, whale and moose.  George sampled all of the above (in sausage form).  Whale was also on sale in large chunks!  The crab looked delicious but very expensive.  As is everything here, of course.  

Tonight we are dining with Sue and Peter and will then go to the show which is being put on by the crew so should be good.  One of the waiters, Elvis, will be singing!

Had a lovely dinner in Prime 7 last night, I had crab cake and whole Maine lobster with drawn butter.  And the caramel popcorn parfait again!  Will have to get a recipe for that.  

Gerainger–Hellesylt, Norway 23 July, 2015

Woke this morning to the most magnificent view from our balcony - we had entered the fjord at around 4.30 am and docked at 7.  It is hard to describe how beautiful Gerainger is - my photos probably don't do it justice!  After an early breakfast we were taken to the RIB boats to be fitted in the lovely inflatable suits again - our excursion was for an hour and we travelled along the fjord stopping at several waterfalls and to view farms way up on the clifftop.  Unfortunately the boat wasn't the kind we were in the other day and the ride was without excitement but the scenery was amazing and it was well worth going.  Back at the port we decided to take the hop on/hop off bus for an hour. That, too, was well worth doing as we went way up the mountain around hairpin bends to get an excellent view of Gerainger.  We had to be back on board at 12.30 as the ship then sailed into another fjord in order to pick up some passengers who had taken a long road journey which ended at a little port called Hellesylt.  We had a couple of hours there, plenty of time to walk around the small village and stretch the legs!!!! Back on board we are now heading to Bergen and will be there all day tomorrow.  

We've been invited to Prime 7 for dinner tonight with the Collins from Florida.  Should be a fun night as they are characters!!!  Had a quick game of table tennis with Les from California while George &  the others were having a drink at the pool bar.  Now sitting on my balcony -totally in awe of the amazing scenery all around.  Being at the back of the ship has its advantages.  And Dhiraj, my butler, has just arrived with canapes!  (melon wrapped in procuitto and grapes). Not sure how I will cope without a butler next week! 

Kristiansund, Norway - 22 July 2015

Docked here at 11 am - such a very beautiful city.  We don't leave until 7pm so a bit of time to walk around the town after our tour which was for just over 3 hours.  We drove through very picturesque towns and farming areas to the Atlantic Road which was build about 19 years ago.  Kristiansund is made up of many islands and there is now a tunnel connecting two of them - 5 miles long and at a depth of 250 metres.  Also visited a beautiful 700 year old Stave Church.  Some locals have preserved  it and a new church was built next door.  Otherwise it would have been demolished and used for firewood!  

Found a place with wifi in the town- all the boat boys are here, excited to be talking/texting to their homelands.  

Not much other news yet.  The day is still young, though!!!  Here are some pics from today.

At Sea - 21 July 2015

Back at the ship yesterday we went to the Observation Lounge and enjoyed a couple of pina coladas  during sail-away and then had dinner with our friends from Toronto.  It was all I could do to stay awake at the end of the meal (so much excitement for an old girl!) and I didn't need any encouragement for sleep!  Today has been another sea day so no real commitments.  I attended a lecture on the world of Faberge - the life and works of Carl Faberge, court jeweller to the last of the Russian Tsars. 

Went to bingo with a couple of friends then enjoyed a wonderful seafood buffet on deck. They really  did it well but the crab today wasn't  a patch on yesterday's fresh catch!!  After lunch there was another lecture on the upcoming three ports.  Finished my third book this afternoon while  sitting in the sun and we didn't go to dinner until late. We always opt for a share table at dinner and we had good company tonight with a couple we'd met before from California and the assistant Cruise Director Christopher along with Byron who is a lovely young artist, an Englishman due to perform in a couple of night's time. Tonight's showtime entertainment was Woytek Mrozek playing the clarinet - apparently a world renowned artist with a long list of achievements.  He was good.  

Just got back to the room and find we have been allocated tickets on another RIB boat excursion in Geiranger, day after tomorrow. The RIB boat is not unlike a 'rubber ducky' to look at but there are two rows of 8 seats (more like saddles) which you sit on and there are bars to hold on to.  They travel at very high speed with lots of twists and turns. 

After a comment I made about putting on weight on this cruise,  I was asked whether there is a gym on the ship - it's really funny because I'm sure there is one, but I  just can't find it.  Pity.  All the signposts point to bars and restaurants 🍰🍷🍸🍹🍧🍮

  Honningsvag - at a distance

Honnigsvag, Norway 19 July 2015

Today has been the BEST day - very cold, around 8-9C.  We went on a king crab safari, left the pier at 11.30am.  Two RIB boats took about 20 of us on an exhilerating ride about 20 minutes away.  We stopped on the way to check the crab pots and sure enough there were about 8 waiting for us.  We watched them being killed, broken up and put onto the pot and around half an hour later they were served to us in a large tepee.  They were accompanied by bread and a delicious sauce.  We sat on reindeer skins and the fire the middle  of the tepee was great.  The ride home was just as exciting and I would definitely recommend it.  As you can see in the pics we were all suited out in inflatable outfits, very glam and warm.  Afterwards we were taken to an ice bar where they served a drink.  

We depart at 5pm with another day at sea tomorrow.  Sadly it is all coming to an end!!!! Caroline and Ian Collie are with us in the photo. 

Murmansk - 18 July 2015

Yesterday we were at sea again, it was cold so most activities were indoors.  I played scrabble in the morning with Judy from England while George went to a lecture.  A guy called Hugh Neighbour is one of two guest lecturers on board - he is retired from the US Government  and now works with the Smithsonian Institute and has a wonderful knowledge of all things military and marine!  He was able  to identify nearly all the nuclear ships and subs in the harbour on our quick visit to Murmansk three days ago.  The other lecturer is from the UK and is more of a travel buff, keeping us informed of what to expect in each port.  

Last night we had made reservations at the specialty restaurant, Signature, again, and made it quite clear we didn't want to sit with Hindi speaking people this time. Well, as luck would have it we shared a table with Caroline & Ian Collie!   She is really nice & so is he once you get past his bullshit!!!!! I shouldn't be unkind but if I said 'we were in Paris' he would say 'we were in Paris, travelled first class, slept in thr Eiffel Tower & rode in the Tour de France'.  Most people on this cruise could write a book on their travels but Ian's would be the best and most expensive.  Anyway, we did have a good night, sat in the Horizon lounge having more cocktails at 11.30pm!  Easy to do when there is no night time! Before dinner we were entertained by the guest pianist who played some Rachmaninov, Beethoven and Liszt. I forgot to mention the Beatles night about three days ago - a fantastic hour or so of excellent Beatles songs performed by the orchestra and singers and you haven't seen anything until you've seen 200 65+ oldies bopping away on the dancefloor!  We joined them of course and may need 2 wheelchairs on the way home. 92 year old  Freddie & his gorgeous wife from Paris were up there doing their bit.  She had to hold him steady of course.  

Well, now to today.  We arrived in Murmansk at 8am.  Our 'Highlights of Murmansk and Pancakes' tour  was at 9.30 so had to be in the departure lounge by 9.  A lot of formalities being a Russian port and we were given our passports for the day.  Despite our doubts about this place we were surprised at how efficient everything was.  Nice clean and comfortable buses and an excellent tour guide.  We are docked in a working port and surrounded by container ships being unloaded and so it is not the most beautiful area.  It did get better and we were given a tour of the city, cultural centre, monuments, a beautiful church with a service in progress and then pancakes at a hotel.  Also saw a memorial to the submarine which blew up in the Barents Sea back in 2000.  All the buildings looked very shabby and run down and the apartment blocks were terrible.  I reckon they could sell one Faberge egg and with the proceeds splash a bit of paint around and clean up the place.  The people here don't appear to have a lot of pride in their city as the whole place is covered in weeds.  Growing beautifully, of course, and about 2 ft in height!  The tour guide said she is an English teacher and she explained much about the lifestyle here.  From November until February they are in darkness and of course it is freezing cold.  Their heating has two switches, on and off.  The population is diminishing rapidly, now 309,000 people as most young people now go to university in St Petersburg and Moscow and don't return.  Not hard to see why! But they seem happy and that is all that matters.  

The pancakes were delicious - everyone received three very thin crepes with an orange sauce and fresh cream.  Along with tea or coffee, of course.  

Back to the ship in time for a late lunch but not before we had a pina colada at the pool bar first!  I left home with a couple of dresses that fitted - and now they don't.  Wonder why!

So this afternoon I have enjoyed a few hours on my balcony, reading. Our suite is right at the back of the ship and when sailing we watch the wake!  But we are parked behind a freighter which is STILL being unloaded and I may have to go inside as the fumes from the funnel are stifling!